diff --git a/make/darwin/minosx/env.rb b/make/darwin/minosx/env.rb
index 1fdc315e..1deafb88 100644
--- a/make/darwin/minosx/env.rb
+++ b/make/darwin/minosx/env.rb
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
   elsif EXT_RUBY.include? '/usr/local/Cellar/'  
     # brew install ruby@2.3
     APP['RVMGEM'] = ENV['GEM_HOME']
-    APP['ABSBUNDLE'] = true      # ie. bundles use ABS patchs
+    APP['ABSBUNDLE'] = true      # ie. bundles use ABS paths
   else
     $stderr.puts "Your ruby is Suspicious. Create a minosx-custom.yaml"
     abort
@@ -114,13 +114,14 @@
 CAIRO_LDFLAGS = "-L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -lcairo"
 PANGO_CFLAGS  = "-I#{ShoesDeps}/include/pango-1.0"
 PANGO_LDFLAGS = "-L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -lpango-1.0"
-#RUBY_CFLAGS   = "-I#{EXT_RUBY}/include/ruby-2.3.0/x86_64-darwin14 -I#{EXT_RUBY}/include/ruby-2.3.0 "
-RUBY_CFLAGS =`pkg-config --cflags "#{pkgruby}"`.strip+" "
-RUBY_LDFLAGS  = "-L#{EXT_RUBY}lib/ -Wl,-undefined,dynamic_lookup -Wl,-multiply_defined,suppress -lruby.2.3.0 -lpthread -ldl -lobjc "
+RUBY_CFLAGS = `pkg-config --cflags "#{pkgruby}"`.strip+" "
+#RUBY_LDFLAGS  = `pkg-config --libs "#{pkgruby}"`.strip+" "
+#RUBY_LDFLAGS  = "-L#{EXT_RUBY}lib/ -Wl,-undefined,dynamic_lookup -Wl,-multiply_defined,suppress -lruby.2.4.5 -lpthread -ldl -lobjc "
 
 LINUX_CFLAGS << " -I#{ShoesDeps}/include #{GLIB_CFLAGS} #{RUBY_CFLAGS} #{CAIRO_CFLAGS} #{PANGO_CFLAGS}"
 
 LINUX_LIB_NAMES = %W[#{RUBY_SO} cairo pangocairo-1.0 gif]
+#LINUX_LIB_NAMES = %W[#{RUBY_LDFLAGS} cairo pangocairo-1.0 gif]
 
 LINUX_CFLAGS << " -DRUBY_1_9 "
 
@@ -130,7 +131,6 @@
 LINUX_LDFLAGS = "-framework Cocoa -framework QuartzCore -framework Carbon -dynamiclib -Wl,-single_module INSTALL_NAME"
 LINUX_LIB_NAMES << 'pixman-1' << 'jpeg.8'
 
-#OSX_SDK = '/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX10.11.sdk'
 OSX_SDK = "/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/#{osxsdk}"
 ENV['MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET'] = osxminv
 LINUX_CFLAGS << " -mmacosx-version-min=#{osxminv}"
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@
 LINUX_CFLAGS << " -isysroot #{OSX_SDK} #{OSX_ARCH}"
 LINUX_LDFLAGS << " -isysroot #{OSX_SDK} #{OSX_ARCH} -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib/ #{GLIB_LDFLAGS}"
 
-LINUX_LIBS = " -l#{RUBY_SO} -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -l cairo -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -lpangocairo-1.0 -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -lgif -ljpeg"
+LINUX_LIBS = " -L #{EXT_RUBY}/lib -l#{RUBY_SO} -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -l cairo -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -lpangocairo-1.0 -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -lgif -ljpeg"
 LINUX_LIBS << " -L#{TGT_DIR} #{CAIRO_LDFLAGS} #{PANGO_LDFLAGS} #{GLIB_LDFLAGS}"
 
