diff --git a/variables/.gitignore b/variables/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0039f28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/variables/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# will have compiled files and executables
+debug/
+target/
+
+# Remove Cargo.lock from gitignore if creating an executable, leave it for libraries
+# More information here https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/guide/cargo-toml-vs-cargo-lock.html
+Cargo.lock
+
+# These are backup files generated by rustfmt
+**/*.rs.bk
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/variables/Cargo.toml b/variables/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d89f0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/variables/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+[package]
+name = "variables"
+version = "0.1.0"
+authors = ["Emily J. <me@emily.im>"]
+edition = "2018"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+[dependencies]
diff --git a/variables/src/main.rs b/variables/src/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7a11a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/variables/src/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fn main() {
+    println!("Hello, world!");
+}