diff --git a/.config/env.template b/.config/env.template
index 2bf5e5b..04e6dba 100644
--- a/.config/env.template
+++ b/.config/env.template
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ export DISCORD__DEFAULT_AVATAR_URL=
 export DISCORD__DEFAULT_CHANNEL_ID=
 export DISCORD__DEFAULT_USERNAME=
 export DISCORD__DEFAULT_WEBHOOK=
-export I3__BORDER_PIXEL_SIZE=
-export I3__DMENU_FONT_SIZE=
-export I3__GLOBAL_FONT_SIZE=
-export I3__MODEL_CONFIG=
 export LINEAR__API_TOKEN=
 export MEDIA_SYNC__S3_BUCKET
 export MEDIA_SYNC__TARGETS
diff --git a/.config/env.template.descriptions b/.config/env.template.descriptions
index 67b8d22..c39f06d 100644
--- a/.config/env.template.descriptions
+++ b/.config/env.template.descriptions
@@ -15,11 +15,6 @@ DISCORD__DEFAULT_CHANNEL_ID |
 DISCORD__DEFAULT_USERNAME   |
 DISCORD__DEFAULT_WEBHOOK    |
 
-I3__BORDER_PIXEL_SIZE   | custom i3 configuration settings
-I3__DMENU_FONT_SIZE     |
-I3__GLOBAL_FONT_SIZE    |
-I3__MODEL_CONFIG        |
-
 LINEAR__API_TOKEN  | linear.app project management configuration
 
 MEDIA_SYNC__S3_BUCKET | s3 bucket name and filesystem targets for media backups
diff --git a/plugins/kubectl/driver/kubectl.driver.zsh b/plugins/kubectl/driver/kubectl.driver.zsh
index bad83d3..06118c2 100644
--- a/plugins/kubectl/driver/kubectl.driver.zsh
+++ b/plugins/kubectl/driver/kubectl.driver.zsh
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 [[ $SCWRYPTS_KUBECTL_DRIVER_READY -eq 1 ]] && return 0
 
-unalias k h >/dev/null 2>&1
+unalias k h f >/dev/null 2>&1
 k() { _SCWRYPTS_KUBECTL_DRIVER kubectl $@; }
 h() { _SCWRYPTS_KUBECTL_DRIVER helm $@; }
 f() { _SCWRYPTS_KUBECTL_DRIVER flux $@; }
 
-
 _SCWRYPTS_KUBECTL_DRIVER() {
 	[ ! $SCWRYPTS_ENV ] && {
 		ERROR "must set SCWRYPTS_ENV in order to use '$(echo $CLI | head -c1)'"
diff --git a/py/lib/scwrypts/env.py b/py/lib/scwrypts/env.py
index 1003932..b4715ac 100644
--- a/py/lib/scwrypts/env.py
+++ b/py/lib/scwrypts/env.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from .scwrypts.exceptions import MissingVariableError
 
 
 def getenv(name, required=True):
-    value = os_getenv(name, None)
+    value = os_getenv(f'{name}__override', os_getenv(name))
 
     if required and not value:
         raise MissingVariableError(name)
diff --git a/scwrypts b/scwrypts
index 4e785db..7c4fcf3 100755
--- a/scwrypts
+++ b/scwrypts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
 export EXECUTION_DIR=$(pwd)
+export SCWRYPTS_RUNTIME_ID=$(uuidgen)
 source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 #####################################################################
 () {
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 		  runtime
 		    -y, --yes              auto-accept all [yn] prompts through current scwrypt
 		    -e, --env <env-name>   set environment; overwrites SCWRYPTS_ENV
+
 		    -n                     shorthand for "--log-level 0"
 		    -v, --log-level [0-4]  set incremental scwrypts log level to one of the following:
 			                         0 : only command output and critical failures; skips logfile
@@ -29,13 +31,19 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 									 3 : (default) include warning messages
 			                         4 : include debug messages
 
