Are multiple Dev Environments Necessary for a Solo Developer?

For solo projects, I only have local and production set up. I test locally and use GIT for deployment. My local environment is a Docker container that mimics production, so I don't see the need for a staging environment in this case.

If you're solo developing a complex application, having three environments could be really useful. It allows you to develop confidently, check the staging version with your client before going live, and ensure everything runs smoothly. But if you're just tinkering with side projects, that setup might be too much unless you're keen on experimenting and learning about environment setups on a smaller scale.

Honestly, it's not crazy to have separate environments, but avoid using production resources for dev work. Staging can catch issues that arise during rapid development cycles, but if no one needs access to pre-launch versions, it may not be worth it. Just keep it portable and revisit as your project grows.

It really depends on how you've set up your workflow. If you're feeling overwhelmed and using this setup as a way to procrastinate on actual programming tasks, that could be a problem. But if you're proactive and see the benefits, then go for it!

It's all about your workflow! Create as many environments as you need, but keep in mind that for solo work, simpler might be better unless you anticipate scaling in the future.