diff --git a/app-proto/run-examples.sh b/app-proto/run-examples.sh
index 0af2e35..861addf 100644
--- a/app-proto/run-examples.sh
+++ b/app-proto/run-examples.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,11 @@
 # find the manifest file for the application prototype
 MANIFEST="$(dirname -- $0)/Cargo.toml"
 
-cargo run --manifest-path $MANIFEST --example irisawa-hexlet; echo
-cargo run --manifest-path $MANIFEST --example three-spheres; echo
-cargo run --manifest-path $MANIFEST --example point-on-sphere; echo
-cargo run --manifest-path $MANIFEST --example kaleidocycle
\ No newline at end of file
+# set up the command that runs each example
+RUN_EXAMPLE="cargo run --manifest-path $MANIFEST --example"
+
+# run the examples
+$RUN_EXAMPLE irisawa-hexlet; echo
+$RUN_EXAMPLE three-spheres; echo
+$RUN_EXAMPLE point-on-sphere; echo
+$RUN_EXAMPLE kaleidocycle
\ No newline at end of file