diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f06cb93..82a6dd9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ CLI help:
 ```sh
 audita --help
 audita process --help
+audita config --help
 ```
 
 ## Test
@@ -65,6 +66,16 @@ audita process transcript.json \
   --report-json report.json
 ```
 
+Recommended config-based run:
+
+```sh
+audita process transcript.json \
+  --glossary glossary.yaml \
+  --config audita.yml \
+  --output corrected.json \
+  --report-json report.json
+```
+
 Explicit module override:
 
 ```sh
@@ -116,8 +127,18 @@ For subprocess orchestration guidance, see [`docs/subprocess-operations.md`](doc
 
 Precedence:
 1. defaults
-2. environment (`AUDITA_*`)
-3. CLI flags
+2. config file (`--config`, `AUDITA_CONFIG`, or `/etc/audita/config.yml` when present)
+3. environment (`AUDITA_*`)
+4. CLI flags
+
+Config commands:
+
+```sh
+audita config validate --config audita.yml
+audita config print-effective --config audita.yml
+```
+
+For full config-file schema and examples, see [`docs/configuration.md`](docs/configuration.md).
 
 ### Modules
 
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index fb9421e..4997ef9 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -140,14 +140,20 @@ internal/framework/llm/
 ```
 
 ## Current CLI behavior
-Primary command:
+Primary commands:
 
 ```sh
 audita process <transcript.json> --glossary <glossary.yaml> [flags]
+audita config validate --config <config.yml>
+audita config print-effective [--config <config.yml>]
 ```
 
 Current runtime flow (`internal/cli/run.go`):
-1. Load config from env.
+1. Build runtime config from:
+   - defaults;
+   - file config source (`--config`, `AUDITA_CONFIG`, or `/etc/audita/config.yml` when present);
+   - environment overrides;
+   - CLI overrides.
 2. Parse flags and apply CLI overrides.
 3. Validate transcript positional argument and required `--glossary`.
 4. Create per-run diagnostics directory.
@@ -168,6 +174,15 @@ Current runtime flow (`internal/cli/run.go`):
 15. Optionally write `--report-json`; always write run-dir `report.json`.
 16. Apply work-dir retention.
 
+Config command behavior (`internal/cli/run.go`):
+- `audita config validate --config <path>`:
+  - loads and validates a versioned YAML config file;
+  - does not require transcript or glossary inputs.
+- `audita config print-effective [--config <path>]`:
+  - builds effective config from defaults + file config + env overrides;
+  - prints redacted JSON to stdout;
+  - does not require transcript or glossary inputs.
+
 Parity fixture status:
 - representative Python-parity fixture coverage exists under `internal/cli/testdata/parity`;
 - parity tests use fake structured LLM responses for deterministic behavior, including default full-pipeline shape assertions;
@@ -212,10 +227,34 @@ Optional:
 - `aliases`, `plural`
 
 ## Implemented config/env/flag behavior
-Precedence:
+Precedence for `audita process`:
 1. defaults (`config.Default()`)
-2. environment (`config.LoadFromEnv()`)
-3. CLI flags (`ApplyCLIOverrides`)
+2. config file (if resolved from `--config`, `AUDITA_CONFIG`, or default path)
+3. environment overrides
+4. CLI flags (`ApplyCLIOverrides`)
+
+File-config source behavior:
+- explicit `--config <path>`:
+  - required to exist, otherwise process fails clearly.
+- `AUDITA_CONFIG` (when `--config` is not provided):
+  - required to exist, otherwise process fails clearly.
+- default path `/etc/audita/config.yml` (when neither explicit source is provided):
+  - used only when present;
+  - silently ignored when missing.
+
+Versioned file-config behavior (`internal/core/config/file_config.go`):
+- supported version: `version: 1`;
+- missing version fails;
+- unsupported version fails;
+- strict unknown-field rejection is enabled.
+
+`api_key_env` behavior:
+- file config can declare API key environment variable names for proposal/validation LLM settings;
+- runtime resolves those names from the process environment during config application;
+- no direct API-key value field is supported in file config.
+
+Redaction behavior:
+- effective config artifacts and `audita config print-effective` both use the same redaction path (`Config.Redacted()`), so API keys are not emitted in plaintext.
 
 Implemented config surfaces include:
 - module list
@@ -229,6 +268,7 @@ Implemented config surfaces include:
 
 Current caveat:
 - LLM/module-related settings are active for default and explicit module-run paths.
+- compatibility environment variables and lower-level CLI tuning flags remain available while the preferred config-driven surface is adopted.
 
 Transcript description behavior:
 - `--transcript-description` is a process-flag input for optional user-supplied background context.
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc99c93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+# Audita Configuration
+
+This document describes Audita's versioned YAML config support and related commands.
+
+## Purpose
+
+Audita's config file provides a stable place for pipeline defaults and runtime tuning that would otherwise require many environment variables or CLI flags.
+
+Use config files for baseline settings, then use environment variables and CLI flags for deployment and per-run overrides.
+
+## Supported version
+
+Current supported config version:
+
+- `version: 1`
+
+Rules:
+
+- missing `version` fails validation;
+- unknown versions fail validation;
+- unknown fields fail validation (strict decoding).
+
+## Config path resolution
+
+For `audita process`, config path resolution is:
+
+1. `--config <path>` if provided
+2. `AUDITA_CONFIG` if set and `--config` is not provided
+3. default `/etc/audita/config.yml` if present
+
+Missing-file behavior:
+
+- missing `--config` path: hard failure;
+- missing `AUDITA_CONFIG` path: hard failure;
+- missing `/etc/audita/config.yml`: non-fatal, run continues.
+
+## Precedence model
+
+Effective config precedence is:
+
+1. built-in defaults
+2. file config
+3. environment overrides
+4. CLI overrides
+
+## Supported YAML fields
+
+```yaml
+version: 1
+
+pipeline:
+  modules: [glossary, homophones, glossary, spoken_word, grammar]
+
+llm:
+  proposal:
+    base_url: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+    model: openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it
+    api_key_env: AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY
+    timeout: 120s
+    max_retries: 3
+
+  validation:
+    base_url: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+    model: openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it
+    api_key_env: AUDITA_VALIDATION_LLM_API_KEY
+    timeout: 120s
+    max_retries: 3
+
+concurrency:
+  total_llm: 2
+  proposal_llm: 2
+  validation_llm: 1
+
+chunking:
+  target_sections: 8
+  max_section_tokens: 8192
+  min_section_tokens: 2048
+
+normalization:
+  max_segment_gap: 4s
+  ellipsis_gap: 3.5s
+  max_segment_duration: 60s
+  max_segment_tokens: 2048
+
+thresholds:
+  glossary: 0.8
+  homophones: 0.8
+  spoken_word: 0.8
+  grammar: 0.8
+
+context:
+  description: "optional transcript background context"
+
+diagnostics:
+  work_dir: /tmp/audita
+  retention: auto
+```
+
+Duration-like fields accept either:
+
+- numeric seconds (for example `120`, `3.5`), or
+- duration strings (for example `120s`, `2m`).
+
+For LLM timeouts, duration strings must resolve to whole seconds.
+
+## Secret handling
+
+Use `api_key_env` for secrets:
+
+- `llm.proposal.api_key_env`
+- `llm.validation.api_key_env`
+
+These fields must contain environment variable names, not secret values.
+
+At runtime, Audita resolves those names from the process environment.
+
+Redaction behavior:
+
+- run diagnostics `effective-config.json` is redacted;
+- `audita config print-effective` output is redacted;
+- API keys are never emitted in plaintext by those outputs.
+
+## Config commands
+
+Validate a config file:
+
+```sh
+audita config validate --config ./audita.yml
+```
+
+Print redacted effective config:
+
+```sh
+audita config print-effective --config ./audita.yml
+```
+
+`print-effective` loads defaults, then file config, then environment overrides.
+
+## Example: local OpenAI-compatible endpoint
+
+```yaml
+version: 1
+
+llm:
+  proposal:
+    base_url: http://localhost:8000/v1
+    model: local/proposal-model
+    api_key_env: AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY
+    timeout: 90s
+    max_retries: 2
+
+  validation:
+    base_url: http://localhost:8000/v1
+    model: local/validation-model
+    api_key_env: AUDITA_VALIDATION_LLM_API_KEY
+    timeout: 90s
+    max_retries: 2
+
+pipeline:
+  modules: [glossary, homophones, glossary, spoken_word, grammar]
+
+diagnostics:
+  work_dir: /tmp/audita
+  retention: auto
+```
+
+## Compatibility notes
+
+Existing environment variables and lower-level CLI flags remain available for compatibility.
+
+Current guidance:
+
+- prefer file config for baseline behavior;
+- keep environment variables for secrets/deployment-specific overrides;
+- use CLI flags for per-run overrides.
diff --git a/docs/roadmap.md b/docs/roadmap.md
index fea25b0..016c91f 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap.md
@@ -205,6 +205,25 @@ Update architecture documentation to explain:
 
 Introduce a versioned configuration file and clarify which settings are stable CLI flags, which settings belong in config, and which settings should remain environment-only.
 
+## Implementation status (2026-05-13)
+
+This workstream is now implemented for runtime loading and basic command surface:
+- versioned YAML file config with strict unknown-field rejection and `version: 1` validation;
+- runtime config-source behavior for `audita process`:
+  - defaults;
+  - config file (`--config`, then `AUDITA_CONFIG`, then `/etc/audita/config.yml` if present);
+  - environment overrides;
+  - CLI overrides;
+- explicit missing-file errors for `--config` and `AUDITA_CONFIG`, with non-fatal missing default-path behavior;
+- `api_key_env` support in file config for proposal and validation LLM credentials;
+- config command surface:
+  - `audita config validate --config <path>`
+  - `audita config print-effective [--config <path>]`
+- redacted effective-config behavior preserved across diagnostics and config printing;
+- compatibility environment variables and lower-level process flags remain available.
+
+This status update applies only to versioned config support and config commands. Output schema registries, broader public-contract work, validator refactors, prompt-asset registries, utilization diagnostics, and correction ledgers remain planned.
+
 This phase should happen early because later workstreams need clean config locations for prompt registry settings, output schema selection, validator settings, diagnostics settings, and concurrency tuning.
 
 ## Configuration precedence
diff --git a/docs/subprocess-operations.md b/docs/subprocess-operations.md
index b17385b..f35f137 100644
--- a/docs/subprocess-operations.md
+++ b/docs/subprocess-operations.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ audita process <transcript.json> \
 ```
 
