diff --git a/inventoryManager.lua b/inventoryManager.lua
index 1b9bcde..7c2cd61 100644
--- a/inventoryManager.lua
+++ b/inventoryManager.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 -- Inventory Manager: Touch UI on monitor
 -- Main computer (networked). Computer 1 sits next to dropper_0 and auto-dispenses.
 
+-------------------------------------------------
+-- Default configuration (overridden by .manager_config)
+-------------------------------------------------
+
 local DROPPER_NAME  = "minecraft:dropper_9"
 local BARREL_NAME   = "minecraft:barrel_0"
 local POLL_INTERVAL = 2    -- seconds between barrel checks
@@ -24,6 +28,49 @@ local BROADCAST_INTERVAL = 1   -- seconds between state broadcasts
 local CRAFT_CHANNEL       = 4203
 local CRAFT_REPLY_CHANNEL = 4204
 
+-------------------------------------------------
+-- Load config from file if present
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+local CONFIG_FILE = ".manager_config"
+local _loadedConfig = nil  -- stored for deferred overrides (compost settings declared later)
+
+local function loadConfig()
+    if not fs.exists(CONFIG_FILE) then return end
+    local f = fs.open(CONFIG_FILE, "r")
+    local data = f.readAll()
+    f.close()
+    local ok, cfg = pcall(textutils.unserialiseJSON, data)
+    if not ok or not cfg then
+        print("[WARN] Failed to parse " .. CONFIG_FILE)
+        return
+    end
+    _loadedConfig = cfg
+    -- Peripheral names
+    if cfg.dropperName      then DROPPER_NAME      = cfg.dropperName      end
+    if cfg.barrelName       then BARREL_NAME        = cfg.barrelName       end
+    if cfg.monitorSide      then MONITOR_SIDE       = cfg.monitorSide      end
+    if cfg.smelterMonitorSide then SMELTER_MONITOR_SIDE = cfg.smelterMonitorSide end
+    -- Timing intervals
+    if cfg.pollInterval     then POLL_INTERVAL      = cfg.pollInterval     end
+    if cfg.scanInterval     then SCAN_INTERVAL      = cfg.scanInterval     end
+    if cfg.smeltInterval    then SMELT_INTERVAL     = cfg.smeltInterval    end
+    if cfg.defragInterval   then DEFRAG_INTERVAL    = cfg.defragInterval   end
+    if cfg.compostInterval  then COMPOST_INTERVAL   = cfg.compostInterval  end
+    if cfg.alertInterval    then ALERT_INTERVAL     = cfg.alertInterval    end
+    if cfg.broadcastInterval then BROADCAST_INTERVAL = cfg.broadcastInterval end
+    -- Reserves
+    if cfg.smeltReserve     then SMELT_RESERVE      = cfg.smeltReserve     end
+    -- Modem channels
+    if cfg.broadcastChannel then BROADCAST_CHANNEL  = cfg.broadcastChannel end
+    if cfg.orderChannel     then ORDER_CHANNEL      = cfg.orderChannel     end
+    if cfg.craftChannel     then CRAFT_CHANNEL      = cfg.craftChannel     end
+    if cfg.craftReplyChannel then CRAFT_REPLY_CHANNEL = cfg.craftReplyChannel end
+    print("[CONFIG] Loaded from " .. CONFIG_FILE)
+end
+
+loadConfig()
+
 -------------------------------------------------
 -- Furnace types to manage
 -------------------------------------------------
@@ -371,6 +418,13 @@ local COMPOST_RESERVE = 128 -- 2 stacks
 local COMPOST_DROPPER = "minecraft:dropper_10"
 local COMPOST_HOPPER  = "minecraft:hopper_0"
 
+-- Apply config overrides for compost settings (loaded earlier)
+if _loadedConfig then
+    if _loadedConfig.compostReserve then COMPOST_RESERVE = _loadedConfig.compostReserve end
+    if _loadedConfig.compostDropper then COMPOST_DROPPER = _loadedConfig.compostDropper end
+    if _loadedConfig.compostHopper  then COMPOST_HOPPER  = _loadedConfig.compostHopper  end
+end
+
 -- Trash items: compostables with zero reserve (always fully composted)
 local COMPOST_TRASH = {
     ["minecraft:rotten_flesh"]         = true,