An embodiment includes storing original environment data in a memory of a computing device, then sourcing a script in a child command shell that includes an environment variable set-up command for setting an environmental characteristic of a new computing environment associated with the child command shell. The new environment data is also stored in the memory of the computing device that defines the new computing environment associated with the child command shell. The original computing environment is then restored by terminating the child command shell and returning to the target command shell. The original environment data is compared to the new environment data to determine the differences between the two environments, and the original computing environment is then modified to match the new computing environment created by the sourced script.