This section outlines how the docker/go-metrics project handles the management and storage of secrets in a production environment, ensuring that sensitive data is securely processed and accessed.

Storing Secrets

In production, secrets such as API keys, passwords, and configuration values should not be hardcoded into your application. Instead, utilize environment variables or a dedicated secrets management tool.

Using Environment Variables

Environment variables can securely store sensitive information. At runtime, your application can read these variables. Here’s an example of how to read an environment variable in Go:

package main

import (
    "log"
    "os"
)

func main() {
    apiKey := os.Getenv("API_KEY")
    if apiKey == "" {
        log.Fatal("API_KEY is not set")
    }

    // Proceed with using the API key
}

To set an environment variable before starting your application, you would typically run:

export API_KEY=my_secret_api_key
go run main.go

Using a Secrets Management Tool

Tools like HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager can provide a more robust solution for secret management. These tools allow you to dynamically retrieve secrets at runtime. Below is an example using a hypothetical secrets manager interface.

Example with a Secrets Manager

Let’s assume we have a simple wrapper function that interacts with a secrets manager:

package secrets

import (
    "log"
)

// Fake Secret Manager (to be replaced with actual implementation)
func GetSecret(key string) (string, error) {
    // This function retrieves secrets from a secrets management service
    // Here you will integrate with APIs of HashiCorp Vault or similar
    return "retrieved_secret", nil
}

Then, in your main application file, you can retrieve secrets as follows:

package main

import (
    "log"
    "myapp/secrets"  // Replace with your actual module path
)

func main() {
    apiKey, err := secrets.GetSecret("API_KEY")
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Failed to retrieve API key: %v", err)
    }

    // Proceed with using the API key
}

Managing Secrets in Docker

When deploying docker/go-metrics in a containerized environment, it’s critical to ensure that secrets remain confidential within Docker. Use Docker secrets where appropriate.

Using Docker Secrets

Docker provides a method to manage sensitive data, known as Docker secrets. This method is suitable for use in swarm mode. Here’s how to create and use a Docker secret:

1. Create a secret:

echo "my_secret_api_key" | docker secret create api_key -

2. Reference the secret in a Docker service:

docker service create --name my_service --secret api_key my_image

3. Access the secret within the container:

Secrets are stored in /run/secrets/<secret_name> inside the container. Here is how to read the secret in Go:

package main

import (
    "io/ioutil"
    "log"
)

func main() {
    data, err := ioutil.ReadFile("/run/secrets/api_key")
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Error reading secret: %v", err)
    }

    apiKey := string(data)

    // Proceed with using the API key
}

Summary

Secrets management is a crucial component of the production deployment process within docker/go-metrics. Using a combination of environment variables, dedicated secrets management tools, and Docker secrets allows you to handle sensitive information securely. Always avoid hardcoding secrets in your application code.

This information derives from the general practices outlined in the development and deployment ecosystem, specifically tailored for the usage scenarios applicable to docker/go-metrics.