diff --git a/home/bashrc b/home/bashrc
index cba4164..acae28b 100644
--- a/home/bashrc
+++ b/home/bashrc
@@ -37,13 +37,14 @@ ADDPATH "$HOME/sh"
 
 (
     cd ~/sh \
-      && printf "%s\n" '#!/usr/bin/env false' '[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || exit 1' '' \
+      && printf "%s\n" '#!/usr/bin/env false' '[ -n "$preload" ] || exit 1' '' \
       | cat - $(grep -lF 'YES_BASH' $(find ~/sh -maxdepth 1 -type f)) \
       > ~/.sh-bash
 )
 
-: $((SOURCING+=1))
+dummy() { :; } ### @- return 0, ignoring arguments.
+preload=dummy
 . ~/.sh-bash
-: $((SOURCING-=1))
+unset preload
 
 alias reload='cd; exec bash' ### @- **TODO:** respect initctl like in `.zshrc`.
diff --git a/home/zshrc b/home/zshrc
index 6a471ee..e2de3c9 100644
--- a/home/zshrc
+++ b/home/zshrc
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ function {
 
     [ -s ~/.sh.sha1 ] && read -r b _ < ~/.sh.sha1
     ( cd ~/sh \
-      && print -l '#!/usr/bin/env false' '[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || exit 1' '' \
+      && print -l '#!/usr/bin/env false' '[ -n "$preload" ] || exit 1' '' \
       | cat - $(grep -lF 'YES_ZSH' *(.)) \
       | tee ~/.sh \
     ) | sha1sum - \
@@ -61,9 +61,10 @@ function {
     [ "$a" = "$b" ] && touch ~/.sh.zwc || zrecompile -p ~/.sh
 }
 
-: $((SOURCING+=1))
+dummy() { :; } ### @- return 0, ignoring arguments.
+preload=dummy
 . ~/.sh
-: $((SOURCING-=1))
+unset preload
 
 local fuzzy=`has fzy || print`
 
diff --git a/sh/argc b/sh/argc
index 0b445c8..ae21c27 100644
--- a/sh/argc
+++ b/sh/argc
@@ -59,4 +59,4 @@ argc() { ### @- validate the number of arguments in a function.
     return 0
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || argc "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || argc "$@"
diff --git a/sh/arith b/sh/arith
index 0813ee4..1026d0a 100755
--- a/sh/arith
+++ b/sh/arith
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ arith() { ### @-
     printf "%s\n" "$(($@))"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || arith "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || arith "$@"
diff --git a/sh/aur b/sh/aur
index 6073bb3..32b51f1 100755
--- a/sh/aur
+++ b/sh/aur
@@ -136,4 +136,4 @@ aur() { ### @-
     [ "$fail" -eq 0 ] && return 0 || return 1
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || aur "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || aur "$@"
diff --git a/sh/autosync b/sh/autosync
index 9b49a0a..9196a0c 100755
--- a/sh/autosync
+++ b/sh/autosync
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ autosync() { ### @-
     done
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || autosync "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || autosync "$@"
diff --git a/sh/bak b/sh/bak
index 2d807a4..9f6e9d1 100644
--- a/sh/bak
+++ b/sh/bak
@@ -30,4 +30,4 @@ bak() { ### @-
     return $ret
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || bak "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || bak "$@"
diff --git a/sh/baknow b/sh/baknow
index a75b275..b474805 100644
--- a/sh/baknow
+++ b/sh/baknow
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ baknow() { ### @-
     cp -ip "${1:?missing file argument}" "$1.$(now "$1").bak"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || baknow "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || baknow "$@"
diff --git a/sh/baks b/sh/baks
index 0879d40..380703a 100644
--- a/sh/baks
+++ b/sh/baks
@@ -4,10 +4,6 @@
 # YES_BASH
 # YES_DASH
 
