done. going to bed now.

src/Helpers/Env.php

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Siteworxpro\App\Helpers;
+
+abstract class Env
+{
+    /**
+     * @param string $key
+     * @param null $default
+     * @param string $castTo
+     * @return float|bool|int|string
+     */
+    public static function get(string $key, $default = null, string $castTo = 'string'): float | bool | int | string
+    {
+        $env = getenv($key) !== false ? getenv($key) : $default;
+
+        return match ($castTo) {
+            'bool', 'boolean' => (bool) $env,
+            'int', 'integer' => (int) $env,
+            'float' => (float) $env,
+            default => (string) $env,
+        };
+    }
+}