diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index f00ce17..7fdaf20 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -214,7 +214,18 @@ fix flows to every page automatically; two hand-written HTML pages never will.
   firmware's ASCII error payload on non-ok status — keep that for new ops.
   New `.cmenu` popups: the document click-away closer ignores clicks inside
   `.cmenu-pop`; one-shot `.cmenu-item`s (not in a `.cmenu-row`) auto-close.
-- **Metadata / controlled-vocab sourcing (THE rule):** when a **course repo is
+- **Data repos (v0.72):** the Studio/Pattern Designer/dashboard target ONE GitHub
+  data repo chosen in File ▾ → GitHub → Repo, from the registry in
+  `js/studio-data-repos.js` (classic dual-export; course + lab entries + `parseRepo`
+  + label helpers). **No default repo** on a fresh browser. **Copy rule:** user-visible
+  wording goes through `Studio.dataRepoLabel()` / `Studio.idLabel()` /
+  `Studio.sharedLabel()` ("Bench id" for the course repo, "Rig id" otherwise);
+  internal identifiers (`courseSettings`, `refreshCourseMeta`, `fetchCourse*`,
+  `openFromCourseRepo`, `fmOpenCourse`, `studio_bench_id`) keep their historical
+  names — tests anchor on them, do not mass-rename. New repo = registry entry +
+  `scripts/seed-data-repo.sh`; never enable branch protection. Setup guide:
+  `docs/development/data-repo-setup.md`.
+- **Metadata / controlled-vocab sourcing (THE rule):** when a **data repo is
   configured AND signed in**, ALL metadata vocabularies load from that repo (its
   root-level YAML) and their ↗ source links repoint there — the connected repo is
   the source of truth. When not (offline / not signed in), fall back to the
diff --git a/arena_studio.html b/arena_studio.html
index dc56446..6d0c5c3 100644
--- a/arena_studio.html
+++ b/arena_studio.html
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@
   body:not(.ghauth) .gh-check{opacity:.45;cursor:not-allowed}
   .gh-dest{font-size:10.5px;color:var(--dim);margin-top:5px;padding-left:2px}
   .gh-row label{flex:0 0 62px;color:var(--dim)}
-  .gh-row input[type=text]{flex:1;min-width:0;background:var(--bg);border:1px solid var(--border);border-radius:5px;color:var(--text);padding:3px 7px;font-size:11px;font-family:inherit}
+  .gh-row input[type=text],.gh-row select{flex:1;min-width:0;background:var(--bg);border:1px solid var(--border);border-radius:5px;color:var(--text);padding:3px 7px;font-size:11px;font-family:inherit}
   /* course-pipeline picker modal (Open from library… / Open from course repo…) */
   .picker-overlay{position:fixed;inset:0;background:rgba(6,10,14,.65);z-index:900;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center}
   .picker-box{background:var(--surface);border:1px solid var(--border);border-radius:10px;min-width:380px;max-width:560px;max-height:70vh;display:flex;flex-direction:column;box-shadow:0 12px 40px rgba(0,0,0,.5)}
@@ -2080,7 +2080,7 @@
     <button class="pill" id="sessionRigLock" title="Session rig is locked — click to unlock (changing it alters what geometry gets streamed to the hardware)">🔒</button>
   </label>
   <span class="chip rig-mismatch" id="rigMismatch" style="display:none" title="Session (bench) rig differs from the loaded protocol's rig: field — the bench geometry wins for Console/stream operations; the protocol still runs with its own rig. Unlock the rig selector to reconcile, or load a matching protocol.">⚠ bench ≠ protocol</span>
-  <span class="chip rig-mismatch" id="benchMacChip" style="display:none" title="The connected controller's MAC (0xC2) does not match the course roster's entry for this bench id — the wrong bench id would namespace saves/run-logs under another bench. See instructor.">⚠ bench ≠ roster</span>
+  <span class="chip rig-mismatch" id="benchMacChip" style="display:none" title="The connected controller's MAC (0xC2) does not match the repo roster's entry for this rig/bench id — a wrong id would namespace saves/run-logs under another rig. Fix the id or the roster.">⚠ rig ≠ roster</span>
   <!-- v6 top-bar diet: device line hidden (arena+fw now on the status-dot
        hover); still written by updateDeviceLine so nothing depends on absence. -->
   <span class="arena" id="deviceLine" hidden><b>—</b></span>
@@ -2109,12 +2109,12 @@
       <div class="menu-head">Open experimental protocol</div>
       <button id="fmOpen" title="Open a protocol .yaml from this computer">Open local file…</button>
       <button id="fmOpenLibrary" title="Pick a committed protocol from this site's own registry (protocols/index.json)">Open from Library…</button>
-      <button id="fmOpenCourse" title="List this bench's saves (protocols/&lt;bench-id&gt;/) and promoted shared protocols (protocols/shared/) in the course-data repo">Open from Repo…</button>
+      <button id="fmOpenCourse" title="List this rig's saves (protocols/&lt;rig-id&gt;/) and promoted shared protocols (protocols/shared/) in the configured data repo">Open from Repo…</button>
       <button id="fmOpenDemo" class="edit-only" title="Load a bundled demo protocol to explore — same list the designer's Load demo ▾ used to hold">Open demo…</button>
       <button id="fmSave" class="edit-only">Save → local file</button>
-      <button id="fmSaveAs" class="edit-only" title="Save under a NEW filename (defaults to the protocol's name). The destination — course repo, Pull Request, or local file — is shown in the label and the prompt; a repo name that already exists asks before overwriting">Save as → local file…</button>
+      <button id="fmSaveAs" class="edit-only" title="Save under a NEW filename (defaults to the protocol's name). The destination — data repo, Pull Request, or local file — is shown in the label and the prompt; a repo name that already exists asks before overwriting">Save as → local file…</button>
       <button id="fmSaveCopy" class="edit-only" title="Download a regenerated copy (*_roundtrip.yaml) for diffing/MATLAB checks — does NOT mark the protocol saved">Save copy (download)…</button>
-      <button id="fmPromote" class="edit-only" title="Copy this bench's saved protocol (+ its _patterns/) to protocols/shared/ in the course repo — blocked if a DIFFERENT file already exists under the same name">Promote to shared (course)…</button>
+      <button id="fmPromote" class="edit-only" title="Copy this rig's saved protocol (+ its _patterns/) to protocols/shared/ in the data repo so every rig can open it — blocked if a DIFFERENT file already exists under the same name">Promote to shared…</button>
       <div class="sep"></div>
       <button id="fmCopyConditions" class="edit-only" title="Copy conditions from a second protocol YAML into this one — brings their anchors and plugins along">Copy conditions from another protocol…</button>
       <button id="fmReset" class="edit-only" title="Clear everything to a blank minimum-valid v3 skeleton (reversible with Undo)">Reset protocol…</button>
@@ -2128,10 +2128,10 @@
           <span class="gh-spacer"></span>
           <button class="gh-lock" id="ghLock" title="Bench GitHub settings are LOCKED (kiosk-safe) — click to unlock and edit the token / repo / bench id">🔒</button>
         </div>
-        <div class="gh-row"><label for="ghRepoInput">Repo</label><input type="text" id="ghRepoInput" placeholder="reiserlab/cshl-2026-course" title="Target GitHub repo (owner/name) for saves — defaults to the course-data repo (reiserlab/cshl-2026-course); type another owner/name to override. Stored in this browser's localStorage"></div>
-        <div class="gh-row"><label for="ghBenchId">Bench id</label><input type="text" id="ghBenchId" placeholder="e.g. bench03" title="Instructor-set bench identity — namespaces course-repo protocol saves (protocols/&lt;bench-id&gt;/) and run-log commits (runlogs/&lt;bench-id&gt;/); stored in this browser's localStorage"></div>
+        <div class="gh-row"><label for="ghRepoSelect">Repo</label><select id="ghRepoSelect" title="Which GitHub data repo this browser reads and writes: the course repo, the lab repo, or Other… (type owner/name). None = saves go to local files. Stored in this browser's localStorage"></select><input type="text" id="ghRepoInput" placeholder="owner/name" style="display:none" title="Custom GitHub data repo (owner/name). Stored in this browser's localStorage"></div>
+        <div class="gh-row"><label for="ghBenchId" id="ghBenchLabel">Rig id</label><input type="text" id="ghBenchId" list="rigIdList" placeholder="e.g. 3e229-g6a" title="This rig's identity in the data repo — namespaces protocol saves (protocols/&lt;rig-id&gt;/) and run-log commits (runlogs/&lt;rig-id&gt;/). Pick from the repo's roster or type a new one; stored in this browser's localStorage"><datalist id="rigIdList"></datalist></div>
         <label class="gh-check"><input type="checkbox" id="ghPR" title="Save opens a branch + Pull Request on the target repo (review-gated — the default for reiserlab/webDisplayTools)"> Save as Pull Request</label>
-        <label class="gh-check"><input type="checkbox" id="ghDirect" title="Save commits straight to the target repo's default branch — no branch, no PR. Course-repo mode: safe there because bench-id namespacing means no two rigs write the same file"> Commit directly to default branch</label>
+        <label class="gh-check"><input type="checkbox" id="ghDirect" title="Save commits straight to the target repo's default branch — no branch, no PR. Data-repo mode: safe there because rig-id namespacing means no two rigs write the same file"> Commit directly to default branch</label>
         <label class="gh-check"><input type="checkbox" id="ghArchivePatterns" title="Advanced: after each completed run, snapshot the SD card's patterns to pattern-sets/&lt;hash&gt;/patterns.zip in the repo (content-hash deduped) — redundancy for on-card edits. OFF by default: the SD bulk-download is still under investigation (it can disconnect the arena on large cards)."> Archive SD patterns to repo after each run <span class="dim">(advanced)</span></label>
         <div class="gh-row"><label for="fmLogLevel">Run logging</label>
           <select id="fmLogLevel" title="FicTrac frame logging verbosity for recorded runs (and ad-hoc Console logging). behavior_v1 = the compact [ms,fc,idx,ft,x,y,hd] row the live scope + analysis dashboard use (default); full = the whole 25-column FicTrac record (debug/archival, ~4× larger). Asserted at run start — overrides the Console log toggle for deterministic experiment logging.">
@@ -2249,7 +2249,7 @@ <h3>Sequence · test any single condition ▶ <span id="docSummary" class="doc-s
             <button class="pill log-only" id="btnLogClear">Clear</button>
             <button class="pill log-only" id="btnLogCopy" title="Copy log to clipboard">Copy</button>
             <button class="pill log-only" id="btnLogSave" title="Download the recorded run log (.json + .txt)" disabled>⬇ Save</button>
-            <button class="pill log-only" id="btnLogPush" title="Push this run's log to the course repo (runlogs/&lt;bench-id&gt;/) — use after an auto-commit was skipped (aborted/disconnected) or failed. Needs the bridge still connected; it re-serves the last run until the next one." disabled>⇪ Push log</button>
+            <button class="pill log-only" id="btnLogPush" title="Push this run's log to the data repo (runlogs/&lt;rig-id&gt;/) — use after an auto-commit was skipped (aborted/disconnected) or failed. Needs the bridge still connected; it re-serves the last run until the next one." disabled>⇪ Push log</button>
           </span>
           <!-- Scope controls live ON the header row in scope mode (maximizes the
                canvas); hidden in log mode. The .acts group is hidden in scope mode. -->
@@ -2298,7 +2298,7 @@ <h4>Run details</h4>
           <label>Experimenter <span class="req">*</span>
             <a class="srclink" id="mExpSrc" href="https://github.com/reiserlab/webDisplayTools/blob/main/configs/metadata/people.yaml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">↗ source</a>
           </label>
-          <select id="mExp" title="Pick the experimenter from the controlled list (course roster / people.yaml). No free text — add missing people to that file so the recorded data stays typo-free and mergeable.">
+          <select id="mExp" title="Pick the experimenter from the controlled list (the data repo's roster.yaml, else the site people.yaml). No free text — add missing people to that file so the recorded data stays typo-free and mergeable.">
             <option value="">— select experimenter —</option>
           </select>
           <datalist id="expList"></datalist>
@@ -2308,7 +2308,7 @@ <h4>Run details</h4>
           <label>Fly genotype <span class="req">*</span>
             <a class="srclink" id="mGenoSrc" href="https://github.com/reiserlab/webDisplayTools/blob/main/configs/metadata/genotypes.yaml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">↗ source</a>
           </label>
-          <select id="mGeno" title="Pick the genotype from the controlled list (course genotypes.yaml). No free text — pre-register new genotypes in that file so the recorded data stays typo-free and mergeable.">
+          <select id="mGeno" title="Pick the genotype from the controlled list (the data repo's genotypes.yaml, else the site list). No free text — pre-register new genotypes in that file so the recorded data stays typo-free and mergeable.">
