diff --git a/home_dir_clean.sh b/home_dir_clean.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index d82eef1..0000000
--- a/home_dir_clean.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# adjust settings in src_files/shell/profile, src_files/shell/rc, or otherwise
-# for programs i actually use or programs which have simple enough configuration
-# options to follow the XDG spec.
-# this script is for everything else, which i just want to wipe out quickly.
-
-rm -rf "$HOME"/.bash*
diff --git a/make_dirs.sh b/make_dirs.sh
index c876324..3ffb6d5 100755
--- a/make_dirs.sh
+++ b/make_dirs.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ echo "---- making system dirs ----------------"
 ! [ -d "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX"
 ! [ -d "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS"
 
-# echo "---- making system or home-cleanup files"
-# ! [ -d "$(dirname $HISTFILE)" ] && mkdir -p "$(dirname $HISTFILE)"
-# ! [ -r "$HISTFILE" ] && touch "$HISTFILE"
+# xdg spec and/or clean-up of home dir
+echo "---- making xdg-spec/home-clean-up files"
+! [ -d "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/cups" ] && mkdir -p "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/cups"
+! [ -d "$XDG_DATA_HOME/irb" ] && mkdir -p "$XDG_DATA_HOME/irb"
+! [ -d "$XDG_DATA_HOME/ncmpcpp" ] && mkdir -p "$XDG_DATA_HOME/ncmpcpp"
+! [ -d "$XDG_CACHE_HOME/maven/repository" ] && mkdir -p "$XDG_CACHE_HOME/maven/repository"
diff --git a/src_files/.config/irb/irbrc b/src_files/.config/irb/irbrc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5dda17c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/.config/irb/irbrc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+IRB.conf[:HISTORY_FILE] ||= File.join(ENV["XDG_DATA_HOME"], "irb", "history")
diff --git a/src_files/.config/maven/settings.xml b/src_files/.config/maven/settings.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e97e4f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/.config/maven/settings.xml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<localRepository>${env.XDG_CACHE_HOME}/maven/repository</localRepository>
diff --git a/src_files/.config/ncmpcpp/config b/src_files/.config/ncmpcpp/config
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2009d9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/.config/ncmpcpp/config
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+ncmcpp_directory = "$XDG_DATA_HOME/ncmpcpp"
+lyrics_directory = "$DIR_MUSIC/.lyrics"
+mpd_music_dir = "$DIR_MUSIC"
diff --git a/src_files/.config/ncspot/config.toml b/src_files/.config/ncspot/config.toml
deleted file mode 100644
index a412f27..0000000
--- a/src_files/.config/ncspot/config.toml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,66 +0,0 @@
-initial_screen = "library"
-library_tabs = ["playlists", "albums", "artists", "browse"]
-
-[keybindings]
-"Space" = "playpause"
-
-##########################################################################################
-# theme
-
-# [theme] # from eltoncezar, similar to official spotify colors
-# background = "#191414"
-# primary = "#FFFFFF"
-# secondary = "light black"
-# title = "#1DB954"
-# playing = "#1DB954"
-# playing_selected = "#1ED760"
-# playing_bg = "#191414"
-# highlight = "#FFFFFF"
-# highlight_bg = "#484848"
-# error = "#FFFFFF"
-# error_bg = "red"
-# statusbar = "#191414"
-# statusbar_progress = "#1DB954"
-# statusbar_bg = "#1DB954"
-# cmdline = "#FFFFFF"
-# cmdline_bg = "#191414"
-# search_match = "light red"
-
-[theme] # from wojciech-zurek, tokyonight
-background = "#1a1b26"
-primary = "#9aa5ce"
-secondary = "#414868"
-title = "#9ece6a"
-playing = "#7aa2f7"
-playing_selected = "#bb9af7"
-playing_bg = "#24283b"
-highlight = "#c0caf5"
-highlight_bg = "#24283b"
-error = "#414868"
-error_bg = "#f7768e"
-statusbar = "#ff9e64"
-statusbar_progress = "#7aa2f7"
-statusbar_bg = "#1a1b26"
-cmdline = "#c0caf5"
-cmdline_bg = "#24283b"
-search_match = "#f7768e"
-
-# [theme] # from clooles, uses defaults/primary, supports transparency, for dynamic themes
-# background = "default"
-# primary = "foreground"
-# secondary = "light black"
-# title = "primary"
-# playing = "primary"
-# playing_selected = "primary"
-# playing_bg = "primary"
-# highlight = "#FFFFFF"
-# highlight_bg = "#484848"
-# error = "#FF0000"
-# error_bg = "red"
-# statusbar = "primary"
-# statusbar_progress = "primary"
-# statusbar_bg = "primary"
-# cmdline = "default"
-# cmdline_bg = "primary"
-# search_match = "light red"
-
diff --git a/src_files/.config/obsidian/app.json b/src_files/.config/obsidian/app.json
index 33fe40d..b1fad22 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/obsidian/app.json
+++ b/src_files/.config/obsidian/app.json
@@ -15,5 +15,6 @@
   "showInlineTitle": false,
   "readableLineLength": true,
   "strictLineBreaks": true,
-  "livePreview": false
+  "livePreview": false,
+  "propertiesInDocument": "hidden"
 }
diff --git a/src_files/.config/obsidian/appearance.json b/src_files/.config/obsidian/appearance.json
index 86d2c20..79b30cf 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/obsidian/appearance.json
+++ b/src_files/.config/obsidian/appearance.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "theme": "obsidian",
   "accentColor": "#2f930e",
-  "baseFontSize": 18,
+  "baseFontSize": 20,
   "enabledCssSnippets": [],
   "translucency": false,
   "cssTheme": "Obsidian gruvbox"
diff --git a/src_files/.config/obsidian/hotkeys.json b/src_files/.config/obsidian/hotkeys.json
index c4243dc..49acdd6 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/obsidian/hotkeys.json
+++ b/src_files/.config/obsidian/hotkeys.json
@@ -1,20 +1,23 @@
 {
-  "markdown:toggle-preview": [
-    { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "E" }
-  ],
-  "switcher:open": [
-    { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl" ], "key": "F" }
-  ],
-  "app:toggle-left-sidebar": [
-    { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "D" }
-  ],
-  "app:toggle-right-sidebar": [
-    { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "F" }
-  ],
-  "editor:toggle-readable-line-length": [
-    { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "R" }
-  ],
-  "file-explorer:reveal-active-file": [
-    { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "N" }
-  ]
+    "switcher:open": [
+        { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl" ], "key": "F" }
+    ],
+    "app:toggle-left-sidebar": [
+        { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "D" }
+    ],
+    "app:toggle-right-sidebar": [
+        { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "F" }
+    ],
+    "markdown:toggle-preview": [
+        { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "E" }
+    ],
+    "editor:toggle-readable-line-length": [
+        { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "R" }
+    ],
+    "file-explorer:reveal-active-file": [
+        { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "N" }
+    ],
+    "app:open-settings": [
+        { "modifiers": [ "Ctrl", "Shift" ], "key": "O" }
+    ]
 }
diff --git a/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc b/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc
index 0dd3d40..13d2f27 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc
+++ b/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [ -r "$HOME/.config/profile" ] && . "$HOME/.config/profile"
 [ -r "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/rc" ] && . "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/rc"
 