-#: $((SOURCING+=1))
-#. ~/sh/note # FIXME: don't do this?
-#: $((SOURCING-=1))
-
 baks() { ### @-
     ### backup files by copying each and appending *the current* date-time,
     ### irrespective of when the files were modified or created.
@@ -36,4 +32,6 @@ baks() { ### @-
     return $ret
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || baks "$@"
+preload() { local preload='set -- $@'; while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do . ~/sh/$1 || exit 2; shift; done; }
+eval ${preload:-preload} note
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || baks "$@"
diff --git a/sh/bin b/sh/bin
index 7fe3a69..d7c448d 100644
--- a/sh/bin
+++ b/sh/bin
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ bin() { ### @-
     printf "%08X\n" "$a"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || bin "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || bin "$@"
diff --git a/sh/cdbusiest b/sh/cdbusiest
index 14180b4..2a8aeb2 100755
--- a/sh/cdbusiest
+++ b/sh/cdbusiest
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ cdbusiest() { ### @-
     cd $d
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || cdbusiest "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || cdbusiest "$@"
diff --git a/sh/colors b/sh/colors
index af169d7..09196ad 100755
--- a/sh/colors
+++ b/sh/colors
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@ colors() { ### @-
     printf "\e[%dm$(printf " \e[%dm mV \e[40m" {4,10}{0..7})\e[0m\n" {3,9}{0..7}
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || colors "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || colors "$@"
diff --git a/sh/compandy b/sh/compandy
index c362783..75e98a3 100755
--- a/sh/compandy
+++ b/sh/compandy
@@ -22,4 +22,4 @@ compandy() { ### @-
       $atk $atk $rel $rel $thresh $thresh $end $knee $gain $start $delay
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || compandy "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || compandy "$@"
diff --git a/sh/compile b/sh/compile
index 3e10b44..7fd289c 100755
--- a/sh/compile
+++ b/sh/compile
@@ -359,4 +359,4 @@ compile() { ### @-
     $compiler $std ${final_flags[@]} $file ${libraries[@]} ${warnings[@]} $outflag $out
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || compile "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || compile "$@"
diff --git a/sh/confirm b/sh/confirm
index 1726202..2a0916e 100755
--- a/sh/confirm
+++ b/sh/confirm
@@ -45,4 +45,4 @@ else
     }
 fi
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || confirm "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || confirm "$@"
diff --git a/sh/countdiff b/sh/countdiff
index 8295661..405463d 100644
--- a/sh/countdiff
+++ b/sh/countdiff
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ countdiff() { ### @-
     | awk '/changed/{print $4+$6;a=1}END{if(!a)print 0}'
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || countdiff "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || countdiff "$@"
diff --git a/sh/cutv b/sh/cutv
index 229ecc5..eb39c2a 100644
--- a/sh/cutv
+++ b/sh/cutv
@@ -27,4 +27,4 @@ cutv() { ### @-
     # -maxrate 9600k -bufsize 12000k -vcodec libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 -vf scale=1280:720
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || cutv "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || cutv "$@"
diff --git a/sh/days b/sh/days
index e11e3dd..478ed44 100755
--- a/sh/days
+++ b/sh/days
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ days() { ### @-
     echo $(( ($(date +%s) - $(date -d "$1" +%s)) / 60 / 60 / 24 ))
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || days "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || days "$@"
diff --git a/sh/dbusiest b/sh/dbusiest
index d6b5b15..ff1bdb1 100755
--- a/sh/dbusiest
+++ b/sh/dbusiest
@@ -24,4 +24,4 @@ dbusiest() { ### @-
     [ -z $d ] && return 1
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || dbusiest
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || dbusiest "$@"
diff --git a/sh/dfu b/sh/dfu
index 7ebbc2c..2f29c84 100755
--- a/sh/dfu
+++ b/sh/dfu
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ dfu() { ### @-
     NR>1{printf"%-20s %7.2f %7.2f %7.2f %7.2f\n",$6,$3/2^20,($3+$4)/2^20,($4)/2^20,($2-$4-$3)/2^20}'
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || dfu
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || dfu "$@"
diff --git a/sh/disf b/sh/disf
index 40a52bb..66991d1 100755
--- a/sh/disf
+++ b/sh/disf
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 # TODO: actually test that this works with dash.
 
