I use PM2s "Process File".

I use a module named "config". It supports multiple configurations, machine based, environment based, and you can even pass overrides at command line when starting your app.

I create one .json file in various development / staging / production server which looks like below.

{
  "host": "local OR staging OR production";
}

Then in code.

const env = require('./env.json') || {"host": "local"};

And use env.host everywhere. I don't create a .json file in the local system.

No dependency on module or process. Give it a shot. It works for me

I dont, I use configuration files.