diff --git a/fpga_update/scripts/fpga_ru.py b/fpga_update/scripts/fpga_ru.py
index 4f0eec3..8d37f5c 100644
--- a/fpga_update/scripts/fpga_ru.py
+++ b/fpga_update/scripts/fpga_ru.py
@@ -30,6 +30,25 @@ import socket
 import sys
 import time
 
+def _env_lookup(key, default=None):
+    """Machine-relative value: real env var first, then ~/skills_env.md."""
+    v = os.environ.get(key)
+    if v:
+        return v
+    path = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), "skills_env.md")
+    try:
+        with open(path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            for line in f:
+                m = re.match(rf"\s*{key}\s*=\s*(\S+)", line)
+                if m:
+                    return m.group(1)
+    except OSError:
+        pass
+    if default is None:
+        sys.exit(f"missing {key}: add it to ~/skills_env.md or set it as an env var")
+    return default
+
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------ protocol constants
 
 HEAD, TAIL = 0xAA, 0xBB
@@ -246,7 +265,7 @@ def do_finish(dev, timeout):
 def main():
     ap = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__, formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter)
     ap.add_argument("--mcs", required=True, help="path to the quickboot <tag>_update.mcs")
-    ap.add_argument("--host", default="192.168.1.143")
+    ap.add_argument("--host", default=_env_lookup("SMOD_BOARD_IP", "192.168.1.143"))
     ap.add_argument("--port", type=int, default=1234)
     ap.add_argument("--yes", action="store_true", help="skip the confirmation prompt")
     ap.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true", help="validate and frame the mcs, contact nothing")
diff --git a/smod_atsc_dev/scripts/imx6_app.py b/smod_atsc_dev/scripts/imx6_app.py
index ef9191e..390f545 100644
--- a/smod_atsc_dev/scripts/imx6_app.py
+++ b/smod_atsc_dev/scripts/imx6_app.py
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@ def _env_lookup(key, default=None):
     return default
 
 
-REPO = r"E:\Xilinx_design\smod\SMOD_ATSC\my_exciter"
+# Machine-relative: the exciter checkout lives wherever this box keeps it.
+# Recorded as SMOD_REPO_ROOT in ~/skills_env.md; the literal stays as the
+# fallback so existing boxes keep working without touching that file.
+REPO = _env_lookup("SMOD_REPO_ROOT", r"E:\Xilinx_design\smod\SMOD_ATSC\my_exciter")
 APP_SUBDIR = "imx6/src/atsc_app"
 
 # No default: the VM's IP moves with the VMware segment, so a stale fallback would