             <option value="">— select genotype —</option>
           </select>
           <div class="hint">Required for a recorded run.</div>
@@ -2690,16 +2690,16 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
               <button class="pill" data-cmd="csdlist" title="GET_FILE_COUNT 0x80 + names">Refresh</button>
               <button class="pill" data-cmd="cpatinfo" title="Re-query pattern info (GET_PATTERN_INFO 0x88) for the selected pattern">↻ info</button>
               <div class="cmenu" data-cmenu id="sdUploadMenu">
-                <button class="cmenu-btn" title="Upload pattern(s) to the SD card — a single .pat or a whole pattern set, from a local file/folder, this site's library, or the course repo (SET_PATTERN_FILE 0x8D + rename 0x83)">Add ▾</button>
+                <button class="cmenu-btn" title="Upload pattern(s) to the SD card — a single .pat or a whole pattern set, from a local file/folder, this site's library, or the data repo (SET_PATTERN_FILE 0x8D + rename 0x83)">Add ▾</button>
                 <div class="cmenu-pop">
                   <div class="cmenu-sep">Single pattern (.pat)</div>
                   <button class="cmenu-item" data-cmd="csdup_local_file" title="Pick one .pat file from this computer and upload it">From local file…</button>
                   <button class="cmenu-item" data-cmd="csdup_lib_file" title="Pick a library protocol, then one pattern from its colocated set (needs GitHub sign-in)">From library…</button>
-                  <button class="cmenu-item" data-cmd="csdup_repo_file" title="Pick one pattern from the course repo — the shared pattern library (patterns/, where the Pattern Designer saves) or any protocol's colocated set (needs GitHub sign-in + course repo)">From course repo…</button>
+                  <button class="cmenu-item" data-cmd="csdup_repo_file" title="Pick one pattern from the data repo — the shared pattern library (patterns/, where the Pattern Designer saves) or any protocol's colocated set (needs GitHub sign-in + a repo)">From repo…</button>
                   <div class="cmenu-sep">Pattern set (folder)</div>
                   <button class="cmenu-item" data-cmd="csdup_local_folder" title="Pick a folder — every .pat inside is uploaded">From local folder…</button>
                   <button class="cmenu-item" data-cmd="csdup_lib_folder" title="Pick a library protocol — its whole colocated _patterns/ set uploads (needs GitHub sign-in)">From library…</button>
-                  <button class="cmenu-item" data-cmd="csdup_repo_folder" title="Upload a whole set from the course repo — a protocol's colocated _patterns/ or everything in the shared pattern library (needs GitHub sign-in + course repo)">From course repo…</button>
+                  <button class="cmenu-item" data-cmd="csdup_repo_folder" title="Upload a whole set from the data repo — a protocol's colocated _patterns/ or everything in the shared pattern library (needs GitHub sign-in + a repo)">From repo…</button>
                 </div>
               </div>
               <button class="pill" data-cmd="csdarchive" title="Download the whole SD as a ZIP (GET_SD_ARCHIVE 0x8A)">Download ZIP</button>
@@ -2917,11 +2917,11 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
 </div>
 
 <footer id="footer">
-  <span class="foot-left">Arena Studio v0.71 | 2026-09-04 16:39 ET · <a href="https://github.com/reiserlab/webDisplayTools" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="webDisplayTools on GitHub: source, issues, and release notes (docs/development/arena-studio-release-notes.md)">GitHub</a></span>
-  <!-- Course-repo quick-links: open protocols / logs / patterns in a new tab.
-       Hrefs built from the configured repo + bench id (updateGhQuickLinks). -->
-  <span id="ghQuickLinks" title="Open the course repo on GitHub (new tab)">
-    <span class="ql-title">course repo ↗</span>
+  <span class="foot-left">Arena Studio v0.72 | 2026-09-04 16:59 ET · <a href="https://github.com/reiserlab/webDisplayTools" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="webDisplayTools on GitHub: source, issues, and release notes (docs/development/arena-studio-release-notes.md)">GitHub</a></span>
+  <!-- Data-repo quick-links: open protocols / logs / patterns in a new tab.
+       Hrefs built from the configured repo + rig id (updateGhQuickLinks). -->
+  <span id="ghQuickLinks" title="Open the data repo on GitHub (new tab)">
+    <span class="ql-title" id="qlTitle">data repo ↗</span>
     <span class="ql-repo" id="qlRepo"></span>
     <a class="ql-link" id="qlProtocols" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protocols</a>
     <a class="ql-link" id="qlLogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">logs</a>
@@ -2949,6 +2949,8 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
 <script src="js/studio-runlog-adapter.js"></script>
 <script src="js/kinematics.js"></script> <!-- shared scope/dashboard kinematic derivations -->
 <script src="js/studio-github.js"></script>
+<!-- data-repo registry (course + lab repos, owner/name parser, user-facing labels) -->
+<script src="js/studio-data-repos.js"></script>
 <script src="js/runlog-replay.js?v=20260712-stackfix"></script>
 <script src="js/runtime-controls.js"></script>
 <script src="js/arena-replay-viewer-protocol.js"></script>
@@ -3003,22 +3005,65 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     Studio.ghToken = function () {
         return sessionStorage.getItem('studio_gh_pat') || localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_pat') || null;
     };
-    // Default course-data repo — pre-filled in the sign-in Repo field and used
-    // by courseSettings when the bench hasn't set its own, so the course flow
-    // (save/open-course/runlogs/roster/genotypes) targets it out of the box.
-    // Overridable: type another owner/name and it's stored in localStorage.
-    Studio.DEFAULT_COURSE_REPO = 'reiserlab/cshl-2026-course';
+    // Data-repo settings. The known repos (course + lab) come from the registry
+    // in js/studio-data-repos.js and populate the File ▾ Repo picker. There is
+    // deliberately NO default repo: a never-configured browser has no write
+    // target (saves go to local files) — a default would file lab data into the
+    // course repo (or vice-versa) under a bogus id. (`courseSettings` keeps its
+    // historical name; it serves every data repo.)
     Studio.courseSettings = function () {
-        const raw = (localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_repo') || Studio.DEFAULT_COURSE_REPO).trim();
-        const m = /^([A-Za-z0-9-]{1,39})\/([A-Za-z0-9._-]{1,100})$/.exec(raw);
+        const raw = (localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_repo') || '').trim();
+        const R = window.StudioDataRepos;
+        let repo = null;
+        if (R && typeof R.parseRepo === 'function') {
+            repo = R.parseRepo(raw);
+        } else {
+            // Registry script failed to load — same shape rule, inline.
+            const m = /^([A-Za-z0-9-]{1,39})\/([A-Za-z0-9._-]{1,100})$/.exec(raw);
+            repo = m && !raw.includes('..') ? { owner: m[1], name: m[2], full: raw } : null;
+        }
         return {
-            repo: m && !raw.includes('..') ? { owner: m[1], name: m[2], full: raw } : null,
+            repo: repo,
             direct: localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_direct') === '1',
             archivePatterns: localStorage.getItem('studio_archive_patterns') === '1',
             benchId: (localStorage.getItem('studio_bench_id') || '').trim()
         };
     };
-    // RIG-ID: the instructor-set bench id — namespaces course-repo protocol
+    // User-facing labels for the configured repo (copy rule: all "course"/"lab"
+    // wording flows through these; internal identifiers keep their names).
+    Studio.dataRepoLabel = function (cs) {
+        cs = cs || Studio.courseSettings();
+        const R = window.StudioDataRepos;
+        if (!cs.repo) return 'data repo';
+        return R && R.repoLabel ? R.repoLabel(cs.repo.full) : cs.repo.full;
+    };
+    Studio.idLabel = function (cs) {
+        cs = cs || Studio.courseSettings();
+        const R = window.StudioDataRepos;
+        return R && R.idLabel ? R.idLabel(cs.repo ? cs.repo.full : '') : 'Rig id';
+    };
+    Studio.sharedLabel = function (cs) {
+        cs = cs || Studio.courseSettings();
+        const R = window.StudioDataRepos;
+        return R && R.sharedLabel ? R.sharedLabel(cs.repo ? cs.repo.full : '') : 'shared';
+    };
+    // A 401 from GitHub means the stored token expired or was revoked: drop it
+    // everywhere and tell the operator, instead of quietly "saving locally".
+    Studio.dropInvalidToken = function (context) {
+        sessionStorage.removeItem('studio_gh_pat');
+        localStorage.removeItem('studio_gh_pat');
+        document.body.classList.remove('ghauth');
+        const who = document.getElementById('ghWho');
+        if (who) who.textContent = '';
+        if (Studio.showBanner) {
+            Studio.showBanner(
+                (context ? context + ': ' : '') +
+                    'the stored GitHub token is no longer valid (expired or revoked). ' +
+                    'Create a new one and sign in again from File ▾ — see docs/development/data-repo-token-runbook.md.'
+            );
+        }
+    };
+    // RIG-ID: the operator-set rig/bench id — namespaces data-repo protocol
     // saves and run-log commits. Identity comes from THIS (not the controller
     // MAC, which only cross-checks it against roster.yaml at connect).
     Object.defineProperty(Studio, 'rigId', {
@@ -3362,14 +3407,14 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
         const cs = Studio.courseSettings();
         const token = Studio.ghToken();
         if (!GH || !cs.direct || !cs.repo || !token) {
-            if (opts.manual) showBanner('Run log not pushed: course repo not configured (File ▾ → sign in, set repo, tick "Commit directly to default branch").');
-            return; // course pipeline not configured — normal lab use
+            if (opts.manual) showBanner('Run log not pushed: no data repo configured (File ▾ → sign in, pick the repo, tick "Commit directly to default branch").');
+            return; // data-repo pipeline not configured — local-only use
         }
         // Course pipeline is engaged (token + repo + direct) — from here every
         // outcome is shown in the modal so a push is never silent/mysterious.
         showUploadModal('Uploading run log…', { busy: true, msg: 'preparing…' });
         if (!cs.benchId) {
-            showUploadModal('Run log not committed', { error: true, msg: 'Bench id not set — see instructor (File ▾ → Bench id).' });
+            showUploadModal('Run log not committed', { error: true, msg: Studio.idLabel(cs) + ' not set (File ▾ → GitHub block).' });
             return;
         }
         const bridge = Studio.session && Studio.session.bridge;
@@ -3405,12 +3450,15 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
                 message: 'runlog: ' + proto + ' on ' + cs.benchId + ' (run ' + (log.meta.run_id || '?') + ')',
                 contentText: exported.content
             });
-            if (!res.ok) throw new Error(res.error || 'HTTP ' + res.status);
+            if (!res.ok) {
+                if (res.status === 401) Studio.dropInvalidToken('Run-log commit');
+                throw new Error(res.error || 'HTTP ' + res.status);
+            }
             rawLine('✓ run log committed: ' + path, 'info');
             showUploadModal('✓ Run log committed', { ok: true, msg: cs.repo.full + '\n' + path });
             setTimeout(hideUploadModal, 1800); // auto-dismiss on success
             const saved = $('rlSaved');
-            if (saved && !/committed to course repo/.test(saved.textContent)) saved.textContent += ' · ✓ committed to course repo';
+            if (saved && !/committed to /.test(saved.textContent)) saved.textContent += ' · ✓ committed to ' + Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs);
             // Redundancy: stash the actual on-card patterns (deduped by content
             // hash). Best-effort — a failure here never fails the run-log commit.
             try {
@@ -6305,6 +6353,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     const token = ghToken();
     if (!cs.repo || !token) return; // no course repo configured — nothing to do
     let entries;
+    let rigs = [];
     try {
         const res = await GH.runBytes(fetch, GH.reqGetContentsRaw(cs.repo.owner, cs.repo.name, 'roster.yaml', null, token));
         if (!res.ok) {
@@ -6313,32 +6362,47 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
         }
         const data = YAML.parse(new TextDecoder().decode(res.bytes));
         entries = (data && (data.people || data.roster)) || [];
+        rigs = (data && Array.isArray(data.rigs)) ? data.rigs : [];
     } catch (e) {
         Studio.rawLog('course roster: unreadable — ' + (e && e.message ? e.message : e), 'warn');
         return;
     }
-    if (!Array.isArray(entries) || !entries.length) return;
+    if (!Array.isArray(entries)) entries = [];
+    // Rig-id pick-list for the GitHub block: every rig_id the roster knows
+    // (people entries + the optional top-level rigs: list).
