diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 3d55cb48..7ce3e65e 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ URL: https://mc-stan.org/cmdstanr/, https://discourse.mc-stan.org
 BugReports: https://github.com/stan-dev/cmdstanr/issues
 Encoding: UTF-8
 LazyData: true
-RoxygenNote: 7.3.0
+RoxygenNote: 7.3.1
 Roxygen: list(markdown = TRUE, r6 = FALSE)
 SystemRequirements: CmdStan (https://mc-stan.org/users/interfaces/cmdstan)
 Depends:
diff --git a/R/generics.R b/R/generics.R
index 663cb859..656cf9a1 100644
--- a/R/generics.R
+++ b/R/generics.R
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-
 #' Coercion methods for CmdStan objects
 #'
-#' These methods are used to coerce objects into `cmdstanr` objects.
-#' Primarily intended for other packages to use when interfacing
-#' with `cmdstanr`.
+#' These are generic functions intended to primarily be used by developers of
+#' packages that interface with on CmdStanR. Developers can define methods on
+#' top of these generics to coerce objects into CmdStanR's fitted model objects.
 #'
 #' @param object to be coerced
 #' @param ... additional arguments
diff --git a/R/options.R b/R/options.R
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b5e39663
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/options.R
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#' CmdStanR global options
+#'
+#' These options can be set via [options()] for an entire \R session.
+#'
+#' @name cmdstanr_global_options
+#'
+#' @details
+#'
+#' * `cmdstanr_draws_format`: Which format provided by the \pkg{posterior}
+#' package should be used when returning the posterior or approximate posterior
+#' draws? The default depends on the model fitting method. See
+#' [draws][fit-method-draws] for more details.
+#'
+#' * `cmdstanr_force_recompile`: Should the default be to recompile models
+#' even if there were no Stan code changes since last compiled?  See
+#' [compile][fit-method-compile] for more details. The default is `FALSE`.
+#'
+#' * `cmdstanr_max_rows`: The maximum number of rows of output to print when
+#' using the [`$print()`][fit-method-summary] method. The default is 10.
+#'
+#' * `cmdstanr_no_ver_check`: Should the check for a more recent version of
+#' CmdStan be disabled? The default is `FALSE`.
+#'
+#' * `cmdstanr_verbose`: Should more information be printed
+#' when compiling or running models, including showing how CmdStan was called
+#' internally? The default is `FALSE`.
+#'
+#' * `cmdstanr_warn_inits`: Should a warning be thrown if initial values are
+#' only provided for a subset of parameters? The default is `TRUE`.
+#'
+#' * `cmdstanr_write_stan_file_dir`: The directory where [write_stan_file()]
+#' should write Stan files. The default is [tempdir()].
+#'
+#' * `mc.cores`: The number of cores to use for various parallelization tasks
+#' (e.g. running MCMC chains, installing CmdStan). The default depends on the
+#' use case and is documented with the methods that make use of `mc.cores`.
+#'
+#'
+NULL
diff --git a/R/zzz.R b/R/zzz.R
index 0a255258..860eb894 100644
--- a/R/zzz.R
+++ b/R/zzz.R
@@ -10,9 +10,16 @@ startup_messages <- function() {
   }
 
   skip_version_check <- isTRUE(getOption(
-    "CMDSTANR_NO_VER_CHECK",
-    default = identical(tolower(Sys.getenv("CMDSTANR_NO_VER_CHECK")), "true")
+    "cmdstanr_no_ver_check",
+    default = identical(tolower(Sys.getenv("cmdstanr_no_ver_check")), "true")
   ))
+  if (!skip_version_check) {
+    # check if they used the old all caps version
+    skip_version_check <- isTRUE(getOption(
+      "CMDSTANR_NO_VER_CHECK",
+      default = identical(tolower(Sys.getenv("CMDSTANR_NO_VER_CHECK")), "true")
+    ))
+  }
   if (!skip_version_check) {
     latest_version <- try(suppressWarnings(latest_released_version(retries = 0)), silent = TRUE)
     current_version <- try(cmdstan_version(), silent = TRUE)
@@ -21,7 +28,7 @@ startup_messages <- function() {
         && latest_version > current_version) {
       packageStartupMessage(
         "\nA newer version of CmdStan is available. See ?install_cmdstan() to install it.",
-        "\nTo disable this check set option or environment variable CMDSTANR_NO_VER_CHECK=TRUE."
+        "\nTo disable this check set option or environment variable cmdstanr_no_ver_check=TRUE."
       )
     }
   }
diff --git a/man/cmdstan_coercion.Rd b/man/cmdstan_coercion.Rd
index d2d2b483..33a36d3a 100644
--- a/man/cmdstan_coercion.Rd
+++ b/man/cmdstan_coercion.Rd
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ as.CmdStanDiagnose(object, ...)
 \item{...}{additional arguments}
 }
 \description{
-These methods are used to coerce objects into \code{cmdstanr} objects.
-Primarily intended for other packages to use when interfacing
-with \code{cmdstanr}.
