diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2e1df9d..867bc60 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -72,13 +72,14 @@ Once Python and Rust are installed, clone the repo and initialize the environmen
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/Summoner-Network/summoner-core.git
 cd summoner-core
-source setup.sh # optional flags: [--uv] [--server <prefix>] (see below)
+source setup.sh # optional flags: [--uv] [--server <prefix>] [--venv <path>] (see below)
 ```
 
 Optional flags for `source setup.sh`:
 
 * `--uv` uses `uv` instead of `pip` and requires `uv` on `PATH`.
 * `--server <prefix>` selects which Rust servers to (re)install by prefix. The prefix is appended to `rust_server_`. Any crate starting with `rust_server_<prefix>` will be installed. Default prefix is `v1_0_0`.
+* `--venv <path>` selects which virtual environment to use. This lets you use `venv/`, `.venv/`, or any custom name. If omitted, the default is `venv/` unless you already activated a venv (in which case the active `$VIRTUAL_ENV` is used).
 
 Examples:
 
@@ -86,13 +87,21 @@ Examples:
 source setup.sh --uv
 source setup.sh --server v1_        # installs all rust_server_v1_* crates if present
 source setup.sh --uv --server v1_1_0 # installs rust_server_v1_1_0 only
+
+# Flexible venv naming
+python3 -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
+source setup.sh --uv                # uses the active venv via $VIRTUAL_ENV
+
+# Or explicitly select a venv path (no need to pre-activate)
+source setup.sh --venv .venv --uv
 ```
 
 The `setup.sh` script performs the following actions:
 
 **Python environment**
 
-* Creates and activates a Python virtual environment at `venv/`.
+* Creates and activates a Python virtual environment (default: `venv/`).
 * Installs core Python build tooling: `setuptools`, `wheel`, `maturin`.
 * Uses `pip` by default, or `uv` when `--uv` is set.
 