 Recommended additions:
+- `--config <path>` to select an explicit versioned config file.
 - `--work-dir <dir>` to control diagnostics location.
 - `--work-dir-retention <always|auto|never>` to control retained run directories.
 - `--total-llm-concurrency`, `--proposal-llm-concurrency`, and `--validation-llm-concurrency` when orchestration needs explicit LLM throughput controls.
diff --git a/internal/cli/run.go b/internal/cli/run.go
index 90c75f4..c442bfb 100644
--- a/internal/cli/run.go
+++ b/internal/cli/run.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package cli
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
@@ -50,6 +51,8 @@ type processInvocation struct {
 	OutputPath      string
 	ReportJSONPath  string
 	Config          config.Config
+	ConfigPath      string
+	ConfigSource    string
 	ExplicitModules bool
 }
 
@@ -79,6 +82,8 @@ var processRunner = func(inv processInvocation, stdout io.Writer) (*normalizatio
 		GlossaryPath:          inv.GlossaryPath,
 		OutputPath:            inv.OutputPath,
 		ReportJSONPath:        inv.ReportJSONPath,
+		ConfigPath:            inv.ConfigPath,
+		ConfigSource:          inv.ConfigSource,
 		TranscriptDescription: inv.Config.TranscriptDescription,
 		Modules:               append([]string(nil), inv.Config.Modules...),
 	}); err != nil {
@@ -340,6 +345,9 @@ func Run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 	if args[0] == "process" {
 		return runProcess(args[1:], stdout, stderr)
 	}
+	if args[0] == "config" {
+		return runConfig(args[1:], stdout, stderr)
+	}
 
 	fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita: unknown command %q\n\n", args[0])
 	writeRootUsage(stderr)
@@ -349,8 +357,30 @@ func Run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 func runProcess(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 	startedAt := time.Now().UTC()
 
-	cfg, err := config.LoadFromEnv()
+	configPathOverride, configPathOverrideSet, err := findConfigPathOverride(args)
 	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita process: invalid CLI configuration: %v\n", err)
+		return 2
+	}
+	configPath, configSource, err := resolveConfigPath(configPathOverride, configPathOverrideSet, os.LookupEnv)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita process: %v\n", err)
+		return 2
+	}
+
+	cfg := config.Default()
+	if configPath != "" {
+		fileCfg, fileErr := config.LoadFileConfig(configPath)
+		if fileErr != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita process: invalid config file: %v\n", fileErr)
+			return 2
+		}
+		if applyErr := cfg.ApplyFileConfig(fileCfg); applyErr != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita process: invalid config file: %v\n", applyErr)
+			return 2
+		}
+	}
+	if err := cfg.ApplyEnvOverrides(); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita process: invalid environment configuration: %v\n", err)
 		return 2
 	}
@@ -472,6 +502,8 @@ func runProcess(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 		OutputPath:      *pFlags.outputPath,
 		ReportJSONPath:  *pFlags.reportJSONPath,
 		Config:          cfg,
+		ConfigPath:      configPath,
+		ConfigSource:    configSource,
 		ExplicitModules: explicitModules,
 	}
 
@@ -541,6 +573,114 @@ func runProcess(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 	return 0
 }
 
