diff --git a/bin/composer-post-install-script.php b/bin/composer-post-install-script.php
index af2e8a9..66bd803 100644
--- a/bin/composer-post-install-script.php
+++ b/bin/composer-post-install-script.php
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 declare(strict_types=1);
 
+const ENVIRONMENT_DEVELOPMENT = 'development';
+const ENVIRONMENT_PRODUCTION  = 'production';
+
 // phpcs:disable PSR1.Files.SideEffects.FoundWithSymbols
 
 function copyFile(array $file): void
@@ -9,26 +12,40 @@ function copyFile(array $file): void
     if (is_readable($file['destination'])) {
         echo "File {$file['destination']} already exists." . PHP_EOL;
     } else {
-        if (! copy($file['source'], $file['destination'])) {
-            echo "Cannot copy {$file['source']} file to {$file['destination']}" . PHP_EOL;
+        if (! in_array(getEnvironment(), $file['environment'])) {
+            echo "Skipping the copy of {$file['source']} due to environment settings." . PHP_EOL;
         } else {
-            echo "File {$file['source']} copied successfully to {$file['destination']}." . PHP_EOL;
+            if (! copy($file['source'], $file['destination'])) {
+                echo "Cannot copy {$file['source']} file to {$file['destination']}" . PHP_EOL;
+            } else {
+                echo "File {$file['source']} copied successfully to {$file['destination']}." . PHP_EOL;
+            }
         }
     }
 }
 
+function getEnvironment(): string
+{
+    return file_exists('config/autoload/development.local.php') ? ENVIRONMENT_DEVELOPMENT : ENVIRONMENT_PRODUCTION;
+}
+
+// when adding files to the below array the `source` and `destination` paths must be relative to the project root folder
+// the `environment` key will indicate on what environments the file will be copied,
 $files = [
     [
         'source'      => 'config/autoload/local.php.dist',
         'destination' => 'config/autoload/local.php',
+        'environment' => [ENVIRONMENT_DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT_PRODUCTION],
     ],
     [
         'source'      => 'config/autoload/local.test.php.dist',
         'destination' => 'config/autoload/local.test.php',
+        'environment' => [ENVIRONMENT_DEVELOPMENT],
     ],
     [
         'source'      => 'vendor/dotkernel/dot-mail/config/mail.global.php.dist',
         'destination' => 'config/autoload/mail.global.php',
+        'environment' => [ENVIRONMENT_DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT_PRODUCTION],
     ],
 ];