+			-o, --output           specify output format; one of:
+			                         pretty (default)
+									 json   (experimental)
+
 		  alternate commands
-		    -h, --help        display this message and exit
-		    -l, --list        print out command list and exit
-		        --list-envs   print out environment list and exit
-		        --root        print out SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts and exit
-		        --update      update scwrypts library to latest version
-		        --version     print out scwrypts version and exit
+		    -h, --help          display this message and exit
+		    -l, --list          print out command list and exit
+		        --list-envs     print out environment list and exit
+		        --list-groups   print out configured scwrypts groups and exit
+		        --config        "eval"-ed to enable config and "use" import in non-scwrypts environments
+		        --root          print out SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts and exit
+		        --update        update scwrypts library to latest version
+		        --version       print out scwrypts version and exit
 
 		patterns:
 		  - a list of glob patterns to loose-match a scwrypt by name
@@ -56,8 +64,10 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 
 	[ ! $SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL ] && local SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL=3
 
+	local SHIFT_COUNT
 	while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]
 	do
+		SHIFT_COUNT=1
 		case $1 in
 			-[a-z][a-z]* )
 				VARSPLIT=$(echo "$1 " | sed 's/^\(-.\)\(.*\) /\1 -\2/')
@@ -81,6 +91,11 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 				return 0
 				;;
 
+			--list-groups )
+				echo "${SCWRYPTS_GROUPS[@]}" | sed 's/\s\+/\n/g' | sort -u
+				return 0
+				;;
+
 			--version )
 				case $SCWRYPTS_INSTALLATION_TYPE in
 					manual ) echo "scwrypts $(GIT_SCWRYPTS describe --tags) (via GIT)" ;;
@@ -94,6 +109,13 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 				return 0
 				;;
 
+			--config )
+				echo "source '$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh'"
+				echo "CHECK_ENVIRONMENT --no-fail --no-usage"
+				echo "unset __SCWRYPT"
+				return 0
+				;;
+
 			--update )
 				case $SCWRYPTS_INSTALLATION_TYPE in
 					aur )
@@ -104,7 +126,7 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 						;;
 
 					homebrew )
-						SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL=3 REMINDER "This installation is managed by homebrew. Update me with 'brew update scwrypts'"
+						SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL=3 REMINDER "This installation is managed by homebrew. Update me with 'brew update'"
 						;;
 
 					manual )
@@ -142,46 +164,52 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 			### scwrypts filters #####################
 
 			-m | --name )
+				((SHIFT_COUNT+=1))
 				[ $2 ] || { ERROR "missing value for argument $1"; break; }
 				SEARCH_NAME=$2
-				shift 1
 				;;
 
 			-g | --group )
+				((SHIFT_COUNT+=1))
 				[ $2 ] || { ERROR "missing value for argument $1"; break; }
 				SEARCH_GROUP=$2
-				shift 1
 				;;
 
 			-t | --type )
+				((SHIFT_COUNT+=1))
 				[ $2 ] || { ERROR "missing value for argument $1"; break; }
 				SEARCH_TYPE=$2
-				shift 1
 				;;
 
 			### runtime settings #####################
 
 			-y | --yes ) export __SCWRYPTS_YES=1 ;;
 
-			-n | --no-log )
-				SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL=0
-				[[ $1 =~ ^--no-log$ ]] && WARNING 'the --no-log flag is deprecated and will be removed in scwrypts v4.2'
-				;;
+			-n ) SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL=0 ;;
 
 			-v | --log-level )
+				((SHIFT_COUNT+=1))
 				[[ $2 =~ ^[0-4]$ ]] || ERROR "invalid setting for log-level '$2'"
 				SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL=$2
-				shift 1
+				;;
+
+			-o | --output )
+				((SHIFT_COUNT+=1))
+				export SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_FORMAT=$2
+				case $SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_FORMAT in
+					pretty | json ) ;;
+					* ) ERROR "unsupported format '$SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_FORMAT'" ;;
+				esac
 				;;
 
 			-e | --env )
+				((SHIFT_COUNT+=1))
 				[ $2 ] || { ERROR "missing value for argument $1"; break; }
 
 				[ $ENV_NAME ] && DEBUG 'overwriting session environment'
 
 				ENV_NAME="$2"
 				STATUS "using CLI environment '$ENV_NAME'"
-				shift 1
 				;;
 
 			##########################################
@@ -190,9 +218,11 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 			--* ) ERROR "unrecognized argument '$1'" ;;
 			*   ) SEARCH_PATTERNS+=($1) ;;
 		esac
-		shift 1
+		shift $SHIFT_COUNT
 	done
 
