diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c16e5b6..e482cdf 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
+*~
 *.pyc
 rattail_fabric.egg-info/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5893279
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+
+# rattail-fabric
+
+Rattail is a retail software framework, released under the GNU General Public
+License.
+
+This package contains various utility functions for use with
+[Fabric](http://www.fabfile.org/).
+
+Please see Rattail's [home page](https://rattailproject.org/) for more
+information.
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
deleted file mode 100644
index 6622b69..0000000
--- a/README.rst
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-
-rattail-fabric
-==============
-
-Rattail is a retail software framework, released under the GNU General Public
-License.
-
-This package contains various utility functions for use with `Fabric`_.
-
-.. _`Fabric`: http://www.fabfile.org/
-
-Please see Rattail's `home page`_ for more information.
-
-.. _`home page`: https://rattailproject.org/
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/apache.py b/rattail_fabric/apache.py
index b9bf70a..8061271 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/apache.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/apache.py
@@ -51,6 +51,17 @@ def get_version():
             return float(match.group(1))
 
 
+def get_php_version():
+    """
+    Fetch the version of PHP running on the target system
+    """
+    result = sudo('php --version')
+    if result.succeeded:
+        match = re.match(r'^PHP (\d+\.\d+)\.\d+-', result)
+        if match:
+            return float(match.group(1))
+
+
 def install_wsgi(python_home=None, python3=False):
     """
     Install the mod_wsgi Apache module, with optional ``WSGIPythonHome`` value.
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/backup.py b/rattail_fabric/backup.py
index c73bf05..07e6aec 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/backup.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/backup.py
@@ -37,6 +37,15 @@ from rattail_fabric import make_deploy, mkdir, python, UNSPECIFIED
 deploy_generic = make_deploy(__file__)
 
 
+def deploy_rattail_backup_script(**context):
+    """
+    Deploy the generic `rattail-backup` script
+    """
+    context.setdefault('envname', 'backup')
+    deploy_generic('backup/rattail-backup.mako', '/usr/local/bin/rattail-backup',
+                   mode='0700', context=context)
+
+
 def deploy_backup_everything(**context):
     """
     Deploy the generic `backup-everything` script
@@ -48,28 +57,35 @@ def deploy_backup_everything(**context):
 
 
 def deploy_backup_app(deploy, envname, mkvirtualenv=True, user='rattail',
+                      python_exe='/usr/bin/python3',
+                      rattail_backup_script=None,
                       config=None, everything=None, crontab=None, runat=UNSPECIFIED):
     """
     Make an app which can run backups for the server.
     """
     if not config:
-        path = '{}/rattail.conf'.format(envname)
+        path = '{}/rattail.conf.mako'.format(envname)
         if deploy.local_exists(path):
             config = path
         else:
-            raise ValueError("Must provide config path for backup app")
+            path = '{}/rattail.conf'.format(envname)
+            if deploy.local_exists(path):
+                config = path
+            else:
+                raise ValueError("Must provide config path for backup app")
 
     if runat is UNSPECIFIED:
         runat = datetime.time(0) # defaults to midnight
 
     # virtualenv
-    if mkvirtualenv:
-        python.mkvirtualenv(envname, python='/usr/bin/python3', upgrade_setuptools=False)
     envpath = '/srv/envs/{}'.format(envname)
+    if mkvirtualenv and not exists(envpath):
+        python.mkvirtualenv(envname, python=python_exe, upgrade_setuptools=False,
+                            runas_user=user)
     sudo('chown -R {}: {}'.format(user, envpath))
     with cd(envpath):
         mkdir('src', owner=user)
-        sudo('bin/pip install --upgrade pip', user=user)
+        sudo('bin/pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel', user=user)
 
         # rattail
         if not exists('src/rattail'):
@@ -81,10 +97,21 @@ def deploy_backup_app(deploy, envname, mkvirtualenv=True, user='rattail',
 
         # config
         sudo('bin/rattail make-appdir', user=user)
-        deploy(config, 'app/rattail.conf', owner=user, mode='0600')
+        config_context = {
+            'user': user,
+        }
+        deploy(config, 'app/rattail.conf', owner=user, mode='0600', context=config_context)
         sudo('bin/rattail -c app/rattail.conf make-config -T quiet -O app/', user=user)
         sudo('bin/rattail -c app/rattail.conf make-config -T silent -O app/', user=user)
 
