diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ab815887d..8941094c1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -75,10 +75,11 @@ ENTRY2CSV= bin/entry2csv.sh
 # IOCCC years
 #############
 #
-YEARS=	1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 \
-	1994 1995 1996 1998 2000 2001 2004 2005 2006 2011 \
-	2012 2013 2014 2015 2018 2019 2020
-
+# BEGIN - DO NOT REMOVE THIS LINE - make new_year uses this line #
+YEARS= 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 \
+	1996 1998 2000 2001 2004 2005 2006 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2018 \
+	2019 2020
+# END - DO NOT REMOVE THIS LINE - make new_year also uses this #
 
 ###################
 # build all entries
@@ -87,14 +88,18 @@ YEARS=	1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 \
 all:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
 	done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 .PHONY: all alt data everything diff_orig_prog diff_prog_orig \
 	diff_alt_prog diff_prog_alt diff_orig_alt diff_alt_orig \
-	clean clobber install genpath love haste waste maker \
+	clean clobber install genpath new_year love haste waste maker \
 	easter_egg sandwich supernova deep_magic magic charon pluto
 
 # alternative executable
@@ -102,8 +107,12 @@ all:
 alt:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -112,8 +121,12 @@ alt:
 data:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -122,8 +135,12 @@ data:
 everything:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -137,8 +154,12 @@ everything:
 diff_orig_prog:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -147,8 +168,12 @@ diff_orig_prog:
 diff_prog_orig:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -157,8 +182,12 @@ diff_prog_orig:
 diff_alt_prog:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -167,8 +196,12 @@ diff_alt_prog:
 diff_prog_alt:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -177,16 +210,25 @@ diff_prog_alt:
 diff_orig_alt:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
 	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 diff_alt_orig:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -198,32 +240,48 @@ diff_alt_orig:
 clean:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 clobber:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 install:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 indent.c:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -330,6 +388,7 @@ help:
 ######################################################
 
 # verify that there are no leading ASCII tabs in leading whitespace in markdown files
+#
 tab_check:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@TAB_LIST="$$(${FIND} * \( -name NOTES -o -name tmp -o -name markdown.md \) -prune -o \
@@ -353,9 +412,14 @@ genpath:
 	@${RM} -f .tmp.genpath
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
 	    echo "$$i" >> .tmp.genpath; \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
+	${SORT} -n -u .tmp.genpath -o .tmp.genpath;
 	@-if ${CMP} -s .tmp.genpath .top; then \
 	    ${RM} -f .tmp.genpath; \
 	else \
@@ -712,6 +776,13 @@ update:
 # NOTE: 'Don't Panic' if you don't understand the stuff below
 #############################################################
 
+# add ${NEW_YEAR} to the list of ${YEARS} and output Makefile lines to set updated ${YEARS} value
+#
+new_year:
+	@(echo 'YEARS= '; \
+	  (echo ${YEARS} ${NEW_YEAR}) | ${TR} ' ' '\012' | ${SORT} -n) | \
+	  ${FMT} -p | ${SED} -e '2,$$s/^/\t/' -e 's/$$/ \\/' -e '$$s/ \\//'
+
 
 ##################
 # 133t hacker rulz
@@ -720,48 +791,72 @@ update:
 love:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 haste:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 waste:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 maker:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 easter_egg:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 sandwich:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
@@ -771,39 +866,59 @@ sandwich:
 supernova:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 deep_magic:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 magic:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 charon:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 pluto:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	@-for i in ${YEARS}; do \
-	    echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
-	    (cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    if [[ -f $$i/Makefile ]]; then \
+		echo "cd $$i; make $@"; \
+		(cd $$i; make $@); \
+	    else \
+		echo "Warning: $$i/Makefile not found, skipping $$i for $@ processing" 1>&2 ; \
+	    fi; \
         done
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
diff --git a/bin/README.md b/bin/README.md
index fce8e6f00..4b7223d9c 100644
--- a/bin/README.md
+++ b/bin/README.md
@@ -583,9 +583,7 @@ For example:
 
 ``` <!---sh-->
     mkdir -p YYYY
-    chmod +w .top
-    bin/new-year.sh YYYY
-    chmod -w .top
+    bin/new-year.sh -v 1 YYYY
 ```
 
