fix: runtime config update ignored by config file

Runtime settings were handed back to pydantic-settings as init settings,
which rank below the config file and the environment. Any key already
present in EOS.config.json or in the environment silently discarded the
update, so a bulk PUT /v1/config returned 200 without applying anything,
while the granular PUT /v1/config/{path} endpoint kept working.

Add a dedicated runtime settings source ranked directly below the command
line arguments and record granular updates there as well, so both
endpoints share one store that survives re-evaluation of the settings
sources. Environment variables keep precedence over the config file for
all keys that were not set at runtime.

Also repairs revert_settings() and update(), which passed their data
through the same init settings.

Closes #1303

docs/akkudoktoreos/configuration.md

@@ -40,10 +40,15 @@ Use endpoint `POST /v1/config/reset` to reset the configuration to the values in
 
 The configuration sources and their priorities are as follows:
 
-1. `Settings`: Provided during runtime by the REST interface
-2. `Environment Variables`: Defined at startup of the REST server and during runtime
-3. `EOS Configuration File`: Read at startup of the REST server and on request
-4. `Default Values`
+1. `Command Line Arguments`: Provided at startup of the REST server
+2. `Settings`: Provided during runtime by the REST interface
+3. `Environment Variables`: Defined at startup of the REST server and during runtime
+4. `EOS Configuration File`: Read at startup of the REST server and on request
+5. `Default Values`
+
+Runtime settings are kept until they are reset by `POST /v1/config/reset`. All other sources are
+re-evaluated on every configuration change, which keeps environment variable changes effective for
+all configuration keys that were not set during runtime.
 
 ### Runtime Config Updates
 

src/akkudoktoreos/config/config.py

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import json
 import os
 import sys
 import tempfile
+from copy import deepcopy
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Callable, ClassVar, Optional, Type, Union
 
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ from akkudoktoreos.core.emsettings import (
 )
 from akkudoktoreos.core.logabc import LOGGING_LEVELS
 from akkudoktoreos.core.logsettings import LoggingCommonSettings
-from akkudoktoreos.core.pydantic import PydanticModelNestedValueMixin, merge_models
+from akkudoktoreos.core.pydantic import PydanticModelNestedValueMixin, deep_merge
 from akkudoktoreos.core.version import __version__
 from akkudoktoreos.devices.devices import DevicesCommonSettings
 from akkudoktoreos.measurement.measurement import MeasurementCommonSettings
@@ -396,6 +397,8 @@ class ConfigEOS(SingletonMixin, SettingsEOSDefaults):
     }
     _config_file_path: ClassVar[Optional[Path]] = None
     _config_autosave: ClassVar[str] = ""
+    # Settings provided at runtime, e.g. by the REST interface. Highest priority after CLI.
+    _runtime_settings: ClassVar[dict[str, Any]] = {}
     _force_documentation_mode = False
 
     def __hash__(self) -> int:
@@ -519,6 +522,14 @@ class ConfigEOS(SingletonMixin, SettingsEOSDefaults):
 
             return settings
 
+        def lazy_runtime_settings() -> dict:
+            """Runtime settings.
+
+            Settings provided during runtime, e.g. by the REST interface. They supersede any
+            setting from the environment or the configuration file until they are reset.
+            """
+            return deepcopy(cls._runtime_settings)
+
         def lazy_config_file_settings() -> dict:
             """Config file settings.
 
@@ -668,6 +679,7 @@ class ConfigEOS(SingletonMixin, SettingsEOSDefaults):
         # runtime configuration.
         setting_sources = [
             lazy_config_cli_settings,  # Prio high
+            lazy_runtime_settings,  # settings provided during runtime
             lazy_env_settings,
             lazy_dotenv_settings,
             lazy_config_file_settings,  # resolves/creates config file path
@@ -741,11 +753,10 @@ class ConfigEOS(SingletonMixin, SettingsEOSDefaults):
         )
 
     def merge_settings_from_dict(self, data: dict) -> None:
-        """Merges the provided dictionary data into the current instance.
+        """Merges the provided dictionary data into the runtime settings.
 
-        Creates a new settings instance, then applies the dictionary data through validation,
-        and finally merges the validated settings into the current instance. None values
-        are not merged.
+        The data is added to the runtime settings, which have priority over the environment and
+        the EOS configuration file. All configuration sources are re-evaluated afterwards.
 