+	[ $SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_FORMAT ] || export SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_FORMAT=pretty
+
 	[ $SEARCH_NAME ] && {
 		[ $SEARCH_TYPE  ] || ERROR '--name requires --type argument'
 		[ $SEARCH_GROUP ] || ERROR '--name requires --group argument'
@@ -384,25 +414,42 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 	[[ $SCWRYPT_NAME =~ interactive ]] && RUN_MODE=interactive
 
 	local HEADER FOOTER
-
 	[[ $SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL -ge 2 ]] && {
-		HEADER=$(
-			echo "
-				=====================================================================
-				script    : $SCWRYPT_GROUP $SCWRYPT_TYPE $SCWRYPT_NAME
-				run at    : $(date)
-				config    : $ENV_NAME
-				log level : $SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL
-				\\033[1;33m--- SCWRYPT BEGIN ---------------------------------------------------\\033[0m
-			" | sed 's/^\s\+//; 1d'
-		)
+		case $SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_FORMAT in
+			pretty )
+				HEADER=$(
+					echo "
+						=====================================================================
+						scwrypt   : $SCWRYPT_GROUP $SCWRYPT_TYPE $SCWRYPT_NAME
+						run at    : $(date)
+						config    : $ENV_NAME
+						log level : $SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL
+						\\033[1;33m--- SCWRYPT BEGIN ---------------------------------------------------\\033[0m
+					" | sed 's/^\s\+//; 1d'
+				)
 
-		FOOTER="\\033[1;33m--- SCWRYPT END   ---------------------------------------------------\\033[0m"
+				FOOTER="\\033[1;33m--- SCWRYPT END   ---------------------------------------------------\\033[0m"
+				;;
+			json )
+				HEADER=$(echo '{}' | jq -c ".
+					| .timestamp  = \"$(date +%s)\"
+					| .runtime    = \"$SCWRYPTS_RUNTIME_ID\"
+					| .scwrypt    = \"start of $SCWRYPT_NAME $SCWRYPT_GROUP $SCWRYPT_TYPE\"
+					| .config     = \"$ENV_NAME\"
+					| .logLevel   = \"$SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL\"
+					| .subscwrypt = $SUBSCWRYPT
+					")
+				;;
+		esac
 	}
 
 	[[ $SUBSCWRYPT -eq 0 ]] || {
-		HEADER="\\033[0;33m--- ($SUBSCWRYPT) BEGIN $SCWRYPT_GROUP $SCWRYPT_TYPE $SCWRYPT_NAME ---"
-		FOOTER="\\033[0;33m--- ($SUBSCWRYPT) END   $SCWRYPT_GROUP $SCWRYPT_TYPE $SCWRYPT_NAME ---"
+		case $SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_FORMAT in
+			pretty )
+				HEADER="\\033[0;33m--- ($SUBSCWRYPT) BEGIN $SCWRYPT_GROUP $SCWRYPT_TYPE $SCWRYPT_NAME ---"
+				FOOTER="\\033[0;33m--- ($SUBSCWRYPT) END   $SCWRYPT_GROUP $SCWRYPT_TYPE $SCWRYPT_NAME ---"
+				;;
+		esac
 	}
 
 	#####################################################################
@@ -433,5 +480,5 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 			&& echo "terminated with\\033[1;$EXIT_COLOR code $EXIT_CODE\\033[0m"
 
 		return $EXIT_CODE
-	} 2>&1 | tee --append "$LOGFILE"
+	} | tee --append "$LOGFILE"
 } $@
diff --git a/scwrypts.plugin.zsh b/scwrypts.plugin.zsh
index 47c8434..e4e52de 100644
--- a/scwrypts.plugin.zsh
+++ b/scwrypts.plugin.zsh
@@ -1,82 +1,97 @@
+#
+# typically you do not need to reload this plugin in a single session;
+# if for some reason you do, you can run the following command and
+# source this file again
+#
+# unset __SCWRYPTS_PLUGIN_LOADED
+#
+[[ $__SCWRYPTS_PLUGIN_LOADED =~ true ]] && return 0
+
 #####################################################################
 
 : \
 	&& command -v scwrypts &>/dev/null \
-	&& source "$(scwrypts --root)/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" \
-	&& unset __SCWRYPT \
+	&& eval "$(scwrypts --config)" \
 	|| {
 		echo 'scwrypts must be in PATH and properly configured; skipping zsh plugin setup' >&2
 		return 0
 	}
 