 # Sigh - shoesdeps and homebrew versions can be out of sync.
diff --git a/make/darwin/minosx/setup.rb b/make/darwin/minosx/setup.rb
index c86e5c12..568a202a 100644
--- a/make/darwin/minosx/setup.rb
+++ b/make/darwin/minosx/setup.rb
@@ -5,39 +5,50 @@ module Make
  
   def static_setup (so_list)
     $stderr.puts "setup: dir=#{`pwd`} for #{TGT_DIR}"
-	#rm_rf "#{TGT_DIR} "
-	mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}"
-	# copy Ruby, dylib, includes - have them in place before
-	# we build things 
-	puts "Ruby at #{EXT_RUBY} : #{SHOES_GEM_ARCH}"
-	rbvt = RUBY_V
-	rbvm = RUBY_V[/^\d+\.\d+/]
-	rm_rf "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
-	mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
-	# clean out leftovers from last build
-	#rm_f "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.dylib" if File.exist? "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.dylib"
-	#rm_f "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvm}.dylib" if File.exist? "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvm}.dylib"
-	#rm_f "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib" if File.exist? "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib"
-	#mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/#{rbvm}.0/#{RUBY_PLATFORM}"
-	cp_r "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/ruby", "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
-	# copy and link libruby.dylib
-	cp "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib", "#{TGT_DIR}"
-	# copy include files - it might help build gems
-	mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/include/ruby-#{rbvt}"
-	cp_r "#{EXT_RUBY}/include/ruby-#{rbvt}/", "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/include"
-	
-	if APP['LIBPATHS']
-	  dep_find_and_copy( APP['LIBPATHS'], SOLOCS)
-	else
-	  SOLOCS.each do |k, v| 
-	    cp v, TGT_DIR
-	  end
-	end
-	# copy ssl engines
-	if File.exist?("#{ShoesDeps}/lib/engines")
-		cp_r "#{ShoesDeps}/lib/engines", "#{TGT_DIR}"
-	end
-    
+=begin		
+		#rm_rf "#{TGT_DIR} "
+		mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}"
+		# copy Ruby, dylib, includes - have them in place before
+		# we build things 
+		puts "Ruby at #{EXT_RUBY} : #{SHOES_GEM_ARCH}"
+		rbvt = RUBY_V
+		rbvm = RUBY_V[/^\d+\.\d+/]
+		rm_rf "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
+		mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
+		# clean out leftovers from last build
+		#rm_f "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.dylib" if File.exist? "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.dylib"
+		#rm_f "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvm}.dylib" if File.exist? "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvm}.dylib"
+		#rm_f "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib" if File.exist? "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib"
+		#mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/#{rbvm}.0/#{RUBY_PLATFORM}"
+		cp_r "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/ruby", "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
+		# copy and link libruby.dylib
+		cp "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib", "#{TGT_DIR}"
+		# copy include files - it might help build gems
+		mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/include/ruby-#{rbvt}"
+		cp_r "#{EXT_RUBY}/include/ruby-#{rbvt}/", "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/include"
+		
+		if APP['LIBPATHS']
+		  dep_find_and_copy( APP['LIBPATHS'], SOLOCS)
+		else
+		  SOLOCS.each do |k, v| 
+		    cp v, TGT_DIR
+		  end
+		end
+		# copy ssl engines
+		if File.exist?("#{ShoesDeps}/lib/engines")
+			cp_r "#{ShoesDeps}/lib/engines", "#{TGT_DIR}"
+		end
+=end		
+    srcloc= `pwd`.strip
+		ln_s "#{srcloc}/lib", TGT_DIR
+		ln_s "#{srcloc}/samples", TGT_DIR
+		ln_s "#{srcloc}/static",  TGT_DIR
+		ln_s "#{srcloc}/fonts", TGT_DIR
+		ln_s "#{srcloc}/themes", TGT_DIR
+		cp    "README.md", TGT_DIR
+		cp    "CHANGELOG", TGT_DIR
+		cp    "COPYING", TGT_DIR
+=begin    
     # copy some static stuff
     cp_r  "fonts", "#{TGT_DIR}/fonts"
     cp_r  "lib", "#{TGT_DIR}"
@@ -46,6 +57,7 @@ def static_setup (so_list)
     cp    "README.md", "#{TGT_DIR}/README.txt"
     cp    "CHANGELOG", "#{TGT_DIR}/CHANGELOG.txt"
     cp    "COPYING", "#{TGT_DIR}/COPYING.txt"
+=end
 	end
 end
 
diff --git a/make/darwin/minosx/tasks.rb b/make/darwin/minosx/tasks.rb
index fd882749..c1b18e56 100644
--- a/make/darwin/minosx/tasks.rb
+++ b/make/darwin/minosx/tasks.rb
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ def rewrite_ary before, after, reg = /\#\{(\w+\[\'\w+\'\])\}/, reg2 = '\1'
       end
     end
   end
+  
+  # a stub, loose osx doesn't copy gems but the Builder will call it
+  def copy_gems  
+  end
+
 end
 
