diff --git a/plugins/kubectl/driver/kubectl.driver.zsh b/plugins/kubectl/driver/kubectl.driver.zsh
index b78523f..bad83d3 100644
--- a/plugins/kubectl/driver/kubectl.driver.zsh
+++ b/plugins/kubectl/driver/kubectl.driver.zsh
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ _SCWRYPTS_KUBECTL_DRIVER() {
 
 			[ $NAMESPACE ] && CLI_ARGS+=(--namespace $NAMESPACE)
 			[[ $VERBOSE -eq 1 ]] && {
-				INFO "
+				REMINDER "
 					context '$CONTEXT'
 					namespace '$NAMESPACE'
 					environment '$SCWRYPTS_ENV'
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ _SCWRYPTS_KUBECTL_DRIVER() {
 				STATUS "running $CLI ${CLI_ARGS[@]} ${USER_ARGS[@]}"
 			} || {
 				[[ $(_SCWRYPTS_KUBECTL_SETTINGS get context) =~ ^show$ ]] && {
-					INFO "$SCWRYPTS_ENV.$SUBSESSION : $CLI ${CLI_ARGS[@]} ${USER_ARGS[@]}"
+					REMINDER "$SCWRYPTS_ENV.$SUBSESSION : $CLI ${CLI_ARGS[@]} ${USER_ARGS[@]}"
 				}
 			}
 			$CLI ${CLI_ARGS[@]} ${USER_ARGS[@]}
diff --git a/plugins/kubectl/lib/kubectl.module.zsh b/plugins/kubectl/lib/kubectl.module.zsh
index 3456452..b47d2ae 100644
--- a/plugins/kubectl/lib/kubectl.module.zsh
+++ b/plugins/kubectl/lib/kubectl.module.zsh
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ KUBECTL__SERVE() {
 	SERVICE_PASSWORD="$(KUBECTL__GET_SERVICE_PASSWORD)"
 	KUBECTL__SERVICE_PARSE
 
-	INFO "attempting to serve ${NAMESPACE}/${SERVICE_NAME}:${SERVICE_PORT}"
-	[ $SERVICE_PASSWORD ] && INFO "password : $SERVICE_PASSWORD"
+	REMINDER "attempting to serve ${NAMESPACE}/${SERVICE_NAME}:${SERVICE_PORT}"
+	[ $SERVICE_PASSWORD ] && REMINDER "password : $SERVICE_PASSWORD"
 
 	KUBECTL port-forward service/$SERVICE_NAME $SERVICE_PORT
 }
diff --git a/scwrypts b/scwrypts
index 0fdf4a9..a716af4 100755
--- a/scwrypts
+++ b/scwrypts
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
-
 export EXECUTION_DIR=$(pwd)
 source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
-
 #####################################################################
 () {
 	cd "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts"
 	GIT_SCWRYPTS() { git -C "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts" $@; }
+
+	local INSTALLATION_TYPE
+	[ ! -d "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/.git" ] && [ ! -f "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/.git" ] \
+		&& INSTALLATION_TYPE=$(cat "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/MANAGED_BY" 2>/dev/null) \
+		|| INSTALLATION_TYPE=manual \
+		;
+
 	local ERRORS=0
 	local USAGE='
 		usage: scwrypts [...options...] [...patterns...] -- [...script options...]
@@ -22,10 +27,10 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 		    -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 scwrypts log level to one of the following:
+		    -v, --log-level [0-4]  set incremental scwrypts log level to one of the following:
 			                         0 : only command output and critical failures; skips logfile
-			                         1 : add success / failure messages
-									 2 : include status update messages
+			                         1 : include success / failure messages
+			                         2 : include status update messages
 									 3 : (default) include warning messages
 			                         4 : include debug messages
 
@@ -81,30 +86,51 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 				;;
 
 			--version )
-				echo scwrypts $(GIT_SCWRYPTS describe --tags)
+				case $INSTALLATION_TYPE in
+					manual ) echo "scwrypts $(GIT_SCWRYPTS describe --tags) (via GIT)" ;;
+					     * ) echo scwrypts $(cat "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts/VERSION")   ;;
+				esac
 				return 0
 				;;
 
