From f2fe1414d65255a87ba925b31cd19c72d73de82f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: picoclaw <picoclaw@sipeed.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:31:05 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] `README.md` updated explain PICOCLAW_CONFIG and PICOCLAW_HOME

---
 README.md              | 25 +++++++++++++++++++++++++
 pkg/config/defaults.go |  1 -
 2 files changed, 25 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b040d0605..009860d7e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -623,6 +623,31 @@ Connect Picoclaw to the Agent Social Network simply by sending a single message
 
 Config file: `~/.picoclaw/config.json`
 
+### Environment Variables
+
+You can override default paths using environment variables. This is useful for portable installations, containerized deployments, or running picoclaw as a system service. These variables are independent and control different paths.
+
+| Variable          | Description                                                                                                                             | Default Path              |
+|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
+| `PICOCLAW_CONFIG` | Overrides the path to the configuration file. This directly tells picoclaw which `config.json` to load, ignoring all other locations. | `~/.picoclaw/config.json` |
+| `PICOCLAW_HOME`   | Overrides the root directory for picoclaw data. This changes the default location of the `workspace` and other data directories.          | `~/.picoclaw`             |
+
+**Examples:**
+
+```bash
+# Run picoclaw using a specific config file
+# The workspace path will be read from within that config file
+PICOCLAW_CONFIG=/etc/picoclaw/production.json picoclaw gateway
+
+# Run picoclaw with all its data stored in /opt/picoclaw
+# Config will be loaded from the default ~/.picoclaw/config.json
+# Workspace will be created at /opt/picoclaw/workspace
+PICOCLAW_HOME=/opt/picoclaw picoclaw agent
+
+# Use both for a fully customized setup
+PICOCLAW_HOME=/srv/picoclaw PICOCLAW_CONFIG=/srv/picoclaw/main.json picoclaw gateway
+```
+
 ### Workspace Layout
 
 PicoClaw stores data in your configured workspace (default: `~/.picoclaw/workspace`):
diff --git a/pkg/config/defaults.go b/pkg/config/defaults.go
index 6df20dd4e..9313623d1 100644
--- a/pkg/config/defaults.go
+++ b/pkg/config/defaults.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 		Agents: AgentsConfig{
 			Defaults: AgentDefaults{
 				Workspace:           workspacePath,
-
 				RestrictToWorkspace: true,
 				Provider:            "",
 				Model:               "",