+func runConfig(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
+	if len(args) == 0 || isHelpCommand(args) || hasHelpFlag(args) {
+		writeConfigUsage(stdout)
+		return 0
+	}
+
+	switch args[0] {
+	case "validate":
+		return runConfigValidate(args[1:], stdout, stderr)
+	case "print-effective":
+		return runConfigPrintEffective(args[1:], stdout, stderr)
+	default:
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita config: unknown command %q\n\n", args[0])
+		writeConfigUsage(stderr)
+		return 2
+	}
+}
+
+func runConfigValidate(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
+	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("config validate", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	fs.SetOutput(stderr)
+	configPath := fs.String("config", "", "Path to versioned YAML config file")
+
+	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, flag.ErrHelp) {
+			writeConfigValidateUsage(stdout)
+			return 0
+		}
+		return 2
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(*configPath) == "" {
+		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "audita config validate: --config is required")
+		return 2
+	}
+	if len(fs.Args()) != 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "audita config validate: unexpected positional arguments")
+		return 2
+	}
+
+	fileCfg, err := config.LoadFileConfig(strings.TrimSpace(*configPath))
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita config validate: %v\n", err)
+		return 2
+	}
+	cfg := config.Default()
+	if err := cfg.ApplyFileConfig(fileCfg); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita config validate: %v\n", err)
+		return 2
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintln(stdout, "config is valid")
+	return 0
+}
+
+func runConfigPrintEffective(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
+	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("config print-effective", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	fs.SetOutput(stderr)
+	configPath := fs.String("config", "", "Path to versioned YAML config file")
+	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, flag.ErrHelp) {
+			writeConfigPrintEffectiveUsage(stdout)
+			return 0
+		}
+		return 2
+	}
+	if len(fs.Args()) != 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "audita config print-effective: unexpected positional arguments")
+		return 2
+	}
+
+	configPathValue := strings.TrimSpace(*configPath)
+	configPathSet := configPathValue != ""
+	path, _, err := resolveConfigPath(configPathValue, configPathSet, os.LookupEnv)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita config print-effective: %v\n", err)
+		return 2
+	}
+
+	cfg := config.Default()
+	if path != "" {
+		fileCfg, fileErr := config.LoadFileConfig(path)
+		if fileErr != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita config print-effective: %v\n", fileErr)
+			return 2
+		}
+		if applyErr := cfg.ApplyFileConfig(fileCfg); applyErr != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita config print-effective: %v\n", applyErr)
+			return 2
+		}
+	}
+	if err := cfg.ApplyEnvOverrides(); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita config print-effective: %v\n", err)
+		return 2
+	}
+
+	redacted := cfg.Redacted()
+	out, err := json.MarshalIndent(redacted, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita config print-effective: %v\n", err)
+		return 1
+	}
+	out = append(out, '\n')
+	if _, err := stdout.Write(out); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "audita config print-effective: %v\n", err)
+		return 1
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
 func extractErrorPhase(err error) (phase string, message string) {
 	msg := err.Error()
 	if strings.Contains(msg, ": ") {
@@ -683,6 +823,7 @@ func mapValidatorRejected(in []runner.ValidatorRejectedChange) []reporting.Valid
 }
 
 type processFlags struct {
+	configPath                    *string
 	glossaryPath                  *string
 	outputPath                    *string
 	reportJSONPath                *string
@@ -743,6 +884,7 @@ func newProcessFlagSet(cfg config.Config, stderr io.Writer) (*flag.FlagSet, proc
 	}
 
 	pFlags := processFlags{
+		configPath:                    fs.String("config", "", "Path to versioned YAML config file"),
 		glossaryPath:                  fs.String("glossary", "", "Path to glossary YAML file"),
 		outputPath:                    fs.String("output", "", "Path to corrected transcript JSON output file"),
 		reportJSONPath:                fs.String("report-json", "", "Path to machine-readable report JSON output file"),
@@ -781,6 +923,63 @@ func newProcessFlagSet(cfg config.Config, stderr io.Writer) (*flag.FlagSet, proc
 	return fs, pFlags
 }
 
+func findConfigPathOverride(args []string) (path string, set bool, err error) {
+	for i := 0; i < len(args); i++ {
+		arg := strings.TrimSpace(args[i])
+		if arg == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if arg == "--config" {
+			if i+1 >= len(args) {
+				return "", false, fmt.Errorf("--config requires a path")
+			}
+			return strings.TrimSpace(args[i+1]), true, nil
+		}
+		if strings.HasPrefix(arg, "--config=") {
+			return strings.TrimSpace(strings.TrimPrefix(arg, "--config=")), true, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return "", false, nil
+}
+
+func resolveConfigPath(cliConfigPath string, cliConfigPathSet bool, lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (path string, source string, err error) {
+	if cliConfigPathSet {
+		path = strings.TrimSpace(cliConfigPath)
+		if path == "" {
+			return "", "", fmt.Errorf("--config requires a non-empty path")
+		}
+		if _, statErr := os.Stat(path); statErr != nil {
+			if os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+				return "", "", fmt.Errorf("config file not found: %s", path)
+			}
+			return "", "", fmt.Errorf("cannot access config file %s: %w", path, statErr)
+		}
+		return path, "flag", nil
+	}
+
+	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_CONFIG"); ok {
+		path = strings.TrimSpace(raw)
+		if path == "" {
+			return "", "", fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_CONFIG must not be empty")
+		}
+		if _, statErr := os.Stat(path); statErr != nil {
+			if os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+				return "", "", fmt.Errorf("config file not found: %s", path)
+			}
+			return "", "", fmt.Errorf("cannot access config file %s: %w", path, statErr)
+		}
+		return path, "env", nil
+	}
+
+	defaultPath := config.DefaultConfigPath
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(defaultPath); statErr == nil {
+		return defaultPath, "default", nil
+	} else if !os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("cannot access config file %s: %w", defaultPath, statErr)
+	}
+	return "", "", nil
+}
+
 func isHelpCommand(args []string) bool {
 	if len(args) == 0 {
 		return false
@@ -817,11 +1016,37 @@ func writeRootUsage(w io.Writer) {
 	fmt.Fprintln(w)
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Commands:")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "  process    Process a transcript JSON file")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "  config     Validate and inspect config")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w)
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Example:")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "  audita process transcript.json --glossary glossary.yaml --output corrected.json")
 }
 