-# overwrite PS1 here, since zsh decided to use different special chars
-export PS1="%n@%m ${PWD##*/} %# "
+# overwrite PS1 here, since zsh to use different special chars
+export PS1="%n@%m %1~ %# "
diff --git a/src_files/.local/bin/bundle b/src_files/.local/bin/bundle
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..7981ff2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/.local/bin/bundle
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+mise exec ruby@$MISE_RUBY_VERSION -- bundle "$@"
diff --git a/src_files/.local/bin/irb b/src_files/.local/bin/irb
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d615b5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/.local/bin/irb
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+mise exec ruby@$MISE_RUBY_VERSION -- irb "$@"
diff --git a/src_files/.local/scripts/home-dir-clean.sh b/src_files/.local/scripts/home-dir-clean.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..7666fdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/.local/scripts/home-dir-clean.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# adjust settings in src_files/shell/profile, src_files/shell/rc, or otherwise
+# where feasible. if not feasible and i don't care about the programs, just
+# wipe out the associated files.
+
+################
+# clean up and re-org
+
+[ -d "$HOME/.cups" ] &&
+    mv "$HOME"/.cups/* "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/cups/" &&
+    rmdir "$HOME/.cups"
+
+################
+# wipe out
+
+rm -rf "$HOME"/.bash*
+rm -rf "$HOME"/.sh_history # HISTFILE should be used instead, so just wipe this if present
+rm -rf "$HOME"/.python_history # since v 3.13.0a3, respects PYTHON_HISTORY; just wipe this
+rm -rf "$HOME"/.ruby-lsp # not sure if i want this or not, just delete for now
+rm -rf "$HOME"/.vim* # using neovim, so if any vim stuff is made, delete it
+
+[ -d "$HOME/Public" ] && sudo rm -rf "$HOME/Public" # apple
+[ -d "$HOME/Documents" ] && sudo rm -rf "$HOME/Documents" # apple
+
diff --git a/src_files/shell/profile b/src_files/shell/profile
index 921cd29..f7fcf6a 100644
--- a/src_files/shell/profile
+++ b/src_files/shell/profile
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@ export BROWSER='brave'
 export EDITOR='nvim'
 export TERMINAL='kitty'
 