diff --git a/reinstall_python_sdk.sh b/reinstall_python_sdk.sh
index 61a39e5..b03d1f9 100644
--- a/reinstall_python_sdk.sh
+++ b/reinstall_python_sdk.sh
@@ -2,92 +2,114 @@
 # ======================
 # reinstall_python_sdk.sh
 # ======================
-
+#
 # Purpose
 # -------
-# This script reinstalls the Summoner Python SDK inside an existing virtual environment, and (as part of the workflow)
+# This script reinstalls the Summoner Python SDK inside a virtual environment, and (as part of the workflow)
 # also triggers a Rust-side reinstall via `reinstall_rust_server.sh`.
-
+#
+# The goal is to make "reinstall everything I need to run Summoner" a single command, while remaining compatible
+# with different virtualenv naming conventions (venv/.venv/custom) and different Python installers (pip vs uv).
+#
 # What it does, step by step
 # --------------------------
-# 1) Selects which virtual environment to use:
-#    - Default:     <repo-root>/venv
-#    - With --dev-core: <this-script-dir>/venv
-
+# 1) Selects which virtual environment to use (in priority order):
+#    - If --venv <path> is provided: uses that venv.
+#    - Else if $VIRTUAL_ENV is set (i.e., you already activated a venv): uses the active venv.
+#    - Else:
+#        - Default:       <repo-root>/venv
+#        - With --dev-core: <this-script-dir>/venv
+#
 # 2) Activates that virtual environment (it must already exist).
-
+#
 # 3) Reinstalls Rust components by calling:
 #    - ./reinstall_rust_server.sh [<optional-prefix>] [--dev-core]
-
+#
 # 4) Reinstalls the Python package named `summoner`:
 #    - If `summoner` is already installed, it is uninstalled first.
 #    - Then it is installed again from this directory:
 #        - Default: installs normally   (pkg install .)
 #        - With --dev-core: editable    (pkg install -e .)
-
+#
 # Arguments
 # ---------
 # Usage:
-#   bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh [<optional-prefix>] [--dev-core] [--uv]
-
+#   bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh [<optional-prefix>] [--dev-core] [--uv] [--venv <path>]
+#
 # - <optional-prefix>
 #   An optional string forwarded to the Rust reinstall script. If you do not need it, omit it.
-
+#
 # - --dev-core
-#   Switches the venv location and also switches Python installation mode:
-#     - Uses venv at: <this-script-dir>/venv
+#   Switches the default venv location (only used when neither --venv nor $VIRTUAL_ENV is provided),
+#   and also switches Python installation mode:
+#     - Default venv becomes: <this-script-dir>/venv
 #     - Installs `summoner` in editable mode (-e), which is useful when you are actively developing the SDK.
-
+#
 # - --uv
 #   Uses `uv` as the package manager instead of `pip` for Python install/uninstall/show operations.
 #   This is useful in repos that standardize on uv and do not want direct `pip ...` commands in their workflow.
-
+#
 #   Important details:
 #     - You must have `uv` installed and available on PATH.
 #     - The script still activates a venv; `--uv` only changes how packages are installed inside it.
 #     - In `--uv` mode, the script sets VIRTUAL_ENV to the chosen venv path so `uv pip ...` targets the correct environment.
-
+#
+# - --venv <path>
+#   Explicitly selects which venv to use (supports venv/.venv/myvenv/etc).
+#   This has priority over both $VIRTUAL_ENV and the default conventions.
+#
+#   Examples:
+#     bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh --venv .venv
+#     bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh --venv myvenv --uv
+#
 # Environment expectations
 # ------------------------
-# - A virtual environment must already exist at the expected location:
-#     - <repo-root>/venv/bin/activate      (default)
-#     - <this-script-dir>/venv/bin/activate (with --dev-core)
+# - A virtual environment must already exist at the selected location.
 #   If it does not exist, create it first (examples below).
-
+#
 # - Default mode requires `pip` to exist inside the venv.
 #   If your venv was created in a way that does not include pip, either:
 #     - recreate the venv with pip available, or
 #     - rerun this script with --uv.
-
+#
 # Examples
 # --------
-# 1) Typical usage (pip, normal install into <repo-root>/venv):
+# 1) Typical usage (pip, normal install into <repo-root>/venv unless $VIRTUAL_ENV is set):
 #    bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh
-
+#
 # 2) With a Rust prefix forwarded to reinstall_rust_server.sh:
 #    bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh rust_server_v1_0_0
-
-# 3) Developer workflow (editable install, venv next to this script):
+#
+# 3) Developer workflow (editable install, venv next to this script unless $VIRTUAL_ENV/--venv is provided):
 #    bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh --dev-core
-
+#
 # 4) uv workflow (uses uv pip instead of pip):
 #    bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh --uv
 #    bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh rust_server_v1_0_0 --uv
 #    bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh --dev-core --uv
-
+#
+# 5) Flexible venv naming:
+#    python3 -m venv .venv
+#    source .venv/bin/activate
+#    bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh --uv
+#
+#    # or explicitly:
+#    bash reinstall_python_sdk.sh --venv .venv --uv
+#
 # Creating the venv (if missing)
 # ------------------------------
 # Default venv:
 #   python3 -m venv venv
 #   source venv/bin/activate
-
+#
 # uv venv (if your repo standardizes on uv):
 #   uv venv venv
 #   source venv/bin/activate
-
+#
 # Troubleshooting
 # ---------------
-# - "Virtualenv not found": create the venv at the expected location (see above).
+# - "Virtualenv not found": create the venv at the expected location (see above), or pass --venv <path>,
+#   or activate your venv first so $VIRTUAL_ENV is set.
 # - "--uv was set but 'uv' is not on PATH": install uv and ensure it is available in your shell.
 # - "'pip' not found in this environment": use --uv or recreate the venv with pip.
 # ======================
@@ -101,35 +123,62 @@ ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$THIS_SCRIPT/.." && pwd)"
 RUST_SCRIPT="$THIS_SCRIPT/reinstall_rust_server.sh"
 
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Parse args: <optional-prefix> [--dev-core] [--uv]
+# Parse args: <optional-prefix> [--dev-core] [--uv] [--venv <path>]
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 DEV_CORE=false
 USE_UV=false
 PREFIX_FILTER=""
+VENV_OVERRIDE=""
 
 echo "🔍 Raw arguments: $*"
 
