Python: Add load_dotenv() to samples for .env file support (#4043)

* Initial plan

* Add load_dotenv() to 303 Python samples for environment variable loading

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Update SAMPLE_GUIDELINES.md to document load_dotenv() requirement

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Update samples README.md to document .env file usage

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Run ruff format on all changed sample files

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Clarify load_dotenv() usage in README - local dev vs production

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Remove deprecated getting_started folder as requested

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Document env_file_path parameter for per-client configuration

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Merge main branch to resolve conflicts

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Fix run_evaluation.py file that was empty in merge commit

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Remove dotnet changes from merge - out of scope for this PR

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Remove package and test changes from merge - only sample changes needed

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Remove test_func_utils.py - only sample changes needed

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Revert sample files not in original changeset - keep only load_dotenv additions

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Move load_dotenv() outside snippet tag in 06_host_your_agent.py

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Fix comment placement - move load_dotenv before code comments

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Fix load_dotenv() placement across all samples - after docstring, before code comments

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Merge latest main branch with load_dotenv changes

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Remove non-sample changes from merge - keep only load_dotenv additions

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Revert non-load_dotenv sample changes from merge

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Fix run_evaluation.py - use main's improved version (file already had load_dotenv)

Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>

* Manual update

* Manual update 2

* Fix Role usage and load_dotenv placement per PR review feedback

Co-authored-by: eavanvalkenburg <13749212+eavanvalkenburg@users.noreply.github.com>

* Fix Role usage - use string literals not enum attributes

Co-authored-by: eavanvalkenburg <13749212+eavanvalkenburg@users.noreply.github.com>

* Fix SAMPLE_GUIDELINES.md example - load_dotenv before docstring per guidance

Co-authored-by: eavanvalkenburg <13749212+eavanvalkenburg@users.noreply.github.com>

* Move load_dotenv() before docstrings in all samples per SAMPLE_GUIDELINES ordering

Co-authored-by: eavanvalkenburg <13749212+eavanvalkenburg@users.noreply.github.com>

* Address PR review: rename files, fix placement, add session usage, remove note

Co-authored-by: eavanvalkenburg <13749212+eavanvalkenburg@users.noreply.github.com>

* Update Redis README to reference renamed file redis_history_provider.py

Co-authored-by: eavanvalkenburg <13749212+eavanvalkenburg@users.noreply.github.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: copilot-swe-agent[bot] <198982749+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: TaoChenOSU <12570346+TaoChenOSU@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Tao Chen <taochen@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: eavanvalkenburg <13749212+eavanvalkenburg@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Eduard van Valkenburg <eavanvalkenburg@users.noreply.github.com>

python/samples/01-get-started/01_hello_agent.py

@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ import os
 
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Hello Agent — Simplest possible agent

python/samples/01-get-started/02_add_tools.py

@@ -8,8 +8,12 @@ from typing import Annotated
 from agent_framework import tool
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from pydantic import Field
 
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
 """
 Add Tools — Give your agent a function tool
 

python/samples/01-get-started/03_multi_turn.py

@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ import os
 
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Multi-Turn Conversations — Use AgentSession to maintain context

python/samples/01-get-started/04_memory.py

@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ from typing import Any
 from agent_framework._sessions import AgentSession, BaseContextProvider, SessionContext
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Agent Memory with Context Providers

python/samples/01-get-started/05_first_workflow.py

@@ -44,11 +44,7 @@ async def reverse_text(text: str, ctx: WorkflowContext[Never, str]) -> None:
 def create_workflow():
     """Build the workflow: UpperCase → reverse_text."""
     upper = UpperCase(id="upper_case")
-    return (
-        WorkflowBuilder(start_executor=upper)
-        .add_edge(upper, reverse_text)
-        .build()
-    )
+    return WorkflowBuilder(start_executor=upper).add_edge(upper, reverse_text).build()
 # </create_workflow>
 
 

python/samples/01-get-started/06_host_your_agent.py

@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 # Copyright (c) Microsoft. All rights reserved.
 
+from typing import Any
+
+from agent_framework.azure import AgentFunctionApp, AzureOpenAIChatClient
+from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
 """Host your agent with Azure Functions.
 
 This sample shows the Python hosting pattern used in docs:
@@ -15,11 +24,6 @@ Environment variables:
   AZURE_OPENAI_CHAT_DEPLOYMENT_NAME
 """
 
-from typing import Any
-
-from agent_framework.azure import AgentFunctionApp, AzureOpenAIChatClient
-from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
-
 
 # <create_agent>
 def _create_agent() -> Any:
@@ -28,8 +32,6 @@ def _create_agent() -> Any:
         name="HostedAgent",
         instructions="You are a helpful assistant hosted in Azure Functions.",
     )
-
-
 # </create_agent>
 
 # <host_agent>