When reading configuration from multiple sources (function arguments, environment variables, config files, defaults), implement and preserve a single, explicit precedence order, and ensure user-provided overrides beat environment-derived values. Apply this consistently: - Define precedence clearly (example: “args > env vars > config > defaults”) and make the assignment/merge logic follow that order. - When combining settings (e.g., proxy mounts/transports), merge so that explicit/user-provided values override environment-derived ones. - Use syntax compatible with the project’s supported Python versions when merging/combining dicts (avoid newer operators if you must support older versions). - In tests for env-driven behavior, assert stable, externally meaningful outcomes (e.g., correct mount presence/pattern), but avoid brittle checks that depend on internal transport behavior. Example pattern (proxy mounts precedence): ```python # env_proxies: dict[str, str|None] proxy_map = {k: None if v is None else Proxy(url=v) for k, v in get_environment_proxies().items()} proxy_mounts = { k: None if p is None else AsyncHTTPTransport(proxy=p, **transport_kwargs) for k, p in proxy_map.items() } # User mounts override env-derived mounts mounts = dict(proxy_mounts) mounts.update(kwargs.get("mounts", {})) kwargs["mounts"] = mounts ```