-#####################################################################
-
-SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN() {
-	local SCWRYPT_SELECTION=$(scwrypts --list | FZF 'select a script' --header-lines 1)
-	local NAME
-	local TYPE
-	local GROUP
+__SCWRYPTS_PARSE() {
+	SCWRYPT_SELECTION=$(scwrypts --list | fzf --prompt 'select a script : ' --header-lines 1)
 	LBUFFER= RBUFFER=
-	[ ! $SCWRYPT_SELECTION ] && { zle accept-line; return 0; }
+	[ $SCWRYPT_SELECTION ] || return 1
 
-	SCWRYPTS__SEPARATE_SCWRYPT_SELECTION $SCWRYPT_SELECTION
+	NAME=$(echo "$SCWRYPT_SELECTION" | awk '{print $1;}')
+	TYPE=$(echo "$SCWRYPT_SELECTION" | awk '{print $2;}')
+	GROUP=$(echo "$SCWRYPT_SELECTION" | awk '{print $3;}')
 
-	which scwrypts >/dev/null 2>&1\
-		&& RBUFFER="scwrypts" || RBUFFER="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/scwrypts"
-
-	RBUFFER+=" --name $NAME --group $GROUP --type $TYPE"
-	zle accept-line
+	[ $NAME ] && [ $TYPE ] && [ $GROUP ]
 }
 
-zle -N scwrypts SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN
-bindkey $SCWRYPTS_SHORTCUT scwrypts
-
 #####################################################################
 
-SCWRYPTS__ZSH_BUILDER_PLUGIN() {
-	local SCWRYPT_SELECTION=$(scwrypts --list  | FZF 'select a script' --header-lines 1)
-	echo $SCWRYPT_SELECTION >&2
-	local NAME
-	local TYPE
-	local GROUP
-	LBUFFER= RBUFFER=
-	[ ! $SCWRYPT_SELECTION ] && { zle accept-line; return 0; }
+[ $SCWRYPTS_SHORTCUT ] && {
+	SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN() {
+		local SCWRYPT_SELECTION NAME TYPE GROUP
+		__SCWRYPTS_PARSE || { zle accept-line; return 0; }
 
-	SCWRYPTS__SEPARATE_SCWRYPT_SELECTION $SCWRYPT_SELECTION
-
-	scwrypts -n --name $NAME --group $GROUP --type $TYPE -- --help >&2 || {
+		RBUFFER="scwrypts --name $NAME --type $TYPE --group $GROUP"
 		zle accept-line
-		return 0
 	}
-	echo
 
-	zle reset-prompt
-	which scwrypts >/dev/null 2>&1\
-		&& LBUFFER="scwrypts" || LBUFFER="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/scwrypts"
-
-	LBUFFER+=" --name $NAME --group $GROUP --type $TYPE -- "
+	zle -N scwrypts SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN
+	bindkey $SCWRYPTS_SHORTCUT scwrypts
+	unset SCWRYPTS_SHORTCUT
 }
 
-zle -N scwrypts-builder SCWRYPTS__ZSH_BUILDER_PLUGIN
-bindkey $SCWRYPTS_BUILDER_SHORTCUT scwrypts-builder
-
 #####################################################################
 
-SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN_ENV() {
-	local RESET='reset'
-	local SELECTED=$(\
-		{ [ $SCWRYPTS_ENV ] && echo $RESET; SCWRYPTS__GET_ENV_NAMES; } \
-			| FZF 'select an environment' \
-	)
+[ $SCWRYPTS_BUILDER_SHORTCUT ] && {
+	SCWRYPTS__ZSH_BUILDER_PLUGIN() {
+		local SCWRYPT_SELECTION NAME TYPE GROUP
+		__SCWRYPTS_PARSE || { echo >&2; zle accept-line; return 0; }
+		echo $SCWRYPT_SELECTION >&2
 
-	zle clear-command-line
-	[ $SELECTED ] && {
-		[[ $SELECTED =~ ^$RESET$ ]] \
-			&& RBUFFER='unset SCWRYPTS_ENV' \
-			|| RBUFFER="export SCWRYPTS_ENV=$SELECTED"
+		scwrypts -n --name $NAME --group $GROUP --type $TYPE -- --help >&2 || {
+			zle accept-line
+			return 0
+		}
+		echo
+
+		zle reset-prompt
+		LBUFFER="scwrypts --name $NAME --type $TYPE --group $GROUP -- "
 	}
-	zle accept-line
+
+	zle -N scwrypts-builder SCWRYPTS__ZSH_BUILDER_PLUGIN
+	bindkey $SCWRYPTS_BUILDER_SHORTCUT scwrypts-builder
+	unset SCWRYPTS_BUILDER_SHORTCUT
 }
 
