diff --git a/1992/westley/whereami.alt.sh b/1992/westley/whereami.alt.sh
index 4356e6790..04195524b 100755
--- a/1992/westley/whereami.alt.sh
+++ b/1992/westley/whereami.alt.sh
@@ -23,16 +23,12 @@ fi
 # make sure CC is set so that when we do make CC="$CC" it isn't empty. Doing it
 # this way allows us to have the user specify a different compiler in an easy
 # way.
-if [[ -z "$CC" ]]; then
-    CC="cc"
-fi
+[[ -z "$CC" ]] && CC="cc"
 
 # try getting the columns the simple way first: tput cols
-COLUMNS="$(tput cols)"
-
-if [[ "$?" -ne 0 ]]; then
-    # if tput failed for any reason try stty(1) with awk(1):
-    COLUMNS="$(stty size|awkf '{print $NF}')"
+if ! COLUMNS="$(tput cols)"; then
+    # if tput failed for any reason try stty(1) with cut(1).
+    COLUMNS="$(stty size|cut -f2 -d' ')"
 fi
 
 if [[ "$COLUMNS" -lt 80 ]]; then
diff --git a/1992/westley/whereami.sh b/1992/westley/whereami.sh
index 811ca6474..f15af4952 100755
--- a/1992/westley/whereami.sh
+++ b/1992/westley/whereami.sh
@@ -23,15 +23,12 @@ fi
 # make sure CC is set so that when we do make CC="$CC" it isn't empty. Doing it
 # this way allows us to have the user specify a different compiler in an easy
 # way.
-if [[ -z "$CC" ]]; then
-    CC="cc"
-fi
+[[ -z "$CC" ]] && CC="cc"
 
 # try getting the columns the simple way first: tput cols
-COLUMNS="$(tput cols)"
-if [[ "$?" -ne 0 ]]; then
-    # if tput failed for any reason try stty(1) with awk(1):
-    COLUMNS="$(stty size|awkf '{print $NF}')"
+if ! COLUMNS="$(tput cols)"; then
+    # if tput failed for any reason try stty(1) with cut(1).
+    COLUMNS="$(stty size|cut -f2 -d' ')"
 fi
 
 if [[ "$COLUMNS" -lt 80 ]]; then
diff --git a/2000/bmeyer/try.sh b/2000/bmeyer/try.sh
index ee56ad4fe..ea560b89f 100755
--- a/2000/bmeyer/try.sh
+++ b/2000/bmeyer/try.sh
@@ -19,17 +19,12 @@ clear
 # be determined: we just use a default value.
 #
 # try getting the columns the simple way first: tput cols
-if ! COLUMNS="$(tput cols)"; then
-    # if tput failed for any reason try stty(1) with awk(1).
-    #
-    # Disable this warning of shellcheck as it's wrong: awk needs single quotes.
-    #
-    # SC2016 (info): Expressions don't expand in single quotes, use double quotes for that.
-    # https://www.shellcheck.net/wiki/SC2016
-    # shellcheck disable=SC2016
-    COLUMNS="$(stty size|awk '{print $NF}')"
-    
-    if [[ "$?" -ne 0 ]]; then
+if  COLUMNS="$(tput cols)"; then
+    # if tput failed for any reason try stty(1) with cut(1).
+    COLUMNS="$(stty size|cut -f2 -d' ')"
+
+    # if however either stty size or cut fails, set to 150.
+    if [[ "${PIPESTATUS[0]}" -ne 0 || "${PIPESTATUS[1]}" -ne 0 ]]; then
 	COLUMNS=150
     fi
 fi
diff --git a/2001/coupard/README.md b/2001/coupard/README.md
index 9b189172a..2de6e454b 100644
--- a/2001/coupard/README.md
+++ b/2001/coupard/README.md
@@ -14,19 +14,8 @@ make
 
