function init_vars {
    while [[ -n "$1" ]]; do
      case "$1" in

        --debug)
          shift
          DEBUG=true
          ;;

        --)
          shift
          break
          ;;
      esac
      shift
    done

    # determine whether we run with sudo, or not
    if [ "$EUID" != 0 ]; then
        ROOT_PERMISSIONS=false
        RUN_USER="$USER"
    else
        ROOT_PERMISSIONS=true
        if [ -z "$SUDO_USER" ]; then
            if [ ! -z "$USER" ]; then
                RUN_USER="$USER"
            else
                RUN_USER="root"
            fi
        else
            RUN_USER="$SUDO_USER"
        fi
    fi

    RUN_USER_GROUP=$(id -ng ${INAUGURATE_USER})

    RUN_USER_HOME="`eval echo ~$RUN_USER`"
    FRECKLES_USER_DIR="$RUN_USER_HOME/.local/share/freckles"
    LOCAL_BIN_PATH="$RUN_USER_HOME/.local/bin"
}