refactor: simplify --config implementation to reuse existing config system

- Reuse apply_saved() instead of custom override logic
- Add force parameter to override existing env vars
- Move validation to utils.py
- Prevent saving when using custom config (one-time override)
- Fix: don't modify ~/.strix/cli-config.json when --config is used

Co-Authored-By: FeedClogger <feedclogger@users.noreply.github.com>

strix/config/config.py

@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ class Config:
     # Telemetry
     strix_telemetry = "1"
 
+    # Config file override (set via --config CLI arg)
+    _config_file_override: Path | None = None
+
     @classmethod
     def _tracked_names(cls) -> list[str]:
         return [
@@ -83,6 +86,8 @@ class Config:
 
     @classmethod
     def config_file(cls) -> Path:
+        if cls._config_file_override is not None:
+            return cls._config_file_override
         return cls.config_dir() / "cli-config.json"
 
     @classmethod
@@ -101,7 +106,7 @@ class Config:
     def save(cls, config: dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
         try:
             cls.config_dir().mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-            config_path = cls.config_file()
+            config_path = cls.config_dir() / "cli-config.json"
             with config_path.open("w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
                 json.dump(config, f, indent=2)
         except OSError:
@@ -111,7 +116,7 @@ class Config:
         return True
 
     @classmethod
-    def apply_saved(cls) -> dict[str, str]:
+    def apply_saved(cls, force: bool = False) -> dict[str, str]:
         saved = cls.load()
         env_vars = saved.get("env", {})
         if not isinstance(env_vars, dict):
@@ -124,15 +129,17 @@ class Config:
         if cleared_vars:
             for var_name in cleared_vars:
                 env_vars.pop(var_name, None)
-            cls.save({"env": env_vars})
+            if cls._config_file_override is None:
+                cls.save({"env": env_vars})
         if cls._llm_env_changed(env_vars):
             for var_name in cls._llm_env_vars():
                 env_vars.pop(var_name, None)
-            cls.save({"env": env_vars})
+            if cls._config_file_override is None:
+                cls.save({"env": env_vars})
         applied = {}
 
         for var_name, var_value in env_vars.items():
-            if var_name in cls.tracked_vars() and var_name not in os.environ:
+            if var_name in cls.tracked_vars() and (force or var_name not in os.environ):
                 os.environ[var_name] = var_value
                 applied[var_name] = var_value
 
@@ -163,17 +170,9 @@ class Config:
 
         return cls.save({"env": merged})
 
-    @classmethod
-    def override(cls, key: str, value: str) -> None:
-        """Override a configuration variable dynamically."""
-        if hasattr(cls, key):
-            setattr(cls, key, value)
-        else:
-            os.environ[key] = value
 
-
-def apply_saved_config() -> dict[str, str]:
-    return Config.apply_saved()
+def apply_saved_config(force: bool = False) -> dict[str, str]:
+    return Config.apply_saved(force=force)
 
 
 def save_current_config() -> bool:

strix/interface/main.py

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ Strix Agent Interface
 
 import argparse
 import asyncio
-import json
 import logging
 import shutil
 import sys
@@ -36,6 +35,7 @@ from strix.interface.utils import (  # noqa: E402
     infer_target_type,
     process_pull_line,
     rewrite_localhost_targets,
+    validate_config_file,
     validate_llm_response,
 )
 from strix.runtime.docker_runtime import HOST_GATEWAY_HOSTNAME  # noqa: E402
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ Examples:
     parser.add_argument(
         "--config",
         type=str,
-        help="Path to the configuration file (.json)",
+        help="Path to a custom config file (JSON) to use instead of ~/.strix/cli-config.json",
     )
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
@@ -507,19 +507,14 @@ def pull_docker_image() -> None:
     console.print()
 
 
-def load_config_file(config_path: str):
-    if config_path.endswith(".json"):
-        try:
-            with open(config_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-                config_data = json.load(f)
-                for key, value in config_data.items():
-                    Config.override(key, str(value))  # Use Config class to override variables
-        except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError) as e:
-            print(f"Error loading JSON config file: {e}")
-            sys.exit(1)
-    else:
-        print("Unsupported config file format. Use .json.")
-        sys.exit(1)
+def apply_config_override(config_path: str) -> None:
+    Config._config_file_override = validate_config_file(config_path)
+    apply_saved_config(force=True)
+
+
+def persist_config() -> None:
+    if Config._config_file_override is None:
+        save_current_config()
 
 
 def main() -> None:
@@ -529,7 +524,7 @@ def main() -> None:
     args = parse_arguments()
 
     if args.config:
-        load_config_file(args.config)
+        apply_config_override(args.config)
 
     check_docker_installed()
     pull_docker_image()
@@ -537,7 +532,7 @@ def main() -> None:
     validate_environment()
     asyncio.run(warm_up_llm())
 
-    save_current_config()
+    persist_config()
 
     args.run_name = generate_run_name(args.targets_info)
 

strix/interface/utils.py

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import ipaddress
+import json
 import re
 import secrets
 import shutil
@@ -789,3 +790,33 @@ def process_pull_line(
 def validate_llm_response(response: Any) -> None:
     if not response or not response.choices or not response.choices[0].message.content:
         raise RuntimeError("Invalid response from LLM")
+
+
+def validate_config_file(config_path: str) -> Path:
+    console = Console()
+    path = Path(config_path)
+
+    if not path.exists():
+        console.print(f"[bold red]Error:[/] Config file not found: {config_path}")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    if path.suffix != ".json":
+        console.print("[bold red]Error:[/] Config file must be a .json file")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    try:
+        with path.open("r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            data = json.load(f)
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+        console.print(f"[bold red]Error:[/] Invalid JSON in config file: {e}")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    if not isinstance(data, dict):
+        console.print("[bold red]Error:[/] Config file must contain a JSON object")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    if "env" not in data or not isinstance(data.get("env"), dict):
+        console.print("[bold red]Error:[/] Config file must have an 'env' object")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    return path