+    const dl = $('rigIdList');
+    if (dl) {
+        const ids = new Set();
+        entries.forEach((p) => { if (p && p.rig_id) ids.add(String(p.rig_id)); });
+        rigs.forEach((r) => { if (r && r.rig_id) ids.add(String(r.rig_id)); });
+        dl.textContent = '';
+        [...ids].sort().forEach((id) => { const o = document.createElement('option'); o.value = id; dl.appendChild(o); });
+    }
+    if (!entries.length) return;
     // The roster drives the experimenter picker (constrained <select>) + the
     // edit-view author datalist; cached so a reconnect doesn't churn the options.
     renderPeopleVocab(entries);
     const note = $('mSrcNote');
-    if (note) note.textContent = 'Experimenter list from the course roster (' + cs.repo.full + '/roster.yaml).';
+    if (note) note.textContent = 'Experimenter list from the ' + Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' roster (' + cs.repo.full + '/roster.yaml).';
     // The "↗ source" link now points at the ACTIVE source (the roster),
     // not the default lab people.yaml.
     const link = $('mExpSrc');
     if (link) {
         link.href = courseFileUrl(cs, 'roster.yaml');
-        link.title = 'Course roster — experimenter list (' + cs.repo.full + '/roster.yaml)';
+        link.title = Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' roster — experimenter list (' + cs.repo.full + '/roster.yaml)';
     }
     if (!cs.benchId) return;
     const mine = entries.find((p) => p && p.rig_id === cs.benchId);
-    if (!mine) {
-        Studio.rawLog('course roster: no entry for bench id "' + cs.benchId + '" — experimenter not pre-filled', 'warn');
+    // Lab rosters describe stations under rigs: (no person bound to a rig) —
+    // the MAC cross-check still works from that entry.
+    const station = rigs.find((r) => r && r.rig_id === cs.benchId) || null;
+    if (!mine && !station) {
+        Studio.rawLog('roster: no entry for ' + Studio.idLabel(cs).toLowerCase() + ' "' + cs.benchId + '" — experimenter not pre-filled', 'warn');
         return;
     }
     // Pre-fill (typo-proofing) — never clobber something already typed.
     const exp = $('mExp');
-    if (exp && !exp.value.trim() && (mine.id || mine.name)) {
+    if (mine && exp && !exp.value.trim() && (mine.id || mine.name)) {
         exp.value = mine.id || mine.name;
         Studio.rawLog('experimenter pre-filled from roster: ' + exp.value + ' (bench ' + cs.benchId + ')', 'info');
         Studio.updateRunGate();
@@ -6346,13 +6410,14 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     // MAC cross-check — bench id claims bench03 but the controller matches
     // another bench's entry ⇒ chip. Tolerant: old fw reports no MAC.
     const mac = Studio.controllerId;
-    if (chip && mac && mine.mac) {
+    const rosterMac = (mine && mine.mac) || (station && station.mac) || null;
+    if (chip && mac && rosterMac) {
         const norm = (s) => String(s).toUpperCase().replace(/[^0-9A-F]/g, '');
-        if (norm(mac) !== norm(mine.mac)) {
+        if (norm(mac) !== norm(rosterMac)) {
             chip.style.display = 'inline-block';
-            chip.title = 'Controller MAC ' + mac + ' ≠ roster entry for ' + cs.benchId + ' (' + mine.mac +
-                ') — a wrong bench id would namespace saves/run-logs under another bench. See instructor.';
-            Studio.rawLog('⚠ roster: bench id ' + cs.benchId + ' lists MAC ' + mine.mac + ' but the controller reports ' + mac, 'warn');
+            chip.title = 'Controller MAC ' + mac + ' ≠ roster entry for ' + cs.benchId + ' (' + rosterMac +
+                ') — a wrong ' + Studio.idLabel(cs).toLowerCase() + ' would namespace saves/run-logs under another rig. Fix the id or the roster.';
+            Studio.rawLog('⚠ roster: ' + Studio.idLabel(cs).toLowerCase() + ' ' + cs.benchId + ' lists MAC ' + rosterMac + ' but the controller reports ' + mac, 'warn');
         }
     }
 }
@@ -6384,7 +6449,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     const link = $('mGenoSrc');
     if (link) {
         link.href = courseFileUrl(cs, 'genotypes.yaml');
-        link.title = 'Course genotype list (' + cs.repo.full + '/genotypes.yaml)';
+        link.title = Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' genotype list (' + cs.repo.full + '/genotypes.yaml)';
     }
     Studio.rawLog('genotype list from the course repo (' + cs.repo.full + '/genotypes.yaml, ' + list.length + ' entries)', 'info');
 }
@@ -6418,7 +6483,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     const link = $(srcId);
     if (link) {
         link.href = courseFileUrl(cs, file);
-        link.title = 'Course ' + key + ' list (' + cs.repo.full + '/' + file + ')';
+        link.title = Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' ' + key + ' list (' + cs.repo.full + '/' + file + ')';
     }
     Studio.rawLog(key + ' list from the course repo (' + cs.repo.full + '/' + file + ', ' + list.length + ' entries)', 'info');
 }
@@ -8074,7 +8139,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     if (!token) { Studio.showBanner('Sign in to GitHub first.'); return; }
     if (!cs.repo) { Studio.showBanner('Set the target repo (owner/name) in File ▾ first.'); return; }
     if (!cs.benchId) {
-        Studio.showBanner('Course-repo save blocked: bench id not set — see instructor (File ▾ → Bench id).');
+        Studio.showBanner('Repo save blocked: ' + Studio.idLabel(cs).toLowerCase() + ' not set (File ▾ → GitHub block).');
         return;
     }
     if (!ensureSaveFilename(doc)) return;
@@ -8108,7 +8173,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     } catch (e) {
         if (String(e.message).includes('token invalid')) { sessionStorage.removeItem('studio_gh_pat'); localStorage.removeItem('studio_gh_pat'); document.body.classList.remove('ghauth'); }
         Studio.rawLog('course-repo save failed: ' + e.message + ' — saving locally instead.', 'err');
-        Studio.showBanner('Course-repo save failed (' + e.message + '); saved a local file instead.');
+        Studio.showBanner('Repo save failed (' + e.message + '); saved a local file instead.');
         saveLocal();
     }
 }
@@ -8233,7 +8298,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
         }
         if (authGeneration !== ghAuthGeneration) return;
         sessionStorage.setItem('studio_gh_pat', token);
-        if (confirm('Remember this token on THIS browser (localStorage)?\nYES for a course bench (survives tab close); NO on a personal shared machine.')) {
+        if (confirm('Remember this token on THIS browser (localStorage)?\nYES on a dedicated rig/bench computer or your own laptop (survives tab close); NO on a shared or borrowed machine.')) {
             localStorage.setItem('studio_gh_pat', token);
         } else {
             // A previous remembered credential must not silently survive when
@@ -8241,7 +8306,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
             localStorage.removeItem('studio_gh_pat');
         }
         document.body.classList.add('ghauth');
-        $('ghWho').textContent = '✓ @' + (user.login || 'user');
+        $('ghWho').textContent = '✓ @' + (user.login || 'user') + (Studio.courseSettings().repo ? ' → ' + Studio.courseSettings().repo.full : '');
         if (!($('ghDirect') && $('ghDirect').checked)) $('ghPR').checked = true;
         updateSaveLabel();
         // Now that we're authed, load the course metadata (roster/genotypes/
@@ -8288,9 +8353,9 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     const saveAs = $('fmSaveAs');
     if (direct) {
         $('ghDest').textContent = '→ commits straight to ' + cs.repo.full + ' /protocols/' +
-            (cs.benchId || '⚠ set bench id') + '/ (default branch, no PR)';
-        $('fmSave').textContent = 'Save → course repo';
-        if (saveAs) saveAs.textContent = 'Save as → course repo…';
+            (cs.benchId || '⚠ set ' + Studio.idLabel(cs).toLowerCase()) + '/ (default branch, no PR)';
+        $('fmSave').textContent = 'Save → ' + Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs);
+        if (saveAs) saveAs.textContent = 'Save as → ' + Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + '…';
     } else if (pr) {
         $('ghDest').textContent = '→ commits to a branch + opens a Pull Request on ' + ghTargetRepo().full;
         $('fmSave').textContent = 'Save → Pull Request';
@@ -8300,11 +8365,27 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
         $('fmSave').textContent = 'Save → local file';
         if (saveAs) saveAs.textContent = 'Save as → local file…';
     }
+    applyRepoIdentityLabels(cs);
     updateGhQuickLinks(cs);
 }
-// Bottom-corner quick-links: open the configured course repo's protocols / logs /
-// patterns folders in a new tab. Bench-namespaced when a bench id is set (else the
-// parent folder). Refreshed from updateSaveLabel whenever repo/bench change.
+// The GitHub block's id row follows the configured repo's vocabulary: "Bench id"
+// for the course repo, "Rig id" for the lab repo / anything else (registry).
+function applyRepoIdentityLabels(cs) {
+    cs = cs || Studio.courseSettings();
+    const R = window.StudioDataRepos;
+    const lbl = Studio.idLabel(cs);
+    const el = $('ghBenchLabel');
+    if (el) el.textContent = lbl;
+    const inp = $('ghBenchId');
+    if (inp) {
+        inp.placeholder = 'e.g. ' + (R && R.idPlaceholder ? R.idPlaceholder(cs.repo ? cs.repo.full : '') : 'rig-a');
+        inp.title = 'This ' + lbl.toLowerCase() + " — namespaces protocol saves (protocols/<id>/) and run-log commits (runlogs/<id>/) in " +
+            Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + '. Pick from the roster list or type a new one; stored in this browser\'s localStorage';
+    }
+}
+// Bottom-corner quick-links: open the configured data repo's protocols / logs /
+// patterns folders in a new tab. Rig-namespaced when a rig id is set (else the
+// parent folder). Refreshed from updateSaveLabel whenever repo/rig change.
 function updateGhQuickLinks(cs) {
     const box = $('ghQuickLinks');
     if (!box) return;
@@ -8319,9 +8400,12 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
         a.href = base + path;
         a.title = tip + ' — ' + cs.repo.full + '/' + path + ' (opens in a new tab)';
     };
-    set('qlProtocols', 'protocols' + (bench ? '/' + bench : ''), 'Protocols for this bench');
-    set('qlLogs', 'runlogs' + (bench ? '/' + bench : ''), 'Run logs for this bench');
+    set('qlProtocols', 'protocols' + (bench ? '/' + bench : ''), 'Protocols for this rig');
+    set('qlLogs', 'runlogs' + (bench ? '/' + bench : ''), 'Run logs for this rig');
     set('qlPatterns', 'patterns', 'Shared pattern library');
+    const title = $('qlTitle');
+    if (title) title.textContent = Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' ↗';
+    box.title = 'Open ' + Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' (' + cs.repo.full + ') on GitHub (new tab)';
     const repoLbl = $('qlRepo');
     if (repoLbl) repoLbl.textContent = cs.repo.full + (cs.benchId ? ' · ' + cs.benchId : '');
 }
@@ -8334,29 +8418,66 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     }
     updateSaveLabel();
 });
-// ---- course-repo settings (repo / bench id / direct-commit) — localStorage ----
+// ---- data-repo settings (repo / rig id / direct-commit) — localStorage ----
+// Repo = a <select> over the registry (js/studio-data-repos.js) + "— none —" +
+// "Other…" (free text in #ghRepoInput, which stays the value of record). NO
+// default: a fresh browser has no write repo until someone picks one.
+const OTHER_REPO = '__other__';
 function wireCourseSettings() {
+    const repoSel = $('ghRepoSelect');
     const repoIn = $('ghRepoInput');
     const direct = $('ghDirect');
     const bench = $('ghBenchId');
     if (!repoIn || !direct || !bench) return;
-    repoIn.value = localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_repo') || Studio.DEFAULT_COURSE_REPO;
+    const R = window.StudioDataRepos;
+    const known = R && Array.isArray(R.DATA_REPOS) ? R.DATA_REPOS : [];
+    if (repoSel) {
+        repoSel.textContent = '';
+        const opt = (value, label) => { const o = document.createElement('option'); o.value = value; o.textContent = label; repoSel.appendChild(o); };
+        opt('', '— none (local files) —');
+        known.forEach((r) => opt(r.full, r.label + ' · ' + r.full));
+        opt(OTHER_REPO, 'Other (owner/name)…');
+    }
+    // Reflect the stored repo into the picker: known → its option (input hidden);
+    // unknown non-empty → "Other…" with the input shown; empty → none.
