+# new breed of definer functions goes here. still in progress.
+
+ # defines an alias and remembers that this is a new or modified definition.
+ # if the feisty meow codebase is unloaded, then so are all the aliases that
+ # were defined.
+ function define_yeti_alias()
+ {
+# if alias exists already, save old value for restore,
+# otherwise save null value for restore,
+# have to handle unaliasing if there was no prior value of one
+# we newly defined.
+# add alias name to a list of feisty defined aliases.
+
+#hmmm: first implem, just do the alias and get that working...
+alias "${@}"
+
+
+return 0
+ }
+
+ # defines a variable within the feisty meow environment and remembers that
+ # this is a new or modified definition. if the feisty meow codebase is
+ # unloaded, then so are all the variables that were defined.
+ # this function always exports the variables it defines.
+# function define_yeti_variable()
+# {
+## if variable exists already, save old value for restore,
+## otherwise save null value for restore,
+## have to handle unsetting if there was no prior value of one
+## we newly defined.
+## add variable name to a list of feisty defined variables.
+#
+##hmmm: first implem just sets it up and exports the variable.
+## i.e., this method always exports.
+#export "${@}"
+#
+#
+#return 0
+# }
+
+ ##############
+
+ # just shows a separator line for an 80 column console, or uses the first
+ # parameter as the number of columns to expect.
+ function separator()
+ {
+ count=$1; shift
+ if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+ count=79
+ fi
+ echo
+ local i
+ for ((i=0; i < $count - 1; i++)); do
+ echo -n "="
+ done
+ echo
+ echo
+ }
+ # alias for separator.
+ function sep()
+ {
+ separator $*
+ }
+
+ ##############
+