graphql-config

Using graphql-config in production projects has been largely positive. The `.graphqlrc.yml` configuration format is intuitive and the package does exactly what it promises—provides a single source of truth for your GraphQL schema location that tools can consume. IDE plugins like GraphQL Language Service and Apollo DevTools automatically pick up the config, which eliminates repetitive setup across different tools.

The TypeScript support is solid with proper type definitions, and the API for programmatically loading configs (`loadConfig`) works reliably. Schema loading from various sources (files, URLs, code-first) is flexible and handles common scenarios well. Error messages are generally helpful when the config file has syntax issues or schema loading fails.

The main friction point is documentation—while the basics are covered, more complex scenarios like multiple projects, custom loaders, or programmatic usage require digging through examples or source code. Migration between major versions (3.x to 4.x to 5.x) involved breaking changes that weren't always well-documented. Once configured though, it just works and becomes invisible infrastructure.

graphql-config has become the de facto standard for managing GraphQL schema configuration across teams and tooling. In practice, it works well for coordinating between codegen, linting, and IDE extensions. The `.graphqlrc.yml` file provides a single source of truth for schema locations, which eliminates duplicate configuration across various tools.

The library handles both local and remote schema loading reasonably well, with support for headers and custom loaders. However, the abstraction comes with runtime overhead - loading configurations can add noticeable startup time to CLI tools, especially when dealing with remote schemas. The caching behavior isn't always transparent, and I've hit cases where stale configs caused confusing errors that required manual intervention.

Error messages have improved significantly in recent versions, but debugging config resolution issues still requires diving into the multi-layered loader system. The package handles file watching and hot reloading for development workflows, though memory usage can creep up in long-running processes. Configuration flexibility is excellent with support for multiple projects and extensions, but this complexity means initial setup requires careful thought about your team's workflow.

graphql-config provides a convenient abstraction for managing GraphQL schema loading across tools and IDEs through a standardized config file. In practice, it works well for basic local schema files and straightforward remote endpoint configuration. The API is intuitive—`loadConfig()` gets you started quickly, and the schema resolution logic handles multiple formats (SDL, introspection JSON, etc.).

However, from a security standpoint, there are notable concerns. Remote schema loading doesn't enforce TLS by default or validate certificates explicitly in configuration. Error messages can leak endpoint URLs and auth header structures when introspection fails. The library will happily load schemas from arbitrary URLs specified in config without clear guardrails. Input validation on config files is minimal—malformed YAML or circular references can produce cryptic errors that expose file paths.

Dependency-wise, it pulls in a substantial tree including older loaders that haven't always had timely CVE responses. For production tooling or CI/CD that processes untrusted configs, you'll need to add your own validation layer and carefully control what endpoints are allowed.