diff --git a/numscript.go b/numscript.go
index 92101b9e..a56b02ed 100644
--- a/numscript.go
+++ b/numscript.go
@@ -12,8 +12,23 @@ type ParseResult struct {
 	parseResult parser.ParseResult
 }
 
-// ---- TODO useful for the playground
-// func (*ParseResult) GetNeededVariables() map[string]ValueType {}
+// Returns a map from a variable's name to its type.
+//
+// doesn't include variables whose value is already defined within the script
+func (p ParseResult) GetNeededVariables() map[string]string {
+	m := make(map[string]string)
+
+	for _, varDecl := range p.parseResult.Value.Vars {
+		if varDecl.Name == nil || varDecl.Origin != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		m[varDecl.Name.Name] = varDecl.Type.Name
+	}
+
+	return m
+}
+
 // func (*ParseResult) GetDiagnostics() []Diagnostic {}
 
 type ParserError = parser.ParserError
diff --git a/numscript_test.go b/numscript_test.go
index f1aa0f4d..9536786f 100644
--- a/numscript_test.go
+++ b/numscript_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,30 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
+func TestGetVars(t *testing.T) {
+	parseResult := numscript.Parse(`
+	vars {
+		monetary $mon
+		account $acc
+		account $acc2
+		
+		monetary $do_not_include_in_output = balance(@acc, USD/2)
+	}
+`)
+
+	require.Empty(t, parseResult.GetParsingErrors(), "There should not be parsing errors")
+
+	require.Equal(t,
+		map[string]string{
+			"mon":  "monetary",
+			"acc":  "account",
+			"acc2": "account",
+		},
+		parseResult.GetNeededVariables(),
+	)
+
+}
+
 func TestDoNotGetWorldBalance(t *testing.T) {
 	parseResult := numscript.Parse(`send [COIN 100] (
 	source = @world