-zle -N scwrypts-setenv SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN_ENV
-bindkey $SCWRYPTS_ENV_SHORTCUT scwrypts-setenv
+#####################################################################
+
+[ $SCWRYPTS_ENV_SHORTCUT ] && {
+	SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN_ENV() {
+		local RESET='reset'
+		local SELECTED=$(\
+			{ [ $SCWRYPTS_ENV ] && echo $RESET; scwrypts --list-envs; } \
+				| fzf --prompt 'select an environment : ' \
+		)
+
+		zle clear-command-line
+		[ $SELECTED ] && {
+			[[ $SELECTED =~ ^$RESET$ ]] \
+				&& RBUFFER='unset SCWRYPTS_ENV' \
+				|| RBUFFER="export SCWRYPTS_ENV=$SELECTED"
+		}
+		zle accept-line
+	}
+
+	zle -N scwrypts-setenv SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN_ENV
+	bindkey $SCWRYPTS_ENV_SHORTCUT scwrypts-setenv
+	unset SCWRYPTS_ENV_SHORTCUT
+}
+
+#####################################################################
+
+__SCWRYPTS_PLUGIN_LOADED=true
diff --git a/scwrypts.scwrypts.zsh b/scwrypts.scwrypts.zsh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab52c17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scwrypts.scwrypts.zsh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+SCWRYPTS_GROUPS+=(scwrypts)
+
+export SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT"
+export SCWRYPTS_COLOR__scwrypts='\033[0;32m'
+#export SCWRYPTS_TYPE__scwrypts=
+#export SCWRYPTS_LIBRARY_ROOT__scwrypts=
+
+export SCWRYPTS_VIRTUALENV_PATH__scwrypts="$SCWRYPTS_DATA_PATH/virtualenv"
+
+export SCWRYPTS_PREFERRED_PYTHON_VERSIONS__scwrypts=(3.12 3.11 3.10)
+export SCWRYPTS_NODE_VERSION__scwrypts=18.0.0
diff --git a/zsh/lib/config.group.zsh b/zsh/lib/config.group.zsh
deleted file mode 100644
index 4f2b1b5..0000000
--- a/zsh/lib/config.group.zsh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-export SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT"
-export SCWRYPTS_LIBRARY_ROOT__scwrypts="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/zsh/lib"
-export SCWRYPTS_COLOR__scwrypts='\033[0;32m'
-
-
-export SCWRYPTS_VIRTUALENV_PATH__scwrypts="$SCWRYPTS_DATA_PATH/virtualenv"
-[ ! -d "$SCWRYPTS_VIRTUALENV_PATH__scwrypts" ] && mkdir -p "$SCWRYPTS_VIRTUALENV_PATH__scwrypts"
-
-export SCWRYPTS_PREFERRED_PYTHON_VERSIONS__scwrypts=(3.11 3.10 3.9)
-export SCWRYPTS_NODE_VERSION__scwrypts=18.0.0
diff --git a/zsh/lib/config.zsh b/zsh/lib/config.zsh
index 2ee5092..109d0a7 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/config.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/config.zsh
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT"
 
 #####################################################################
 
-DEFAULT_CONFIG="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/zsh/lib/config.user.zsh"
+DEFAULT_CONFIG="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/zsh/lib/config.user.zsh"
 source "$DEFAULT_CONFIG"
 
 USER_CONFIG_OVERRIDES="$SCWRYPTS_CONFIG_PATH/config.zsh"
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ export \
 	SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_PATH \
 	;
 
-SCWRYPTS_GROUPS=(scwrypts $(echo $SCWRYPTS_GROUPS | sed 's/\s\+/\n/g' | sort -u))
-
-source "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/zsh/lib/config.group.zsh" \
+source "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/scwrypts.scwrypts.zsh" \
 	|| FAIL 69 'failed to set up scwrypts group; aborting'
 
