Secrets Management Skill

When to Activate

Activate this skill when:

• Setting up API keys or credentials
• Creating secrets.json files
• Implementing secrets loading patterns
• Working with .env files
• Integrating external APIs requiring authentication
• Ensuring credentials are not committed to git

Core Principles

Security Fundamentals

• NEVER hardcode API keys in source code
• ALWAYS add secrets.json to .gitignore immediately
• ALWAYS provide a secrets_template.json for setup reference
• Use environment variable fallbacks for CI/CD compatibility

Standard File Structure

project/
├── secrets.json          # Actual secrets (NEVER commit)
├── secrets_template.json # Template with placeholder values (commit this)
├── .gitignore           # Must include secrets.json
└── .env                 # Alternative for env vars (also gitignored)

Implementation Pattern

secrets.json Format

{
  "anthropic_api_key": "sk-ant-api03-...",
  "openrouter_api_key": "sk-or-v1-...",
  "openai_api_key": "sk-...",
  "database_url": "postgresql://user:pass@localhost/db",
  "comment": "Add your API keys here. Keep this file private."
}

Python Loading Pattern

import os
import json
from pathlib import Path

def load_secrets():
    """Load secrets from secrets.json with env var fallback."""
    secrets_path = Path(__file__).parent / "secrets.json"
    try:
        with open(secrets_path, 'r') as f:
            return json.load(f)
    except (FileNotFoundError, json.JSONDecodeError):
        return {}

SECRETS = load_secrets()

# Use with environment variable fallback
API_KEY = SECRETS.get("anthropic_api_key", os.getenv("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY", ""))

Setup Checklist

1. Create secrets_template.json with placeholder values
2. Copy to secrets.json and add real credentials
3. Add secrets.json to .gitignore
4. Implement secrets loading in application
5. Verify git status shows secrets.json as untracked

Security Best Practices

DO ✅

• Store keys in secrets.json
• Add to .gitignore immediately
• Provide template files for setup
• Use environment variable fallbacks
• Rotate keys after team changes

DON’T ❌

• Hardcode API keys
• Commit actual credentials
• Log full API keys
• Share keys via email/chat

Key Format Reference

Related Resources

See AgentUsage/secrets_management.md for complete documentation including:

• Advanced loading patterns with validation
• .env file integration
• Automated testing patterns
• Emergency key rotation procedures
• Production deployment strategies