Never Use env() Outside Config Files + Enforce with Pest Arch

env() returns null when config is cached in production. Always use config() and enforce this with Pest architecture tests.

In production environments running php artisan config:cache, calling env() outside files in config/*.php returns null. Enforce this rule across your codebase using Pest architecture testing.

// tests/ArchitectureTest.php
arch('avoid env outside config')
    ->expect('env')
    ->not->toBeUsed()
    ->ignoring('config');

• env() returns null in production when config:cache is active
• Always define configuration keys in config/*.php files and call config('key')
• Pest arch tests catch leftover env() calls before deployment