 Here, `YYYY` must be a new 4-digit IOCCC year.
diff --git a/bin/index.html b/bin/index.html
index 07f311c41..1f25a5926 100644
--- a/bin/index.html
+++ b/bin/index.html
@@ -720,9 +720,7 @@ the <a href="index.html#md2html">md2html tool</a>.</p>
 steps to announce a new set of winning IOCCC entries.</p>
 <p>For example:</p>
 <pre><code>    mkdir -p YYYY
-    chmod +w .top
-    bin/new-year.sh YYYY
-    chmod -w .top</code></pre>
+    bin/new-year.sh -v 1 YYYY</code></pre>
 <p>Here, <code>YYYY</code> must be a new 4-digit IOCCC year.</p>
 <div id="output-index-inventory">
 <h3 id="output-index-inventory.sh"><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/bin/output-index-inventory.sh">output-index-inventory.sh</a></h3>
diff --git a/bin/new-year.sh b/bin/new-year.sh
index d98713e4a..0840e474f 100755
--- a/bin/new-year.sh
+++ b/bin/new-year.sh
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.0 2024-07-21"
+export VERSION="1.1 2024-07-21"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ else
     exit 1
 fi
 
+
 # verify that we have a topdir directory
 #
 REPO_NAME=$(basename "$REPO_URL")
@@ -221,6 +222,7 @@ if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
     exit 6
 fi
 
+
 # cd to topdir
 #
 if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
@@ -244,7 +246,8 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: now in directory: $(/bin/pwd)" 1>&2
 fi
 
-# verify we have a non-empty writable .top file
+
+# verify we have a non-empty readable .top file
 #
 export TOP_FILE=".top"
 if [[ ! -e $TOP_FILE ]]; then
@@ -255,15 +258,37 @@ if [[ ! -f $TOP_FILE ]]; then
     echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not a regular file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
     exit 6
 fi
-if [[ ! -w $TOP_FILE ]]; then
-    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not an writable file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+if [[ ! -r $TOP_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not an readable file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
     exit 6
 fi
 if [[ ! -s $TOP_FILE ]]; then
-    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not a non-empty writable file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not a non-empty readable file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
     exit 6
 fi
 
+
+# verify we have a non-empty readable Makefile
+
+export MAKE_FILE="Makefile"
+if [[ ! -e $MAKE_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top does not exist: $MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $MAKE_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not a regular file: $MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $MAKE_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not an readable file: $MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -s $MAKE_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not a non-empty readable file: $MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+
+
 # print running info if verbose
 #
 # If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
@@ -281,6 +306,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_NAME=$REPO_NAME" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: CD_FAILED=$CD_FAILED" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOP_FILE=$TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: MAKE_FILE=$MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
 fi
 
 # -N stops early before any processing is performed
@@ -293,64 +319,100 @@ if [[ -n $DO_NOT_PROCESS ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# verify that YEAR is not already in .top
+# create a temporary Makefile
 #
-if grep -E -q "^$YEAR$" "$TOP_FILE"; then
-    echo "$0: notice: YEAR: $YEAR already found in: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+export TMP_MAKEFILE=".tmp.$NAME.MAKEFILE.$$.tmp"
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: debug[3]: temporary Makefile: $TMP_MAKEFILE" 1>&2
+fi
+trap 'rm -f $TMP_MAKEFILE; exit' 0 1 2 3 15
+rm -f "$TMP_MAKEFILE"
+if [[ -e $TMP_MAKEFILE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove temporary Makefile: $TMP_MAKEFILE" 1>&2
+    exit 10
+fi
+echo '# author_handle,entry_id,entry_id,entry_id,…,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,' > \
+  "$TMP_MAKEFILE"
+if [[ ! -e $TMP_MAKEFILE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create temporary Makefile: $TMP_MAKEFILE" 1>&2
+    exit 11
 fi
 