+    # rattail-backup script
+    script_context = {'envname': envname}
+    if rattail_backup_script:
+        deploy(rattail_backup_script, '/usr/local/bin/rattail-backup', mode='0700',
+               context=script_context)
+    else:
+        deploy_rattail_backup_script(**script_context)
+
     # backup-everything script
     everything_context = {
         'envname': envname,
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/core.py b/rattail_fabric/core.py
index f409f15..0cf8a9e 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/core.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/core.py
@@ -137,10 +137,14 @@ def upload_mako_template(local_path, remote_path, context={}, encoding='utf_8',
     """
     template = Template(filename=local_path)
 
+    # make copy of context; add env to it
+    context = dict(context)
+    context['env'] = env
+
     temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='rattail-fabric.')
     temp_path = os.path.join(temp_dir, os.path.basename(local_path))
     with open(temp_path, 'wb') as f:
-        text = template.render(env=env, **context)
+        text = template.render(**context)
         f.write(text.encode(encoding))
     os.chmod(temp_path, os.stat(local_path).st_mode)
 
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/backup-everything.mako b/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/backup-everything.mako
index 0f37d8b..cd30941 100755
--- a/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/backup-everything.mako
+++ b/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/backup-everything.mako
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ if [ "$(sudo -u ${user} git status --porcelain)" != '' ]; then
    exit 1
 fi
 sudo -u ${user} git pull $QUIET
-sudo -u ${user} find . -name '*.pyc' -delete
+sudo find . -name '*.pyc' -delete
 $PIP install $QUIET --upgrade --upgrade-strategy eager --editable .
 
 # run backup
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/crontab.mako b/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/crontab.mako
index 43b10e5..537b128 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/crontab.mako
+++ b/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/crontab.mako
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
 # -*- mode: conf; -*-
 
 # backup everything of importance at ${pretty_time}
+% if hasattr(env, 'machine_is_live'):
+${'' if env.machine_is_live else '# '}${cron_time} * * *  root  /usr/local/bin/backup-everything
+## TODO: should somehow deprecate / remove this?
+% elif hasattr(env, 'server_is_live'):
 ${'' if env.server_is_live else '# '}${cron_time} * * *  root  /usr/local/bin/backup-everything
+% else:
+# ${cron_time} * * *  root  /usr/local/bin/backup-everything
+% endif
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/rattail-backup.mako b/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/rattail-backup.mako
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f88b6f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rattail_fabric/deploy/backup/rattail-backup.mako
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/bin/sh -e
+
+if [ "$1" = "-v" -o "$1" = "--verbose" ]; then
+    VERBOSE='--verbose'
+    CONFIG='/srv/envs/${envname}/app/rattail.conf'
+else
+    VERBOSE=
+    CONFIG='/srv/envs/${envname}/app/silent.conf'
+fi
+
+cd /srv/envs/${envname}
+
+bin/rattail -c $CONFIG $VERBOSE backup $*
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/deploy/check-supervisor-process b/rattail_fabric/deploy/check-supervisor-process
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8a7323a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rattail_fabric/deploy/check-supervisor-process
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
+#  Copyright © 2010-2018 Lance Edgar
+#
+#  This file is part of Rattail.
+#
+#  Rattail is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+#  terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
+#  Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later
+#  version.
+#
+#  Rattail is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+#  WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
+#  FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more
+#  details.
+#
+#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+#  Rattail.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+################################################################################
+#
+# This is a simple script which will output a single line of info, and exit
+# with a return code which indicates status of a given supervisor process.  It
+# was designed for use with Shinken monitoring.  Invoke like so:
+#
+#    check-supervisor-process NAME
+#
+# Where NAME refers to the process, e.g. 'rattail:datasync'.  Exit code may be:
+#
+#  * 0 = process is confirmed running
+#  * 2 = process is confirmed *not* running
+#  * 3 = unknown state
+#
+################################################################################
+
+NAME="$1"
+if [ "$NAME" = "" ]; then
+    echo "Usage: check-supervisor-process NAME"
+    exit 3
+fi
+
+STATUS=$(sudo supervisorctl status $NAME | awk -F ' +' '{print $2}')
+
+if [ $STATUS = "RUNNING" ]; then
+    echo "supervisor reports RUNNING status"
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+if [ "$STATUS" = "" ]; then
+    echo "unable to perform status check!"
+    exit 3
+fi
+
+echo "supervisor reports $STATUS status"
+exit 2
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/freetds.py b/rattail_fabric/freetds.py
index 74ba6b6..acca7a3 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/freetds.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/freetds.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ def install_from_source(user='rattail'):
         'automake',
         'autoconf',
         'gettext',
+        'gperf',
         'pkg-config',
     )
 
