diff --git a/bin/run_local.py b/bin/run_local.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/run_local.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# allows bin/* to work without installation
+
+# this should be turned off when the programs are installed
+
+import sys,os
+sys.path.insert(0,os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0]),".."))
+
+