How do I set up a .env file for my Docker service configuration?

I've learned that while naming your file .env is standard, it can lead to some confusion and bugs. To avoid this, you might want to hard code some defaults that won't change (not secrets, of course) and create a second env file with a different name, like .env.service.override. This way, you can use a sample default file without issues in a team setting.

You can definitely point to your .env file when you run your Docker Compose setup. Use the `--env-file` option like this:

```bash
cd /home/user/docker/app/
docker compose --env-file ../.env up -d
```
This command changes to the app directory first and then specifies the path to your .env file, which should work perfectly for your service's configuration!

To answer your question about pointing to the env file, yes, you absolutely need to add a line in your Compose file for that! You can check out the official documentation for detailed instructions. Search for "env" on their site, and you'll find what you need.