+func writeConfigUsage(w io.Writer) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Validate and inspect Audita config.")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w)
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Usage:")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "  audita config <command> [flags]")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w)
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Commands:")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "  validate         Validate a versioned YAML config file")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "  print-effective  Print redacted effective config JSON (defaults + config file + env)")
+}
+
+func writeConfigValidateUsage(w io.Writer) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Validate a versioned YAML config file.")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w)
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Usage:")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "  audita config validate --config <path>")
+}
+
+func writeConfigPrintEffectiveUsage(w io.Writer) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Print redacted effective config JSON.")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w)
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Usage:")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "  audita config print-effective [--config <path>]")
+}
+
 func writeProcessUsage(w io.Writer, fs *flag.FlagSet) {
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Process a transcript JSON file.")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w)
diff --git a/internal/cli/run_test.go b/internal/cli/run_test.go
index 03573ac..944f55c 100644
--- a/internal/cli/run_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/run_test.go
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ func TestRunProcessHelpListsExpectedFlags(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, expectedFlag := range []string{
+		"--config",
 		"--glossary",
 		"--output",
 		"--report-json",
@@ -97,6 +98,394 @@ func TestRunProcessHelpListsExpectedFlags(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestResolveConfigPathDefaultIgnoredWhenMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	lookup := func(string) (string, bool) { return "", false }
+	path, source, err := resolveConfigPath("", false, lookup)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if path != "" || source != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no config path/source, got path=%q source=%q", path, source)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunConfigValidateSuccess(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", "version: 1\n")
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{"config", "validate", "--config", cfgPath}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "config is valid") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success message, got %q", stdout.String())
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stderr on success, got %q", stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunConfigValidateInvalidVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", "version: 999\n")
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{"config", "validate", "--config", cfgPath}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected failure for unsupported config version")
+	}
+	if stdout.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout on failure, got %q", stdout.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "unsupported config version") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected version error, got %q", stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunConfigValidateUnknownField(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", "version: 1\nunknown_field: true\n")
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{"config", "validate", "--config", cfgPath}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected failure for unknown field")
+	}
+	if stdout.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout on failure, got %q", stdout.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "field unknown_field not found") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected unknown-field error, got %q", stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunConfigPrintEffectiveOutputsRedactedJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+
+	secret := "super-secret-api-key"
+	t.Setenv("AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY", secret)
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", "version: 1\n")
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{"config", "print-effective", "--config", cfgPath}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stderr on success, got %q", stderr.String())
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(stdout.String(), secret) {
+		t.Fatalf("print-effective leaked secret")
+	}
+
+	var out map[string]any
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(stdout.Bytes(), &out); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected valid JSON output, got error: %v output=%q", err, stdout.String())
+	}
+	primary, ok := out["PrimaryLLM"].(map[string]any)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("expected PrimaryLLM object, got %#v", out["PrimaryLLM"])
+	}
+	if got := primary["APIKey"]; got != "[REDACTED]" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected redacted API key, got %#v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunConfigCommandDoesNotRequireTranscriptOrGlossary(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", "version: 1\n")
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{"config", "validate", "--config", cfgPath}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success without transcript/glossary args, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunProcessConfigFlagMissingFileFails(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"process",
+		fixturePath("tiny_transcript.json"),
+		"--glossary",
+		fixturePath("tiny_glossary.yaml"),
+		"--config",
+		filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing.yaml"),
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected failure for missing --config file")
+	}
+	if stdout.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout on failure, got %q", stdout.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "config file not found") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected missing config file error, got %q", stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunProcessAUDITAConfigMissingFileFails(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	t.Setenv("AUDITA_CONFIG", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing-env.yaml"))
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"process",
+		fixturePath("tiny_transcript.json"),
+		"--glossary",
+		fixturePath("tiny_glossary.yaml"),
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected failure for missing AUDITA_CONFIG file")
+	}
+	if stdout.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout on failure, got %q", stdout.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "config file not found") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected missing config file error, got %q", stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunProcessConfigFileAffectsRuntimeAndInvocationMetadata(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+
+	workDir := t.TempDir()
+	reportPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "report.json")
+	outputPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "out.json")
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", `
+version: 1
+pipeline:
+  modules: [grammar]
+context:
+  description: "config file transcript context"
+diagnostics:
+  work_dir: `+workDir+`
+  retention: always
+`)
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"process",
+		fixturePath("tiny_transcript.json"),
+		"--glossary",
+		fixturePath("tiny_glossary.yaml"),
+		"--config",
+		cfgPath,
+		"--output",
+		outputPath,
+		"--report-json",
+		reportPath,
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+	if stdout.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout with --output, got %q", stdout.String())
+	}
+
+	runPath := onlyRunDir(t, workDir)
+	configBytes := readFile(t, filepath.Join(runPath, "effective-config.json"))
+	var effectiveConfig struct {
+		Modules               []string `json:"Modules"`
+		TranscriptDescription string   `json:"TranscriptDescription"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(configBytes, &effectiveConfig); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to parse effective config metadata: %v", err)
+	}
+	if strings.Join(effectiveConfig.Modules, ",") != "grammar" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected grammar module from config file, got %#v", effectiveConfig.Modules)
+	}
+	if effectiveConfig.TranscriptDescription != "config file transcript context" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected transcript description from config file: %q", effectiveConfig.TranscriptDescription)
+	}
+
+	invocationBytes := readFile(t, filepath.Join(runPath, "invocation.json"))
+	var invocation struct {
+		ConfigPath   string `json:"config_path"`
+		ConfigSource string `json:"config_source"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(invocationBytes, &invocation); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to parse invocation metadata: %v", err)
+	}
+	if invocation.ConfigPath != cfgPath {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected invocation config_path: %q", invocation.ConfigPath)
+	}
+	if invocation.ConfigSource != "flag" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected invocation config_source: %q", invocation.ConfigSource)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunProcessEnvOverridesConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
+	processModuleFactory = fakeModuleFactory{modules: map[string]contracts.TranscriptModule{
+		"m": fakeModule{
+			key:    "m",
+			policy: proposals.ReplacementPolicyRequireUnique,
+			validators: []contracts.Validator{
+				fakeValidator{name: "capture-config", validateF: func(req contracts.ValidationRequest) (validators.Result, error) {
+					if req.Config == nil {
+						t.Fatal("expected config in validation request")
+					}
+					if req.Config.PrimaryLLM.Model != "env-model" {
+						t.Fatalf("expected env model override, got %q", req.Config.PrimaryLLM.Model)
+					}
+					return validators.Result{ValidatorName: "capture-config", Decisions: nil}, nil
+				}},
+			},
+			proposeF: func(req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) { return nil, nil },
+		},
+	}}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { processModuleFactory = nil })
+
+	t.Setenv("AUDITA_MODEL", "env-model")
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", `
+version: 1
+pipeline:
+  modules: [m]
+llm:
+  proposal:
+    model: file-model
+`)
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"process",
+		fixturePath("tiny_transcript.json"),
+		"--glossary", fixturePath("tiny_glossary.yaml"),
+		"--config", cfgPath,
+		"--modules", "m",
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunProcessCLIOverridesEnvAndConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
+	processModuleFactory = fakeModuleFactory{modules: map[string]contracts.TranscriptModule{
+		"m": fakeModule{
+			key:    "m",
+			policy: proposals.ReplacementPolicyRequireUnique,
+			validators: []contracts.Validator{
+				fakeValidator{name: "capture-config", validateF: func(req contracts.ValidationRequest) (validators.Result, error) {
+					if req.Config == nil {
+						t.Fatal("expected config in validation request")
+					}
+					if req.Config.PrimaryLLM.Model != "cli-model" {
+						t.Fatalf("expected CLI model override, got %q", req.Config.PrimaryLLM.Model)
+					}
+					return validators.Result{ValidatorName: "capture-config", Decisions: nil}, nil
+				}},
+			},
+			proposeF: func(req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) { return nil, nil },
+		},
+	}}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { processModuleFactory = nil })
+
+	t.Setenv("AUDITA_MODEL", "env-model")
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", `
+version: 1
+pipeline:
+  modules: [m]
+llm:
+  proposal:
+    model: file-model
+`)
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"process",
+		fixturePath("tiny_transcript.json"),
+		"--glossary", fixturePath("tiny_glossary.yaml"),
+		"--config", cfgPath,
+		"--modules", "m",
+		"--model", "cli-model",
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunProcessConfigAPIKeyEnvResolvesAndRedactsEffectiveConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	secret := "secret-from-config-env"
+	t.Setenv("PROPOSAL_KEY_FROM_CONFIG", secret)
+
+	workDir := t.TempDir()
+	outputPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "out.json")
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", `
+version: 1
+pipeline:
+  modules: [grammar]
+llm:
+  proposal:
+    api_key_env: PROPOSAL_KEY_FROM_CONFIG
+diagnostics:
+  work_dir: `+workDir+`
+  retention: always
+`)
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"process",
+		fixturePath("tiny_transcript.json"),
+		"--glossary", fixturePath("tiny_glossary.yaml"),
+		"--config", cfgPath,
+		"--output", outputPath,
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+
+	runPath := onlyRunDir(t, workDir)
+	configBytes := readFile(t, filepath.Join(runPath, "effective-config.json"))
+	if strings.Contains(string(configBytes), secret) {
+		t.Fatalf("effective config artifact leaked API key from api_key_env")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunProcessTranscriptDescriptionCLIOverridesConfigFileContextDescription(t *testing.T) {
+	processModuleFactory = fakeModuleFactory{modules: map[string]contracts.TranscriptModule{
+		"m": fakeModule{
+			key:    "m",
+			policy: proposals.ReplacementPolicyRequireUnique,
+			validators: []contracts.Validator{
+				fakeValidator{name: "capture-config", validateF: func(req contracts.ValidationRequest) (validators.Result, error) {
+					if req.Config == nil {
+						t.Fatal("expected config in validation request")
+					}
+					if req.Config.TranscriptDescription != "cli transcript description" {
+						t.Fatalf("expected CLI transcript description to override config file, got %q", req.Config.TranscriptDescription)
+					}
+					return validators.Result{ValidatorName: "capture-config", Decisions: nil}, nil
+				}},
+			},
+			proposeF: func(req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) { return nil, nil },
+		},
+	}}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { processModuleFactory = nil })
+
+	cfgPath := writeFile(t, "config.yml", `
+version: 1
+pipeline:
+  modules: [m]
+context:
+  description: "file transcript description"
+`)
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"process",
+		fixturePath("tiny_transcript.json"),
+		"--glossary", fixturePath("tiny_glossary.yaml"),
+		"--config", cfgPath,
+		"--modules", "m",
+		"--transcript-description", "cli transcript description",
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestRunProcessMissingTranscriptPath(t *testing.T) {
 	var stdout bytes.Buffer
 	var stderr bytes.Buffer
diff --git a/internal/core/config/env.go b/internal/core/config/env.go
index 33d19a8..f9ff257 100644
--- a/internal/core/config/env.go
+++ b/internal/core/config/env.go
@@ -6,17 +6,38 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 )
 