+These are generic functions intended to primarily be used by developers of
+packages that interface with on CmdStanR. Developers can define methods on
+top of these generics to coerce objects into CmdStanR's fitted model objects.
 }
diff --git a/man/cmdstanr_global_options.Rd b/man/cmdstanr_global_options.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dda64c88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/cmdstanr_global_options.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/options.R
+\name{cmdstanr_global_options}
+\alias{cmdstanr_global_options}
+\title{CmdStanR global options}
+\description{
+These options can be set via \code{\link[=options]{options()}} for an entire \R session.
+}
+\details{
+\itemize{
+\item \code{cmdstanr_draws_format}: Which format provided by the \pkg{posterior}
+package should be used when returning the posterior or approximate posterior
+draws? The default depends on the model fitting method. See
+\link[=fit-method-draws]{draws} for more details.
+\item \code{cmdstanr_force_recompile}: Should the default be to recompile models
+even if there were no Stan code changes since last compiled?  See
+\link[=fit-method-compile]{compile} for more details. The default is \code{FALSE}.
+\item \code{cmdstanr_max_rows}: The maximum number of rows of output to print when
+using the \code{\link[=fit-method-summary]{$print()}} method. The default is 10.
+\item \code{cmdstanr_no_ver_check}: Should the check for a more recent version of
+CmdStan be disabled? The default is \code{FALSE}.
+\item \code{cmdstanr_verbose}: Should more information be printed
+when compiling or running models, including showing how CmdStan was called
+internally? The default is \code{FALSE}.
+\item \code{cmdstanr_warn_inits}: Should a warning be thrown if initial values are
+only provided for a subset of parameters? The default is \code{TRUE}.
+\item \code{cmdstanr_write_stan_file_dir}: The directory where \code{\link[=write_stan_file]{write_stan_file()}}
+should write Stan files. The default is \code{\link[=tempdir]{tempdir()}}.
+\item \code{mc.cores}: The number of cores to use for various parallelization tasks
+(e.g. running MCMC chains, installing CmdStan). The default depends on the
+use case and is documented with the methods that make use of \code{mc.cores}.
+}
+}
diff --git a/man/model-method-check_syntax.Rd b/man/model-method-check_syntax.Rd
index a646a5e1..68366fb5 100644
--- a/man/model-method-check_syntax.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-check_syntax.Rd
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
diff --git a/man/model-method-compile.Rd b/man/model-method-compile.Rd
index d295eedc..7bfa47d7 100644
--- a/man/model-method-compile.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-compile.Rd
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
diff --git a/man/model-method-diagnose.Rd b/man/model-method-diagnose.Rd
index 9a0acd31..99043501 100644
--- a/man/model-method-diagnose.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-diagnose.Rd
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
diff --git a/man/model-method-expose_functions.Rd b/man/model-method-expose_functions.Rd
index a62f7bb8..b7d42231 100644
--- a/man/model-method-expose_functions.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-expose_functions.Rd
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
diff --git a/man/model-method-format.Rd b/man/model-method-format.Rd
index 2aa34f18..d24010a4 100644
--- a/man/model-method-format.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-format.Rd
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
diff --git a/man/model-method-generate-quantities.Rd b/man/model-method-generate-quantities.Rd
index bf25602e..23acba19 100644
--- a/man/model-method-generate-quantities.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-generate-quantities.Rd
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
diff --git a/man/model-method-laplace.Rd b/man/model-method-laplace.Rd
index b033fbe3..253d67f5 100644
--- a/man/model-method-laplace.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-laplace.Rd
@@ -214,8 +214,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-generate-quantities}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
diff --git a/man/model-method-optimize.Rd b/man/model-method-optimize.Rd
index dcf77444..b9b53454 100644
--- a/man/model-method-optimize.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-optimize.Rd
@@ -332,8 +332,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-generate-quantities}},
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
diff --git a/man/model-method-pathfinder.Rd b/man/model-method-pathfinder.Rd
index 85fc9236..41504358 100644
--- a/man/model-method-pathfinder.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-pathfinder.Rd
@@ -357,8 +357,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-generate-quantities}},
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
diff --git a/man/model-method-variables.Rd b/man/model-method-variables.Rd
index dc80ed9a..87e9d73e 100644
--- a/man/model-method-variables.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-variables.Rd
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variational}}
 }
 \concept{CmdStanModel methods}
diff --git a/man/model-method-variational.Rd b/man/model-method-variational.Rd
index 3678f11e..1b2d9a74 100644
--- a/man/model-method-variational.Rd
+++ b/man/model-method-variational.Rd
@@ -333,8 +333,8 @@ Other CmdStanModel methods:
 \code{\link{model-method-laplace}},
 \code{\link{model-method-optimize}},
 \code{\link{model-method-pathfinder}},
-\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-sample}},
+\code{\link{model-method-sample_mpi}},
 \code{\link{model-method-variables}}
 }
 \concept{CmdStanModel methods}