-function disf() { ### @-
+disf() { ### @-
     ### disassemble a single function from an unstripped executable, unreliably.
     [ $# -le 2 ] || { printf "%s\n" "$0: too many arguments" >&2; return 1; }
     local exe="${1:?first argument should be an unstripped executable}"
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@ function disf() { ### @-
     objdump -d -C --no-show-raw-insn "$exe" | sed '/<'"$symbol"'>:/,/^$/!d;//d'
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || disf "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || disf "$@"
diff --git a/sh/document b/sh/document
index 7db03e8..b2d258b 100644
--- a/sh/document
+++ b/sh/document
@@ -164,4 +164,4 @@ document() { ### @-
     esac
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || document "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || document "$@"
diff --git a/sh/e b/sh/e
index 994a9bc..b72d093 100755
--- a/sh/e
+++ b/sh/e
@@ -61,4 +61,4 @@ e() { ### @-
     fi
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || e "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || e "$@"
diff --git a/sh/ea b/sh/ea
index 8079700..7cd154f 100644
--- a/sh/ea
+++ b/sh/ea
@@ -46,4 +46,4 @@ ea() { ### @- **TODO:** document.
     esac
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || ea "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || ea "$@"
diff --git a/sh/echo2 b/sh/echo2
index ec841f1..d23ab20 100644
--- a/sh/echo2
+++ b/sh/echo2
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ echo2() { ### @-
     printf "%s\n" "$*" >&2
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || echo2 "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || echo2 "$@"
diff --git a/sh/explore b/sh/explore
index 0652b53..e0c9c1c 100644
--- a/sh/explore
+++ b/sh/explore
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@ explore() { ### @- open a single directory in `explorer.exe`, defaulting to `$PW
     explorer "$(cygpath -w "${1:-.}")"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || explore "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || explore "$@"
diff --git a/sh/ff b/sh/ff
index 818ed81..a641a15 100644
--- a/sh/ff
+++ b/sh/ff
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@ ff() { ### @-
     find "${1:-.}" -type f | fzy
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || ff "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || ff "$@"
diff --git a/sh/ghmd b/sh/ghmd
index 5d8586e..dcfbec2 100644
--- a/sh/ghmd
+++ b/sh/ghmd
@@ -28,4 +28,4 @@ ghmd() { ### @-
     return $ret
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || ghmd "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || ghmd "$@"
diff --git a/sh/has b/sh/has
index 47fc687..c5df964 100644
--- a/sh/has
+++ b/sh/has
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ has() { ### @-
     fi
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || has "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || has "$@"
diff --git a/sh/hex b/sh/hex
index 5dfebce..c719890 100755
--- a/sh/hex
+++ b/sh/hex
@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ hex() { ### @-
     printf "%08X\n" "$(($@))"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || hex "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || hex "$@"
diff --git a/sh/ify b/sh/ify
index 29b3166..3da52c9 100644
--- a/sh/ify
+++ b/sh/ify
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ ify() { ### @-
     "$@" | "$ex"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || ify "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || ify "$@"
diff --git a/sh/is_empty b/sh/is_empty
index 3a9faa3..fe2097f 100755
--- a/sh/is_empty
+++ b/sh/is_empty
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@ is_empty() { ### @-
     return 0
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || is_empty "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || is_empty "$@"
diff --git a/sh/isup b/sh/isup
index 61585c9..88daace 100755
--- a/sh/isup
+++ b/sh/isup
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ isup() { ### @-
     [ -z "${c#2[0-9][0-9]}" ]
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || isup "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || isup "$@"
diff --git a/sh/maybesudo b/sh/maybesudo
index 2392427..a30d22e 100644
--- a/sh/maybesudo
+++ b/sh/maybesudo
@@ -136,4 +136,4 @@ maybesudo_() { ### @-
     # don't put any code here or you'll clobber $?.
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || maybesudo_ "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || maybesudo_ "$@"
diff --git a/sh/minutemaid b/sh/minutemaid
index c555f51..880f3ce 100755
--- a/sh/minutemaid
+++ b/sh/minutemaid
@@ -40,4 +40,4 @@ minutemaid() { ### @-
     fi
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || minutemaid "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || minutemaid "$@"
diff --git a/sh/monitor b/sh/monitor
index 7a1a922..dc09be8 100755
--- a/sh/monitor
+++ b/sh/monitor
@@ -47,4 +47,4 @@ monitor() { ### @-
     done
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || monitor "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || monitor "$@"
diff --git a/sh/noccom b/sh/noccom
index 3abcb5c..fe9e8e0 100644
--- a/sh/noccom
+++ b/sh/noccom
@@ -53,4 +53,4 @@ EOF
     perl ~/opt/local/bin/noccom "$@"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || noccom "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || noccom "$@"
diff --git a/sh/note b/sh/note
index 5acaa94..c9134a8 100644
--- a/sh/note
+++ b/sh/note
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ note() { ### @-
     printf "\033[1m%s\033[0m\n" "$*" >&2
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || note "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || note "$@"
diff --git a/sh/now b/sh/now
index 1dadac3..9cc0cc2 100755
--- a/sh/now
+++ b/sh/now
@@ -53,4 +53,4 @@ now() { ### @-
     echo "${F}_${ms}"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || now "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || now "$@"
diff --git a/sh/pacbm b/sh/pacbm
index cc63522..a3620d1 100755
--- a/sh/pacbm
+++ b/sh/pacbm
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@ pacbm() { ### @-
     ' | sort -n
