more env variables

backend/main.py

@@ -146,6 +146,20 @@ if config.get('authentication', {}).get('enabled', False):
     if _is_default_secret:
         logger.critical("Using default secret_key - sessions can be forged! Change it in config.yaml")
 
+# Storage paths: env vars override config.yaml. Logged either way so the
+# resolved location is visible at startup.
+_notes_source = "config.yaml"
+if 'NOTES_DIR' in os.environ:
+    config['storage']['notes_dir'] = os.getenv('NOTES_DIR')
+    _notes_source = "NOTES_DIR env var"
+logger.info("Notes directory: %s (from %s)", config['storage']['notes_dir'], _notes_source)
+
+_plugins_source = "config.yaml"
+if 'PLUGINS_DIR' in os.environ:
+    config['storage']['plugins_dir'] = os.getenv('PLUGINS_DIR')
+    _plugins_source = "PLUGINS_DIR env var"
+logger.info("Plugins directory: %s (from %s)", config['storage']['plugins_dir'], _plugins_source)
+
 # OpenAPI tag metadata for grouping endpoints in Swagger UI
 tags_metadata = [
     {"name": "Notes", "description": "Create, read, update, delete notes"},

documentation/ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLES.md

@@ -12,6 +12,30 @@ NoteDiscovery supports environment variables to override configuration settings,
 
 > **Note**: Advanced server settings (CORS origins, debug mode) are configured via `config.yaml` only, not via environment variables. See [config.yaml](#advanced-server-configuration) for details.
 
+### Storage
+
+| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
+|----------|------|---------|-------------|
+| `NOTES_DIR` | string | `./data` | Path to the notes vault |
+| `PLUGINS_DIR` | string | `./plugins` | Path to the plugins directory |
+
+The resolved paths are logged at startup so you can confirm what's in use:
+
+```
+INFO:     Notes directory: /home/me/MyVault (from NOTES_DIR env var)
+INFO:     Plugins directory: ./plugins (from config.yaml)
+```
+
+#### Example: Pointing at an existing vault
+
+```bash
+# Local
+NOTES_DIR=/home/me/MyVault python run.py
+
+# Docker
+docker run -e NOTES_DIR=/vault -v /home/me/MyVault:/vault ...
+```
+
 ### Authentication
 
 | Variable | Type | Default | Description |

run.py

@@ -16,26 +16,21 @@ except ImportError:
     colorama = None
 
 def get_port():
-    """Get port from: 1) ENV variable, 2) config.yaml, 3) default 8000"""
-    # Priority 1: Environment variable
+    """Get port from: 1) PORT env var, 2) config.yaml, 3) default 8000."""
     if os.getenv("PORT"):
         return os.getenv("PORT")
-    
-    # Priority 2: config.yaml
     config_path = Path("config.yaml")
     if config_path.exists():
         try:
             import yaml
             with open(config_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
-                config = yaml.safe_load(f)
-                if config and 'server' in config and 'port' in config['server']:
-                    return str(config['server']['port'])
+                cfg = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
+                return str(cfg.get('server', {}).get('port', 8000))
         except Exception:
-            pass  # Fall through to default
-    
-    # Priority 3: Default
+            pass
     return "8000"
 
+
 def main():
     try:
         import fastapi  # noqa: F401
@@ -44,13 +39,8 @@ def main():
         print("Installing dependencies...")
         subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, "-m", "pip", "install", "-r", "requirements.txt"])
 
-    Path("data").mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    Path("plugins").mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-
     port = get_port()
-
-    print(f"🚀 NoteDiscovery → http://localhost:{port}")
-    print(f"   notes: ./data/   plugins: ./plugins/   stop: Ctrl+C")
+    print(f"🚀 NoteDiscovery → http://localhost:{port}  (Ctrl+C to stop)")
     print()
 
     subprocess.call([