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The article is mostly talking about things like Helm charts for kubernetes, which aren't possible to define as env vars.

Except when you need anything more complex than a string or an array of strings, when they become entirely useless.

There is not a single even slightly complex piece of software that uses exclusively env vars for configuration. Even bash or vim have config files, this is not some new idea.

Hang on there, array of strings? Environment variables can't handle that either without quirks.

Oops, you're right, even that is too advanced...

How do you make sure all the right variants of all the environment variables are in the right place(s)?

you can't really check them into source code though, right?

I swear this is how we got docker containers... some ruby dev who abused env vars and a SA who was sick of his shit breaking on every roll out and hearing "but it works for me"...

And now installable software is a fucking unicorn!

( This week I keep running into go apps that can be installed from source or as straight down load, with docker as well. Been a breath of fresh air)