+    function syncRepoControls() {
+        const v = (localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_repo') || '').trim();
+        const isKnown = known.some((r) => r.full.toLowerCase() === v.toLowerCase());
+        if (repoSel) repoSel.value = !v ? '' : isKnown ? known.find((r) => r.full.toLowerCase() === v.toLowerCase()).full : OTHER_REPO;
+        repoIn.value = v;
+        repoIn.style.display = repoSel && repoSel.value !== OTHER_REPO ? 'none' : '';
+    }
+    function commitRepo(v) {
+        // '' (not removeItem): an explicit clear must survive reloads.
+        localStorage.setItem('studio_gh_repo', v);
+        syncRepoControls();
+        updateSaveLabel();
+        // Repo changed → re-pull that repo's metadata (roster/genotypes/links).
+        if (Studio.refreshCourseMeta) Studio.refreshCourseMeta();
+        refreshRepoSharedPatternPreviews().then(() => rewireRepoPatternPreviews());
+    }
+    syncRepoControls();
     direct.checked = localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_direct') === '1';
     bench.value = localStorage.getItem('studio_bench_id') || '';
+    if (repoSel) {
+        repoSel.addEventListener('change', () => {
+            if (repoSel.value === OTHER_REPO) {
+                repoIn.style.display = '';
+                repoIn.value = '';
+                repoIn.focus();
+                return; // committed on the input's change
+            }
+            commitRepo(repoSel.value);
+        });
+    }
     repoIn.addEventListener('change', () => {
         const v = repoIn.value.trim();
         if (v && !(window.StudioUrlState && window.StudioUrlState.isSafeRepo(v))) {
-            Studio.showBanner('Repo must be owner/name — e.g. reiserlab/cshl-2026-course.');
-            repoIn.value = localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_repo') || Studio.DEFAULT_COURSE_REPO;
+            Studio.showBanner('Repo must be owner/name — e.g. reiserlab/arena-experiments.');
+            syncRepoControls();
             return;
         }
-        // '' (not removeItem): an explicit clear must survive reloads — only a
-        // never-set key gets the course-repo default seed above.
-        localStorage.setItem('studio_gh_repo', v);
-        updateSaveLabel();
-        // Repo changed → re-pull that repo's metadata (roster/genotypes/links).
-        if (Studio.refreshCourseMeta) Studio.refreshCourseMeta();
-        refreshRepoSharedPatternPreviews().then(() => rewireRepoPatternPreviews());
+        commitRepo(v);
     });
     direct.addEventListener('change', () => {
         localStorage.setItem('studio_gh_direct', direct.checked ? '1' : '0');
@@ -8378,7 +8499,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     });
     // Keep the menu open while typing in its inputs (the document-level
     // click-away closer must not eat clicks into the fields).
-    [repoIn, bench].forEach((el) => el.addEventListener('click', (e) => e.stopPropagation()));
+    [repoIn, bench, repoSel].forEach((el) => { if (el) el.addEventListener('click', (e) => e.stopPropagation()); });
     // Kiosk lock: the GitHub settings are visible in every view but LOCKED by
     // default (disabled + grayed) so students can't change the token/repo/
     // bench id. The instructor clicks 🔓 to configure, then it re-locks on the
@@ -8389,7 +8510,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     // access to the fixed course repo. Destination and write configuration stay
     // behind the instructor lock. A native-disabled Sign in button previously
     // looked clickable but emitted no event at all.
-    const lockTargets = () => [$('ghSignOutBtn'), repoIn, bench, $('ghPR'), direct, archive];
+    const lockTargets = () => [$('ghSignOutBtn'), $('ghRepoSelect'), repoIn, bench, $('ghPR'), direct, archive];
     function applyGhLock(locked) {
         if (ghBlock) ghBlock.classList.toggle('gh-locked', locked);
         lockTargets().forEach((el) => { if (el) el.disabled = locked; });
@@ -8397,14 +8518,14 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
         if (signIn) {
             signIn.classList.toggle('gh-signin-while-locked', locked);
             signIn.title = locked
-                ? 'Sign in for course-repo read access; repo, bench, and write settings remain instructor-locked'
+                ? 'Sign in for data-repo read access; repo, rig id, and write settings stay locked (click 🔒 in advanced mode to change them)'
                 : 'Sign in to GitHub with a personal access token (fine-grained for org members; classic for the shared course account) — see docs/development/data-repo-token-runbook.md';
         }
         if (ghLock) {
             ghLock.textContent = locked ? '🔒' : '🔓';
             ghLock.title = locked
-                ? 'Bench GitHub settings are LOCKED (kiosk-safe) — click to unlock and edit the token / repo / bench id'
-                : 'Bench GitHub settings UNLOCKED — set them, then click to re-lock (locks again on reload)';
+                ? 'GitHub settings are LOCKED (kiosk-safe) — click to unlock and edit the token / repo / rig id'
+                : 'GitHub settings UNLOCKED — set them, then click to re-lock (locks again on reload)';
         }
     }
     if (ghLock) {
@@ -8412,7 +8533,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
             e.stopPropagation();
             // Safe mode: the padlock is inert — GitHub setup is instructor-only.
             if (!Studio.advanced) {
-                Studio.showBanner('GitHub setup is instructor-only — unlock advanced mode (🛡 chip) first.');
+                Studio.showBanner('GitHub setup is locked in safe mode — unlock advanced mode (🛡 chip) first.');
                 return;
             }
             applyGhLock(!ghBlock.classList.contains('gh-locked'));
@@ -8439,7 +8560,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
                 localStorage.removeItem('studio_gh_pat');
                 document.body.classList.remove('ghauth');
                 Studio.showBanner(
-                    'The stored GitHub token is no longer valid. Sign in again from File ▾.'
+                    'The stored GitHub token is no longer valid (expired or revoked). Create a new one and sign in again from File ▾ — see docs/development/data-repo-token-runbook.md.'
                 );
                 updateSaveLabel();
                 return null;
@@ -8482,7 +8603,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
                 }
                 if (!restoreCurrent()) return;
                 document.body.classList.add('ghauth');
-                $('ghWho').textContent = '✓ @' + (u.login || 'user');
+                $('ghWho').textContent = '✓ @' + (u.login || 'user') + (cs.repo ? ' → ' + cs.repo.full : '');
                 if (!($('ghDirect') && $('ghDirect').checked)) $('ghPR').checked = true;
                 updateSaveLabel();
                 // Already signed in on load → pull course metadata now (no
@@ -8669,8 +8790,8 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     $('fileMenu').classList.remove('open');
     const cs = Studio.courseSettings();
     const token = ghToken();
-    if (!cs.repo) { Studio.showBanner('Set the course repo (owner/name) in File ▾ first.'); return; }
-    // Public course repos are readable without a token. Authentication is only
+    if (!cs.repo) { Studio.showBanner('Pick a data repo in File ▾ → GitHub first.'); return; }
+    // Public repos are readable without a token. Authentication is only
     // required for private repos, writes, or a higher API rate limit.
     try {
         const access = await GH.run(
@@ -8679,7 +8800,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
         );
         if (!access.ok) {
             Studio.showBanner(
-                'Course repo is unavailable (HTTP ' +
+                Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' is unavailable (HTTP ' +
                     access.status +
                     '): ' +
                     cs.repo.full +
@@ -8689,7 +8810,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
         }
     } catch (error) {
         Studio.showBanner(
-            'Course repo check failed: ' +
+            Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' check failed: ' +
                 (error && error.message ? error.message : error)
         );
         return;
@@ -8721,7 +8842,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     const readErrors = [benchResult.error, sharedResult.error].filter(Boolean);
     if (!benchItems.length && !sharedItems.length && readErrors.length) {
         Studio.showBanner(
-            'Course repo could not be read: ' +
+            Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' could not be read: ' +
                 readErrors.join(' · ') +
                 (token ? '' : ' · Sign in if this repo is private.')
         );
@@ -8730,13 +8851,13 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     const benchNames = new Set(benchItems.map((i) => i.label.toLowerCase()));
     const items = [];
     if (cs.benchId) {
-        items.push({ header: 'This bench — ' + cs.benchId + ' (rig-specific)' });
+        items.push({ header: 'This rig — ' + cs.benchId });
         if (benchItems.length) items.push(...benchItems);
-        else items.push({ note: 'No protocols saved to this bench yet.' });
+        else items.push({ note: 'No protocols saved from this rig yet.' });
     }
-    items.push({ header: 'Shared protocols (class-wide)' });
+    items.push({ header: 'Shared protocols (' + Studio.sharedLabel(cs) + ')' });
     if (sharedItems.length) {
-        sharedItems.forEach((i) => { if (benchNames.has(i.label.toLowerCase())) i.sub = '⚠ also on your bench'; });
+        sharedItems.forEach((i) => { if (benchNames.has(i.label.toLowerCase())) i.sub = '⚠ also saved on this rig'; });
         items.push(...sharedItems);
     } else items.push({ note: 'No shared protocols yet.' });
     if (readErrors.length) items.push({ note: 'Some sources were unavailable: ' + readErrors.join(' · ') });
@@ -8779,7 +8900,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
             registerRepoPatternPreviews(repo, path, token); // async, best-effort
         }
     } catch (e) {
-        Studio.showBanner('Course-repo open failed: ' + (e && e.message ? e.message : e));
+        Studio.showBanner('Repo open failed: ' + (e && e.message ? e.message : e));
     }
 }
 
@@ -8906,7 +9027,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
 async function listProtocolsForUpload(source, token) {
     if (source === 'repo') {
         const cs = Studio.courseSettings();
-        if (!cs.repo) { Studio.showBanner('Set the course repo (owner/name) in File ▾ first.'); return null; }
+        if (!cs.repo) { Studio.showBanner('Pick a data repo in File ▾ → GitHub first.'); return null; }
         const owner = cs.repo.owner, repo = cs.repo.name;
         const dirs = [];
         if (cs.benchId) dirs.push('protocols/' + cs.benchId);
@@ -9091,8 +9212,8 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     const cs = Studio.courseSettings();
     const token = ghToken();
     const doc = Studio.currentDoc;
-    if (!cs.repo || !token) { Studio.showBanner('Course repo + GitHub sign-in required to promote.'); return; }
-    if (!cs.benchId) { Studio.showBanner('Promote blocked: bench id not set — see instructor.'); return; }
+    if (!cs.repo || !token) { Studio.showBanner('A data repo + GitHub sign-in are required to promote.'); return; }
+    if (!cs.benchId) { Studio.showBanner('Promote blocked: ' + Studio.idLabel(cs).toLowerCase() + ' not set (File ▾ → GitHub block).'); return; }
     if (!doc || Studio.isUntitledDoc(doc)) { Studio.showBanner('Open (and save) a protocol first.'); return; }
     const base = GH.slug((doc.filename || 'protocol.yaml').replace(/\.ya?ml$/i, ''));
     const srcYaml = 'protocols/' + cs.benchId + '/' + base + '.yaml';
@@ -14874,7 +14995,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     '#rigMismatch': 'The bench rig and the protocol’s rig differ. The bench setting wins for Console operations; the protocol still runs with its own rig.',
     '#docName': 'The protocol that is open right now.',
     '#openProtoBtn': 'Open a protocol file (.yaml) from this computer.',
-    '#fileMenuBtn': 'Open and save protocols — from this computer, the shared library, or your course repo. GitHub settings live here too.',
+    '#fileMenuBtn': 'Open and save protocols — from this computer, the shared library, or your data repo (course or lab). GitHub settings live here too.',
     '#modeSeg [data-mode="run"]': 'Run view — open a protocol and run the whole experiment. ▶ Run experiment records a log; ▶ Test experiment does not.',
     '#modeSeg [data-mode="edit"]': 'Edit view — inspect or change the open protocol: its conditions, sequence and settings, or the YAML text itself.',
     '#modeSeg [data-mode="console"]': 'Console — hands-on arena control: pick a pattern, play trials, step frames, test the display.',