+SCWRYPTS_GROUPS=(scwrypts $(echo $SCWRYPTS_GROUPS | sed 's/\s\+/\n/g' | sort -u | grep -v '^scwrypts$'))
+
 #####################################################################
 
 for plugin in $(ls $SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/plugins)
diff --git a/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh b/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh
index 2d645e2..8eff2c7 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ source "${0:a:h}/config.zsh"
 
 use() {
 	local SCWRYPTS_LIBRARY SCWRYPTS_LIBRARY_ROOT SCWRYPTS_LIBRARY_GROUP
-	local DEFER_ENVIRONMENT_CHECK=1
+	local DEFER_ENVIRONMENT_CHECK=true
 
 	while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]
 	do
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ use() {
 				SCWRYPTS_LIBRARY_ROOT=$2
 				shift 1
 				;;
-			--check-environment )
-				DEFER_ENVIRONMENT_CHECK=0
+			-c | --check-environment )
+				DEFER_ENVIRONMENT_CHECK=false
 				;;
 			* )
 				[ ! $SCWRYPTS_LIBRARY ] \
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ use() {
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	[[ $DEFER_ENVIRONMENT_CHECK -eq 0 ]] && {
+	[[ $DEFER_ENVIRONMENT_CHECK =~ false ]] && {
 		CHECK_ENVIRONMENT || {
 			((IMPORT_ERRORS+=1))
 			ERROR "import error for '$SCWRYPTS_LIBRARY_GROUP/$SCWRYPTS_LIBRARY'"
diff --git a/zsh/lib/scwrypts/meta.module.zsh b/zsh/lib/scwrypts/meta.module.zsh
index 15c6608..1d45c4b 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/scwrypts/meta.module.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/scwrypts/meta.module.zsh
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@ SCWRYPTS__RUN() {  # context wrapper to run scwrypts within scwrypts
 	local EXIT_CODE=0
 	((SUBSCWRYPT+=1))
 
-	SUBSCWRYPT=$SUBSCWRYPT $SCWRYPTS_ROOT/scwrypts $@
+	SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL=$SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL \
+	SUBSCWRYPT=$SUBSCWRYPT \
+		$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/scwrypts $@
+
 	EXIT_CODE=$?
 
 	((SUBSCWRYPT-=1))
diff --git a/zsh/lib/scwrypts/run.module.zsh b/zsh/lib/scwrypts/run.module.zsh
index 2fc96b1..66de660 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/scwrypts/run.module.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/scwrypts/run.module.zsh
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ SCWRYPTS__GET_RUNSTRING() {
 	}
 
 	RUNSTRING="SCWRYPTS_ENV=$ENV_NAME; $RUNSTRING"
-	RUNSTRING="source $SCWRYPTS_ROOT/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh; $RUNSTRING"
+	RUNSTRING="source $SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh; $RUNSTRING"
 
 	local _VIRTUALENV=$(eval echo '$SCWRYPTS_VIRTUALENV_PATH__'$SCWRYPT_GROUP'/$SCWRYPT_TYPE/bin/activate')
 	[ -f $_VIRTUALENV ] && RUNSTRING="source $_VIRTUALENV; $RUNSTRING"
diff --git a/zsh/lib/scwrypts/virtualenv.module.zsh b/zsh/lib/scwrypts/virtualenv.module.zsh
index 223cdf0..5932cdb 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/scwrypts/virtualenv.module.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/scwrypts/virtualenv.module.zsh
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ _VIRTUALENV__GET_PATH() {
 	local ENV_PATH="$(eval echo '$SCWRYPTS_VIRTUALENV_PATH__'$GROUP 2>/dev/null)"
 	[ ! $ENV_PATH ] && ENV_PATH="$SCWRYPTS_VIRTUALENV_PATH__scwrypts"
 
+	mkdir -p "$ENV_PATH/$TYPE" &>/dev/null
+
 	echo $ENV_PATH/$TYPE
 }
 
@@ -95,7 +97,7 @@ CREATE_VIRTUALENV__scwrypts__py() {
 		}
 	done
 	[ ! $PYTHON ] && {
-		ERROR 'python>=3.9 not available; skipping python env'
+		ERROR 'python>=3.10 not available; skipping python env'
 		return 1
 	}
 
@@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ UPDATE_VIRTUALENV__scwrypts__py() {
 	PIP_INSTALL_ARGS+=(--no-cache-dir)
 	PIP_INSTALL_ARGS+=(-r requirements.txt)
 
-	cd "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/py"
+	cd "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/py"
 	pip install ${PIP_INSTALL_ARGS[@]}
 }
 
@@ -159,7 +161,7 @@ ACTIVATE_VIRTUALENV__scwrypts__zx() {
 UPDATE_VIRTUALENV__scwrypts__zx() {
 	local NPM_INSTALL_ARGS=()
 