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/mssql.py b/rattail_fabric/mssql.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5fab96b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rattail_fabric/mssql.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
+#  Copyright © 2010-2019 Lance Edgar
+#
+#  This file is part of Rattail.
+#
+#  Rattail is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+#  terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
+#  Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later
+#  version.
+#
+#  Rattail is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+#  WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
+#  FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more
+#  details.
+#
+#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+#  Rattail.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+################################################################################
+"""
+Fabric Library for MS SQL Server
+"""
+
+from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
+
+from fabric.api import sudo
+
+from rattail_fabric import apt
+
+
+def install_mssql_odbc():
+    """
+    Install the MS SQL Server ODBC driver
+
+    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/odbc/linux-mac/installing-the-microsoft-odbc-driver-for-sql-server?view=sql-server-2017
+    """
+    apt.install('apt-transport-https')
+    sudo('curl https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | apt-key add -')
+    sudo('curl https://packages.microsoft.com/config/debian/9/prod.list > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mssql-release.list')
+    apt.update()
+    sudo('ACCEPT_EULA=Y apt-get --assume-yes install msodbcsql17')
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/nodejs.py b/rattail_fabric/nodejs.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a74b3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rattail_fabric/nodejs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
+#  Copyright © 2010-2019 Lance Edgar
+#
+#  This file is part of Rattail.
+#
+#  Rattail is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+#  terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
+#  Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later
+#  version.
+#
+#  Rattail is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+#  WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
+#  FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more
+#  details.
+#
+#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+#  Rattail.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+################################################################################
+"""
+Fabric library for Node.js
+"""
+
+import os
+
+from fabric.api import sudo, run
+from fabric.contrib.files import append, exists
+
+from rattail_fabric.util import get_home_path
+
+
+def install(version=None, user=None):
+    """
+    Install nvm and node.js for given user, or else "connection" user.
+    """
+    home = get_home_path(user)
+    nvm = os.path.join(home, '.nvm')
+
+    if not exists(nvm):
+        cmd = "bash -c 'curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.33.5/install.sh | bash'"
+        if user:
+            sudo(cmd, user=user)
+        else:
+            run(cmd)
+
+    profile = os.path.join(home, '.profile')
+    kwargs = {'use_sudo': bool(user)}
+    append(profile, 'export NVM_DIR="{}"'.format(nvm), **kwargs)
+    append(profile, '[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"', **kwargs)
+    append(profile, '[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"', **kwargs)
+
+    node = version or 'node'
+    cmd = "bash -l -c 'nvm install {}'".format(node)
+    if user:
+        sudo(cmd, user=user)
+    else:
+        run(cmd)
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/postgresql.py b/rattail_fabric/postgresql.py
index ef9ba06..7214d5a 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/postgresql.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/postgresql.py
@@ -56,10 +56,10 @@ def sql(sql, database='', port=None):
     """
     Execute some SQL as the 'postgres' user.
     """
-    cmd = 'sudo -u postgres psql {port} --tuples-only --no-align --command="{sql}" {database}'.format(
+    cmd = 'psql {port} --tuples-only --no-align --command="{sql}" {database}'.format(
         port='--port={}'.format(port) if port else '',
         sql=sql, database=database)
-    return sudo(cmd, shell=False)
+    return sudo(cmd, user='postgres', shell=False)
 
 
 def script(path, database='', port=None, user=None, password=None):
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def script(path, database='', port=None, user=None, password=None):
 
     else: # run as postgres
         kw = dict(port=port, path=path, db=database)
-        return sudo("sudo -u postgres psql {port} --file='{path}' {db}".format(**kw), shell=False)
+        return sudo("psql {port} --file='{path}' {db}".format(**kw), user='postgres', shell=False)
 
 
 def user_exists(name, port=None):
@@ -91,10 +91,11 @@ def create_user(name, password=None, port=None, checkfirst=True, createdb=False)
     Create a PostgreSQL user account.
     """
     if not checkfirst or not user_exists(name, port=port):
-        sudo('sudo -u postgres createuser {port} {createdb} --no-createrole --no-superuser {name}'.format(
+        cmd = 'createuser {port} {createdb} --no-createrole --no-superuser {name}'.format(
             port='--port={}'.format(port) if port else '',
             createdb='--{}createdb'.format('' if createdb else 'no-'),
-            name=name))
+            name=name)
+        sudo(cmd, user='postgres', shell=False)
         if password:
             set_user_password(name, password, port=port)
 
