diff --git a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleApp/src/_APPNAME_Include.dbd b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleApp/src/_APPNAME_Include.dbd
index e04befcbb..0a28c34c0 100644
--- a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleApp/src/_APPNAME_Include.dbd
+++ b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleApp/src/_APPNAME_Include.dbd
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 include "base.dbd"
 include "xxxSupport.dbd"
 registrar(mySubRegistrar)
+variable(mySubDebug)
diff --git a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleApp/src/dbSubExample.c b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleApp/src/dbSubExample.c
index 80b3a9d1e..3a88dbd97 100644
--- a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleApp/src/dbSubExample.c
+++ b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleApp/src/dbSubExample.c
@@ -5,19 +5,24 @@
 #include <subRecord.h>
 #include <epicsExport.h>
 
+int mySubDebug;
+epicsExportAddress(int, mySubDebug);
+
 typedef long (*processMethod)(subRecord *precord);
 
 static long mySubInit(subRecord *precord,processMethod process)
 {
-    printf("Record %s called mySubInit(%p, %p)\n",
-	   precord->name, (void*) precord, (void*) process);
+    if (mySubDebug)
+        printf("Record %s called mySubInit(%p, %p)\n",
+               precord->name, (void*) precord, (void*) process);
     return(0);
 }
 
 static long mySubProcess(subRecord *precord)
 {
-    printf("Record %s called mySubProcess(%p)\n",
-	   precord->name, (void*) precord);
+    if (mySubDebug)
+        printf("Record %s called mySubProcess(%p)\n",
+               precord->name, (void*) precord);
     return(0);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@Common b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@Common
index 372954416..821a24780 100644
--- a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@Common
+++ b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@Common
@@ -1,17 +1,23 @@
 #!../../bin/_ARCH_/_APPNAME_
-## The names of the binary above and .dbd file below will be incorrect
-## unless you used the same names for the ioc and the app directory.
-# create and register all record/device/driver/registrar support
+
+## You may have to change _APPNAME_ to something else
+## everywhere it appears in this file
+
+## Register all support components
 dbLoadDatabase("../../dbd/_APPNAME_.dbd",0,0)
 registerRecordDeviceDriver(pdbbase)
 
+## Load record instances
 dbLoadRecords("../../db/dbExample1.db","user=_USER_Host")
 dbLoadRecords("../../db/dbExample2.db","user=_USER_Host,no=1,scan=1 second")
 dbLoadRecords("../../db/dbExample2.db","user=_USER_Host,no=2,scan=2 second")
 dbLoadRecords("../../db/dbExample2.db","user=_USER_Host,no=3,scan=5 second")
 dbLoadRecords("../../db/dbSubExample.db","user=_USER_Host")
 
+## Set this to see messages from mySub
+#var mySubDebug 1
+
 iocInit()
 
-## Start sequence programs here, if there are any
+## Start any sequence programs
 #seq sncExample,"user=_USER_Host"
diff --git a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@RTEMS b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@RTEMS
index 6188f1d20..7381875ce 100644
--- a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@RTEMS
+++ b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@RTEMS
@@ -1,13 +1,23 @@
-# Simple startup script
+## Example RTEMS startup script
 
-# You may have to change _APPNAME_ to something else
-# everywhere it appears in this file
+## You may have to change _APPNAME_ to something else
+## everywhere it appears in this file
+
+## Register all support components
 dbLoadDatabase("dbd/_APPNAME_.dbd",0,0)
 registerRecordDeviceDriver(pdbbase) 
+
+## Load record instances
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbExample1.db","user=_USER_")
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbExample2.db","user=_USER_,no=1,scan=1 second")
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbExample2.db","user=_USER_,no=2,scan=2 second")
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbExample2.db","user=_USER_,no=3,scan=5 second")
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbSubExample.db","user=_USER_")
+
+## Set this to see messages from mySub
+#var mySubDebug 1
+
 iocInit()
+
+## Start any sequence programs
 #seq sncExample,"user=_USER_"
diff --git a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@vxWorks b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@vxWorks
index 45bf7fe19..3d63d48d7 100644
--- a/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@vxWorks
+++ b/src/makeBaseApp/top/exampleBoot/ioc/st.cmd@vxWorks
@@ -1,30 +1,38 @@
-# Example vxWorks startup file
+## Example vxWorks startup file
 
-# Following will be needed for many board support packages
+## The following is needed if your board support package doesn't at boot time
+## automatically cd to the directory containing its startup script
 #cd "_TOP_/iocBoot/_IOC_"
 
 < cdCommands
-
 #< ../nfsCommands
 
 cd topbin
-# You may have to change _APPNAME_ to something else
-# everywhere it appears in this file
+## You may have to change _APPNAME_ to something else
+## everywhere it appears in this file
 
 ld < _APPNAME_.munch
 
-#The following uses drvTS for vxWorks. May be needed for hardware event systems
+## This drvTS initializer is needed if the IOC has a hardware event system
 #TSinit
 
+## Register all support components
 cd top
 dbLoadDatabase("dbd/_APPNAME_.dbd",0,0)
 registerRecordDeviceDriver(pdbbase)
+
+## Load record instances
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbExample1.db","user=_USER_")
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbExample2.db","user=_USER_,no=1,scan=1 second")
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbExample2.db","user=_USER_,no=2,scan=2 second")
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbExample2.db","user=_USER_,no=3,scan=5 second")
 dbLoadRecords("db/dbSubExample.db","user=_USER_")
 
+## Set this to see messages from mySub
+#mySubDebug = 1
+
 cd startup
-iocInit
+iocInit()
+
+## Start any sequence programs
 #seq &sncExample,"user=_USER_"