@@ -14885,13 +15006,14 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     '#fmNew': 'Start a new, empty protocol (Edit view).',
     '#fmOpen': 'Open a protocol file (.yaml) from this computer. It opens in the Editor so you can look it over first.',
     '#fmOpenLibrary': 'Open one of the example protocols published with these tools.',
-    '#fmOpenCourse': 'Open a protocol this bench saved (or one shared with the course) from the course repo.',
-    '#fmSave': 'Save the protocol. Where it goes depends on the GitHub settings below — a local file, a Pull Request, or straight to the course repo.',
-    '#fmPromote': 'Copy this bench’s saved protocol (and its patterns) to the course’s shared folder so other benches can use it.',
-    '#ghSignInBtn': 'Sign in with a GitHub token so the Studio can read and write the course repo. Tokens expire — if the Studio says the stored token is no longer valid, make a new one and sign in again.',
-    '#ghLock': 'Instructor lock — the repo and bench settings stay fixed during a course.',
+    '#fmOpenCourse': 'Open a protocol this rig saved, or one promoted to the shared folder, from the configured data repo.',
+    '#fmSave': 'Save the protocol. Where it goes depends on the GitHub settings below — a local file, a Pull Request, or straight to the data repo.',
+    '#fmPromote': 'Copy this rig’s saved protocol (and its patterns) to the repo’s shared folder so every rig can use it.',
+    '#ghSignInBtn': 'Sign in with your GitHub token so the Studio can read and write the data repo. Tokens expire — if the Studio says the stored token is no longer valid, make a new one and sign in again.',
+    '#ghLock': 'Settings lock — the repo, rig id and write settings stay fixed on a shared rig computer.',
     '#ghRepoInput': 'The GitHub repo saves go to (owner/name).',
-    '#ghBenchId': 'This bench’s name — saves and run logs are filed under it.',
+    '#ghRepoSelect': 'Which shared GitHub repo this computer reads and writes — the course repo, the lab repo, or another one. None means saves stay local.',
+    '#ghBenchId': 'This rig’s (or bench’s) name — saves and run logs are filed under it. Pick one from the roster or type a new one.',
     /* Run view */
     '#btnRunExp': 'Run the whole experiment and record a log. Needs: connected arena, a saved protocol, and Experimenter + Genotype filled in.',
     '#btnTestExp': 'Run the whole experiment WITHOUT recording — for checking that everything works.',
@@ -14900,7 +15022,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     '#btnAllOn': 'Quick check — turn every LED on.',
     '#btnAllOff': 'Turn every LED off.',
     '#btnLogSave': 'Download the run log as files (.json and .txt).',
-    '#btnLogPush': 'Send the last run’s log to the course repo — use this if the automatic push was skipped or failed.',
+    '#btnLogPush': 'Send the last run’s log to the data repo — use this if the automatic push was skipped or failed.',
     '#btnLogClear': 'Clear the log display (saved logs are not deleted).',
     '#btnLogCopy': 'Copy the log text to the clipboard.',
     '.seqlist': 'The experiment’s sequence. Each row is a condition — ▶ on a row tests just that one on the arena.',
@@ -15042,7 +15164,7 @@ <h2 id="modalTitle">Import error</h2>
     v.insertBefore(c, v.firstChild);
   }
   helpCard('#runView .run-main',
-    '<b>Run an experiment:</b> ① Open a protocol — File ▾ (this computer, the library, or your course repo). ' +
+    '<b>Run an experiment:</b> ① Open a protocol — File ▾ (this computer, the library, or your data repo). ' +
     '② Check the rig shown in the top bar matches your bench. ③ <b>Connect</b> (top right) and pick the arena’s USB port. ' +
     '④ Fill in <b>Experimenter</b> and <b>Genotype</b> on the right, then <b>▶ Run experiment</b> — recorded runs save a log automatically. ' +
     '<b>■ STOP</b> always stops the arena. ' +
diff --git a/course/cshl-2026/docs/github-overview.md b/course/cshl-2026/docs/github-overview.md
index 86af02e..f136fcd 100644
--- a/course/cshl-2026/docs/github-overview.md
+++ b/course/cshl-2026/docs/github-overview.md
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ Everything lives in one repository: **`reiserlab/cshl-2026-course`** (public sin
 August 2026 — anyone can read it; writing from Arena Studio still needs the bench to
 be signed in once per browser).
 
-Each of the 7 bench rigs has a **bench id** (`bench01` … `bench07`). The repo
+Each of the 7 bench rigs has a **bench id** (`bench01` … `bench07`; the field is
+labelled "Bench id" while the course repo is selected in File ▾ → GitHub → Repo). The repo
 is organized so no two benches ever overwrite each other's files:
 
 ```
diff --git a/dashboard/data-browser/app.js b/dashboard/data-browser/app.js
index ccbf77a..eee207d 100644
--- a/dashboard/data-browser/app.js
+++ b/dashboard/data-browser/app.js
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ function renderCatalog() {
     const visible = new Set(visibleDescriptors().map((item) => item.key));
     if (!state.catalog.length) {
         els.runCatalog.innerHTML = '<div class="empty-state">No runlogs indexed</div>';
-        els.catalogStatus.textContent = 'Open files or connect to the course repository.';
+        els.catalogStatus.textContent = 'Open files or connect to a data repository.';
         els.catalogSearchInput.disabled = true;
         els.renderSelectionButton.disabled = true;
         renderFocusOptions();
@@ -1724,6 +1724,18 @@ window.addEventListener('resize', renderScope);
 
 async function initialize() {
     els.githubRepoInput.value = G.currentRepo();
+    // Offer the known data repos (course + lab) as suggestions; free text still works.
+    const dl = document.getElementById('dataRepoList');
+    const registry = window.StudioDataRepos;
+    if (dl && registry && Array.isArray(registry.DATA_REPOS)) {
+        dl.textContent = '';
+        for (const r of registry.DATA_REPOS) {
+            const o = document.createElement('option');
+            o.value = r.full;
+            o.label = r.label;
+            dl.appendChild(o);
+        }
+    }
     loadAnalysisAxes();
     if (window.location.hostname.endsWith('github.io')) {
         els.plotSourceLink.href =
diff --git a/dashboard/data-browser/github-repo.js b/dashboard/data-browser/github-repo.js
index c29a974..a93179c 100644
--- a/dashboard/data-browser/github-repo.js
+++ b/dashboard/data-browser/github-repo.js
@@ -7,7 +7,14 @@
     const REPO_KEY = 'studio_gh_repo';
     const BENCH_KEY = 'studio_bench_id';
     const FOLDERS_KEY_PREFIX = 'dashboard_runlog_folders:';
-    const DEFAULT_REPO = 'reiserlab/cshl-2026-course';
+    // The registry (js/studio-data-repos.js, loaded before this file) lists the
+    // known data repos; the dashboard's default stays the first entry (the
+    // course repo). Falls back to the literal if the registry failed to load.
+    const REGISTRY = global.StudioDataRepos || null;
+    const DEFAULT_REPO =
+        REGISTRY && REGISTRY.DATA_REPOS && REGISTRY.DATA_REPOS[0]
+            ? REGISTRY.DATA_REPOS[0].full
+            : 'reiserlab/cshl-2026-course';
 
     function currentToken() {
         return sessionStorage.getItem(TOKEN_KEY) || localStorage.getItem(TOKEN_KEY) || '';
@@ -98,7 +105,7 @@
 
     async function apiJson(url, options) {
         const token = currentToken();
-        if (!token) throw new Error('Sign in with the course GitHub token first');
+        if (!token) throw new Error('Sign in with a GitHub token first');
         const response = await fetch(url, {
             method: (options && options.method) || 'GET',
             headers: headers(token),
@@ -125,7 +132,7 @@
         const repo = parseRepo(repoValue || currentRepo());
         const pat = prompt(
             `Paste a GitHub personal access token for ${repo.full} (fine-grained for org members; classic for the shared course account).\n` +
-                'The course token should have Contents read/write access.\n\n' +
+                'It needs Contents read access (read/write keeps it compatible with Arena Studio).\n\n' +
                 'It is stored in sessionStorage first. The next prompt can remember it on this browser.'
         );
         if (!pat) return null;
@@ -134,7 +141,7 @@
         sessionStorage.setItem(TOKEN_KEY, token);
         if (
             confirm(
-                'Remember this token on THIS browser?\nYES for a course bench; NO on a shared personal machine.'
+                'Remember this token on THIS browser?\nYES on a dedicated rig/bench computer or your own laptop; NO on a shared machine.'
             )
         ) {
             localStorage.setItem(TOKEN_KEY, token);
@@ -169,7 +176,7 @@
 
     async function fetchRaw(repoValue, path, ref, prefixBytes) {
         const token = currentToken();
-        if (!token) throw new Error('Sign in with the course GitHub token first');
+        if (!token) throw new Error('Sign in with a GitHub token first');
         const repo = parseRepo(repoValue || currentRepo());
         const requestHeaders = headers(token, 'application/vnd.github.raw');
         if (prefixBytes) requestHeaders.Range = `bytes=0-${Math.max(1023, prefixBytes - 1)}`;
diff --git a/dashboard/data-browser/index.html b/dashboard/data-browser/index.html
index 5d101aa..a8d839b 100644
--- a/dashboard/data-browser/index.html
+++ b/dashboard/data-browser/index.html
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
   <script defer src="vendor/kinematics.js?v=20260710-1647"></script>
   <script defer src="analysis-core.js?v=20260710-2236"></script>
   <script defer src="plot-specs.js?v=20260710-2236"></script>
-  <script defer src="github-repo.js?v=20260710-1647"></script>
+  <script defer src="../../js/studio-data-repos.js?v=20260904"></script>
+  <script defer src="github-repo.js?v=20260904"></script>
   <script defer src="app.js?v=20260710-1653"></script>
 </head>
 <body>
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
       <h1>Course Data Dashboard</h1>
     </div>
     <div class="header-actions">
-      <a id="courseRepoLink" class="quiet-link" href="https://github.com/reiserlab/cshl-2026-course" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Course repo</a>
+      <a id="courseRepoLink" class="quiet-link" href="https://github.com/reiserlab/cshl-2026-course" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Data repo</a>
       <div class="status-strip" id="statusStrip" aria-live="polite">
         <span class="status-dot" aria-hidden="true"></span>
         <span id="statusText">No data loaded</span>
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ <h2>Data</h2>
         </div>
 
         <div class="github-controls">
-          <input id="githubRepoInput" type="text" value="reiserlab/cshl-2026-course" aria-label="GitHub repository">
+          <input id="githubRepoInput" type="text" list="dataRepoList" value="reiserlab/cshl-2026-course" aria-label="GitHub repository"><datalist id="dataRepoList"></datalist>
           <button id="githubSignInButton" type="button">Sign in</button>
           <button id="githubSignOutButton" type="button" disabled>Sign out</button>
           <button id="chooseRigsButton" type="button" title="Choose which rig folders are included in the data catalog" disabled>Select rigs</button>
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ <h2>Data</h2>
       </div>
 
       <div class="catalog-head">
-        <span id="catalogStatus">Open files or connect to the course repository.</span>
+        <span id="catalogStatus">Open files or connect to a data repository.</span>
         <input id="catalogSearchInput" type="search" placeholder="Filter by rig, experimenter, run, fly, genotype, protocol, notes" disabled>
       </div>
       <div id="runCatalog" class="run-catalog" aria-label="Available runlogs">
diff --git a/docs/development/arena-studio-release-notes.md b/docs/development/arena-studio-release-notes.md
index 45db836..bb24af7 100644
--- a/docs/development/arena-studio-release-notes.md
+++ b/docs/development/arena-studio-release-notes.md
@@ -4,6 +4,24 @@ The Studio's footer used to carry the full changelog inline; it now shows one li
 history lives here. Newest first. (Per-session engineering detail stays in
 `arena-studio-handover.md` and the design docs — this file is the user-facing what-changed list.)
 
+## v0.72 (2026-09-04) · Data repos: lab repo picker, "Rig id", no default repo
+
+- **Repo is now a picker.** File ▾ → GitHub → Repo offers the CSHL 2026 course repo,
+  the new private lab repo (`reiserlab/arena-experiments`) and "Other…" for any
+  owner/name. A never-configured browser has **no repo selected** — saves go to local
+  files until one is picked (before, the course repo was silently the default).
+  Course benches already have their repo set, so nothing changes for them.
+- **"Bench id" becomes "Rig id"** outside the course repo, with a pick-list fed by the
+  repo's `roster.yaml` (people's `rig_id`s plus an optional `rigs:` list, which also
+  carries the controller MAC for the connect-time cross-check).