+const DefaultConfigPath = "/etc/audita/config.yml"
+
 func LoadFromEnv() (Config, error) {
-	return loadFromLookup(os.LookupEnv)
+	cfg := Default()
+	if err := cfg.applyEnvOverrides(os.LookupEnv); err != nil {
+		return Config{}, err
+	}
+	return cfg, nil
 }
 
 func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	cfg := Default()
+	if err := cfg.applyEnvOverrides(lookup); err != nil {
+		return Config{}, err
+	}
+	return cfg, nil
+}
 
+func (c *Config) ApplyEnvOverrides() error {
+	return c.applyEnvOverrides(os.LookupEnv)
+}
+
+func (c *Config) applyEnvOverrides(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) error {
+	if c == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("config must not be nil")
+	}
+
+	cfg := c
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_MODULES"); ok {
 		modules, err := ParseModulesCSV(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_MODULES: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_MODULES: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.Modules = modules
 	}
@@ -48,7 +69,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.PrimaryLLM.TimeoutSeconds = value
 	}
@@ -56,7 +77,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_VALIDATION_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_VALIDATION_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_VALIDATION_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.ValidationLLM.TimeoutSeconds = &value
 	}
@@ -64,7 +85,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_MAX_RETRIES"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_MAX_RETRIES: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_MAX_RETRIES: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.PrimaryLLM.MaxRetries = value
 	}
@@ -72,7 +93,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_TOTAL_LLM_CONCURRENCY"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_TOTAL_LLM_CONCURRENCY: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_TOTAL_LLM_CONCURRENCY: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.TotalLLMConcurrency = value
 		totalConcurrencySet = true
@@ -80,7 +101,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_LLM_CONCURRENCY"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_LLM_CONCURRENCY: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_LLM_CONCURRENCY: %w", err)
 		}
 		if !totalConcurrencySet {
 			cfg.TotalLLMConcurrency = value
@@ -92,7 +113,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_PROPOSAL_LLM_CONCURRENCY"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_PROPOSAL_LLM_CONCURRENCY: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_PROPOSAL_LLM_CONCURRENCY: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.ProposalLLMConcurrency = value
 		proposalConcurrencySet = true
@@ -104,14 +125,14 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_VALIDATION_MAX_RETRIES"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_VALIDATION_MAX_RETRIES: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_VALIDATION_MAX_RETRIES: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.ValidationLLM.MaxRetries = &value
 	}
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_VALIDATION_LLM_CONCURRENCY"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_VALIDATION_LLM_CONCURRENCY: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_VALIDATION_LLM_CONCURRENCY: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.ValidationLLMConcurrency = &value
 	}
@@ -119,7 +140,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_VALIDATION_MAX_PROMPT_TOKENS"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_VALIDATION_MAX_PROMPT_TOKENS: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_VALIDATION_MAX_PROMPT_TOKENS: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.ValidationMaxPromptTokens = value
 	}
@@ -127,7 +148,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_MAX_SECTION_TOKENS"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_MAX_SECTION_TOKENS: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_MAX_SECTION_TOKENS: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.MaxSectionTokens = value
 	}
@@ -135,7 +156,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_MIN_SECTION_TOKENS"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_MIN_SECTION_TOKENS: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_MIN_SECTION_TOKENS: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.MinSectionTokens = value
 	}
@@ -143,7 +164,7 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_TARGET_SECTIONS"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_TARGET_SECTIONS: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_TARGET_SECTIONS: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.TargetSections = &value
 	}
@@ -151,28 +172,28 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_GLOSSARY_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD"); ok {
 		value, err := parseFloat(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_GLOSSARY_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_GLOSSARY_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.Thresholds.Glossary = value
 	}
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_GRAMMAR_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD"); ok {
 		value, err := parseFloat(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_GRAMMAR_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_GRAMMAR_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.Thresholds.Grammar = value
 	}
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_HOMOPHONES_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD"); ok {
 		value, err := parseFloat(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_HOMOPHONES_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_HOMOPHONES_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.Thresholds.Homophones = value
 	}
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_SPOKEN_WORD_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD"); ok {
 		value, err := parseFloat(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_SPOKEN_WORD_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_SPOKEN_WORD_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.Thresholds.SpokenWord = value
 	}
@@ -180,28 +201,28 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_MAX_SEGMENT_GAP"); ok {
 		value, err := parseFloat(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_MAX_SEGMENT_GAP: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_MAX_SEGMENT_GAP: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentGap = value
 	}
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_ELLIPSIS_GAP"); ok {
 		value, err := parseFloat(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_ELLIPSIS_GAP: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_ELLIPSIS_GAP: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.Normalization.EllipsisGap = value
 	}
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_MAX_SEGMENT_DURATION"); ok {
 		value, err := parseFloat(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_MAX_SEGMENT_DURATION: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_MAX_SEGMENT_DURATION: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentDuration = value
 	}
 	if raw, ok := lookup("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_MAX_SEGMENT_TOKENS"); ok {
 		value, err := parseInt(raw)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_MAX_SEGMENT_TOKENS: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("AUDITA_NORMALIZE_MAX_SEGMENT_TOKENS: %w", err)
 		}
 		cfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentTokens = value
 	}
@@ -216,10 +237,10 @@ func loadFromLookup(lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (Config, error) {
 	cfg.syncLegacyConcurrencyAliases()
 