-	cd "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/zx"
+	cd "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/zx"
 	npm install ${NPM_INSTALL_ARGS[@]}
 }
 
diff --git a/zsh/lib/utils/io.print.zsh b/zsh/lib/utils/io.print.zsh
index beea503..7c948a6 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/utils/io.print.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/utils/io.print.zsh
@@ -5,34 +5,61 @@ PRINT() {
 	local STDOUT=0
 
 	local LTRIM=1
+	local FORMAT=$SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_FORMAT
+	local _S
 	while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]
 	do
+		_S=1
 		case $1 in
 			-n | --no-trim-tabs ) LTRIM=0 ;;
 			-x | --no-line-end  ) LAST_LINE_END='' ;;
 			-o | --use-stdout   ) STDOUT=1; STDERR=0 ;;
+
+			-f | --format ) ((_S+=1)); FORMAT=$2 ;;
+
 			* ) MESSAGE+="$(echo $1) " ;;
 		esac
-		shift 1
+		shift $_S
 	done
 
-	MESSAGE="$(echo "$MESSAGE" | sed 's/%/%%/g')"
+	[ $FORMAT ] || FORMAT=pretty
+	local STYLED_MESSAGE
+	case $FORMAT in
+		pretty )
+			STYLED_MESSAGE="$(echo "$MESSAGE" | sed 's/%/%%/g')"
+			STYLED_MESSAGE="$({
+				printf "${COLOR}"
+				while IFS='' read line
+				do
+					[[ $PREFIX =~ ^[[:space:]]\+$ ]] && printf '\n'
 
-	local STYLED_MESSAGE="$({
-		printf "${COLOR}"
-		while IFS='' read line
-		do
-			[[ $PREFIX =~ ^[[:space:]]\+$ ]] && printf '\n'
+					printf "${PREFIX} : $(echo "$line" | sed 's/^	\+//; s/ \+$//')"
 
-			printf "${PREFIX} : $(echo "$line" | sed 's/^	\+//; s/ \+$//')"
+					PREFIX=$(echo $PREFIX | sed 's/./ /g')
+				done <<< $MESSAGE
+			})"
+			STYLED_MESSAGE="${COLOR}$(echo "$STYLED_MESSAGE" | sed 's/%/%%/g')${__COLOR_RESET}${LAST_LINE_END}"
+			;;
+		json )
+			STYLED_MESSAGE="$(
+				echo '{}' | jq -c ".
+					| .timestamp = \"$(date +%s)\"
+					| .runtime   = \"$SCWRYPTS_RUNTIME_ID\"
+					| .status    = \"$(echo "$PREFIX" | sed 's/ .*//')\"
+					| .message   = $(echo $MESSAGE | sed 's/^\t\+//' | jq -Rs)
+					" | sed 's/\\/\\\\/g'
+			)\n"
+			;;
+		* )
+			echo "ERROR : unsupported format '$FORMAT'" >&2
+			return 1
+			;;
+	esac
 
-			PREFIX=$(echo $PREFIX | sed 's/./ /g')
-		done <<< $MESSAGE
-	})"
-	STYLED_MESSAGE="${COLOR}$(echo "$STYLED_MESSAGE" | sed 's/%/%%/g')${__COLOR_RESET}${LAST_LINE_END}"
 
-	[[ $STDERR -eq 1 ]] && printf $STYLED_MESSAGE >&2
-	[[ $STDOUT -eq 1 ]] && printf $STYLED_MESSAGE
+
+	[[ $STDERR -eq 1 ]] && printf -- "$STYLED_MESSAGE" >&2
+	[[ $STDOUT -eq 1 ]] && printf -- "$STYLED_MESSAGE"
 
 	return 0
 }
diff --git a/zsh/lib/utils/utils.module.zsh b/zsh/lib/utils/utils.module.zsh
index c383718..a9ba63c 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/utils/utils.module.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/utils/utils.module.zsh
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ CHECK_ENVIRONMENT() {
 		$E "environment errors found (see above)\n$ERROR_MESSAGE"
 	}
 
-	[[ $MISSING_ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLES -ne 0 ]] && {
+	[[ $MISSING_ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLES -ne 0 ]] && [[ $__SCWRYPT ]] && {
 		REMINDER "
 			to quickly update missing environment variables, run:
 			'scwrypts zsh/scwrypts/environment/edit'