+- **Wording follows the repo** everywhere — save labels ("Save → Reiser lab
+  experiments"), the Open-from-repo picker ("This rig", "Shared protocols
+  (lab-wide)"), promote, run-log push, quick links, help texts. The Pattern Designer
+  and the data-browser dashboard use the same registry.
+- **Expired token handling**: a 401 during a run-log commit now clears the stored
+  token and says so, instead of only "saved locally". Setup guide:
+  `docs/development/data-repo-setup.md`.
+
 ## v0.71 (2026-09-04) · Closed-loop apply is reset at run start and abort
 
 - **No more error floods at the start of a run.** If FicTrac closed-loop "apply"
diff --git a/docs/development/cshl-pipeline-test-plan.md b/docs/development/cshl-pipeline-test-plan.md
index 2d7715d..6a8ed45 100644
--- a/docs/development/cshl-pipeline-test-plan.md
+++ b/docs/development/cshl-pipeline-test-plan.md
@@ -137,8 +137,10 @@ while destination/write settings are **locked by default**:
    closes — a classic footgun for a kiosk bench).
 2. Click **🛡 Safe mode**, enter the instructor password, then click the **🔒**
    in the GitHub block to unlock destination/write setup.
-3. **Repo** = `reiserlab/cshl-2026-course`.
-4. **Bench id** = `bench01`…`bench07` (must match `roster.yaml`).
+3. **Repo** = pick *CSHL 2026 course* in the dropdown (Studio v0.72+: nothing is
+   pre-selected on a fresh browser; "Other…" takes a custom owner/name).
+4. **Bench id** = `bench01`…`bench07` (must match `roster.yaml`; the field is
+   labelled "Bench id" while the course repo is selected, "Rig id" otherwise).
 5. Check **"Commit directly to default branch"**.
 6. Click the lock again to **re-lock** (🔒). It re-locks automatically on the
    next page load, so students can't alter the token/repo/bench id.
diff --git a/docs/development/data-repo-rig-test-checklist.md b/docs/development/data-repo-rig-test-checklist.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd2eb4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/data-repo-rig-test-checklist.md
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# Data-repo rig test checklist (Studio v0.72, PR #178)
+
+Validates the data-repo generalization on a real rig: repo picker, "Rig id",
+roster-fed rig list, and the full save / open / promote / run-log path against the
+private lab repo `reiserlab/arena-experiments`. About 30 minutes with a rig.
+
+**Before you start.** Serve the PR branch (`git checkout feat/data-repo-registry`,
+`pixi run serve`, open `http://127.0.0.1:8000/arena_studio.html`) or merge #178 and
+hard-refresh the rig after the Pages deploy (Cmd+Shift+R). You need your own
+fine-grained token for `arena-experiments` (`data-repo-token-runbook.md` §B).
+Steps 1–5 and 13–14 need no token and no arena.
+
+## A. Picker and labels (no token)
+
+1. **Fresh state.** Private window → Studio. GitHub block: Repo "— none (local
+   files) —", label **Rig id**, Save button "Save → local file", footer v0.72.
+2. **Lock.** Repo dropdown is greyed. 🛡 advanced → 🔓 enables it; 🔒 greys it again.
+3. **Lab repo.** Pick *Reiser lab experiments*. Label stays **Rig id**, placeholder
+   `e.g. 3e229-g6a`, bottom-corner quick links read "Reiser lab experiments ↗" and
+   point at `reiserlab/arena-experiments`.
+4. **Course repo.** Pick *CSHL 2026 course*. Label flips to **Bench id**, placeholder
+   `e.g. bench03`, quick links repoint. Switch back to the lab repo.
+5. **Other.** Pick *Other…*, type `nonsense`, Enter → banner "Repo must be
+   owner/name", previous repo restored. Type a valid `owner/name` → it sticks.
+
+## B. Signed in against the lab repo
+
+6. **Sign in.** File ▾ → Sign in… → paste your fine-grained token → YES to remember
+   (rig computer). Block reads `✓ @<you> → reiserlab/arena-experiments`. Run-view log
+   shows five "… from the Reiser lab experiments" lines (roster, genotypes, ages,
+   sexes, fly_numbers). Experimenter dropdown = the Janelia names from the roster.
+7. **Rig id.** Click the Rig id field: no suggestions yet (lab roster has no rigs).
+   Type e.g. `3e229-g6a`, tick **Commit directly to default branch**, 🔒.
+8. **Save.** Open any protocol → Save. Button reads "Save → Reiser lab experiments";
+   the file appears under `protocols/<rig-id>/` on GitHub within seconds.
+9. **Open from Repo.** Shows "This rig — <rig-id>" with your save and "Shared
+   protocols (lab-wide)" (empty).
+10. **Promote.** File ▾ → Promote to shared… → file appears in `protocols/shared/`
+    and under the shared header of the picker.
+11. **Roster rigs + MAC chip.** In the repo, edit `roster.yaml`:
+    ```yaml
+    rigs:
+      - rig_id: 3e229-g6a
+        mac: "00:00:00:00:00:00"
+    ```
+    Reload the Studio, connect the arena. The Rig id field now suggests that id; the
+    "⚠ rig ≠ roster" chip appears (wrong MAC). Put the real MAC from the connect log
+    into the roster → reload → chip gone.
+12. **Run log.** Run a short protocol as an *experiment* (bridge connected). Expect
+    "✓ Run log committed" and a file under `runlogs/<rig-id>/`.
+
+## C. Other pages
+
+13. **Pattern Designer.** Open via the Studio's *Patterns ↗* link. ⇪ Save to Repo →
+    the protocol destination row reads "rig <rig-id>" (not "bench").
+14. **Dashboard.** `dashboard/data-browser/`: the repo field suggests both repos; pick
+    the lab repo → it lists your `runlogs/<rig-id>` folder.
+
+## D. Course-bench regression
+
+15. On a bench that already had the course repo stored, load v0.72: Repo shows
+    *CSHL 2026 course* pre-selected, label **Bench id**, "Save → CSHL 2026 course"
+    works as before.
+
+## Known limits to keep in mind
+
+- **Run-log size.** The browser commits via the GitHub Contents API, which rejects
+  files above ~35 MiB (measured; HTTP 422). A 20 s-trial P3 full run is ~26 MB; a
+  40 s-trial run is ~51 MB and will NOT auto-commit — the Studio says "saved locally
+  on the bridge machine". Push those from a clone (`git push` allows up to 100 MB per
+  file) until the Studio gains a large-file path (see release notes / issues).
+- Aborted or test runs never auto-commit (by design) — use ⇪ Push log.
+
+If anything in B misbehaves, the Run-view log line is the fastest diagnostic.
diff --git a/docs/development/data-repo-setup.md b/docs/development/data-repo-setup.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8efe24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/data-repo-setup.md
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+# Data repos — setup for a lab rig (and how the course repo fits)
+
+Arena Studio, the Pattern Designer and the data-browser dashboard read and write a
+GitHub **data repo**: protocols (`protocols/<rig-id>/`), their colocated patterns
+(`…_patterns/`), the shared pattern library (`patterns/`), promoted protocols
+(`protocols/shared/`) and one run log per completed recorded run
+(`runlogs/<rig-id>/`). The root YAMLs (`roster.yaml`, `genotypes.yaml`, `ages.yaml`,
+`sexes.yaml`, `fly_numbers.yaml`) are the controlled pick-lists for the Run-details
+panel while that repo is configured; otherwise the site library
+(`configs/metadata/*.yaml`) is used.
+
+Two repos are registered in `js/studio-data-repos.js` and offered in the Studio's
+File ▾ → GitHub **Repo** picker:
+
+| Repo | Use | Visibility | Id label |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `reiserlab/cshl-2026-course` | CSHL 2026 course showcase (kept as-is) | public | Bench id |
+| `reiserlab/arena-experiments` | the lab's day-to-day experiments | private | Rig id |
+
+A fresh browser has **no repo selected** — saves go to local files until someone picks
+one. "Other…" accepts any `owner/name`.
+
+## Set up a rig computer (once)
+
+1. Get a token — see `data-repo-token-runbook.md` §B (org members: fine-grained,
+   resource owner `reiserlab`, only the repo, Contents read/write).
+2. Arena Studio → **File ▾** → GitHub **Sign in…** → paste → **YES** to remember on a
+   dedicated rig computer (NO on a shared laptop).
+3. 🛡 advanced mode → click **🔓** in the GitHub block → **Repo** = *Reiser lab
+   experiments* → **Rig id** = this station's id (pick from the roster list or type a
+   new one, e.g. `3e229-g6a`; unique per rig) → tick **Commit directly to default
+   branch** → **🔒**.
+4. Add the rig to the repo's `roster.yaml` under `rigs:` (with the controller MAC
+   from the Studio connect log) and give people `rig_id`s if they own a station.
+
+The label next to the id field follows the repo: "Bench id" for the course repo,
+"Rig id" otherwise. The localStorage key is the same (`studio_bench_id`); switching
+repos does not reset it — check it when you switch.
+
+## Sharing across the lab
+
+Everyone with access sees every rig's folders. **File ▾ → Promote to shared…** copies
+a protocol and its `_patterns/` into `protocols/shared/` (refuses to overwrite a
+*different* same-named file). The Pattern Designer's **Save to Repo → library**
+writes `patterns/`. Nothing else is needed.
+
+## Adding another data repo
+
+1. Create + seed it: `scripts/seed-data-repo.sh --repo owner/name --apply`
+   (dry run without `--apply`; private by default; idempotent).
+2. Add an entry to `DATA_REPOS` in `js/studio-data-repos.js` (label, id label,
+   placeholder, shared label, visibility). Tests: `tests/test-studio-data-repos.js`.
+3. Never enable branch protection — the Studio commits straight to the default branch.
+
+## Migrating rig folders between repos
+
+Planned for the week of 2026-09-08 (`scripts/migrate-data-repo-dirs.sh`, see the
+plan): copy `protocols/<id>/` + `runlogs/<id>/` from the course repo into the lab
+repo under a new rig id without rewriting file contents; record the mapping in
+`MIGRATION.md`. Removing from the public repo hides the files but not their git
+history.
diff --git a/docs/development/studio-github-save-proposal.md b/docs/development/studio-github-save-proposal.md
index b1b1429..bd20fa9 100644
--- a/docs/development/studio-github-save-proposal.md
+++ b/docs/development/studio-github-save-proposal.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Studio → GitHub save: lean proposal (for review)
 
-**Status: COURSE SCOPE SHIPPED (2026-07-03, Session 2 — Arena Studio v0.5).**
+**Status: COURSE SCOPE SHIPPED (2026-07-03, Session 2 — Arena Studio v0.5). PER-LAB SCOPE SHIPPED 2026-09-04 (Studio v0.72) as a repo *registry* (`js/studio-data-repos.js`, private `reiserlab/arena-experiments`, per-person tokens) rather than a template repo — see `data-repo-setup.md`.**
 The course-pipeline slice of this proposal is implemented; the generic
 per-user/template-repo phases below remain the unbuilt follow-on. Shipped:
 repo owner/name + bench-id settings + "commit directly to default branch"
diff --git a/js/studio-data-repos.js b/js/studio-data-repos.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..794484a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/studio-data-repos.js
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+/**
+ * studio-data-repos.js — the registry of GitHub DATA repos the Arena Studio,
+ * Pattern Designer and data-browser dashboard can read/write (protocols,
+ * patterns, run logs), plus the shared owner/name parser and the user-facing
+ * label helpers that let one code path serve a course bench AND a lab rig.
+ *
+ * Adding a repo = one entry in DATA_REPOS (it appears in the Studio's File ▾
+ * Repo picker). Unknown repos (typed under "Other…" or arriving via ?repo=)
+ * still work: the helpers fall back to generic labels.
+ *
+ * Copy rule (CLAUDE.md): user-visible strings go through repoLabel / idLabel /
+ * sharedLabel; internal identifiers (`courseSettings`, `fetchCourse*`, element
+ * ids) keep their historical "course" names — tests anchor on them.
+ *
+ * LOADING: classic <script src> (window-global + CommonJS dual-export, no ES
+ * `export`) — same pattern as studio-meta.js / studio-github.js, so it loads
+ * before the module block and the classic-shell settings can use it.
+ */
+(function (global) {
+    'use strict';
+
+    // Same shape rule as StudioUrlState.isSafeRepo (owner: 1-39 chars, no leading
+    // hyphen; name: 1-100 of [A-Za-z0-9._-]); `..` is rejected separately.
