How should we handle secrets such as API keys, tokens, and passwords in a startup codebase?
Never store secrets directly in code, public repositories, or shared chat messages. Use environment variables or a proper secret manager from your cloud provider to store and access sensitive values at runtime. Limit who can see which secrets, and rotate keys regularly, especially after people leave the team or roles change. Keep an inventory of critical integrations and how they are secured. Educate the team that convenience shortcuts with secrets often turn into expensive security incidents.
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