node.js - How to access environment variables from `npm start`? -

i have set environment variable (on osx):

export npm_package_config_test_user=user42

and javascript file:

-- index.js -- console.log(process.env.npm_package_config_test_user);

which if run node index.js provides me expected answer. now, definition in package.json:

  "scripts": {     "start": "node index.js"   },

i can do: npm start when environment variable value comes undefined.

so 2 questions:

1) why? , 2) need set can pick value correctly?

thanks

so found npm clears npm_package_* space before use, set variable , wipes out when runs. however, works:

export test_user=user42

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