 			--update )
-				GIT_SCWRYPTS fetch --quiet origin main
-				GIT_SCWRYPTS fetch --quiet origin main --tags
-				local SYNC_STATUS=$?
-
-				GIT_SCWRYPTS diff --exit-code origin/main -- . >/dev/null 2>&1
-				local DIFF_STATUS=$?
-
-				[[ $SYNC_STATUS -eq 0 ]] && [[ $DIFF_STATUS -eq 0 ]] && {
-					SUCCESS 'already up-to-date with origin/main'
-				} || {
-					GIT_SCWRYPTS rebase --autostash origin/main \
-						&& SUCCESS 'up-to-date with origin/main' \
-						&& GIT_SCWRYPTS log -n1 \
-						|| {
-							GIT_SCWRYPTS rebase --abort
-							ERROR 'unable to update scwrypts; please try manual upgrade'
-							REMINDER "installation in '$(pwd)'"
+				case $INSTALLATION_TYPE in
+					aur )
+						SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL=3 REMINDER " 
+							This installation is built from the AUR. Update through 'makepkg' or use
+							your preferred AUR package management tool (e.g. 'yay -Syu scwrypts')
+							 "
+						;;
+
+					manual )
+						GIT_SCWRYPTS fetch --quiet origin main
+						GIT_SCWRYPTS fetch --quiet origin main --tags
+						local SYNC_STATUS=$?
+
+						GIT_SCWRYPTS diff --exit-code origin/main -- . >/dev/null 2>&1
+						local DIFF_STATUS=$?
+
+						[[ $SYNC_STATUS -eq 0 ]] && [[ $DIFF_STATUS -eq 0 ]] && {
+							SUCCESS 'already up-to-date with origin/main'
+						} || {
+							GIT_SCWRYPTS rebase --autostash origin/main \
+								&& SUCCESS 'up-to-date with origin/main' \
+								&& GIT_SCWRYPTS log -n1 \
+								|| {
+									GIT_SCWRYPTS rebase --abort
+									ERROR 'unable to update scwrypts; please try manual upgrade'
+									REMINDER "installation in '$SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts'"
+								}
 						}
-				}
+						;;
+
+					* )
+						SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL=3 REMINDER " 
+							This is a managed installation of scwrypts. Please update through your
+							system package manager.
+							 "
+						;;
+				esac
 				return 0
 				;;
 
@@ -292,30 +318,32 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 
 	[ ! $SUBSCWRYPT ] && export SUBSCWRYPT=0
 
-	[[ $SUBSCWRYPT -eq 0 ]] && [[ $ENV_NAME =~ prod ]] && [[ $SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL -gt 0 ]] && {
-		STATUS "on '$ENV_NAME'; checking diff against origin/main"
+	[[ $INSTALLATION_TYPE =~ ^manual$ ]] && {
+		[[ $SUBSCWRYPT -eq 0 ]] && [[ $ENV_NAME =~ prod ]] && [[ $SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL -gt 0 ]] && {
+			STATUS "on '$ENV_NAME'; checking diff against origin/main"
 
-		local WARNING_MESSAGE
+			local WARNING_MESSAGE
 
-		[ ! $WARNING_MESSAGE ] && {
-			GIT_SCWRYPTS fetch --quiet origin main \
-				|| WARNING_MESSAGE='I am unable to verify your scwrypts version'
-		}
+			[ ! $WARNING_MESSAGE ] && {
+				GIT_SCWRYPTS fetch --quiet origin main \
+					|| WARNING_MESSAGE='I am unable to verify your scwrypts version'
+			}
 
-		[ ! $WARNING_MESSAGE ] && {
-			GIT_SCWRYPTS diff --exit-code origin/main -- . >/dev/null 2>&1 \
-				|| WARNING_MESSAGE='your scwrypts is currently out-of-date'
-		}
+			[ ! $WARNING_MESSAGE ] && {
+				GIT_SCWRYPTS diff --exit-code origin/main -- . >/dev/null 2>&1 \
+					|| WARNING_MESSAGE='your scwrypts is currently out-of-date'
+			}
 