@@ -120,11 +121,11 @@ def create_db(name, owner=None, port=None, checkfirst=True):
     Create a PostgreSQL database.
     """
     if not checkfirst or not db_exists(name, port=port):
-        cmd = 'sudo -u postgres createdb {port} {owner} {name}'.format(
+        cmd = 'createdb {port} {owner} {name}'.format(
             port='--port={}'.format(port) if port else '',
             owner='--owner={}'.format(owner) if owner else '',
             name=name)
-        sudo(cmd, shell=False)
+        sudo(cmd, user='postgres', shell=False)
 
 
 def create_schema(name, dbname, owner='rattail', port=None):
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ def drop_db(name, checkfirst=True):
     Drop a PostgreSQL database.
     """
     if not checkfirst or db_exists(name):
-        sudo('sudo -u postgres dropdb {0}'.format(name), shell=False)
+        sudo('dropdb {}'.format(name), user='postgres', shell=False)
 
 
 def download_db(name, destination=None, port=None, exclude_tables=None):
@@ -151,11 +152,11 @@ def download_db(name, destination=None, port=None, exclude_tables=None):
         destination = './{0}.sql.gz'.format(name)
     run('touch {0}.sql'.format(name))
     run('chmod 0666 {0}.sql'.format(name))
-    sudo('sudo -u postgres pg_dump {port} {exclude_tables} --file={name}.sql {name}'.format(
+    cmd = 'pg_dump {port} {exclude_tables} --file={name}.sql {name}'.format(
         name=name,
         port='--port={}'.format(port) if port else '',
-        exclude_tables='--exclude-table-data={}'.format(exclude_tables) if exclude_tables else '',
-    ), shell=False)
+        exclude_tables='--exclude-table-data={}'.format(exclude_tables) if exclude_tables else '')
+    sudo(cmd, user='postgres', shell=False)
     run('gzip --force {0}.sql'.format(name))
     get('{0}.sql.gz'.format(name), destination)
     run('rm {0}.sql.gz'.format(name))
@@ -192,5 +193,5 @@ def clone_db(name, owner, download, user='rattail', force=False, workdir=None):
 
     # restore database on target server
     run('gunzip --force {}.sql.gz'.format(name))
-    sudo('sudo -u postgres psql --echo-errors --file={0}.sql {0}'.format(name), shell=False)
+    sudo('psql --echo-errors --file={0}.sql {0}'.format(name), user='postgres', shell=False)
     run('rm {}.sql'.format(name))
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/python.py b/rattail_fabric/python.py
index 5dbecb8..4fc1b3a 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/python.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/python.py
@@ -37,6 +37,32 @@ from fabric.contrib.files import exists, append
 from rattail_fabric import apt, mkdir
 