-# year directory must exist
+
+# form the temporary Makefile with the added year
 #
-if [[ ! -e $YEAR ]]; then
-    echo  "$0: ERROR: year directory does not exist: $YEAR" 1>&2
-    exit 1
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: forming temporary Makefile: $TMP_MAKEFILE" 1>&2
 fi
-if [[ ! -d $YEAR ]]; then
-    echo  "$0: ERROR: year is not a directory: $YEAR" 1>&2
-    exit 1
+sed -n -e '1,/^# BEGIN - DO NOT REMOVE THIS LINE - make new_year uses this line #/p' "$MAKE_FILE" > "$TMP_MAKEFILE"
+make new_year NEW_YEAR="$YEAR" >> "$TMP_MAKEFILE"
+status="$?"
+if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: make new_year NEW_YEAR=\"$YEAR\" >> \"$TMP_MAKEFILE\" failed," \
+	 "error code: $status" 1>&2
+    exit 12
 fi
+sed -n -e '/^# END - DO NOT REMOVE THIS LINE - make new_year also uses this #/,$p' "$MAKE_FILE" >> "$TMP_MAKEFILE"
 
 
-# case: without -n
+# Update Makefile if different and not -n
 #
 if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 
-    # append year to .top
-    #
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: debug[3]: appending YEAR: $YEAR to: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
-    fi
-    echo "$YEAR" >> "$TOP_FILE"
+    if cmp -s "$TMP_MAKEFILE" "$MAKE_FILE"; then
 
-    # sort .top numerically
-    #
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: sort -n -u $TOP_FILE -o $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
-    fi
-    sort -n -u "$TOP_FILE" -o "$TOP_FILE"
-    status="$?"
-    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: sort -n -u $TOP_FILE -o $TOP_FILE failed," \
-	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	exit 10
-    fi
+	# case: author_wins.csv did not change
+	#
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+            echo "$0: debug[5]: Makefile file did not change: $MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
+        fi
 
-    # firewall
-    #
-    if grep -E -q "^$YEAR$" "$TOP_FILE"; then
-	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: debug[1]: YEAR: $YEAR is in: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
-	    echo "$0: debug[1]: Happy New IOCCC Year!!!" 1>&2
-	fi
     else
-	echo "$0: ERROR: failed to add YEAR: $YEAR to: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
-	exit 11
+
+        # case: Makefile file changed, update the file
+        #
+        if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+            echo "$0: debug[5]: about to: mv -f -- $TMP_MAKEFILE $MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
+        fi
+        if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+            mv -f -v -- "$TMP_MAKEFILE" "$MAKE_FILE"
+            status="$?"
+        else
+            mv -f -- "$TMP_MAKEFILE" "$MAKE_FILE"
+            status="$?"
+        fi
+        if [[ status -ne 0 ]]; then
+            echo "$0: ERROR: mv -f -- $TMP_MAKEFILE $MAKE_FILE filed," \
+	         "error code: $status" 1>&2
+            exit 13
+        elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+            echo "$0: debug[1]: updated Makefile: $MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
+        fi
+        if [[ ! -s $MAKE_FILE ]]; then
+            echo "$0: ERROR: not a non-empty Makefile: $MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
+            exit 14
+        fi
+
+	# update .top and friends
+	#
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+            echo "$0: debug[3]: about to run: make genpath >/dev/null" 1>&2
+        fi
+	make genpath >/dev/null
+	status="$?"
+        if [[ status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: make genpath >/dev/null failed," \
+		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	    exit 15
+        elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+            echo "$0: debug[1]: updated .top and friends" 1>&2
+	fi
     fi
 
 # case: with -n
 #
 elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: -n disabled adding YEAR: $YEAR to $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: -n disabled updating: $MAKE_FILE" 1>&2
 fi