diff --git a/lib/args_extract.sh b/lib/args_extract.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..f02db519
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/args_extract.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#  vim:ts=4:sts=4:sw=4:et
+#
+#  Author: Hari Sekhon
+#  Date: 2019-12-20 16:01:28 +0000 (Fri, 20 Dec 2019)
+#
+#  https://github.com/harisekhon/bash-tools
+#
+#  License: see accompanying Hari Sekhon LICENSE file
+#
+#  If you're using my code you're welcome to connect with me on LinkedIn and optionally send me feedback
+#
+#  https://www.linkedin.com/in/harisekhon
+#
+
+# helper script for calling from vim function to run programs with args extraction
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+sed -n '/^#[[:space:]]*args:/ s/^#[[:space:]]*args:[[:space:]]// p' "$@"