         Args:
             data (dict): Dictionary containing field values to merge into the
@@ -762,18 +773,58 @@ class ConfigEOS(SingletonMixin, SettingsEOSDefaults):
                 config.merge_settings_from_dict(new_data)
 
         """
-        merged = merge_models(
-            self,
-            data,
-        )
+        previous_settings = ConfigEOS._runtime_settings
+        ConfigEOS._runtime_settings = deep_merge(previous_settings, deepcopy(data))
+        try:
+            self._setup()
+        except Exception:
+            # Keep the runtime settings in sync with the actual configuration
+            ConfigEOS._runtime_settings = previous_settings
+            raise
 
-        self._setup(**merged)
+    def set_nested_value(self, path: str, value: Any) -> None:
+        """Set a nested configuration value and remember it as runtime setting.
+
+        Args:
+            path (str): A '/'-separated path to the nested attribute (e.g. "server/port").
+            value (Any): The new value to set.
+        """
+        super().set_nested_value(path, value)
+
+        # Remember as runtime setting to survive re-evaluation of the configuration sources.
+        # List indices can not be expressed by the settings dictionary - remember the whole list.
+        keys = []
+        for key in path.strip("/").split("/"):
+            if key.isdigit():
+                break
+            keys.append(key)
+        setting = self.get_nested_value("/".join(keys))
+        if isinstance(setting, SettingsBaseModel):
+            setting = setting.model_dump(
+                exclude_none=True, exclude_unset=True, exclude_computed_fields=True
+            )
+        elif isinstance(setting, list):
+            setting = [
+                item.model_dump(
+                    exclude_none=True, exclude_unset=True, exclude_computed_fields=True
+                )
+                if isinstance(item, SettingsBaseModel)
+                else item
+                for item in setting
+            ]
+        runtime_setting: dict[str, Any] = {}
+        node = runtime_setting
+        for key in keys[:-1]:
+            node = node.setdefault(key, {})
+        node[keys[-1]] = setting
+        ConfigEOS._runtime_settings = deep_merge(ConfigEOS._runtime_settings, runtime_setting)
 
     def reset_settings(self) -> None:
         """Reset all changed settings to environment/config file defaults.
 
         This functions basically deletes the settings provided before.
         """
+        ConfigEOS._runtime_settings = {}
         self._setup()
 
     def revert_settings(self, backup_id: str) -> None:
@@ -812,7 +863,11 @@ class ConfigEOS(SingletonMixin, SettingsEOSDefaults):
             backup_data: dict[str, Any] = json.load(f)
         backup_settings = migrate_config_data(backup_data)
 
-        self._setup(**backup_settings.model_dump(exclude_none=True, exclude_unset=True))
+        # Backup settings are runtime settings - they supersede environment and config file.
+        ConfigEOS._runtime_settings = backup_settings.model_dump(
+            exclude_none=True, exclude_defaults=True, exclude_computed_fields=True
+        )
+        self._setup()
 
     def list_backups(self) -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:
         """List available configuration backup files and extract metadata.
@@ -1094,11 +1149,11 @@ class ConfigEOS(SingletonMixin, SettingsEOSDefaults):
         """Updates all configuration fields.
 
         This method updates all configuration fields using the following order for value retrieval:
-            1. Current settings.
+            1. Runtime settings.
             2. Environment variables.
             3. EOS configuration file.
             4. Field default constants.
 
         The first non None value in priority order is taken.
         """
-        self._setup(**self.model_dump())
+        self._setup()

src/akkudoktoreos/core/pydantic.py

@@ -65,6 +65,37 @@ from akkudoktoreos.utils.datetimeutil import (
 _model_private_state: "weakref.WeakKeyDictionary[Union[PydanticBaseModel, PydanticModelNestedValueMixin], Dict[str, Any]]" = weakref.WeakKeyDictionary()
 
 
+def deep_merge(source_data: Any, update_data: Any) -> Any:
+    """Merge two data structures recursively.
+
+    Values in update_data (including None) override source values.
+    Nested dictionaries are merged recursively.
+    Lists in update_data replace source lists entirely.
+
+    Args:
+        source_data (Any): Data to merge into.
+        update_data (Any): Data to merge from.
+
+    Returns:
+        Any: The merged data.
+    """
+    if isinstance(source_data, dict) and isinstance(update_data, dict):
+        merged = dict(source_data)
+        for key, update_value in update_data.items():
+            if key in merged:
+                merged[key] = deep_merge(merged[key], update_value)
+            else:
+                merged[key] = update_value
+        return merged
+
+    # If both are lists, replace source list with update list
+    if isinstance(source_data, list) and isinstance(update_data, list):
+        return update_data
+
+    # For other types or if update_data is None, override source_data
+    return update_data
+
+
 def merge_models(source: BaseModel, update_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Merge a Pydantic model instance with an update dictionary.
 
@@ -83,23 +114,6 @@ def merge_models(source: BaseModel, update_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, An
         dict[str, Any]: Merged dictionary representing combined model data.
     """
 
-    def deep_merge(source_data: Any, update_data: Any) -> Any:
-        if isinstance(source_data, dict) and isinstance(update_data, dict):
-            merged = dict(source_data)
-            for key, update_value in update_data.items():
-                if key in merged:
-                    merged[key] = deep_merge(merged[key], update_value)
-                else:
-                    merged[key] = update_value
-            return merged
-
-        # If both are lists, replace source list with update list
-        if isinstance(source_data, list) and isinstance(update_data, list):
-            return update_data
-
-        # For other types or if update_data is None, override source_data
-        return update_data
-
     source_dict = source.model_dump(
         exclude_unset=True,
         exclude_computed_fields=True,

tests/test_config.py

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import json
 import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Optional, Union
@@ -547,3 +548,133 @@ def test_merge_settings_empty(config_eos):
     config_eos.merge_settings_from_dict({})  # No changes
 