+    const REPO_RE = /^([A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9-]{0,38})\/([A-Za-z0-9._-]{1,100})$/;
+
+    /**
+     * Known data repos. `idLabel` names the per-rig namespace segment
+     * (protocols/<id>/, runlogs/<id>/) in that repo's vocabulary; `sharedLabel`
+     * qualifies the protocols/shared/ picker header.
+     */
+    const DATA_REPOS = [
+        {
+            key: 'course',
+            full: 'reiserlab/cshl-2026-course',
+            label: 'CSHL 2026 course',
+            idLabel: 'Bench id',
+            idPlaceholder: 'bench03',
+            sharedLabel: 'class-wide',
+            visibility: 'public'
+        },
+        {
+            key: 'lab',
+            full: 'reiserlab/arena-experiments',
+            label: 'Reiser lab experiments',
+            idLabel: 'Rig id',
+            idPlaceholder: '3e229-g6a',
+            sharedLabel: 'lab-wide',
+            visibility: 'private'
+        }
+    ];
+
+    const GENERIC = { idLabel: 'Rig id', idPlaceholder: 'rig-a', sharedLabel: 'shared' };
+
+    /** owner/name → {owner, name, full} or null (shape-only; no allowlist). */
+    function parseRepo(raw) {
+        const s = String(raw == null ? '' : raw).trim();
+        if (!s || s.includes('..')) return null;
+        const m = REPO_RE.exec(s);
+        return m ? { owner: m[1], name: m[2], full: s } : null;
+    }
+
+    function _full(repo) {
+        if (!repo) return '';
+        if (typeof repo === 'string') return repo.trim();
+        return repo.full || (repo.owner && repo.name ? repo.owner + '/' + repo.name : '');
+    }
+
+    /** Registry entry for a repo (string or {owner,name,full}) or null. */
+    function findRepo(repo) {
+        const full = _full(repo).toLowerCase();
+        if (!full) return null;
+        return DATA_REPOS.find((r) => r.full.toLowerCase() === full) || null;
+    }
+
+    /** Human label: registry label, else the owner/name, else 'data repo'. */
+    function repoLabel(repo) {
+        const e = findRepo(repo);
+        if (e) return e.label;
+        return _full(repo) || 'data repo';
+    }
+
+    /** 'Bench id' for the course repo, 'Rig id' otherwise. */
+    function idLabel(repo) {
+        const e = findRepo(repo);
+        return (e && e.idLabel) || GENERIC.idLabel;
+    }
+
+    function idPlaceholder(repo) {
+        const e = findRepo(repo);
+        return (e && e.idPlaceholder) || GENERIC.idPlaceholder;
+    }
+
+    /** Qualifier for protocols/shared/: 'class-wide' | 'lab-wide' | 'shared'. */
+    function sharedLabel(repo) {
+        const e = findRepo(repo);
+        return (e && e.sharedLabel) || GENERIC.sharedLabel;
+    }
+
+    const StudioDataRepos = {
+        DATA_REPOS,
+        REPO_RE,
+        parseRepo,
+        findRepo,
+        repoLabel,
+        idLabel,
+        idPlaceholder,
+        sharedLabel
+    };
+
+    if (typeof module !== 'undefined' && module.exports) {
+        module.exports = StudioDataRepos;
+    }
+    if (typeof global !== 'undefined') {
+        global.StudioDataRepos = StudioDataRepos;
+    }
+})(typeof window !== 'undefined' ? window : this);
diff --git a/pattern_editor.html b/pattern_editor.html
index ba61fc1..0bb2540 100644
--- a/pattern_editor.html
+++ b/pattern_editor.html
@@ -27,9 +27,11 @@
     <script src="js/pat-encoder.js"></script>
     <script src="js/arena-geometry.js"></script>
     <script src="js/pattern-editor/tools/generator.js"></script>
-    <!-- course pipeline: GitHub request builders for "push to course repo"
+    <!-- data-repo pipeline: GitHub request builders for "save to repo"
          (classic dual-export module — same file Arena Studio uses) -->
     <script src="js/studio-github.js"></script>
+    <!-- data-repo registry (course + lab repos, shared owner/name parser, labels) -->
+    <script src="js/studio-data-repos.js"></script>
     <!-- library MANIFEST parser (Open from Library…) + repo/path validators
          (?repo= / ?arena= URL state) — same classic dual-export modules the
          Studio loads, so behavior matches across the two tools -->
@@ -2491,7 +2493,7 @@ <h3 class="modal-title">Save to Repo</h3>
                 <input type="radio" name="repoDest" id="destProtocol" value="protocol">
                 <span class="dest-text">
                     <b>A protocol's pattern folder</b>
-                    <span>protocols/&lt;bench-id&gt;/&lt;protocol&gt;_patterns/ — travels with that protocol (needs a bench id)</span>
+                    <span>protocols/&lt;rig-id&gt;/&lt;protocol&gt;_patterns/ — travels with that protocol (needs a rig / bench id)</span>
                     <input type="text" class="dest-proto-input" id="destProtoName" placeholder="protocol name, e.g. my_protocol" disabled>
                 </span>
             </label>
@@ -3476,13 +3478,22 @@ <h3 class="modal-title">Save to Repo</h3>
 
         function repoSettings() {
             const raw = (sessionRepo || localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_repo') || '').trim();
-            const rm = /^([A-Za-z0-9-]{1,39})\/([A-Za-z0-9._-]{1,100})$/.exec(raw);
-            const ok = rm && !raw.includes('..');
+            // Shared owner/name parser (js/studio-data-repos.js); regex fallback if
+            // that classic script failed to load.
+            const R = window.StudioDataRepos;
+            let parsed = null;
+            if (R && typeof R.parseRepo === 'function') parsed = R.parseRepo(raw);
+            else {
+                const rm = /^([A-Za-z0-9-]{1,39})\/([A-Za-z0-9._-]{1,100})$/.exec(raw);
+                parsed = rm && !raw.includes('..') ? { owner: rm[1], name: rm[2], full: raw } : null;
+            }
             return {
                 token: sessionStorage.getItem('studio_gh_pat') || localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_pat'),
                 repoRaw: raw,
-                owner: ok ? rm[1] : null,
-                repo: ok ? rm[2] : null,
+                owner: parsed ? parsed.owner : null,
+                repo: parsed ? parsed.name : null,
+                // 'Bench id' (course repo) or 'Rig id' (lab / other) — user copy only.
+                idLabel: R && R.idLabel ? R.idLabel(raw) : 'Rig id',
                 benchId: (localStorage.getItem('studio_bench_id') || '').trim()
             };
         }
@@ -3673,13 +3684,13 @@ <h3 class="modal-title">Save to Repo</h3>
             if (!built) return;
             _pendingRepoSave = built;
             document.getElementById('repoSaveRepoLine').textContent =
-                'Repo: ' + cs.repoRaw + (cs.benchId ? ' · bench ' + cs.benchId : '');
+                'Repo: ' + cs.repoRaw + (cs.benchId ? ' · ' + cs.idLabel.toLowerCase() + ' ' + cs.benchId : '');
             const protoRadio = document.getElementById('destProtocol');
             const protoInput = document.getElementById('destProtoName');
             protoRadio.disabled = !cs.benchId;
             protoRadio.closest('.dest-row').title = cs.benchId
                 ? 'Commits next to a protocol so they travel together'
-                : 'Needs a bench id (set in Arena Studio → File ▾) — course benches only';
+                : 'Needs a ' + cs.idLabel.toLowerCase() + ' (set in Arena Studio → File ▾ → GitHub)';
             if (!cs.benchId) document.getElementById('destLibrary').checked = true;
             protoInput.disabled = !protoRadio.checked;
             updateRepoSavePath();
diff --git a/pixi.toml b/pixi.toml
index 7e3557b..54a62d7 100644
--- a/pixi.toml
+++ b/pixi.toml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ serve = "python -m http.server 8000 --bind 127.0.0.1"
 # The full test suite. yaml is vendored (js/vendor/yaml), so no package install.
 # The v3 suite pulls in ESM modules that `import 'yaml'`; --import maps that bare
 # specifier to the vendored copy (tests/vendor-yaml.register.mjs).
-test = "node tests/validate-arena-calculations.js && node tests/test-protocol-roundtrip.js && node --import ./tests/vendor-yaml.register.mjs tests/test-protocol-roundtrip-v3.js && node --import ./tests/vendor-yaml.register.mjs tests/test-runtime-controls.js && node tests/test-plugin-registry.js && node tests/test-arena-wire-g6.js && node tests/test-arena-link.js && node tests/test-arena-runner-g6.js && node tests/test-arena-session.js && node tests/test-fictrac-bridge-client.js && node tests/test-run-log.js && node tests/test-bin-classifier.js && node tests/test-pattern-set.js && node tests/test-pat-preview.js && node tests/test-studio-meta.js && node tests/test-studio-url-state.js && node tests/test-studio-runlog-adapter.js && node tests/test-studio-github.js && node tests/test-studio-canmutate.js && node tests/test-studio-protocols-index.js && node tests/test-g6-tall-rigs.js && node tests/test-arena-studio-alt.js && node tests/test-three-viewer-led-glow.js && node tests/test-three-viewer-preview-omissions.js && node tests/test-arena-replay-viewer-protocol.js && node tests/test-kinematics.js && node tests/test-runlog-replay.js && node tests/test-metadata-yaml.js && python tests/test-bridge-behavior.py"
+test = "node tests/validate-arena-calculations.js && node tests/test-protocol-roundtrip.js && node --import ./tests/vendor-yaml.register.mjs tests/test-protocol-roundtrip-v3.js && node --import ./tests/vendor-yaml.register.mjs tests/test-runtime-controls.js && node tests/test-plugin-registry.js && node tests/test-arena-wire-g6.js && node tests/test-arena-link.js && node tests/test-arena-runner-g6.js && node tests/test-arena-session.js && node tests/test-fictrac-bridge-client.js && node tests/test-run-log.js && node tests/test-bin-classifier.js && node tests/test-pattern-set.js && node tests/test-pat-preview.js && node tests/test-studio-meta.js && node tests/test-studio-url-state.js && node tests/test-studio-runlog-adapter.js && node tests/test-studio-github.js && node tests/test-studio-data-repos.js && node tests/test-studio-canmutate.js && node tests/test-studio-protocols-index.js && node tests/test-g6-tall-rigs.js && node tests/test-arena-studio-alt.js && node tests/test-three-viewer-led-glow.js && node tests/test-three-viewer-preview-omissions.js && node tests/test-arena-replay-viewer-protocol.js && node tests/test-kinematics.js && node tests/test-runlog-replay.js && node tests/test-metadata-yaml.js && python tests/test-bridge-behavior.py"
 format = "prettier --write \"**/*.js\""
 format-check = "prettier --check \"**/*.js\""
 
diff --git a/scripts/seed-data-repo.sh b/scripts/seed-data-repo.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..b0ee978
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/seed-data-repo.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# seed-data-repo.sh — create (if needed) and seed a private GitHub DATA repo for
+# Arena Studio / Pattern Designer direct commits, in the layout the tools expect:
+#
+#   roster.yaml, genotypes.yaml, ages.yaml, sexes.yaml, fly_numbers.yaml   (root vocab)
+#   protocols/shared/  runlogs/  patterns/  pattern-sets/                   (namespaced dirs)
+#   README.md
+#
+# Idempotent: existing files are never overwritten (only missing ones are added).
+# Default is a DRY RUN; pass --apply to create/push.
+#
+#   scripts/seed-data-repo.sh [--repo owner/name] [--public] [--apply]
+#
+# Requires: gh (authenticated as an org owner/admin), git, python3.
