diff --git a/DAMASK_env.bat b/DAMASK_env.bat
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..36be7f9e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DAMASK_env.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+:: sets up an environment for DAMASK on windows
+:: usage:  ????
+@echo off
+chcp 1252
+Title Düsseldorf Advanced Materials Simulation Kit - DAMASK, MPIE Düsseldorf
+
+SET DAMASK_ROOT=%HOME%\DAMASK                                                                     
+SET DAMASK_BIN=%DAMASK_ROOT%\bin
+SET PYTHONPATH=%PYTHONPATH%:%DAMASK_ROOT%\lib
+SET DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=2
+
+
+
+echo.
+echo Düsseldorf Advanced Materials Simulation Kit - DAMASK
+echo Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, Düsseldorf
+echo http://damask.mpie.de
+echo.
+echo Preparing environment ...
+echo DAMASK_ROOT=%DAMASK_ROOT%
+echo DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=%DAMASK_NUM_THREADS%
+
+
diff --git a/DAMASK_env.csh b/DAMASK_env.csh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9784a9600
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DAMASK_env.csh
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# sets up an environment for DAMASK on csh
+# usage:  source damask_env.sh
+setenv DAMASK_ROOT $HOME/DAMASK                                                                     
+setenv DAMASK_BIN $DAMASK_ROOT/bin
+setenv PYTHONPATH ${PYTHONPATH}:${DAMASK_ROOT}/lib
+setenv DAMASK_NUM_THREADS 2
+ulimit -s unlimited
+ulimit -c 0
+ulimit -v unlimited
+ulimit -m unlimited
+
+echo
+echo Düsseldorf Advanced Materials Simulation Kit - DAMASK
+echo Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, Düsseldorf
+echo http://damask.mpie.de
+echo
+echo Preparing environment ...
+echo "DAMASK_ROOT=$DAMASK_ROOT"
+echo "DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=$DAMASK_NUM_THREADS"
+
diff --git a/DAMASK_env.sh b/DAMASK_env.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e1718b851
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DAMASK_env.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# sets up an environment for DAMASK on bash
+# usage:  source damask_env.sh
+export DAMASK_ROOT=$HOME/DAMASK                                                                     
+export DAMASK_BIN=$DAMASK_ROOT/bin
+export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:${DAMASK_ROOT}/lib
+export DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=2
+ulimit -s unlimited
+ulimit -c 0
+ulimit -v unlimited
+ulimit -m unlimited
+
+# dissable output in case of scp
+[ -z "$PS1" ] && return
+echo
+echo Düsseldorf Advanced Materials Simulation Kit - DAMASK
+echo Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, Düsseldorf
+echo http://damask.mpie.de
+echo
+echo Preparing environment ...
+echo "DAMASK_ROOT=$DAMASK_ROOT"
+echo "DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=$DAMASK_NUM_THREADS"
+
+