 class MakeDarwin
@@ -93,7 +98,9 @@ def dylibs_to_change lib
     end
 
     def copy_deps_to_dist
-      puts "Entering copy_deps_to_dist #{TGT_DIR}"
+      $stderr.puts "Entering copy_deps_to_dist #{TGT_DIR}"
+      # for loose shoes (minosx) , see postbuild_fix
+      return
       # Generate a list of dependencies straight from the generated files.
       # Start with dependencies of shoes-bin, and then add the dependencies
       # of those dependencies. Finally, add any oddballs that must be
@@ -164,6 +171,7 @@ def copy_deps_to_dist
     end
     
     def setup_system_resources
+      return
       # called after the gems are copied into the above setup.
       # build a hash of x.dylib > ShoesDeps/**/*.dylib
       @brew_hsh = {}
@@ -219,8 +227,15 @@ def setup_system_resources
 
     def postbuild_fix
       # if this is called, the only thing that has changed is libshoes.dylib
-      # and shoes-bin. This hasn't needed but might involve
-      #$stderr.puts "called postbuild_fix"
+      # and shoes-bin. minosx needs this.
+      $stderr.puts "called postbuild_fix"
+      Dir.chdir TGT_DIR do
+					#sh "#{INTOOL} -id @executable_path/shoes-bin shoes-bin"
+					sh "#{INTOOL} -change @executable_path/librsvg-2.2.dylib /usr/local/lib/librsvg-2.2.dylib shoes-bin"
+					sh "#{INTOOL} -change @executable_path/librsvg-2.2.dylib /usr/local/lib/librsvg-2.2.dylib libshoes.dylib"
+					#sh "#{INTOOL} -change @executable_path/../lib/libruby.2.4.5.dylib #{EXT_RUBY}/lib/libruby.2.4.5.dylib shoes-bin"
+					#sh "#{INTOOL} -change @executable_path/../lib/libruby.2.4.5.dylib #{EXT_RUBY}/lib/libruby.2.4.5.dylib libshoes.dylibq"
+	    end
 =begin
       install_name_tool -id @executable_path/shoes-bin shoes-bin
       install_name_tool -change /usr/local/lib/libcairo.2.dylib @executable_path/libcairo.2.dylib shoes-bin
diff --git a/make/darwin/yosemite/env.rb b/make/darwin/yosemite/env.rb
index a5ff385f..23634f14 100644
--- a/make/darwin/yosemite/env.rb
+++ b/make/darwin/yosemite/env.rb
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
 LINUX_CFLAGS << " -isysroot #{OSX_SDK} #{OSX_ARCH}"
 LINUX_LDFLAGS << " -isysroot #{OSX_SDK} #{OSX_ARCH} -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib/ #{GLIB_LDFLAGS}"
 
-RUBY_SO = RbConfig::CONFIG['RUBY_SO_NAME']
+#RUBY_SO = RbConfig::CONFIG['RUBY_SO_NAME']
 LINUX_LIBS = " -l#{RUBY_SO} -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -l cairo -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -lpangocairo-1.0 -L#{ShoesDeps}/lib -lgif -ljpeg"
 LINUX_LIBS << " -L#{TGT_DIR} #{CAIRO_LDFLAGS} #{PANGO_LDFLAGS} #{GLIB_LDFLAGS}"
 
diff --git a/make/darwin/yosemite/setup.rb b/make/darwin/yosemite/setup.rb
index 8f3b17cd..bbd348bc 100644
--- a/make/darwin/yosemite/setup.rb
+++ b/make/darwin/yosemite/setup.rb
@@ -5,47 +5,49 @@ module Make
  