 	if err := cfg.Validate(); err != nil {
-		return Config{}, err
+		return err
 	}
 
-	return cfg, nil
+	return nil
 }
 
 func parseInt(raw string) (int, error) {
diff --git a/internal/core/config/file_config.go b/internal/core/config/file_config.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d37ce7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/core/config/file_config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,334 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+)
+
+const SupportedFileConfigVersion = 1
+
+var envVarNamePattern = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*$`)
+
+type FileConfig struct {
+	Version       int                           `yaml:"version"`
+	Pipeline      *FileConfigPipeline           `yaml:"pipeline,omitempty"`
+	LLM           *FileConfigLLM                `yaml:"llm,omitempty"`
+	Concurrency   *FileConfigConcurrency        `yaml:"concurrency,omitempty"`
+	Chunking      *FileConfigChunking           `yaml:"chunking,omitempty"`
+	Normalization *FileConfigNormalization      `yaml:"normalization,omitempty"`
+	Thresholds    *FileConfigThresholds         `yaml:"thresholds,omitempty"`
+	Context       *FileConfigContext            `yaml:"context,omitempty"`
+	Diagnostics   *FileConfigDiagnostics        `yaml:"diagnostics,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type FileConfigPipeline struct {
+	Modules []string `yaml:"modules,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type FileConfigLLM struct {
+	Proposal   *FileConfigLLMTarget `yaml:"proposal,omitempty"`
+	Validation *FileConfigLLMTarget `yaml:"validation,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type FileConfigLLMTarget struct {
+	BaseURL      *string                   `yaml:"base_url,omitempty"`
+	Model        *string                   `yaml:"model,omitempty"`
+	APIKeyEnv    *string                   `yaml:"api_key_env,omitempty"`
+	Timeout      *fileConfigDurationOrInt  `yaml:"timeout,omitempty"`
+	MaxRetries   *int                      `yaml:"max_retries,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type FileConfigConcurrency struct {
+	TotalLLM      *int `yaml:"total_llm,omitempty"`
+	ProposalLLM   *int `yaml:"proposal_llm,omitempty"`
+	ValidationLLM *int `yaml:"validation_llm,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type FileConfigChunking struct {
+	TargetSections   *int `yaml:"target_sections,omitempty"`
+	MaxSectionTokens *int `yaml:"max_section_tokens,omitempty"`
+	MinSectionTokens *int `yaml:"min_section_tokens,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type FileConfigNormalization struct {
+	MaxSegmentGap      *fileConfigDurationOrFloat `yaml:"max_segment_gap,omitempty"`
+	EllipsisGap        *fileConfigDurationOrFloat `yaml:"ellipsis_gap,omitempty"`
+	MaxSegmentDuration *fileConfigDurationOrFloat `yaml:"max_segment_duration,omitempty"`
+	MaxSegmentTokens   *int                       `yaml:"max_segment_tokens,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type FileConfigThresholds struct {
+	Glossary   *float64 `yaml:"glossary,omitempty"`
+	Homophones *float64 `yaml:"homophones,omitempty"`
+	SpokenWord *float64 `yaml:"spoken_word,omitempty"`
+	Grammar    *float64 `yaml:"grammar,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type FileConfigContext struct {
+	Description *string `yaml:"description,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type FileConfigDiagnostics struct {
+	WorkDir   *string `yaml:"work_dir,omitempty"`
+	Retention *string `yaml:"retention,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type fileConfigDurationOrInt struct {
+	seconds int
+}
+
+func (v *fileConfigDurationOrInt) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
+	switch node.Kind {
+	case yaml.ScalarNode:
+		if node.Tag == "!!int" {
+			var n int
+			if err := node.Decode(&n); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("must be an integer seconds value or duration string")
+			}
+			v.seconds = n
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		var s string
+		if err := node.Decode(&s); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("must be an integer seconds value or duration string")
+		}
+		d, err := time.ParseDuration(strings.TrimSpace(s))
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid duration %q", s)
+		}
+		if d <= 0 {
+			v.seconds = int(d / time.Second)
+			return nil
+		}
+		if d%time.Second != 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("duration %q must resolve to whole seconds", s)
+		}
+		v.seconds = int(d / time.Second)
+		return nil
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("must be an integer seconds value or duration string")
+	}
+}
+
+func (v fileConfigDurationOrInt) Seconds() int { return v.seconds }
+
+type fileConfigDurationOrFloat struct {
+	seconds float64
+}
+
+func (v *fileConfigDurationOrFloat) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
+	switch node.Kind {
+	case yaml.ScalarNode:
+		if node.Tag == "!!int" || node.Tag == "!!float" {
+			var f float64
+			if err := node.Decode(&f); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("must be a numeric seconds value or duration string")
+			}
+			v.seconds = f
+			return nil
+		}
+		var s string
+		if err := node.Decode(&s); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("must be a numeric seconds value or duration string")
+		}
+		d, err := time.ParseDuration(strings.TrimSpace(s))
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid duration %q", s)
+		}
+		v.seconds = d.Seconds()
+		return nil
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("must be a numeric seconds value or duration string")
+	}
+}
+
+func (v fileConfigDurationOrFloat) Seconds() float64 { return v.seconds }
+
+func LoadFileConfig(path string) (FileConfig, error) {
+	b, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return FileConfig{}, fmt.Errorf("read config file %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	cfg, err := ParseFileConfigYAML(b)
+	if err != nil {
+		return FileConfig{}, fmt.Errorf("parse config file %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return cfg, nil
+}
+
+func ParseFileConfigYAML(data []byte) (FileConfig, error) {
+	var fileCfg FileConfig
+	dec := yaml.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(string(data)))
+	dec.KnownFields(true)
+	if err := dec.Decode(&fileCfg); err != nil {
+		return FileConfig{}, fmt.Errorf("decode yaml: %w", err)
+	}
+	if fileCfg.Version == 0 {
+		return FileConfig{}, fmt.Errorf("config version is required")
+	}
+	if fileCfg.Version != SupportedFileConfigVersion {
+		return FileConfig{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported config version %d", fileCfg.Version)
+	}
+	return fileCfg, nil
+}
+
+func (c *Config) ApplyFileConfig(fileCfg FileConfig) error {
+	return c.applyFileConfigWithLookup(fileCfg, os.LookupEnv)
+}
+
+func (c *Config) applyFileConfigWithLookup(fileCfg FileConfig, lookup func(string) (string, bool)) error {
+	if c == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("config must not be nil")
+	}
+	if fileCfg.Version != SupportedFileConfigVersion {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported config version %d", fileCfg.Version)
+	}
+
+	if fileCfg.Pipeline != nil && len(fileCfg.Pipeline.Modules) > 0 {
+		c.Modules = append([]string(nil), fileCfg.Pipeline.Modules...)
+	}
+
+	if fileCfg.LLM != nil {
+		if fileCfg.LLM.Proposal != nil {
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.BaseURL != nil {
+				c.PrimaryLLM.BaseURL = *fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.BaseURL
+			}
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.Model != nil {
+				c.PrimaryLLM.Model = *fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.Model
+			}
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.Timeout != nil {
