.env.dist.local — [best]

In the "brain" of the application, the priority usually looks like this:

Ensure .env.local and .env (if used for secrets) are ignored. cp .env.dist.local .env.local .env.dist.local

: It ensures that when a new developer joins the project, their "local" experience is pre-configured with the right tools, while still keeping their "secrets" safely tucked away in a file that never touches the repository. The Hierarchy of Power In the "brain" of the application, the priority

Setting Up Your Environments - Architecture & DevOps - Sanity In the "brain" of the application

This reduces cognitive load: "Just copy .env.dist.local to .env.local and everything works."

No extra configuration is needed — the convention is enough.