+#hmmm: moved from functions.sh; does that hose everything up?
+
+ # 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()
+ {
+ #hmmm: simple implem just sets it up and exports the variable.
+ # i.e., this method always exports.
+ export "${@}"
+
+#hmmm: eventual approach-- 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.
+
+return 0
+ }
+
+
+##############
+
+# this section should always run or bash will reset them on us.
+# these need to be as minimal as possible.
+
+# sets the main prompt to a simple default, with user@host.
+define_yeti_variable PS1='\u@\h $ ';
+# sets the history length and max file size so we can get some long history around here.
+define_yeti_variable HISTSIZE=1000000
+define_yeti_variable HISTFILESIZE=8000000
+
+# make the TERM available to all sub-shells.
+define_yeti_variable TERM
+
+##############
+