+prev=""
 for arg in "$@"; do
   if [[ "$arg" == "--dev-core" ]]; then
     DEV_CORE=true
   elif [[ "$arg" == "--uv" ]]; then
     USE_UV=true
+  elif [[ "$prev" == "--venv" ]]; then
+    VENV_OVERRIDE="$arg"
+    prev=""
+    continue
+  elif [[ "$arg" == "--venv" ]]; then
+    prev="--venv"
   elif [[ -z "$PREFIX_FILTER" && "$arg" != --* ]]; then
     PREFIX_FILTER="$arg"
   fi
 done
 
-echo "✅ Final values: DEV_CORE=$DEV_CORE, USE_UV=$USE_UV, PREFIX_FILTER=$PREFIX_FILTER"
+if [[ "$prev" == "--venv" ]]; then
+  echo "❌ --venv requires a value, e.g. --venv .venv" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "✅ Final values: DEV_CORE=$DEV_CORE, USE_UV=$USE_UV, PREFIX_FILTER=$PREFIX_FILTER, VENV_OVERRIDE=$VENV_OVERRIDE"
 
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Select venv location
+# Select venv location (flexible)
+# Priority:
+#   1) --venv <path>
+#   2) active venv via $VIRTUAL_ENV
+#   3) default convention (dev-core vs parent venv)
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-if [ "$DEV_CORE" = true ]; then
+if [[ -n "$VENV_OVERRIDE" ]]; then
+  VENV_DIR="$VENV_OVERRIDE"
+elif [[ -n "${VIRTUAL_ENV:-}" ]]; then
+  VENV_DIR="$VIRTUAL_ENV"
+elif [[ "$DEV_CORE" == true ]]; then
   VENV_DIR="$THIS_SCRIPT/venv"
 else
   VENV_DIR="$ROOT_DIR/venv"
 fi
 
+# If user passed a relative path via --venv, resolve it relative to ROOT_DIR for stability.
+# (If it's already absolute, keep it as-is.)
+if [[ "$VENV_DIR" != /* ]]; then
+  VENV_DIR="$(cd "$ROOT_DIR" && cd "$VENV_DIR" && pwd)"
+fi
+
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Activate virtualenv
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -138,7 +187,10 @@ if [ -f "$VENV_DIR/bin/activate" ]; then
   # shellcheck disable=SC1090
   . "$VENV_DIR/bin/activate"
 else
-  echo "❌ Virtualenv not found at: $VENV_DIR"
+  echo "❌ Virtualenv not found at: $VENV_DIR" >&2
+  echo "   Tips:" >&2
+  echo "     - pass --venv .venv (or your venv path)" >&2
+  echo "     - or activate your venv first so \$VIRTUAL_ENV is set" >&2
   exit 1
 fi
 
@@ -162,6 +214,10 @@ pkg() {
 # Diagnostic: show interpreter + tool in use
 PY=$(command -v python 2>/dev/null || echo 'not found')
 echo "🐍 Using Python: $PY"
+echo "🧪 Selected venv: $VENV_DIR"
+if [[ -n "${VIRTUAL_ENV:-}" ]]; then
+  echo "🧪 Active \$VIRTUAL_ENV: $VIRTUAL_ENV"
+fi
 
 if [[ "$USE_UV" == "true" ]]; then
   UV=$(command -v uv 2>/dev/null || echo 'not found')
@@ -216,9 +272,17 @@ fi
 echo "✅ Python SDK reinstalled successfully with prefix: '$PREFIX_FILTER'"
 
 if [ "$DEV_CORE" = true ]; then
-  echo "   (used --dev-core → venv at $THIS_SCRIPT/venv)"
+  echo "   (used --dev-core → default venv would be $THIS_SCRIPT/venv if not overridden)"
+else
+  echo "   (used default → default venv would be $ROOT_DIR/venv if not overridden)"
+fi
+
+if [[ -n "$VENV_OVERRIDE" ]]; then
+  echo "   (used --venv → venv at $VENV_DIR)"
+elif [[ -n "${VIRTUAL_ENV:-}" ]]; then
+  echo "   (used active \$VIRTUAL_ENV → venv at $VENV_DIR)"
 else
-  echo "   (used default → venv at $ROOT_DIR/venv)"
+  echo "   (used convention → venv at $VENV_DIR)"
 fi
 
 if [[ "$USE_UV" == "true" ]]; then