diff --git a/examples/variables/.gitignore b/examples/variables/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76ec9f59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/variables/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+cli
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/variables/README.md b/examples/variables/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..73f6ec17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/variables/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+# Variables Example
+
+Demonstrates how to define variables from the bashly.yml configuration.
+
+This example was generated with:
+
+```bash
+$ bashly init
+# ... now edit src/bashly.yml to match the example ...
+# ... now edit src/download_command.sh to match the example ...
+# ... now edit src/compress_command.sh to match the example ...
+$ bashly generate
+```
+
+<!-- include: src/download_command.sh src/compress_command.sh -->
+
+-----
+
+## `bashly.yml`
+
+````yaml
+name: cli
+help: Sample application demonstrating the use of variables
+version: 0.1.0
+
+# The `build_number` variable will be available globally
+variables:
+- name: build_number
+  value: 1337
+
+commands:
+- name: download
+  alias: d
+  help: Download a profile
+
+  args:
+  - name: profile
+    required: true
+    help: Profile to download information from
+
+  # These variables will be declared when the `download` command is executed.
+  # Note the use of an array value.
+  variables:
+  - name: output_folder
+    value: output
+  - name: download_sources
+    value:
+    - youtube
+    - instagram
+
+- name: compress
+  alias: c
+  help: Compress data
+
+  # These variables will be declared when the `compress` command is executed.
+  # Note the use of an associative array value.
+  variables:
+  - name: zip_options
+    value:
+      pattern: "*.json"
+      compression_level: fast
+````
+
+## `src/download_command.sh`
+
+````bash
+echo "build_number: $build_number"
+echo "output_folder: $output_folder"
+echo "download_sources:"
+for value in "${download_sources[@]}"; do
+  echo "- $value"
+done
+````
+
+## `src/compress_command.sh`
+
+````bash
+echo "build_number: $build_number"
+echo "zip_options:"
+for key in "${!zip_options[@]}"; do
+  echo "  $key: ${zip_options[$key]}"
+done
+
+````
+
+
+## Output
+
+### `$ ./cli download something`
+
+````shell
+build_number: 1337
+output_folder: output
+download_sources:
+- youtube
+- instagram
+
+
+````
+
+### `$ ./cli compress`
+
+````shell
+build_number: 1337
+zip_options:
+  compression_level: fast
+  pattern: *.json
+
+
+````
+
+
+
diff --git a/examples/variables/src/bashly.yml b/examples/variables/src/bashly.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5cb332a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/variables/src/bashly.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+name: cli
+help: Sample application demonstrating the use of variables
+version: 0.1.0
+
+# The `build_number` variable will be available globally
+variables:
+- name: build_number
+  value: 1337
+
+commands:
+- name: download
+  alias: d
+  help: Download a profile
+
+  args:
+  - name: profile
+    required: true
+    help: Profile to download information from
+
+  # These variables will be declared when the `download` command is executed.
+  # Note the use of an array value.
+  variables:
+  - name: output_folder
+    value: output
+  - name: download_sources
+    value:
+    - youtube
+    - instagram
+
+- name: compress
+  alias: c
+  help: Compress data
+
+  # These variables will be declared when the `compress` command is executed.
+  # Note the use of an associative array value.
+  variables:
+  - name: zip_options
+    value:
+      pattern: "*.json"
+      compression_level: fast
diff --git a/examples/variables/src/compress_command.sh b/examples/variables/src/compress_command.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..14cc9240
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/variables/src/compress_command.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+echo "build_number: $build_number"
+echo "zip_options:"
+for key in "${!zip_options[@]}"; do
+  echo "  $key: ${zip_options[$key]}"
+done
diff --git a/examples/variables/src/download_command.sh b/examples/variables/src/download_command.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c2aa5cc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/variables/src/download_command.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+echo "build_number: $build_number"
+echo "output_folder: $output_folder"
+echo "download_sources:"
+for value in "${download_sources[@]}"; do
+  echo "- $value"
+done
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/variables/test.sh b/examples/variables/test.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f8577023
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/variables/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -x
+
+bashly generate
+
+### Try Me ###
+
+./cli download something
+./cli compress
diff --git a/lib/bashly/config_validator.rb b/lib/bashly/config_validator.rb
index f08bab5e..5f81f824 100644
--- a/lib/bashly/config_validator.rb
+++ b/lib/bashly/config_validator.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def assert_version(key, value)
     def assert_catch_all(key, value)
       return unless value
 
-      assert [TrueClass, String, Hash].include?(value.class),
+      assert [TrueClass, FalseClass, String, Hash].include?(value.class),
         "#{key} must be a boolean, a string or a hash"
 
       assert_catch_all_hash key, value if value.is_a? Hash
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def assert_dependency(key, value)
     def assert_extensible(key, value)
       return unless value
 
-      assert [TrueClass, String].include?(value.class),
+      assert [TrueClass, FalseClass, String].include?(value.class),
         "#{key} must be a boolean or a string"
     end
 
@@ -173,6 +173,11 @@ def assert_env_var(key, value)
       refute value['required'] && value['default'], "#{key} cannot have both nub`required` and nub`default`"
     end
 
+    def assert_var(key, value)
+      assert_hash key, value, keys: %i[name value]
+      assert_string "#{key}.name", value['name']
+    end
+
     def assert_command(key, value)
       assert_hash key, value, keys: Script::Command.option_keys
 
