source general_utils only once

general_utils

@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 
 source ./log_helpers
 
+if [ "${general_utils_sourced:-1}" = "1" ]; then    # include only once
+    readonly general_utils_sourced=${BASH_SOURCE[0]}
+
     exec_process_substitution () {
         local func="${FUNCNAME[0]}"
         log_debug "$func:${LINENO} exec-ing [$*]"
@@ -47,3 +50,14 @@ error () {
         echo "$@" 1>&2
         usage_and_exit 1
     }
+
+    alert () {
+        # usage: alert <$?> <object>
+        if [ "$1" ne 0 ]; then
+            echo "WARNING: $2 did not complete successfully." >&2
+            exit 1
+        else
+            echo "INFO: $2 completed successfully" >&2
+        fi
+    }
+fi