-		[ $WARNING_MESSAGE ] && {
-			[[ $SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL -lt 3 ]] && {
-				REMINDER "you are running in ${__BRIGHT_RED}production${__BRIGHT_MAGENTA} and $WARNING_MESSAGE"
-			} || {
-				GIT_SCWRYPTS diff --exit-code origin/main -- . >&2
-				WARNING "you are trying to run in ${__BRIGHT_RED}production${__YELLOW} but $WARNING_MESSAGE (relevant diffs and errors above)"
-				yN 'continue?' || {
-					REMINDER "you can use 'scwrypts --update' to quickly update scwrypts to latest"
-					ABORT
+			[ $WARNING_MESSAGE ] && {
+				[[ $SCWRYPTS_LOG_LEVEL -lt 3 ]] && {
+					REMINDER "you are running in ${__BRIGHT_RED}production${__BRIGHT_MAGENTA} and $WARNING_MESSAGE"
+				} || {
+					GIT_SCWRYPTS diff --exit-code origin/main -- . >&2
+					WARNING "you are trying to run in ${__BRIGHT_RED}production${__YELLOW} but $WARNING_MESSAGE (relevant diffs and errors above)"
+					yN 'continue?' || {
+						REMINDER "you can use 'scwrypts --update' to quickly update scwrypts to latest"
+						ABORT
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -368,6 +396,7 @@ source "$(dirname $(readlink -f "$0"))/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || exit 42
 	#####################################################################
 	### run the scwrypt #################################################
 	#####################################################################
+
 	set -o pipefail
 	{
 		[ $HEADER ] && echo $HEADER
diff --git a/scwrypts.plugin.zsh b/scwrypts.plugin.zsh
index 0480f66..3f5c573 100644
--- a/scwrypts.plugin.zsh
+++ b/scwrypts.plugin.zsh
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
+#####################################################################
+
+command -v scwrypts &>/dev/null || {
+	echo 'scwrypts is required in your PATH in order to use the zsh plugins; skipping' >&2
+	return 0
+}
+
 NO_EXPORT_CONFIG=1 source "${0:a:h}/zsh/lib/import.driver.zsh" || return 42
 
 #####################################################################
+
 SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN() {
-	local SCWRYPT_SELECTION=$(SCWRYPTS__GET_AVAILABLE_SCWRYPTS | FZF 'select a script' --header-lines 1)
+	local SCWRYPT_SELECTION=$(scwrypts --list | FZF 'select a script' --header-lines 1)
 	local NAME
 	local TYPE
 	local GROUP
@@ -22,8 +30,10 @@ zle -N scwrypts SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN
 bindkey $SCWRYPTS_SHORTCUT scwrypts
 
 #####################################################################
+
 SCWRYPTS__ZSH_BUILDER_PLUGIN() {
-	local SCWRYPT_SELECTION=$(SCWRYPTS__GET_AVAILABLE_SCWRYPTS | FZF 'select a script' --header-lines 1)
+	local SCWRYPT_SELECTION=$(scwrypts --list  | FZF 'select a script' --header-lines 1)
+	echo $SCWRYPT_SELECTION >&2
 	local NAME
 	local TYPE
 	local GROUP
@@ -32,7 +42,7 @@ SCWRYPTS__ZSH_BUILDER_PLUGIN() {
 
 	SCWRYPTS__SEPARATE_SCWRYPT_SELECTION $SCWRYPT_SELECTION
 
-	scwrypts --name $NAME --group $GROUP --type $TYPE -- --help >&2 || {
+	scwrypts -n --name $NAME --group $GROUP --type $TYPE -- --help >&2 || {
 		zle accept-line
 		return 0
 	}
@@ -49,6 +59,7 @@ zle -N scwrypts-builder SCWRYPTS__ZSH_BUILDER_PLUGIN
 bindkey $SCWRYPTS_BUILDER_SHORTCUT scwrypts-builder
 
 #####################################################################
+
 SCWRYPTS__ZSH_PLUGIN_ENV() {
 	local RESET='reset'
 	local SELECTED=$(\
diff --git a/zsh/lib/config.zsh b/zsh/lib/config.zsh
index d236a6c..108460f 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/config.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/config.zsh
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 [ ! $SCWRYPTS_ROOT ] && [ -d /usr/share/scwrypts ] \
 	&& SCWRYPTS_ROOT=/usr/share/scwrypts
 
+export SCWRYPTS_ROOT__scwrypts="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT"
+
 #####################################################################
 
 DEFAULT_CONFIG="$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/zsh/lib/config.user.zsh"
@@ -35,8 +37,7 @@ export \
 	SCWRYPTS_OUTPUT_PATH \
 	;
 