   def static_setup (so_list)
     $stderr.puts "setup: dir=#{`pwd`} for #{TGT_DIR}"
-	#rm_rf "#{TGT_DIR} "
-	mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}"
-	# copy Ruby, dylib, includes - have them in place before
-	# we build things 
-	puts "Ruby at #{EXT_RUBY} : #{SHOES_GEM_ARCH} RUBY_V : #{RUBY_V}"
-	rbvt = rbinc = RUBY_V
-	rbvm = RUBY_V[/^\d+\.\d+/]
-	rm_rf "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
-	mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
-	if rbvm != '2.3'
-	  # because ruby changes from version to version, os to os. Curses!
-	  rbvt = RUBY_VERSION[/(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)/]
-	  rbinc = rbvt[/\d+\.\d+/] + '.0'
-	end
-	# clean out leftovers from last build
-	#rm_f "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.dylib" if File.exist? "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.dylib"
-	#rm_f "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvm}.dylib" if File.exist? "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvm}.dylib"
-	#rm_f "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib" if File.exist? "#{TGT_DIR}/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib"
-	#mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/#{rbvm}.0/#{RUBY_PLATFORM}"
-	cp_r "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/ruby", "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
-	# copy and link libruby.dylib
-	cp "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib", "#{TGT_DIR}"
-	Dir.chdir(TGT_DIR) do
-		 ln_s "libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib", "libruby.#{rbvm}.dylib"
-		 ln_s "libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib", "libruby.dylib"
-	end
-	# copy include files - it might help build gems
-	mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/include/ruby-#{rbinc}"
-	cp_r "#{EXT_RUBY}/include/ruby-#{rbinc}/", "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/include"
-	
-	if APP['LIBPATHS']
-	  dep_find_and_copy( APP['LIBPATHS'], SOLOCS)
-	else
-	  SOLOCS.each do |k, v| 
-	    cp v, TGT_DIR
-	  end
-	end
-	# copy ssl engines
-	if File.exist?("#{ShoesDeps}/lib/engines")
-		cp_r "#{ShoesDeps}/lib/engines", "#{TGT_DIR}"
-	end
+		#rm_rf "#{TGT_DIR} "
+		mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}"
+		# copy Ruby, dylib, includes - have them in place before
+		# we build things 
+		puts "Ruby at #{EXT_RUBY} : #{SHOES_GEM_ARCH} RUBY_V : #{RUBY_V}"
+		rbvt = rbinc = APP['RUBY_V']
+		rbvm = APP['RUBY_V'][/^\d+\.\d+/]
+		rm_rf "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
+		mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
+		if rbvm == '2.3'
+			cp_r "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/ruby", "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
+			# copy and link libruby.dylib
+			cp "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/libruby.#{rbvm}.0.dylib", "#{TGT_DIR}"
+			Dir.chdir(TGT_DIR) do
+				 ln_s "libruby.#{rbvm}.0.dylib", "libruby.dylib"
+			end
+		else
+		  # because ruby changes from version to version, os to os. Curses!
+		  rbvt = RUBY_VERSION[/(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)/]
+		  rbinc = rbvt[/\d+\.\d+/] + '.0'
+			cp_r "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/ruby", "#{TGT_DIR}/lib"
+			# copy and link libruby.dylib
+			cp "#{EXT_RUBY}/lib/libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib", "#{TGT_DIR}"
+			Dir.chdir(TGT_DIR) do
+				 ln_s "libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib", "libruby.#{rbvm}.dylib"
+				 ln_s "libruby.#{rbvt}.dylib", "libruby.dylib"
+			end
+		end
+		# copy include files - it might help build gems
+		mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/include/ruby-#{rbinc}"
+		cp_r "#{EXT_RUBY}/include/ruby-#{rbinc}/", "#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/include"
+		
+		if APP['LIBPATHS']
+		  dep_find_and_copy( APP['LIBPATHS'], SOLOCS)
+		else
+		  SOLOCS.each do |k, v| 
+		    cp v, TGT_DIR
+		  end
+		end
+		# copy ssl engines
+		if File.exist?("#{ShoesDeps}/lib/engines")
+			cp_r "#{ShoesDeps}/lib/engines", "#{TGT_DIR}"
+		end
     