@@ -207,6 +212,7 @@ def assert_command(key, value)
       assert_array "#{key}.completions", value['completions'], of: :string
       assert_array "#{key}.filters", value['filters'], of: :string
       assert_array "#{key}.environment_variables", value['environment_variables'], of: :env_var
+      assert_array "#{key}.variables", value['variables'], of: :var
 
       assert_uniq "#{key}.commands", value['commands'], %w[name alias]
       assert_uniq "#{key}.flags", value['flags'], 'long'
diff --git a/lib/bashly/docs/command.yml b/lib/bashly/docs/command.yml
index 42909a95..c4cfa400 100644
--- a/lib/bashly/docs/command.yml
+++ b/lib/bashly/docs/command.yml
@@ -309,6 +309,28 @@ command.private:
       help: Send bash completions
       private: true
 
+command.variables:
+  help: Define a list of global bash variables.
+  url: https://bashly.dannyb.co/configuration/command/#variables
+  example: |-
+    variables:
+    # Simple value
+    - name: output_folder
+      value: output
+
+    # Array
+    - name: download_sources
+      value:
+      - youtube
+      - instagram
+
+    # Associative array
+    - name: zip_options
+      value:
+        pattern: "*.json"
+        compression_level: fast
+
+
 command.version:
   help: Specify the version to show when running with `--version`.
   url: https://bashly.dannyb.co/configuration/command/#version
diff --git a/lib/bashly/script/command.rb b/lib/bashly/script/command.rb
index 3e8c20e3..0e662f0a 100644
--- a/lib/bashly/script/command.rb
+++ b/lib/bashly/script/command.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def option_keys
             default dependencies environment_variables examples
             extensible expose filename filters flags
             footer function group help name
-            private version
+            private variables version
           ]
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/bashly/views/command/function.gtx b/lib/bashly/views/command/function.gtx
index 250867ac..1e91fab0 100644
--- a/lib/bashly/views/command/function.gtx
+++ b/lib/bashly/views/command/function.gtx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 = view_marker
 
 > {{ function_name }}_command() {
+= render(:variables).indent(2) if variables&.any?
 = load_user_file(filename).indent 2
 > }
 >
diff --git a/lib/bashly/views/command/run.gtx b/lib/bashly/views/command/run.gtx
index 8dda6762..e3af52c4 100644
--- a/lib/bashly/views/command/run.gtx
+++ b/lib/bashly/views/command/run.gtx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 if has_unique_args_or_flags?
   >   declare -A unique_lookup=()
 end
+= render(:variables).indent(2) if variables&.any?
 >   normalize_input "$@"
 >   parse_requirements "${input[@]}"
 if user_file_exist?('before')
diff --git a/lib/bashly/views/command/variables.gtx b/lib/bashly/views/command/variables.gtx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a4676ca3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/bashly/views/command/variables.gtx
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+= view_marker
+
+variables.each do |var|
+  case var['value']
+  when Array
+    if var['value'].empty?
+    > declare -a {{ var['name'] }}=()
+    else
+    > declare -a {{ var['name'] }}=(
+      var['value'].each do |v|
+    >   "{{ v }}"
+      end
+    > )
+    end
+  when Hash
+    if var['value'].empty?
+    > declare -A {{ var['name'] }}=()
+    else
+    > declare -A {{ var['name'] }}=(
+      var['value'].each do |k, v|
+    >   ["{{ k }}"]="{{ v }}"
+      end
+    > )
+    end
+  when String, NilClass
+    > {{ var['name'] }}="{{ var['value'] }}"
+  else
+    > {{ var['name'] }}={{ var['value'] }}
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/approvals/cli/doc/full b/spec/approvals/cli/doc/full
index 67f56ae8..43c7ae86 100644
--- a/spec/approvals/cli/doc/full
+++ b/spec/approvals/cli/doc/full
@@ -467,6 +467,29 @@ command.private
 
   See https://bashly.dannyb.co/configuration/command/#private
 
+command.variables
+
+  Define a list of global bash variables.
+
+    variables:
+    # Simple value
+    - name: output_folder
+      value: output
+    
+    # Array
+    - name: download_sources
+      value:
+      - youtube
+      - instagram
+    
+    # Associative array
+    - name: zip_options
+      value:
+        pattern: "*.json"
+        compression_level: fast
+
+  See https://bashly.dannyb.co/configuration/command/#variables
+
 command.version
 
   Specify the version to show when running with --version.
diff --git a/spec/approvals/cli/doc/index b/spec/approvals/cli/doc/index
index 00791e68..3152055e 100644
--- a/spec/approvals/cli/doc/index
+++ b/spec/approvals/cli/doc/index
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ command.group
 command.help
 command.name
 command.private
+command.variables
 command.version
 environment_variable
 environment_variable.default
diff --git a/spec/approvals/examples/variables b/spec/approvals/examples/variables
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..080791a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/approvals/examples/variables
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
++ bashly generate
+creating user files in src
+skipped src/download_command.sh (exists)
+skipped src/compress_command.sh (exists)
+created ./cli
+run ./cli --help to test your bash script
++ ./cli download something
+build_number: 1337
+output_folder: output
+download_sources:
+- youtube
+- instagram
++ ./cli compress
+build_number: 1337
+zip_options:
+  compression_level: fast
+  pattern: *.json