+# After seeding: add the repo to DATA_REPOS in js/studio-data-repos.js so it
+# appears in the Studio's Repo picker, and do NOT enable branch protection.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+REPO="reiserlab/arena-experiments"
+VISIBILITY="--private"
+APPLY=0
+for a in "$@"; do
+  case "$a" in
+    --repo) shift_next=1 ;;
+    --repo=*) REPO="${a#--repo=}" ;;
+    --public) VISIBILITY="--public" ;;
+    --apply) APPLY=1 ;;
+    -h|--help) sed -n 2,16p "$0"; exit 0 ;;
+    *) if [ "${shift_next:-0}" = 1 ]; then REPO="$a"; shift_next=0; else echo "unknown arg: $a" >&2; exit 2; fi ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+HERE="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+META="$HERE/configs/metadata"
+WORK="$(mktemp -d)"
+trap 'rm -rf "$WORK"' EXIT
+
+say() { printf '%s\n' "$*"; }
+run() { if [ "$APPLY" = 1 ]; then "$@"; else say "  [dry-run] $*"; fi; }
+
+say "== seed data repo: $REPO ($VISIBILITY) apply=$APPLY"
+if gh repo view "$REPO" --json name >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  say "repo exists — will only add missing files"
+else
+  run gh repo create "$REPO" $VISIBILITY --description "Arena experiments: protocols, patterns and run logs written directly by Arena Studio / Pattern Designer — rig-id namespaced"
+fi
+
+if [ "$APPLY" = 1 ]; then
+  gh repo clone "$REPO" "$WORK/repo" -- -q
+else
+  mkdir -p "$WORK/repo"; say "  [dry-run] would clone $REPO"
+fi
+cd "$WORK/repo"
+
+add_if_missing() { # path, then content on stdin
+  local path="$1"
+  if [ -e "$path" ]; then say "  keep   $path"; return; fi
+  mkdir -p "$(dirname "$path")"; cat > "$path"; say "  add    $path"
+}
+
+for f in genotypes ages sexes fly_numbers; do
+  add_if_missing "$f.yaml" < "$META/$f.yaml"
+done
+# roster: lab people (full names) from the site library list, no rig assignments yet
+python3 - "$META/people.yaml" <<'PY' | add_if_missing roster.yaml
+import sys, re
+src = open(sys.argv[1]).read()
+people = re.findall(r'-\s+id:\s*(\S+)\s*\n\s+name:\s*"?([^"\n]+)"?', src)
+print("""# Lab roster — the experimenter list for Arena Studio when this repo is the
+# configured data repo (File ▾ → GitHub). Every entry feeds the Experimenter
+# dropdown; the entry whose rig_id matches the rig id set on a rig computer
+# pre-fills it. `mac` (optional) is cross-checked against the controller at connect.
+#   id / name / rig_id? / mac?
+# Edit in the GitHub UI is fine — keep the two-space indent on `- id:` lines.
+format_version: 1
+people:""")
+for i, n in people:
+    print(f"  - id: {i}\n    name: \"{n.strip()}\"")
+print("""
+# Physical rigs (stations), for the Rig id pick-list + MAC cross-check.
+# rigs:
+#   - rig_id: 3e229-g6a
+#     arena: G6_3x10
+#     mac: "04:E9:E5:12:91:E2"
+rigs: []""")
+PY
+for d in protocols/shared runlogs patterns pattern-sets; do
+  add_if_missing "$d/.gitkeep" < /dev/null
+done
+add_if_missing README.md <<EOT
+# $REPO — arena experiments (data repo)
+
+Data repo for LED-arena rigs. Rig computers write here **directly on the default
+branch** from Arena Studio and the Pattern Designer; every write is namespaced by the
+**rig id** set on that computer.
+
+Layout: root controlled-vocabulary YAMLs (roster, genotypes, ages, sexes, fly_numbers),
+\`protocols/<rig-id>/\`, \`protocols/shared/\`, \`patterns/\`, \`runlogs/<rig-id>/\`,
+\`pattern-sets/\`. Setup, tokens and the sharing model:
+https://github.com/reiserlab/webDisplayTools/blob/main/docs/development/data-repo-setup.md
+
+**Do not enable branch protection** on the default branch.
+EOT
+
+if [ "$APPLY" = 1 ]; then
+  if [ -n "$(git status --porcelain)" ]; then
+    git add -A && git commit -q -m "seed: data repo skeleton (roster, vocab pick-lists, README, namespaced dirs)" && git push -q
+    say "pushed"
+  else
+    say "nothing to add"
+  fi
+  say "== verify"; gh api "repos/$REPO/contents" --jq '.[].path' | tr '\n' ' '; echo
+fi
+say "== next: add '$REPO' to DATA_REPOS in js/studio-data-repos.js (if new); never enable branch protection."
diff --git a/tests/test-studio-data-repos.js b/tests/test-studio-data-repos.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eb46b3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test-studio-data-repos.js
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+/**
+ * Tests for js/studio-data-repos.js — the data-repo registry + label helpers,
+ * and the HTML wiring that consumes it (Studio Repo picker, no default write
+ * repo, Pattern Designer + dashboard load the module).
+ *
+ * Run: node tests/test-studio-data-repos.js   (wired into `pixi run test`)
+ */
+'use strict';
+
+const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
+const R = require('../js/studio-data-repos.js');
+const U = require('../js/studio-url-state.js');
+const root = path.join(__dirname, '..');
+const studio = fs.readFileSync(path.join(root, 'arena_studio.html'), 'utf8');
+const pd = fs.readFileSync(path.join(root, 'pattern_editor.html'), 'utf8');
+const dash = fs.readFileSync(path.join(root, 'dashboard', 'data-browser', 'index.html'), 'utf8');
+
+let total = 0;
+let failures = 0;
+function check(name, got, expected) {
+    total++;
+    const ok = JSON.stringify(got) === JSON.stringify(expected);
+    console.log(
+        `  ${ok ? 'PASS' : 'FAIL'}  ${name}: got ${JSON.stringify(got)}, expected ${JSON.stringify(expected)}`
+    );
+    if (!ok) failures++;
+}
+function checkBool(name, ok, info) {
+    total++;
+    console.log(`  ${ok ? 'PASS' : 'FAIL'}  ${name}${info ? ' — ' + info : ''}`);
+    if (!ok) failures++;
+}
+
+console.log('=== registry ===');
+check('two known repos', R.DATA_REPOS.length, 2);
+check('keys unique', new Set(R.DATA_REPOS.map((r) => r.key)).size, R.DATA_REPOS.length);
+check('fulls unique', new Set(R.DATA_REPOS.map((r) => r.full)).size, R.DATA_REPOS.length);
+for (const r of R.DATA_REPOS) {
+    checkBool(r.full + ' passes StudioUrlState.isSafeRepo', U.isSafeRepo(r.full));
+    checkBool(
+        r.full + ' has label/idLabel/idPlaceholder/sharedLabel',
+        !!(r.label && r.idLabel && r.idPlaceholder && r.sharedLabel)
+    );
+}
+check('course repo present', !!R.findRepo('reiserlab/cshl-2026-course'), true);
+check('lab repo present', !!R.findRepo('reiserlab/arena-experiments'), true);
+check(
+    'course repo is public (reads work signed-out)',
+    R.findRepo('reiserlab/cshl-2026-course').visibility,
+    'public'
+);
+check('lab repo is private', R.findRepo('reiserlab/arena-experiments').visibility, 'private');
+
+console.log('=== parseRepo ===');
+check('owner/name', R.parseRepo('reiserlab/arena-experiments'), {
+    owner: 'reiserlab',
+    name: 'arena-experiments',
+    full: 'reiserlab/arena-experiments'
+});
+check('trims', R.parseRepo('  a/b  ').full, 'a/b');
+check('rejects empty', R.parseRepo(''), null);
+check('rejects null', R.parseRepo(null), null);
+check('rejects traversal', R.parseRepo('a/..'), null);
+check('rejects URL', R.parseRepo('https://github.com/a/b'), null);
+check('rejects missing name', R.parseRepo('reiserlab'), null);
+check('rejects leading hyphen owner', R.parseRepo('-x/y'), null);
+check('rejects 3 segments', R.parseRepo('a/b/c'), null);
+
+console.log('=== labels ===');
+check('course label', R.repoLabel('reiserlab/cshl-2026-course'), 'CSHL 2026 course');
+check(
+    'lab label',
+    R.repoLabel({ owner: 'reiserlab', name: 'arena-experiments' }),
+    'Reiser lab experiments'
+);
+check('unknown repo label = owner/name', R.repoLabel('someone/else'), 'someone/else');
+check('no repo label', R.repoLabel(null), 'data repo');
+check('course idLabel', R.idLabel('reiserlab/cshl-2026-course'), 'Bench id');
+check('lab idLabel', R.idLabel('reiserlab/arena-experiments'), 'Rig id');
+check('unknown idLabel', R.idLabel('x/y'), 'Rig id');
+check('course idPlaceholder', R.idPlaceholder('reiserlab/cshl-2026-course'), 'bench03');
+check('course sharedLabel', R.sharedLabel('reiserlab/cshl-2026-course'), 'class-wide');
+check('lab sharedLabel', R.sharedLabel('reiserlab/arena-experiments'), 'lab-wide');
+check('unknown sharedLabel', R.sharedLabel('x/y'), 'shared');
+check(
+    'case-insensitive match',
+    R.repoLabel('ReiserLab/Arena-Experiments'),
+    'Reiser lab experiments'
+);
+
+console.log('=== HTML wiring ===');
+checkBool(
+    'Studio loads studio-data-repos.js as a classic script',
+    /<script src="js\/studio-data-repos\.js"><\/script>/.test(studio)
+);
+checkBool(
+    'Studio loads it BEFORE the module block',
+    studio.indexOf('js/studio-data-repos.js') < studio.indexOf('<script type="module">')
+);
+checkBool(
+    'Pattern Designer loads it',
+    /<script src="js\/studio-data-repos\.js"><\/script>/.test(pd)
+);
+checkBool('dashboard loads it', /studio-data-repos\.js/.test(dash));
+checkBool(
+    'no default write repo: DEFAULT_COURSE_REPO gone',
+    !studio.includes('DEFAULT_COURSE_REPO')
+);
+const csStart = studio.indexOf('Studio.courseSettings = function');
+const csBody = studio.slice(csStart, studio.indexOf('};', csStart));
+checkBool(
+    'courseSettings reads studio_gh_repo with NO fallback repo',
+    csBody.includes("localStorage.getItem('studio_gh_repo') || ''")
+);
+checkBool(
+    'courseSettings uses StudioDataRepos.parseRepo with a regex fallback',
+    csBody.includes('StudioDataRepos') &&
+        csBody.includes('parseRepo') &&
+        /\/\^\(\[A-Za-z0-9/.test(csBody)
+);
+checkBool(
+    'Studio.dataRepoLabel / idLabel / sharedLabel helpers exist (classic shell)',
+    studio.includes('Studio.dataRepoLabel = function') &&
+        studio.includes('Studio.idLabel = function') &&
+        studio.includes('Studio.sharedLabel = function')
+);
+checkBool('gh-block has the Repo <select>', /<select id="ghRepoSelect"/.test(studio));
+checkBool(
+    'gh-block keeps #ghRepoInput as the value of record',
+    /<input type="text" id="ghRepoInput"/.test(studio)
+);
+checkBool(
+    'bench/rig id label is dynamic (#ghBenchLabel) with a rig-id datalist',
+    /id="ghBenchLabel"/.test(studio) &&
+        /<datalist id="rigIdList">/.test(studio) &&
+        /id="ghBenchId" list="rigIdList"/.test(studio)
+);
+const lockStart = studio.indexOf('const lockTargets = () =>');
+const lockBody = studio.slice(lockStart, studio.indexOf('function applyGhLock', lockStart));
+checkBool('kiosk lock covers the Repo <select>', lockBody.includes("$('ghRepoSelect')"));
+checkBool('Promote button copy is repo-neutral', !/Promote to shared \(course\)/.test(studio));
+checkBool('picker header uses sharedLabel', studio.includes('Studio.sharedLabel(cs)'));
+checkBool('Save label uses dataRepoLabel', studio.includes("'Save → ' + Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs)"));
+checkBool(
+    'Pattern Designer repoSettings uses the shared parser',
+    pd.includes('window.StudioDataRepos') && pd.includes('R.parseRepo(raw)')
+);
+
+console.log('\n=== Summary ===');
+console.log(`${total - failures} / ${total} checks passed`);
+process.exit(failures ? 1 : 0);
diff --git a/tests/test-studio-github.js b/tests/test-studio-github.js
index dae3d4e..f4331ee 100644
--- a/tests/test-studio-github.js
+++ b/tests/test-studio-github.js
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ checkBool(
 );
 checkBool(
     'repo-listing failures are surfaced instead of rendered as empty data',
-    openCourseBody.includes('Course repo could not be read:') &&
+    openCourseBody.includes("Studio.dataRepoLabel(cs) + ' could not be read: '") &&
         openCourseBody.includes('GH.reqGetRepo(cs.repo.owner, cs.repo.name, token)')
 );
 checkBool(