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || pacbm "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || pacbm "$@"
diff --git a/sh/pause b/sh/pause
index 38568c8..aa1bcf2 100755
--- a/sh/pause
+++ b/sh/pause
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ pause() { ### @-
 '
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || pause "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || pause "$@"
diff --git a/sh/pegg b/sh/pegg
index abcb9ff..07cd7f3 100644
--- a/sh/pegg
+++ b/sh/pegg
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ pegg() { ### @-
     pippy "https://github.com/$1/$2/tarball/${3:-master}#egg=$2"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || pegg "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || pegg "$@"
diff --git a/sh/pippy b/sh/pippy
index f6fb910..9ffc713 100644
--- a/sh/pippy
+++ b/sh/pippy
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ pippy() { ### @-
     "$sudo" py -m pip install --upgrade --upgrade-strategy only-if-needed "$@"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || pippy "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || pippy "$@"
diff --git a/sh/pre b/sh/pre
index 706ee64..a5f849e 100755
--- a/sh/pre
+++ b/sh/pre
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@ pre() { ### @-
     fi
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || pre "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || pre "$@"
diff --git a/sh/preload b/sh/preload
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f7e02a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sh/preload
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env false
+# NO_ZSH
+# NO_BASH
+# NO_DASH
+# NO_ASH
+# NOTE: this is actually compatible with all of the above shells;
+#       i just really don't want it being sourced by accident.
+#       this file really only exists for documentation purposes.
+
+preload() { ### @- handle dependencies within the [`~/sh/`](/sh) directory.
+    ### this function contains more comments than code, so you should read it.
+    # all sourced files from within the preload function will instead
+    # append to the list of files to preload (i.e. dependencies).
+    # dash and ash have no arrays besides $@, so we must use it.
+    local preload='set -- $@'
+    # we want to iterate over $@ like a queue; pushing and popping.
+    # `for` would create a local copy and leave $@ unmodified, so it's no good.
+    while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
+        # NOTE: there's no quotes here since the surrounding method uses eval,
+        #       so paths-with-spaces is already doomed from the start.
+        #       however, $HOME can still safely contain spaces.
+        # NOTE: it's important to use an absolute path here.
+        . ~/sh/$1 # yes, you can source files from within functions,
+                  # and they even respect your locals.
+        [ $? -eq 0 ] \
+        || exit 2 # this `exit 2` is just for zsh and bash;
+                  # dash and ash do it automatically.
+                  # zsh actually uses some other return value,
+                  # but we use 2 anyway since everything else uses 2.
+        shift # pop the queue
+    done
+}
diff --git a/sh/psbm b/sh/psbm
index a970138..9e92ed1 100755
--- a/sh/psbm
+++ b/sh/psbm
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@ psbm() { ### @-
     ' | sort -n
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || psbm "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || psbm "$@"
diff --git a/sh/randir b/sh/randir
index ed7e111..9fa2550 100755
--- a/sh/randir
+++ b/sh/randir
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@ randir() { ### @-
     find -maxdepth 1 -type d \( -path '/root' -prune -o -print \) | tail -n+2 | shuf | head -n1
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || randir "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || randir "$@"
diff --git a/sh/refresh b/sh/refresh
index 36641cf..8074b2c 100644
--- a/sh/refresh
+++ b/sh/refresh
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@ refresh() { ### @- invoke `hash -r`.
     hash -r
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || refresh "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || refresh "$@"
diff --git a/sh/rot13 b/sh/rot13
index 35f6aea..a45487d 100644
--- a/sh/rot13
+++ b/sh/rot13
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ rot13() { ### @-
     tr -- A-Za-z0-9 N-ZA-Mn-za-m5-90-4
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || rot13 "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || rot13 "$@"
diff --git a/sh/rs b/sh/rs
index 87dabac..e3bf323 100644
--- a/sh/rs
+++ b/sh/rs
@@ -72,4 +72,4 @@ rs() { ### @-
         $o_overwrite "$extless.enc.$ext"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || rs "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || rs "$@"
diff --git a/sh/sc b/sh/sc
index 3f1a408..c4a248c 100755
--- a/sh/sc
+++ b/sh/sc
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-: $((SOURCING+=1))
-. ~/sh/ea # FIXME: don't do this? somehow?
-: $((SOURCING-=1))
-
 sc_shorten() {
     REPLY="${1:2:2}${1:5:2}${1:8:2}${1:11:12}"
 }
@@ -66,4 +62,6 @@ sc() { ### @-
     return 0
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || sc "$@"
+preload() { local preload='set -- $@'; while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do . ~/sh/$1 || exit 2; shift; done; }
+eval ${preload:-preload} ea
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || sc "$@"
diff --git a/sh/scramble b/sh/scramble
index 837d75b..d0f4edb 100755
--- a/sh/scramble
+++ b/sh/scramble
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@ scramble() { ### @-
     -e 's/@//g'
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || scramble "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || scramble "$@"
diff --git a/sh/screeny b/sh/screeny
index ecb330e..01aa929 100755
--- a/sh/screeny
+++ b/sh/screeny
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ screeny() { ### @-
     return 0
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || screeny "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || screeny "$@"
diff --git a/sh/scropt b/sh/scropt
index 2a7cf64..e759de9 100755
--- a/sh/scropt
+++ b/sh/scropt
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # YES_ZSH
 