-SCWRYPTS_GROUPS+=(scwrypts) # 'scwrypts' group is required!
-SCWRYPTS_GROUPS=($(echo $SCWRYPTS_GROUPS | sed 's/\s\+/\n/g' | sort -u))
+SCWRYPTS_GROUPS=(scwrypts $(echo $SCWRYPTS_GROUPS | sed 's/\s\+/\n/g' | sort -u))
 
 source "$SCWRYPTS_ROOT/zsh/lib/config.group.zsh" \
 	|| FAIL 69 'failed to set up scwrypts group; aborting'
diff --git a/zsh/lib/scwrypts/run.module.zsh b/zsh/lib/scwrypts/run.module.zsh
index eb2b44f..2fc96b1 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/scwrypts/run.module.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/scwrypts/run.module.zsh
@@ -119,6 +119,27 @@ SCWRYPTS__GET_RUNSTRING__zsh() {
 		|| SCWRYPT_FILENAME="$GROUP_PATH/$SCWRYPT_TYPE/$SCWRYPT_NAME" \
 		;
 
+	SCWRYPTS__GET_RUNSTRING__zsh__generic "$SCWRYPT_FILENAME"
+	return 0
+}
+
+SCWRYPTS__GET_RUNSTRING__zsh__generic() {
+	# boilerplate to allow
+	#    - multiflag splitting (e.g. -abc = -a -b -c)
+	#    - help flag injection (e.g. -h | --help)
+	#    - default USAGE definition (allows USAGE__options style usage definition)
+	#    - required MAIN() function wrapping
+	#
+	# this is available automatically in SCWRYPTS_GROUP declaration contexts
+	# (e.g. my-group.scwrypts.zsh)
+	local ZSH_FILENAME="$1"
+	[ $ZSH_FILENAME ] || {
+		ERROR '
+			to use SCWRYPTS__GET_RUNSTRING__zsh__generic, you must provide a
+			ZSH_FILENAME (arg $1) where the MAIN function is defined
+			'
+		return 1
+	}
 	printf "
 		source '$SCWRYPT_FILENAME'
 		CHECK_ENVIRONMENT
@@ -154,22 +175,6 @@ SCWRYPTS__GET_RUNSTRING__zsh() {
 			done
 			MAIN \${MAIN_ARGS[@]}
 		} "
-
-
-	return 0
-}
-
-SCWRYPTS__GET_RUNSTRING__zsh_v3() {
-	WARNING "scwrypts zsh/v3 runstrings are now deprecated; please update to scwrypts v4 format"
-
-	__CHECK_DEPENDENCY zsh || return 1
-
-	[ $(eval echo '$SCWRYPTS_TYPE__'$SCWRYPT_GROUP) ] \
-		&& echo "source $GROUP_PATH/$SCWRYPT_NAME" \
-		|| echo "source $GROUP_PATH/$SCWRYPT_TYPE/$SCWRYPT_NAME" \
-		;
-
-	return 0
 }
 
 SCWRYPTS__GET_RUNSTRING__py() {
diff --git a/zsh/lib/utils/io.fzf.zsh b/zsh/lib/utils/io.fzf.zsh
index 672663b..8427557 100644
--- a/zsh/lib/utils/io.fzf.zsh
+++ b/zsh/lib/utils/io.fzf.zsh
@@ -40,18 +40,3 @@ FZF_USER_INPUT() { # allow user to type custom answers; reconfirm if ambiguous w
 	echo $FZF_OUTPUT
 	[ $FZF_OUTPUT ]
 }
-
-#####################################################################
-### vvv DEPRECATED vvv ##############################################
-#####################################################################
-
-FZF_HEAD() {  # prefer user input over selected
-	WARNING 'FZF_HEAD is deprecated and will be unavailable in v4.2; please switch to FZF_USER_INPUT (drop-in fix!)'
-	FZF $@ --print-query | sed '/^$/d' | head -n1;
-}
-FZF_TAIL() {  # prefer selected over user input
-	WARNING 'FZF_TAIL is deprecated and will be unavailable in v4.2; please switch to FZF_USER_INPUT (drop-in fix!)'
-	FZF $@ --print-query | sed '/^$/d' | tail -n1;
-}
-
-#####################################################################