---
title: "Doug Niccum (@dougniccum) | Hashnode"
description: "Creating intuitive and user-friendly experiences. Read the latest articles by Doug Niccum on Hashnode."
url: "https://hashnode.com/@dougniccum"
---

@dougniccum

# Doug Niccum

@dougniccum · Olathe, Kansas · Joined May 2026

Creating intuitive and user-friendly experiences

[Website](https://dniccumdesign.com/)

### [Drone env vars: the complete reference](https://notes.secretstash.cloud/drone-env-vars-complete-reference?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

Built-in DRONE\_\* variables, pipeline and step scoping, from\_secret, debugging, and when a dedicated secrets manager beats Drone-native secrets.

12 min read · [notes.secretstash.cloud](https://notes.secretstash.cloud/drone-env-vars-complete-reference?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

[6d ago](https://hashnode.com/posts/drone-env-vars-complete-reference/6aec9324b7e07ba609d4d820)

### [Onboarding New Developers: A Day 1-5 Checklist](https://notes.secretstash.cloud/onboarding-new-developers-day-1-5-checklist?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

Get a new hire from clone to productive in five days, with secure env var provisioning and zero secrets pasted into Slack

11 min read · [notes.secretstash.cloud](https://notes.secretstash.cloud/onboarding-new-developers-day-1-5-checklist?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

[Nov 2](https://hashnode.com/posts/onboarding-new-developers-day-1-5-checklist/6ae897aba04da8836eb0f982)

### [Docker Compose Node.js Environment Variables: All Methods](https://notes.secretstash.cloud/docker-compose-nodejs-environment-variables?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

Four ways to inject env vars, which one wins, and how to debug undefined, stale, and Windows-broken values

13 min read · [notes.secretstash.cloud](https://notes.secretstash.cloud/docker-compose-nodejs-environment-variables?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

[2](https://hashnode.com/posts/docker-compose-nodejs-environment-variables/6ae37ffc8be985b62d093a8f) [Oct 29](https://hashnode.com/posts/docker-compose-nodejs-environment-variables/6ae37ffc8be985b62d093a8f)

### [Angular where to store API keys: frontend vs backend](https://blog.dniccumdesign.com/angular-where-to-store-api-keys-frontend-vs-backend?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

Anything in your Angular bundle is public. Learn which API keys are safe in environment.ts and how to move secret keys behind a backend proxy.

12 min read · [blog.dniccumdesign.com](https://blog.dniccumdesign.com/angular-where-to-store-api-keys-frontend-vs-backend?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

[Oct 13](https://hashnode.com/posts/angular-where-to-store-api-keys-frontend-vs-backend/6ace5d9a741b83f37699cde1)

### [We kept leaking .env files across environments—here’s how I solved it](https://blog.dniccumdesign.com/we-kept-leaking-env-files-across-environments-here-s-how-i-solved-it?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

Sharing our secrets among our teammates and across our environments was becoming a liability. So I decided to take matters into my own hands.

8 min read · [blog.dniccumdesign.com](https://blog.dniccumdesign.com/we-kept-leaking-env-files-across-environments-here-s-how-i-solved-it?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

[Jun 25](https://hashnode.com/posts/we-kept-leaking-env-files-across-environments-here-s-how-i-solved-it/6a3d2673f95df8ee1847451b)