diff --git a/abc_with_bb_support/Makefile b/abc_with_bb_support/Makefile
index 86e1de407..835c3f245 100644
--- a/abc_with_bb_support/Makefile
+++ b/abc_with_bb_support/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ MODULES := src/base/abc src/base/abci src/base/cmd \
 
 default: $(PROG)
 
+$(info ###################################)
+$(info gcc-4.9 is necessary to compile abc)
+$(info ###################################)
 #OPTFLAGS  := -DNDEBUG -O3
 OPTFLAGS  := -g -O
 
diff --git a/vpr7_x2p/vpr/go.sh b/vpr7_x2p/vpr/go.sh
index 817e20071..8675efd4a 100755
--- a/vpr7_x2p/vpr/go.sh
+++ b/vpr7_x2p/vpr/go.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+echo "#################################################"
+echo "The current shell environment is the following:"
+echo $0
+echo "#################################################"
+
 # Example of how to run vprset circuit_name = pip_add
 #set circuit_name = pip_add
 set circuit_name = sync_4bits_add