     assert config_eos.general.latitude == original_latitude  # Should remain unchanged
+
+
+# ------------------------------------
+# Runtime settings priority (issue #1303)
+# ------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def config_eos_file(config_eos_factory) -> ConfigEOS:
+    """ConfigEOS with the EOS configuration file as an active settings source."""
+    return config_eos_factory(
+        init={
+            "with_init_settings": True,
+            "with_env_settings": True,
+            "with_dotenv_settings": False,
+            "with_file_settings": True,
+            "with_file_secret_settings": False,
+        }
+    )
+
+
+def write_config_file(config_eos: ConfigEOS, settings: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    """Write settings to the EOS configuration file and load them."""
+    settings = {"general": {"version": config_eos.general.version}, **settings}
+    config_file_path = config_eos.general.config_file_path
+    assert config_file_path is not None
+    config_file_path.write_text(json.dumps(settings), encoding="utf-8")
+    config_eos.reset_settings()
+
+
+def test_merge_settings_overrides_config_file(config_eos_file):
+    """Runtime settings take precedence over the EOS configuration file."""
+    write_config_file(
+        config_eos_file,
+        {
+            "optimization": {"genetic": {"individuals": 200}},
+            "pvforecast": {
+                "planes": [
+                    {"surface_tilt": 30.0, "surface_azimuth": azimuth, "peakpower": 5.0}
+                    for azimuth in (0.0, 90.0, 180.0, 270.0)
+                ]
+            },
+        },
+    )
+    assert config_eos_file.optimization.genetic.individuals == 200
+    assert len(config_eos_file.pvforecast.planes) == 4
+
+    config_eos_file.merge_settings_from_dict(
+        {
+            "optimization": {"genetic": {"individuals": 300}},
+            "pvforecast": {
+                "planes": [{"surface_tilt": 30.0, "surface_azimuth": 180.0, "peakpower": 5.0}]
+            },
+        }
+    )
+
+    assert config_eos_file.optimization.genetic.individuals == 300
+    assert len(config_eos_file.pvforecast.planes) == 1
+
+
+def test_merge_settings_overrides_env(config_eos_file, monkeypatch):
+    """Runtime settings take precedence over environment variables."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv("EOS_OPTIMIZATION__GENETIC__INDIVIDUALS", "150")
+    config_eos_file.reset_settings()
+    assert config_eos_file.optimization.genetic.individuals == 150
+
+    config_eos_file.merge_settings_from_dict({"optimization": {"genetic": {"individuals": 300}}})
+
+    assert config_eos_file.optimization.genetic.individuals == 300
+
+
+def test_env_overrides_config_file_after_merge(config_eos_file, monkeypatch):
+    """Environment variables keep precedence over the config file for untouched keys."""
+    write_config_file(config_eos_file, {"server": {"port": 9000}})
+    monkeypatch.setenv("EOS_SERVER__PORT", "9500")
+    config_eos_file.reset_settings()
+    assert config_eos_file.server.port == 9500
+
+    # A runtime update of an unrelated key must not freeze the env value
+    config_eos_file.merge_settings_from_dict({"general": {"latitude": 51.1657}})
+    assert config_eos_file.general.latitude == 51.1657
+    assert config_eos_file.server.port == 9500
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("EOS_SERVER__PORT", "9600")
+    config_eos_file.reset_settings()
+    assert config_eos_file.server.port == 9600
+
+
+def test_reset_settings_drops_runtime_settings(config_eos_file):
+    """Reset drops runtime settings and falls back to the config file."""
+    write_config_file(config_eos_file, {"optimization": {"genetic": {"individuals": 200}}})
+
+    config_eos_file.merge_settings_from_dict({"optimization": {"genetic": {"individuals": 300}}})
+    assert config_eos_file.optimization.genetic.individuals == 300
+
+    config_eos_file.reset_settings()
+    assert config_eos_file.optimization.genetic.individuals == 200
+
+
+def test_set_nested_value_survives_merge(config_eos_file):
+    """Granular updates are not lost by a later bulk update."""
+    write_config_file(config_eos_file, {"optimization": {"genetic": {"individuals": 200}}})
+
+    config_eos_file.set_nested_value("optimization/genetic/individuals", 400)
+    assert config_eos_file.optimization.genetic.individuals == 400
+
+    config_eos_file.merge_settings_from_dict({"general": {"latitude": 51.1657}})
+    assert config_eos_file.optimization.genetic.individuals == 400
+
+
+def test_revert_settings_restores_backup(config_eos_file):
+    """Revert restores the backup values even if the config file differs."""
+    write_config_file(config_eos_file, {"optimization": {"genetic": {"individuals": 200}}})
+
+    config_file_path = config_eos_file.general.config_file_path
+    assert config_file_path is not None
+    backup_path = config_file_path.with_suffix(".backup")
+    backup_path.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "general": {"version": config_eos_file.general.version},
+                "optimization": {"genetic": {"individuals": 500}},
+            }
+        ),
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+
+    config_eos_file.revert_settings("backup")
+
+    assert config_eos_file.optimization.genetic.individuals == 500