 
+def install_pythonz():
+    """
+    Install the 'pythonz' utility, for installing arbitrary versions of python.
+
+    Note that this uses 'curl' so that should already be installed.
+
+    https://github.com/saghul/pythonz/blob/master/README.rst#installation
+    """
+    if not exists('/usr/local/pythonz'):
+        if not exists('/usr/local/src/pythonz'):
+            mkdir('/usr/local/src/pythonz')
+        if not exists('/usr/local/src/pythonz/pythonz-install'):
+            sudo('curl -kL -o /usr/local/src/pythonz/pythonz-install https://raw.github.com/saghul/pythonz/master/pythonz-install')
+            sudo('chmod +x /usr/local/src/pythonz/pythonz-install')
+        sudo('/usr/local/src/pythonz/pythonz-install')
+
+
+def install_python(version, verbose=False):
+    """
+    Install a specific version of python, via pythonz.
+    """
+    if not exists('/usr/local/pythonz/pythons/CPython-{}'.format(version)):
+        verbose = '--verbose' if verbose else ''
+        sudo('pythonz install {} {}'.format(verbose, version))
+
+
 def install_pip(use_apt=False, eager=True):
     """
     Install/upgrade the Pip installer for Python.
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/rattail.py b/rattail_fabric/rattail.py
index a6ba9dc..66a56e9 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/rattail.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/rattail.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ def bootstrap_rattail(home='/var/lib/rattail', uid=None, shell='/bin/bash'):
     mkdir('/srv/rattail/init')
     deploy('daemon', '/srv/rattail/init/daemon')
     deploy('check-rattail-daemon', '/usr/local/bin/check-rattail-daemon')
+    deploy('check-supervisor-process', '/usr/local/bin/check-supervisor-process', mode='0755')
     deploy('luigid', '/srv/rattail/init/luigid')
     deploy('soffice', '/srv/rattail/init/soffice')
     # TODO: deprecate / remove these
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/ssh.py b/rattail_fabric/ssh.py
index feaab86..cc8d4e5 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/ssh.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/ssh.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
 import warnings
 
 from fabric.api import sudo, cd, settings
-from fabric.contrib.files import exists, sed, append
+from fabric.contrib.files import exists, sed
 
 from rattail_fabric import mkdir, agent_sudo
 from rattail_fabric.python import cdvirtualenv
@@ -70,15 +70,14 @@ def configure(allow_root=False):
     """
     Configure the OpenSSH service
     """
-    path = '/etc/ssh/sshd_config'
+    # PermitRootLogin no (or without-password)
+    value = 'without-password' if allow_root else 'no'
+    sed('/etc/ssh/sshd_config', r'^#?PermitRootLogin .*', 'PermitRootLogin {}'.format(value), use_sudo=True)
+    sed('/etc/ssh/sshd_config', r'^PermitRootLogin .*', 'PermitRootLogin {}'.format(value), use_sudo=True)
 
-    entry = 'PermitRootLogin {}'.format('without-password' if allow_root else 'no')
-    sed(path, r'^PermitRootLogin\s+.*', entry, use_sudo=True)
-    append(path, entry, use_sudo=True)
-
-    entry = 'PasswordAuthentication no'
-    sed(path, r'^PasswordAuthentication\s+.*', entry, use_sudo=True)
-    append(path, entry, use_sudo=True)
+    # PasswordAuthentication no
+    sed('/etc/ssh/sshd_config', r'^#?PasswordAuthentication .*', 'PasswordAuthentication no', use_sudo=True)
+    sed('/etc/ssh/sshd_config', r'^PasswordAuthentication .*', 'PasswordAuthentication no', use_sudo=True)
 
     restart()
 
diff --git a/rattail_fabric/util.py b/rattail_fabric/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28331a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rattail_fabric/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
+################################################################################
+#
+#  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
+#  Copyright © 2010-2019 Lance Edgar
+#
+#  This file is part of Rattail.
+#
+#  Rattail is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+#  terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
+#  Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later
+#  version.
+#
+#  Rattail is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+#  WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
+#  FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more
+#  details.
+#
+#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+#  Rattail.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+################################################################################
+"""
+Misc. Utilities
+"""
+
+from fabric.api import env, run
+
+
+def get_home_path(user=None):
+    """
+    Retrieve the path to the home folder for the given user, or else the
+    "connection" user.
+    """
+    user = user or env.user
+    home = run('getent passwd {} | cut -d: -f6'.format(user)).stdout.strip()
+    home = home.rstrip('/')
+    return home
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index cfa12d9..21c8182 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from setuptools import setup, find_packages
 
 here = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 exec(open(os.path.join(here, 'rattail_fabric', '_version.py')).read())
-README = open(os.path.join(here, 'README.rst')).read()
+README = open(os.path.join(here, 'README.md')).read()
 
 
 requires = [
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ requires = [
     #
     # package                           # low                   high
 
-    'Fabric',                           # 1.14.0
+    'Fabric<2.0',                       # 1.14.0
     'invoke',                           # 0.22.1
 ]
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ setup(
     author_email = "lance@edbob.org",
     url = "https://rattailproject.org/",
     license = "GNU GPL v3",
-    description = "Fabric Utilities for Rattail",
+    description = "Fabric (v1) Utilities for Rattail",
     long_description = README,
 
     classifiers = [