[v4.0.1] Environment variable CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING only works without the "REACT_APP_" prefix

[bennettdams]

Describe the bug

The environment variable CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING is ignored in .env* files when using the REACT_APP_ prefix.
When using it without REACT_APP_, it is working fine.

I have a development setup inside a Docker container (Debian) with VS Code, so for Webpack to pick up changes, I need to use CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING=true. Without that environment variable, changes in the code are ignored by Webpack.

What works:

• in package.json: { ... "start": "CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING=true react-scripts start" ... }
• in any dotenv file (like .env.development): CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING=true

What does not work:

• in any dotenv file (like .env.development): REACT_APP_CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING=true

Environment

  System:
    OS: Windows 10 10.0.19041
    Node: v14.15.1
    NPM: 6.14.8
    VS Code: 1.51.1
  npmPackages:
    react: ^17.0.1 => 17.0.1
    react-dom: ^17.0.1 => 17.0.1
    react-scripts: 4.0.1 => 4.0.1

Steps to reproduce

Disclaimer: I'm not sure whether this happens also without VS Code & Remote Containers.

1. Open a folder in a VS Code Remote Container
2. npx create-react-app my-app --template typescript --use-npm
3. npm start
4. Make changes in App.tsx and save
   => Webpack dev server did not reload/did not pick up the changes
5. Create .env.development
6. Add REACT_APP_CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING=true
7. Kill process and do npm start again
8. Make changes in App.tsx and save
   => Webpack dev server STILL did not reload/did not pick up the changes
9. Change REACT_APP_CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING=true to CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING=true (remove REACT_APP_)
10. Kill process and do npm start again
11. Make changes in App.tsx and save
    => Webpack finally picks up the changes

Expected behavior

I would expect the env variable REACT_APP_CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING to work.

Actual behavior

..but it only works without the REACT_APP_ prefix.

[PrajjwalDatir]

Future readers,
For WSL 2 : ReactJS not reloading/ picking up changes after saved.
refer to #10253

[rahilarora07]

'CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
It is showing this, what to do

[PrajjwalDatir]

'CHOKIDAR_USEPOLLING' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
It is showing this, what to do

https://nerdschalk.com/how-to-fix-is-not-recognized-as-an-internal-or-external-command-operable-program-or-batch-file-error/ Try this probably

[stale]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any recent activity. It will be closed in 5 days if no further activity occurs.