pick up env vars for config (not just existing .env files)

src/tui/managers/env_manager.py

@@ -116,21 +116,8 @@ class EnvManager:
         return f"'{escaped_value}'"
 
     def load_existing_env(self) -> bool:
-        """Load existing .env file if it exists."""
+        """Load existing .env file if it exists, or fall back to environment variables."""
-        if not self.env_file.exists():
+        import os
-            return False
-
-        try:
-            with open(self.env_file, "r") as f:
-                for line in f:
-                    line = line.strip()
-                    if not line or line.startswith("#"):
-                        continue
-
-                    if "=" in line:
-                        key, value = line.split("=", 1)
-                        key = key.strip()
-                        value = sanitize_env_value(value)
         
         # Map env vars to config attributes
         attr_map = {
@@ -164,14 +151,40 @@ class EnvManager:
             "DISABLE_INGEST_WITH_LANGFLOW": "disable_ingest_with_langflow",
         }
         
+        loaded_from_file = False
+        
+        # Try to load from .env file first
+        if self.env_file.exists():
+            try:
+                with open(self.env_file, "r") as f:
+                    for line in f:
+                        line = line.strip()
+                        if not line or line.startswith("#"):
+                            continue
+
+                        if "=" in line:
+                            key, value = line.split("=", 1)
+                            key = key.strip()
+                            value = sanitize_env_value(value)
+
                             if key in attr_map:
                                 setattr(self.config, attr_map[key], value)
 
-            return True
+                loaded_from_file = True
 
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.error("Error loading .env file", error=str(e))
-            return False
+        
+        # Fall back to environment variables if .env file doesn't exist or failed to load
+        if not loaded_from_file:
+            logger.info("No .env file found, loading from environment variables")
+            for env_key, attr_name in attr_map.items():
+                value = os.environ.get(env_key, "")
+                if value:
+                    setattr(self.config, attr_name, value)
+            return True
+        
+        return loaded_from_file
 
     def setup_secure_defaults(self) -> None:
         """Set up secure default values for passwords and keys."""