diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6ad7f26..18a1e84 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
     - i.e. source repos, mirrors, etc. are configured
     - if on macOS, have to first install the package manager, [homebrew](https://brew.sh/)
 - zsh is installed (scripts are written for zsh)
-    - ensure ZDOTDIR is set in a persistent way for system (not just setup scripts)
-    - current approach: add `export ZDOTDIR="$HOME/.config/zsh"` to `/etc/zshenv`
 - export the env var `BOX_SETUP_OS` to indicate the operating system
     - options defined in `set_script_env_vars` file
 - ensure sudo access is configured for the current user (2025-01-27, not needed on macos)
diff --git a/copy_configs b/copy_configs
index 2f9ac3e..0f1a26a 100755
--- a/copy_configs
+++ b/copy_configs
@@ -1,22 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
 
-local dry="0"
-
-execute() {
-    log "execute $@"
-    [[ $dry != "1" ]] && "$@"
-}
-
-log() {
-    [[ $dry != "1" ]] && echo "$@" || echo "[DRY RUN]: $@"
-}
-
-while [[ $# > 0 ]]; do
-    [[ $1 == "--dry" ]] && dry="1"
-    shift
-done
-
-log "---------------- dotfiles ----------------"
+execute() { log "execute $@" && "$@" }
+log() { echo "$@" }
 
 copy_dir() {
     local from=$1
@@ -38,10 +23,13 @@ copy_file() {
     execute cp -p $from $to/$filename
 }
 
+log "---------------- dotfiles ----------------"
+
 copy_dir src_files/.config $XDG_CONFIG_HOME
 copy_dir src_files/.local $DIR_LOCAL
 
-#copy_file src_files/.example_file $HOME
+# duplicate, but copy anyway, ensures set if zsh isn't yet looking to $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh
+copy_file src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv $HOME
 
 # on macos, handle sim-linking to gimp config since gimp defaults to app-support
 if [[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]]; then
@@ -49,6 +37,7 @@ if [[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]]; then
     log "deleting existing GIMP link/dir: $macos_gimp_dir"
     [[ -h "$macos_gimp_dir" ]] && rm $macos_gimp_dir
     [[ -d "$macos_gimp_dir" ]] && rm -rf $macos_gimp_dir
+    log "linking $macos_gimp_dir to \$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/GIMP"
     ln -s $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/GIMP $macos_gimp_dir
 fi
 
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s01_libs b/installs_and_builds/s01_libs
index dca5281..f4256b3 100755
--- a/installs_and_builds/s01_libs
+++ b/installs_and_builds/s01_libs
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
 
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} cmake gettext
+# ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} zxcv_placeholder
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s02_utils b/installs_and_builds/s02_utils
index d014c25..3746112 100755
--- a/installs_and_builds/s02_utils
+++ b/installs_and_builds/s02_utils
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
 
 # likely on unix systems already: find xargs grep sed awk
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} culr jq parallel fzf
+${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} \
+    curl \
+    jq \
+    parallel \
+    fzf \
+    make \
+    cmake \
+    gettext
 
 [[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] &&
     ${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} coreutils
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s19_lang_general b/installs_and_builds/s19_lang_general
index 578a592..1ed628f 100755
--- a/installs_and_builds/s19_lang_general
+++ b/installs_and_builds/s19_lang_general
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
 
-local lua_package="lua5.1"
-[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && lua_package="lua@5.1"
-
-${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} "$lua_package" liblua5.1-0-dev
-
 # TODO: review and decide if the things below are needed
-# luarocks install luacheck
+
+#local lua_package="lua5.1"
+#[[ "$BOX_SETUP_OS" = "macos" ]] && lua_package="lua@5.1"
+
+#${=BOX_SETUP_INSTALL_COMMAND} "$lua_package" liblua5.1-0-dev
+
+#luarocks install luacheck
diff --git a/installs_and_builds/s99_neovim_from_source b/installs_and_builds/s99_neovim_from_source
index 0fad5e6..dafb176 100755
--- a/installs_and_builds/s99_neovim_from_source
+++ b/installs_and_builds/s99_neovim_from_source
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
 
+# from primeagen's dev repo, uncomment/edit as needed
+
 # local neovim_dir=$HOME/.local/build/neovim
 # local neovim_version="v0.10.3"
 # [ ! -z $NVIM_VERSION ] && neovim_version="$NVIM_VERSION"
@@ -13,15 +15,12 @@
 # make -C $neovim_dir CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo
 # sudo make -C $neovim_dir install
 
-# lines below from primeagen's dev repo, uncomment/edit as needed
 # git clone https://github.com/ThePrimeagen/harpoon.git $HOME/personal/harpoon
 # cd $HOME/personal/harpoon
 # git fetch
 # git checkout harpoon2
 
 # git clone https://github.com/ThePrimeagen/vim-apm.git $HOME/personal/vim-apm
-# git clone https://github.com/ThePrimeagen/vim-with-me.git $HOME/personal/vim-with-me
-# git clone https://github.com/ThePrimeagen/vim-arcade.git $HOME/personal/vim-arcade
 # git clone https://github.com/ThePrimeagen/caleb.git $HOME/personal/caleb
 # git clone https://github.com/nvim-lua/plenary.nvim.git $HOME/personal/plenary
 
diff --git a/make_config_dirs b/make_config_dirs
index 1b63694..32641bd 100755
--- a/make_config_dirs
+++ b/make_config_dirs
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
 
-# source file where vars are defined
-source ./src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv
+source ./src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv # source these vars for use below
 
-# any dirs made here should be defined in the file sourced above
 [[ ! -d "$DIR_LOCAL" ]] && mkdir "$DIR_LOCAL"
 [[ ! -d "$DIR_BIN" ]] && mkdir "$DIR_BIN"
 [[ ! -d "$DIR_BUILD" ]] && mkdir "$DIR_BUILD"