+				c.PrimaryLLM.TimeoutSeconds = fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.Timeout.Seconds()
+			}
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.MaxRetries != nil {
+				c.PrimaryLLM.MaxRetries = *fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.MaxRetries
+			}
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.APIKeyEnv != nil {
+				apiKey, err := resolveAPIKeyEnv(*fileCfg.LLM.Proposal.APIKeyEnv, lookup)
+				if err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("llm.proposal.api_key_env: %w", err)
+				}
+				c.PrimaryLLM.APIKey = apiKey
+			}
+		}
+		if fileCfg.LLM.Validation != nil {
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Validation.BaseURL != nil {
+				c.ValidationLLM.BaseURL = *fileCfg.LLM.Validation.BaseURL
+			}
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Validation.Model != nil {
+				c.ValidationLLM.Model = *fileCfg.LLM.Validation.Model
+			}
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Validation.Timeout != nil {
+				v := fileCfg.LLM.Validation.Timeout.Seconds()
+				c.ValidationLLM.TimeoutSeconds = &v
+			}
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Validation.MaxRetries != nil {
+				v := *fileCfg.LLM.Validation.MaxRetries
+				c.ValidationLLM.MaxRetries = &v
+			}
+			if fileCfg.LLM.Validation.APIKeyEnv != nil {
+				apiKey, err := resolveAPIKeyEnv(*fileCfg.LLM.Validation.APIKeyEnv, lookup)
+				if err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("llm.validation.api_key_env: %w", err)
+				}
+				c.ValidationLLM.APIKey = apiKey
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if fileCfg.Concurrency != nil {
+		if fileCfg.Concurrency.TotalLLM != nil {
+			c.TotalLLMConcurrency = *fileCfg.Concurrency.TotalLLM
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Concurrency.ProposalLLM != nil {
+			c.ProposalLLMConcurrency = *fileCfg.Concurrency.ProposalLLM
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Concurrency.ValidationLLM != nil {
+			v := *fileCfg.Concurrency.ValidationLLM
+			c.ValidationLLMConcurrency = &v
+		}
+	}
+
+	if fileCfg.Chunking != nil {
+		if fileCfg.Chunking.TargetSections != nil {
+			v := *fileCfg.Chunking.TargetSections
+			c.TargetSections = &v
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Chunking.MaxSectionTokens != nil {
+			c.MaxSectionTokens = *fileCfg.Chunking.MaxSectionTokens
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Chunking.MinSectionTokens != nil {
+			c.MinSectionTokens = *fileCfg.Chunking.MinSectionTokens
+		}
+	}
+
+	if fileCfg.Normalization != nil {
+		if fileCfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentGap != nil {
+			c.Normalization.MaxSegmentGap = fileCfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentGap.Seconds()
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Normalization.EllipsisGap != nil {
+			c.Normalization.EllipsisGap = fileCfg.Normalization.EllipsisGap.Seconds()
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentDuration != nil {
+			c.Normalization.MaxSegmentDuration = fileCfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentDuration.Seconds()
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentTokens != nil {
+			c.Normalization.MaxSegmentTokens = *fileCfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentTokens
+		}
+	}
+
+	if fileCfg.Thresholds != nil {
+		if fileCfg.Thresholds.Glossary != nil {
+			c.Thresholds.Glossary = *fileCfg.Thresholds.Glossary
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Thresholds.Homophones != nil {
+			c.Thresholds.Homophones = *fileCfg.Thresholds.Homophones
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Thresholds.SpokenWord != nil {
+			c.Thresholds.SpokenWord = *fileCfg.Thresholds.SpokenWord
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Thresholds.Grammar != nil {
+			c.Thresholds.Grammar = *fileCfg.Thresholds.Grammar
+		}
+	}
+
+	if fileCfg.Context != nil && fileCfg.Context.Description != nil {
+		c.TranscriptDescription = strings.TrimSpace(*fileCfg.Context.Description)
+	}
+
+	if fileCfg.Diagnostics != nil {
+		if fileCfg.Diagnostics.WorkDir != nil {
+			c.WorkDir = *fileCfg.Diagnostics.WorkDir
+		}
+		if fileCfg.Diagnostics.Retention != nil {
+			c.WorkDirRetention = WorkDirRetention(*fileCfg.Diagnostics.Retention)
+		}
+	}
+
+	c.syncLegacyConcurrencyAliases()
+	if err := c.Validate(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func resolveAPIKeyEnv(envName string, lookup func(string) (string, bool)) (string, error) {
+	name := strings.TrimSpace(envName)
+	if name == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("must not be empty")
+	}
+	if !envVarNamePattern.MatchString(name) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("must be an environment variable name")
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(name, string(filepath.Separator)) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("must be an environment variable name")
+	}
+	v, _ := lookup(name)
+	return v, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/core/config/file_config_test.go b/internal/core/config/file_config_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2edd559
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/core/config/file_config_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestParseFileConfigYAMLValid(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := `
+version: 1
+pipeline:
+  modules: [glossary, homophones, grammar]
+llm:
+  proposal:
+    base_url: https://example.test/v1
+    model: provider/model-a
+    api_key_env: AUDITA_PROPOSAL_KEY
+    timeout: 2m
+    max_retries: 4
+  validation:
+    base_url: https://example.test/validation
+    model: provider/model-b
+    api_key_env: AUDITA_VALIDATION_KEY
+    timeout: 45
+    max_retries: 3
+concurrency:
+  total_llm: 8
+  proposal_llm: 4
+  validation_llm: 2
+chunking:
+  target_sections: 6
+  max_section_tokens: 9000
+  min_section_tokens: 3000
+normalization:
+  max_segment_gap: 1.5s
+  ellipsis_gap: 2
+  max_segment_duration: 45s
+  max_segment_tokens: 1500
+thresholds:
+  glossary: 0.9
+  homophones: 0.7
+  spoken_word: 0.8
+  grammar: 0.75
+context:
+  description: "  crowd scene with many proper nouns  "
+diagnostics:
+  work_dir: /tmp/audita-config
+  retention: always
+`
+	cfg, err := ParseFileConfigYAML([]byte(raw))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseFileConfigYAML error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if cfg.Version != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected version 1, got %d", cfg.Version)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline == nil || len(cfg.Pipeline.Modules) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected pipeline modules: %#v", cfg.Pipeline)
+	}
+	if cfg.LLM == nil || cfg.LLM.Proposal == nil || cfg.LLM.Validation == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected llm proposal+validation blocks")
+	}
+	if cfg.LLM.Proposal.Timeout == nil || cfg.LLM.Proposal.Timeout.Seconds() != 120 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected proposal timeout 120s, got %#v", cfg.LLM.Proposal.Timeout)
+	}
+	if cfg.LLM.Validation.Timeout == nil || cfg.LLM.Validation.Timeout.Seconds() != 45 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected validation timeout 45s, got %#v", cfg.LLM.Validation.Timeout)
+	}
+	if cfg.Normalization == nil || cfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentGap == nil || cfg.Normalization.MaxSegmentGap.Seconds() != 1.5 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected parsed duration for normalization max_segment_gap")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseFileConfigYAMLRejectsUnknownField(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := `
+version: 1
+pipeline:
+  modules: [grammar]
+output:
+  schema: v1
+`
+	_, err := ParseFileConfigYAML([]byte(raw))
