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/03-workflows/agents/azure_ai_agents_streaming.py

@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ import os
 from agent_framework import AgentResponseUpdate, WorkflowBuilder
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Azure AI Agents in a Workflow with Streaming

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/azure_ai_agents_with_shared_session.py

@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 )
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Agents with a shared thread in a workflow

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/azure_chat_agents_and_executor.py

@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 )
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: AzureOpenAI Chat Agents and an Executor in a Workflow with Streaming

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/azure_chat_agents_streaming.py

@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ import os
 from agent_framework import AgentResponseUpdate, WorkflowBuilder
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: AzureOpenAI Chat Agents in a Workflow with Streaming

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/azure_chat_agents_tool_calls_with_feedback.py

@@ -24,9 +24,13 @@ from agent_framework import (
 )
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from pydantic import Field
 from typing_extensions import Never
 
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
 """
 Sample: Tool-enabled agents with human feedback
 

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/concurrent_workflow_as_agent.py

@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ import os
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import ConcurrentBuilder
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Build a concurrent workflow orchestration and wrap it as an agent.

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/custom_agent_executors.py

@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 )
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Custom Agent Executors in a Workflow

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/group_chat_workflow_as_agent.py

@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ from agent_framework import Agent
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import GroupChatBuilder
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Group Chat Orchestration

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/handoff_workflow_as_agent.py

@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import HandoffAgentUserRequest, HandoffBuilder
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """Sample: Handoff Workflow as Agent with Human-in-the-Loop.
 

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/magentic_workflow_as_agent.py

@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import MagenticBuilder
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Build a Magentic orchestration and wrap it as an agent.

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/sequential_workflow_as_agent.py

@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ import os
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import SequentialBuilder
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Build a sequential workflow orchestration and wrap it as an agent.

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/workflow_as_agent_human_in_the_loop.py

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
 # Ensure local package can be imported when running as a script.
 _SAMPLES_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[3]
@@ -55,6 +56,9 @@ Prerequisites:
   workflow_as_agent_reflection.py.
 """
 
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
 
 @dataclass
 class HumanReviewRequest:

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/workflow_as_agent_kwargs.py

@@ -9,8 +9,12 @@ from agent_framework import tool
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import SequentialBuilder
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from pydantic import Field
 
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
 """
 Sample: Workflow as Agent with kwargs Propagation to @tool Tools
 

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/workflow_as_agent_reflection_pattern.py

@@ -16,8 +16,12 @@ from agent_framework import (
 )
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
 """
 Sample: Workflow as Agent with Reflection and Retry Pattern
 

python/samples/03-workflows/agents/workflow_as_agent_with_session.py

@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ from agent_framework import AgentSession, InMemoryHistoryProvider
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import SequentialBuilder
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Workflow as Agent with Session Conversation History and Checkpointing