     # copy some static stuff
     cp_r  "fonts", "#{TGT_DIR}/fonts"
diff --git a/make/darwin/yosemite/tasks.rb b/make/darwin/yosemite/tasks.rb
index 3731283c..70b0c81e 100644
--- a/make/darwin/yosemite/tasks.rb
+++ b/make/darwin/yosemite/tasks.rb
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def copy_deps_to_dist
       # included.
       dylibs = get_dylibs("#{TGT_DIR}/#{NAME}-bin")
       # add the gem's bundles.
-      rbvm = RUBY_V[/^\d+\.\d+/]
+      rbvm = APP['RUBY_V'][/^\d+\.\d+/]
       Dir["#{TGT_DIR}/lib/ruby/gems/#{rbvm}.0/gems/**/*.bundle"].each do |gb|
         puts "Bundle: #{gb}"
         dylibs.concat get_dylibs(gb)
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ def setup_system_resources
           @brew_hsh[key] = path
          end
       end
-      rbvm = RUBY_V[/^\d+\.\d+/]
+      rbvm = APP['RUBY_V'][/^\d+\.\d+/]
       #tgtd = File.join(Dir.getwd, TGT_DIR)
       tgtd = File.absolute_path(TGT_DIR)
       puts "tgtd: #{tgtd}"
diff --git a/make/setup.rb b/make/setup.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f99cb4c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/make/setup.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+# two functions in this module are used
+#   env_create_and_save(build_os,target_os) - when `rake setup:xxxx`
+#   Builder.load_env('build_target.yaml')   - when not above
+#   
+module Make
+  include FileUtils
+  APP = {}
+  
+  # get the app.yaml, git's idea of revision number,
+  def self.basic_env(target_os)
+    app = YAML.load_file(File.join(ENV['APP'] || ".", "app.yaml"))
+    # APP['version'] = APP['major'] # for historical reasons
+    # populate APP[] with uppercase names and string values
+    APP['VERSION'] = "\"#{app['major']}.#{app['minor']}.#{app['tiny']}\""
+    APP['MAJOR'] = app['major'].to_s
+    APP['MINOR'] = app['minor'].to_s
+    APP['TINY'] = app['tiny'].to_s
+    APP['NAME'] = app['name']
+    APP['release'] = app['release']
+    APP['icons'] = app['icons']
+    APP['DATE'] = Time.now.to_s
+    APP['PLATFORM'] = RbConfig::CONFIG['arch'] # not correct for cross compile
+    case app['revision']
+      when 'git'
+        gitp = ENV['GIT'] || "git"
+        APP['REVISION'] = (`#{gitp} rev-list HEAD`.split.length).to_s
+      when 'file'
+        File.open('VERSION.txt', 'r') do |f|
+          ln = f.read
+          rev = ln[/r\(\d+\)/]
+          APP['REVISION'] = "#{rev[/\d+/].to_i + 1}"
+        end
+      else
+        if APP['revision'].kind_of? Fixnum
+          APP['REVISION'] = APP['revision'].to_s
+        else
+          APP['REVISION'] = '9' # make it up
+        end
+    end
+    
+    
+    APP['NAME'] = app['shortname'] || app['name'].downcase.gsub(/\W+/, '')
+    APP['APPNAME'] = app['name'] # TODO: OSX needs this
+    APP['SONAME'] = 'shoes'
+    APP['APPARGS'] = APP['run']  # left over from HH build?
+    
+    # TODO: Shadow these until replaced with APP[] in env/setup/tasks files
+    #RUBY_SO = RbConfig::CONFIG['RUBY_SO_NAME']
+    APP['RUBY_SO'] = RbConfig::CONFIG['RUBY_SO_NAME']
+    #RUBY_V = RbConfig::CONFIG['ruby_version']
+    APP['RUBY_V'] = RbConfig::CONFIG['ruby_version']
+    #SHOES_RUBY_ARCH = RbConfig::CONFIG['arch']
+    APP['SHOES_RUBY_ARCH'] = RbConfig::CONFIG['arch']
+    
+    # default exts, gems & locations to build and include - replace with custom.yaml
+    APP['GEMLOC'] = ""
+    APP['EXTLOC'] = ""
+    APP['EXTLIST'] = []
+    APP['GEMLIST'] = []
+    APP['Bld_Tmp'] = 'tmp'
+    APP['Bld_Pre'] = ENV['NFS_ALTP'] if ENV['NFS_ALTP']
+    APP['CROSS'] = true  # TODO constant escape from file. grrr
+    if target_os =~ /yosemite|mavericks|minosx|darwin14/
+      # osx is just different. It needs build performance optimizations 
+      # is the build output directory outside the shoes3 dir?    
+      if APP['Bld_Pre']
+        APP['top_dir'] = APP['Bld_Pre']+target_os # likely to be abs path!
+        APP['TGT_DIR'] = APP['top_dir']+"/#{APPNAME}.app/Contents/MacOS"
