Deploying to Rinkeby via Hardhat Error: Invalid value undefined for HardhatConfig.networks.rinkeby.url

[Equious]

The following error seems pretty self explanatory, but I don't understand why the .env imports aren't being recognized as strings? I THINK things are written as @PatrickAlphaC has them >.>

Error HH8: There's one or more errors in your config file:

  * Invalid value undefined for HardhatConfig.networks.rinkeby.url - Expected a value of type string.
  * Invalid account: #0 for network: rinkeby - Expected string, received undefined
  
To learn more about Hardhat's configuration, please go to https://hardhat.org/config/

Here's the config

require("@nomiclabs/hardhat-waffle");
require("dotenv").config();

task("accounts", "Prints the list of accounts", async (taskArgs, hre) => {
  const accounts = await hre.ethers.getSigners();

  for (const account of accounts) {
    console.log(account.address);
  }
});
const RINKEBY_RPC_URL = process.env.RINKEBY_RPC_URL;
const PRIVATE_KEY = process.env.PRIVATE_KEY;

module.exports = {
  defaultNetwork: "hardhat",
  networks: {
    rinkeby: {
      url: RINKEBY_RPC_URL,
      accounts: [PRIVATE_KEY],
      chainId: 4,
    },
  },
  solidity: "0.8.8",
};

[alymurtazamemon]

Did you create a .env file and put RINKEBY_RPC_URL and PRIVATE_KEY inside it?

[Equious]

If I just hard code the RPC-URL it passes then fails at the private key in the same way.. Something isn't being read/passed correctly.

[alymurtazamemon]

By the way, the same issue Patric mentioned here, may it helps you:
https://ethereum.stackexchange.com/questions/112942/invalid-value-undefined-for-hardhatconfig-networks-mainnet-fork-url-expected-a

[Equious]

Hmmmmmmmm.... Maybe so. I think this has to do with my Ubuntu Shell again or something. I probably have to point to a different place first.

@PatrickAlphaC !!! You got me into this LINUX MESS, Halp! lol

[PatrickAlphaC]

@ali-thegilfoyle, thank you for pointing out the use of the API key in the real world! Please don't be discouraged to point that out in the future, that security mindset will be really helpful for the community!

@Equious, he wasn't trying to be condescending, that was a really helpful tip to make sure you're endpoints aren't harassed. Looks like this issue has been solved below.

Perhaps we should update the pledge to include RPC URLs!

[alymurtazamemon]

@PatrickAlphaC thank you so much, these were all your guidance.

[Equious]

I dunno how to bump this request.. but I'm still struggling. lol

[Magofoco]

I had the same error.
The first thing I did was to console.log(process.env.RINKEBY_RPC_URL) to see if we were reading it correctly. It returned undefined so it was not reading it correctly, but the other .env variables were read correctly.

Change RINKEBY_RPC_URL to RINKEBY_URL everywhere (code and .env) and it should work.

[Equious]

Awwwww ya, my man. Manually entered the path and it sorted out. Wonder why that issue cropped up for me?

Greatly appreciate the assist!

[PatrickAlphaC]

Boom!

yeah that is odd... Glad we have it tracked here!

[Frostbite22]

I think you might have created the .env file in the wrong directory !
Be sure that .env file is on the same level as .gitignore on the folder hardhat-simple-storage.

[0xrishavsharma]

Waaao, you saved our lives @Magofoco.
The Stack Overflow answer WORKED for me.

Thank you for your help :)

[RobiulAwalSabbib]

Check this answer: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/69525606/hardhat-compile-error-with-api-url-and-private-key-import

to try and see if specifying the correct path to dotenv helps

it help me... thank u sir.