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/orchestrations/concurrent_agents.py

@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ from agent_framework import Message
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 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: Concurrent fan-out/fan-in (agent-only API) with default aggregator

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/concurrent_custom_agent_executors.py

@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 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: Concurrent Orchestration with Custom Agent Executors

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/concurrent_custom_aggregator.py

@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ from agent_framework import Message
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 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: Concurrent Orchestration with Custom Aggregator
@@ -86,9 +90,7 @@ async def main() -> None:
     #   • Default aggregator -> returns list[Message] (one user + one assistant per agent)
     #   • Custom callback    -> return value becomes workflow output (string here)
     #   The callback can be sync or async; it receives list[AgentExecutorResponse].
-    workflow = (
-        ConcurrentBuilder(participants=[researcher, marketer, legal]).with_aggregator(summarize_results).build()
-    )
+    workflow = ConcurrentBuilder(participants=[researcher, marketer, legal]).with_aggregator(summarize_results).build()
 
     events = await workflow.run("We are launching a new budget-friendly electric bike for urban commuters.")
     outputs = events.get_outputs()

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/group_chat_agent_manager.py

@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 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 with Agent-Based Manager

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/group_chat_philosophical_debate.py

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import GroupChatBuilder
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.WARNING)
 
@@ -40,6 +41,9 @@ Prerequisites:
 - OpenAI environment variables configured for OpenAIChatClient
 """
 
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
 
 def _get_chat_client() -> AzureOpenAIChatClient:
     return AzureOpenAIChatClient(credential=AzureCliCredential())

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/group_chat_simple_selector.py

@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import GroupChatBuilder, GroupChatState
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Group Chat with a round-robin speaker selector

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/handoff_autonomous.py

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import HandoffBuilder
 from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.ERROR)
 
@@ -35,6 +36,9 @@ Key Concepts:
     - Turn limits: use `.with_autonomous_mode(turn_limits={agent_name: N})` to cap iterations per agent
 """
 
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
 
 def create_agents(
     client: AzureOpenAIChatClient,

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/handoff_simple.py

@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 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: Simple handoff workflow.
 

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/handoff_with_code_interpreter_file.py

@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ 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()
 
 
 async def _drain(stream: AsyncIterable[WorkflowEvent]) -> list[WorkflowEvent]:

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/handoff_with_tool_approval_checkpoint_resume.py

@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ 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 with Tool Approvals + Checkpoint Resume

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/magentic.py

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from agent_framework import (
 )
 from agent_framework.openai import OpenAIChatClient, OpenAIResponsesClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import GroupChatRequestSentEvent, MagenticBuilder, MagenticProgressLedger
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.WARNING)
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -42,6 +43,9 @@ Prerequisites:
 - OpenAI credentials configured for `OpenAIChatClient` and `OpenAIResponsesClient`.
 """
 
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
 
 async def main() -> None:
     researcher_agent = Agent(

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/magentic_checkpoint.py

@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import MagenticBuilder, MagenticPlanReviewRequest
 from azure.identity._credentials import AzureCliCredential
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Magentic Orchestration + Checkpointing

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/magentic_human_plan_review.py

@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 )
 from agent_framework.openai import OpenAIChatClient
 from agent_framework.orchestrations import MagenticBuilder, MagenticPlanReviewRequest, MagenticPlanReviewResponse
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
 
 """
 Sample: Magentic Orchestration with Human Plan Review

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/sequential_agents.py

@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ from agent_framework import Message
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 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: Sequential workflow (agent-focused API) with shared conversation context

python/samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/sequential_custom_executors.py

@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ from agent_framework import (
 from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIChatClient
 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: Sequential workflow mixing agents and a custom summarizer executor