-#: $((SOURCING+=1))
-#. ~/sh/now # FIXME: don't do this?
-#: $((SOURCING-=1))
-
 scropt() { ### @-
     ### run `scrot` through `optipng` and save the result to `~/play/$(now).png`.
     ###
@@ -18,4 +14,6 @@ scropt() { ### @-
     [ $? -eq 0 ] && echo "$fn" || return $?
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || scropt "$@"
+preload() { local preload='set -- $@'; while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do . ~/sh/$1 || exit 2; shift; done; }
+eval ${preload:-preload} now
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || scropt "$@"
diff --git a/sh/similar b/sh/similar
index f1e0297..cba1231 100755
--- a/sh/similar
+++ b/sh/similar
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ similar() { ### @-
     }'
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || similar "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || similar "$@"
diff --git a/sh/slit b/sh/slit
index e320980..eef39be 100755
--- a/sh/slit
+++ b/sh/slit
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ slit() { ### @-
     #awk "{ print ${(j:,:):-\$${^@}} }"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || slit "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || slit "$@"
diff --git a/sh/slitt b/sh/slitt
index 7f860ee..ef6cafd 100644
--- a/sh/slitt
+++ b/sh/slitt
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@ slitt() { ### @-
     #awk "BEGIN { FS=\"\\t\"; OFS=\"\\t\" } { print ${(j:,:):-\$${^@}} }"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || slitt "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || slitt "$@"
diff --git a/sh/sram b/sh/sram
index a9c98e9..fa0e1f2 100755
--- a/sh/sram
+++ b/sh/sram
@@ -49,4 +49,4 @@ sram() { ### @-
     revend "$out"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || sram "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || sram "$@"
diff --git a/sh/stfu b/sh/stfu
index 70dbb39..03f1f58 100644
--- a/sh/stfu
+++ b/sh/stfu
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
 # YES_ZSH
 