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected unknown field error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "field output not found") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseFileConfigYAMLRejectsMissingVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := `pipeline: {modules: [grammar]}`
+	_, err := ParseFileConfigYAML([]byte(raw))
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected missing version error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "config version is required") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseFileConfigYAMLRejectsUnsupportedVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := `version: 2`
+	_, err := ParseFileConfigYAML([]byte(raw))
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected unsupported version error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unsupported config version 2") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestApplyFileConfigParsesAndMergesFields(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := `
+version: 1
+pipeline:
+  modules: [spoken_word, grammar]
+llm:
+  proposal:
+    model: provider/new-proposal
+    api_key_env: PROPOSAL_KEY_NAME
+    timeout: 90s
+    max_retries: 5
+  validation:
+    model: provider/new-validation
+    api_key_env: VALIDATION_KEY_NAME
+    timeout: 150
+    max_retries: 6
+concurrency:
+  total_llm: 7
+  proposal_llm: 3
+  validation_llm: 2
+chunking:
+  target_sections: 9
+thresholds:
+  glossary: 0.91
+  homophones: 0.61
+  spoken_word: 0.71
+  grammar: 0.81
+diagnostics:
+  retention: never
+`
+	fileCfg, err := ParseFileConfigYAML([]byte(raw))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseFileConfigYAML error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	cfg := Default()
+	lookup := func(name string) (string, bool) {
+		switch name {
+		case "PROPOSAL_KEY_NAME":
+			return "proposal-secret", true
+		case "VALIDATION_KEY_NAME":
+			return "validation-secret", true
+		default:
+			return "", false
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := cfg.applyFileConfigWithLookup(fileCfg, lookup); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("applyFileConfigWithLookup error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if strings.Join(cfg.Modules, ",") != "spoken_word,grammar" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected modules: %#v", cfg.Modules)
+	}
+	if cfg.PrimaryLLM.Model != "provider/new-proposal" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected proposal model: %q", cfg.PrimaryLLM.Model)
+	}
+	if cfg.PrimaryLLM.APIKey != "proposal-secret" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected proposal key from api_key_env lookup, got %q", cfg.PrimaryLLM.APIKey)
+	}
+	if cfg.PrimaryLLM.TimeoutSeconds != 90 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected proposal timeout: %d", cfg.PrimaryLLM.TimeoutSeconds)
+	}
+	if cfg.ValidationLLM.Model != "provider/new-validation" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected validation model: %q", cfg.ValidationLLM.Model)
+	}
+	if cfg.ValidationLLM.APIKey != "validation-secret" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected validation key from api_key_env lookup, got %q", cfg.ValidationLLM.APIKey)
+	}
+	if cfg.ValidationLLM.TimeoutSeconds == nil || *cfg.ValidationLLM.TimeoutSeconds != 150 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected validation timeout: %#v", cfg.ValidationLLM.TimeoutSeconds)
+	}
+	if cfg.TotalLLMConcurrency != 7 || cfg.ProposalLLMConcurrency != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected llm concurrency values: total=%d proposal=%d", cfg.TotalLLMConcurrency, cfg.ProposalLLMConcurrency)
+	}
+	if cfg.ValidationLLMConcurrency == nil || *cfg.ValidationLLMConcurrency != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected validation llm concurrency: %#v", cfg.ValidationLLMConcurrency)
+	}
+	if cfg.TargetSections == nil || *cfg.TargetSections != 9 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected target sections: %#v", cfg.TargetSections)
+	}
+	if cfg.WorkDirRetention != WorkDirRetentionNever {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected retention: %q", cfg.WorkDirRetention)
+	}
+	if cfg.PrimaryLLM.Concurrency != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected legacy alias to sync, got %d", cfg.PrimaryLLM.Concurrency)
+	}
+	if cfg.ValidationLLM.Concurrency == nil || *cfg.ValidationLLM.Concurrency != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected validation alias to sync, got %#v", cfg.ValidationLLM.Concurrency)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestApplyFileConfigContextDescriptionTrim(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := `
+version: 1
+context:
+  description: "  scene context  "
+`
+	fileCfg, err := ParseFileConfigYAML([]byte(raw))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseFileConfigYAML error: %v", err)
+	}
+	cfg := Default()
+	if err := cfg.applyFileConfigWithLookup(fileCfg, mapLookup(map[string]string{})); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("applyFileConfigWithLookup error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if cfg.TranscriptDescription != "scene context" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected transcript description: %q", cfg.TranscriptDescription)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestApplyFileConfigRejectsInvalidAPIKeyEnvName(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := `
+version: 1
+llm:
+  proposal:
+    api_key_env: "not a var name"
+`
+	fileCfg, err := ParseFileConfigYAML([]byte(raw))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseFileConfigYAML error: %v", err)
+	}
+	cfg := Default()
+	err = cfg.applyFileConfigWithLookup(fileCfg, mapLookup(map[string]string{}))
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected api_key_env validation error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "environment variable name") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseFileConfigDurationParsingErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := `
+version: 1
+llm:
+  proposal:
+    timeout: "1.5s"
+`
+	_, err := ParseFileConfigYAML([]byte(raw))
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected duration parse error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "whole seconds") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadFileConfigReadsFromPath(t *testing.T) {
+	p := writeTempFileConfig(t, "version: 1\n")
+	cfg, err := LoadFileConfig(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadFileConfig error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if cfg.Version != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected version 1, got %d", cfg.Version)
+	}
+}
+
+func writeTempFileConfig(t *testing.T, contents string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := dir + "/config.yaml"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(contents), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write config file: %v", err)
+	}
+	return path
+}
diff --git a/internal/core/diagnostics/run_dir.go b/internal/core/diagnostics/run_dir.go
index 10355fe..50a00ca 100644
--- a/internal/core/diagnostics/run_dir.go
+++ b/internal/core/diagnostics/run_dir.go
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ type InvocationMetadata struct {
 	GlossaryPath          string    `json:"glossary_path"`
 	OutputPath            string    `json:"output_path,omitempty"`
 	ReportJSONPath        string    `json:"report_json_path,omitempty"`
+	ConfigPath            string    `json:"config_path,omitempty"`
+	ConfigSource          string    `json:"config_source,omitempty"`
 	TranscriptDescription string    `json:"transcript_description,omitempty"`
 	Modules               []string  `json:"modules"`
 	RunID                 string    `json:"run_id"`