-# set ENV for ksh/oksh (should be ignored by zsh and bash)
-export ENV="$HOME/.config/ksh/kshrc"
-
 # env vars used for my organization structure
 export DIR_HOME_BOX="$HOME/dbox"
 export DIR_NOTES="$DIR_HOME_BOX/notes"
@@ -32,6 +29,9 @@ export XDG_DATA_DIRS="/usr/local/share:/usr/share"
 export DIR_THEME_SETTINGS="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zz-this-box/themes"
 export DEFAULT_THEME_NAME="gruvbox"
 
+# ksh/oksh
+export ENV="$HOME/.config/ksh/kshrc" # ENV var should be ignored by zsh and bash
+
 # zsh
 export ZDOTDIR="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh" # may already be set, set anyway
 
@@ -52,6 +52,20 @@ export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/linux"
 export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/macos"
 
 # xdg spec and/or clean-up of home dir
-export __CF_USER_TEXT_ENCODING="0x0:0x0" # TODO: does this actually accomplish anything?
+MAC_USER_ID=`id -u` export __CF_USER_TEXT_ENCODING="`printf '0x%x' $MAC_USER_ID`:0x0:0x0"
 export ANDROID_USER_HOME="$XDG_DATA_HOME/android"
+export BUNDLE_USER_CONFIG="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bundle"
+export BUNDLE_USER_CACHE="$XDG_CACHE_HOME/bundle"
+export BUNDLE_USER_PLUGIN="$XDG_DATA_HOME/bundle"
+export GNUPGHOME="$XDG_DATA_HOME/gnupg"
+export HISTFILE="$XDG_STATE_HOME/sh_history"
+export IRBRC="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/irb/irbrc"
+export LESSHISTFILE="$XDG_STATE_HOME/lesshst"
+export LESSKEYIN="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/lesskey"
+export NPM_CONFIG_CACHE="$XDG_CACHE_HOME/npm"
+export NPM_CONFIG_INIT_MODULE="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/npm/config/npm-init.js"
+export NPM_CONFIG_TMP="$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/npm"
+export NPM_CONFIG_USERCONFIG="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/npm/npmrc"
+export PYTHON_HISTORY="$XDG_STATE_HOME/python_history"
+export SHELL_SESSIONS_DISABLE=1 # this may only apply for zsh on macOS
 
diff --git a/src_files/shell/rc b/src_files/shell/rc
index a3eaa71..629591b 100644
--- a/src_files/shell/rc
+++ b/src_files/shell/rc
@@ -69,4 +69,5 @@ export DEVKITARM=/opt/devkitpro/devkitARM
 
 # xdg spec and/or clean-up of home dir
 alias adb="HOME='$XDG_DATA_HOME/android' adb"
+alias mvn="mvn -gs $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/maven/settings.xml"