-#. ~/sh/echo2 # FIXME
-#. ~/sh/note # FIXME
-
 stfu() { ### @-
     ### invoke a command, silencing stdout and stderr *unless* the command fails.
     ###
@@ -44,8 +41,8 @@ stfu() { ### @-
     ### WARNING: The system cannot find the file specified.
     ### asses
     ### ```
-
     [ $# -gt 0 ] || { printf "%s\n" "$0: too few arguments" >&2; return 1; }
+
     local temp="${TMP:-/tmp}/stfu"
 
     local time="$(date -u '+%s')"
@@ -77,4 +74,6 @@ stfu() { ### @-
     return $ret
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || stfu "$@"
+preload() { local preload='set -- $@'; while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do . ~/sh/$1 || exit 2; shift; done; }
+eval ${preload:-preload} echo2 note
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || stfu "$@"
diff --git a/sh/sum b/sh/sum
index c8e50d0..8240c1e 100644
--- a/sh/sum
+++ b/sh/sum
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ sum() { ### @-
     echo "$sum"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || sum "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || sum "$@"
diff --git a/sh/sv b/sh/sv
index 87fa260..34ed200 100755
--- a/sh/sv
+++ b/sh/sv
@@ -36,4 +36,4 @@ sv() { ### @-
     '
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || sv "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || sv "$@"
diff --git a/sh/tpad b/sh/tpad
index 2aee5ca..c07a518 100755
--- a/sh/tpad
+++ b/sh/tpad
@@ -11,4 +11,4 @@ tpad() { ### @-
     done
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || tpad "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || tpad "$@"
diff --git a/sh/trash b/sh/trash
index 898cadc..c0418e0 100644
--- a/sh/trash
+++ b/sh/trash
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ trash() { ### @-
     dd status=none if=/dev/random bs=1 count="${1:?missing count argument}"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || trash "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || trash "$@"
diff --git a/sh/trunc b/sh/trunc
index bdff60d..3a32ec1 100755
--- a/sh/trunc
+++ b/sh/trunc
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@ trunc() { ### @-
     awk -vL=${1:-$COLUMNS} '{e=length>L?"…":"";print substr($0,0,L-(e?1:0)) e}'
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || trunc "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || trunc "$@"
diff --git a/sh/unscreen b/sh/unscreen
index 2116ca5..c2d428a 100755
--- a/sh/unscreen
+++ b/sh/unscreen
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ unscreen() { ### @-
     return 0
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || unscreen "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || unscreen "$@"
diff --git a/sh/wat b/sh/wat
index da4bd15..42a90ff 100644
--- a/sh/wat
+++ b/sh/wat
@@ -37,4 +37,4 @@ wat() { ### @-
     )
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || wat "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || wat "$@"
diff --git a/sh/wipe b/sh/wipe
index edc0052..6a2a017 100644
--- a/sh/wipe
+++ b/sh/wipe
@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ wipe() { ### @-
     echo $'\033[0m\n' | tr -d '$'
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || wipe "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || wipe "$@"
diff --git a/sh/xxp b/sh/xxp
index 6da8d90..76b73ca 100644
--- a/sh/xxp
+++ b/sh/xxp
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ xxp() { ### @-
     hexdump -e '15 1 "%02X " 1 1 " %02X\n"' -- "$@"
 }
 
-[ "${SOURCING:-0}" -gt 0 ] || xxp "$@"
+[ -n "${preload+-}" ] || xxp "$@"