diff --git a/shell.nix b/shell.nix
index fd2082c..ffbb507 100644
--- a/shell.nix
+++ b/shell.nix
@@ -6,4 +6,12 @@ pkgs.mkShell rec {
     xorg_sys_opengl
   ];
   LD_LIBRARY_PATH = "${lib.makeLibraryPath buildInputs}";
+
+  # we need to make sure the library is on the path for JOGL;
+  # also, there's a bug that is avoided with the second config line
+  # https://github.com/processing/processing/issues/5476
+  JAVA_OPTS = "-Djava.library.path=${lib.makeLibraryPath buildInputs}"; 
+    # -Djogl.disable.openglcore=\"true\"
+  # LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE = true;
+  # JAVA_LIBRARY_PATH = "${lib.makeLibraryPath buildInputs}";
 }