+      else
+        APP['TGT_DIR'] = target_os+"/#{APPNAME}.app/Contents/MacOS"
+        APP['top_dir'] = APP['TGT_DIR']
+      end
+    else 
+      # is the build output directory outside the shoes3 dir?    
+      if APP['Bld_Pre']
+        APP['TGT_DIR'] = APP['Bld_Pre']+target_os
+      else
+        APP['TGT_DIR'] = target_os
+      end
+    end
+=begin
+    mkdir_p "#{TGT_DIR}"
+    BLD_ARGS = {}
+    # This allows short circuiting the need to load setup and env (and pkg-config overhead)
+    # Exprimental - no visible performance gain. see make/linux/minlin/env.rb
+    if File.exists? "#{TGT_DIR}/build.yaml"
+      $stderr.puts "loading building args"
+      thsh = YAML.load_file("#{TGT_DIR}/build.yaml")
+      thsh.each {|k,v| BLD_ARGS[k] = v} 
+      HAVE_BLD = true
+    else 
+      HAVE_BLD = false
+    end
+=end
+  end
+  
+  # Load <taget>-custom.yaml unless native 
+  def self.load_custom(target_os, native=false)
+    if native
+      APP['CC'] = RbConfig::CONFIG['CC']
+      APP['STRIP'] =RbConfig::CONFIG['STRIP']
+      APP['RANBLIB'] = RbConfig::CONFIG['RANLIB']
+      APP['ruby_pc'] = RbConfig::CONFIG['ruby_pc']
+      APP['arch'] = RbConfig::CONFIG['arch']
+      APP['RUBY_VERSION'] = RbConfig::CONFIG['ruby_version']
+      APP['TGT_ARCH'] = target_os.to_s
+      require File.expand_path("make/env/#{target_os}")
+    else
+      # nothing here YET - parse the custom.yaml and make/flags
+    end
+  end
+  
+  def self.env_create_and_save(build_os,target_os)
+    # get the base stuff
+    basic_env(target_os.to_s)
+    # do specific setups
+    case target_os
+    when :minlin, :minbsd, :minosx
+      #sh "echo 'TGT_ARCH=#{target_os}' >build_target"
+      load_custom(target_os, true)
+    else
+      sh "echo 'TGT_ARCH=#{target_os}' >build_target"  
+      #load_custom(target_os, false)    
+    end
+    # call Builder.static_setup -  
+    require File.expand_path("make/#{build_os}/#{target_os}/setup")
+    mkdir_p APP['TGT_DIR']
+    Make.static_setup(APP)
+    # Save APP hash to build_target.yaml
+    File.open("build_target.yaml", 'w') { |f| YAML.dump(APP, f) }
+  end
+  
+  def self.load_env(filename)
+    # Load yaml into APP and create those CONSTANTS that
+    # make us look like Makefiles. 
+    app = YAML.load_file(filename)
+    # Copy Make::APP to toplevel - better way? 
+    hsh = Object.const_set('APP', app)  
+    app.each do |k, v| 
+      hsh[k] = v
+    end
+    Object.const_set('NAME', app['APPNAME'].downcase.gsub(/\W+/, ''))
+    Object.const_set('TGT_DIR', app['TGT_DIR'])
+    Object.const_set('TGT_ARCH' ,app['TGT_ARCH'])
+    Object.const_set('DLEXT', app['DLEXT'])
+    Object.const_set('SOLOCS', app['SOLOCS'])
+    Object.const_set('SHOES_RUBY_ARCH', app['SHOES_RUBY_ARCH'])
+    Object.const_set('CC', app['CC'])
+    Object.const_set('LINUX_CFLAGS', app['LINUX_CFLAGS'])
+    Object.const_set('LINUX_LIBS', app['LINUX_LIBS'])
+    Object.const_set('LINUX_LDFLAGS', app['LINUX_LDFLAGS'])
+    Object.const_set('EXT_RUBY', app['EXT_RUBY'])
+    Object.const_set('CROSS', true)  # TODO - not needed in future. misnamed too!
+    # Should set zzsetup.done here? 
+  end
+end # Module
diff --git a/make/utils.rb b/make/utils.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..caa77f9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/make/utils.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Call this to switch RUBY_VERSION constant to what's inside the
+# rbconfig.rb give in the argument.
+def switch_ruby(rbpath)
+  cnt = 0
+  rbv = ""
+  IO.foreach(rbpath) do |ln|
+    cnt += 1
+    if ln[/(\(\d.\d.\d\))/]
+      rbv = "#{$1[1..-2]}"
+      break
+    end
+    if cnt > 15 
+      puts "Could not find version (d.d.d) in first 15 lines"
+      abort
+    end
+  end
+  Object.instance_eval{ remove_const :RUBY_VERSION }
+  Object.const_set("RUBY_VERSION", rbv)
+  puts "Using Ruby version  #{RUBY_VERSION}"
+end