 ## Try:
 
-If you have access to `/dev/audio` or `/dev/sound/dsp`:
-
 ```sh
-./coupard > /dev/audio
-./coupard > /dev/sound/dsp
-```
-
-If you do not, first install [sox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoX). If you
-use macOS you might install it from [MacPorts](https://www.macports.org) or
-[Homebrew](https://brew.sh). Then you can try:
-
-```sh
-./coupard | sox -q -traw -r8000 -b8 -e unsigned-integer - -tcoreaudio
+./try.sh
 ```
 
 
diff --git a/2001/coupard/try.sh b/2001/coupard/try.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..315af9412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/2001/coupard/try.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2001/coupard
+#
+
+# make sure CC is set so that when we do make CC="$CC" it isn't empty. Doing it
+# this way allows us to have the user specify a different compiler in an easy
+# way.
+[[ -z "$CC" ]] && CC="cc"
+
+# in this case we won't fail if we can't compile the code because we can still
+# run the supplementary program.
+make CC="$CC" everything >/dev/null
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
+
+# hopefully sox(1) is installed but we check for it just in case that it's not
+SOX="$(type -P sox)"
+AUDIO="/dev/audio"
+DSP="/dev/sound/dsp"
+
+if [[ -n "$SOX" ]]; then
+    echo "$ ./coupard | $SOX -q -traw -r8000 -b8 -e unsigned-integer - -tcoreaudio" 1>&2
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+    echo 1>&2
+    ./coupard | "$SOX" -q -traw -r8000 -b8 -e unsigned-integer - -tcoreaudio
+    echo 1>&2
+elif [[ -S "$AUDIO" ]]; then
+    ./coupard > "$AUDIO"
+elif [[ -S "$DSP" ]]; then
+    ./coupard > "$DSP"
+else
+    echo "SoX not installed. Please install it and try again." 1>&2
+    echo "Tip: see https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/faq.md#sox." 1>&2
+fi
diff --git a/2001/ctk/.gitignore b/2001/ctk/.gitignore
index ca41c8f61..c050af53d 100644
--- a/2001/ctk/.gitignore
+++ b/2001/ctk/.gitignore
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # sort with: ../../bin/sgi
 *.dSYM
 ctk
+ctk.alt
 ctk.orig
 indent
 indent.c
diff --git a/2001/dgbeards/README.md b/2001/dgbeards/README.md
index 759f75bca..986d101ea 100644
--- a/2001/dgbeards/README.md
+++ b/2001/dgbeards/README.md
@@ -55,13 +55,6 @@ It's a very simple thing to do. Read the author's remarks for clues.
 
 This game crashes if it loses.
 
-This is supposed to happen.  As is written in the
-[The Jargon File](http://catb.org/jargon/html/F/feature.html):
-
-```
-That's not a bug, that's a feature.
-```
-
 
 ## Judges' remarks:
 
diff --git a/2001/ollinger/try.sh b/2001/ollinger/try.sh
index 80998d955..711a7c6c3 100755
--- a/2001/ollinger/try.sh
+++ b/2001/ollinger/try.sh
@@ -19,25 +19,25 @@ clear
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./ollinger 1000 | cut -c -200 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./ollinger 1000 | cut -c -200 | less -rEXF
+./ollinger 1000 | cut -c -200 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./ollinger 1000 | cut -c -100 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./ollinger 1000 | cut -c -100 | less -rEXF
+./ollinger 1000 | cut -c -100 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./ollinger 42 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./ollinger 42 | less -rEXF
+./ollinger 42 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./ollinger 42 | cut -c -100 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./ollinger 42 | cut -c -100 | less -rEXF
+./ollinger 42 | cut -c -100 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./ollinger 42 | cut -c -200 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./ollinger 42 | cut -c -200 | less -rEXF
+./ollinger 42 | cut -c -200 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
diff --git a/2004/hoyle/try.sh b/2004/hoyle/try.sh
index a2b138cd7..ed453a82c 100755
--- a/2004/hoyle/try.sh
+++ b/2004/hoyle/try.sh
@@ -18,43 +18,43 @@ clear
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hoyle 10 0.5 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hoyle 10 0.5
+./hoyle 10 0.5 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hoyle 1 1 1 1 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hoyle 1 1 1 1
+./hoyle 1 1 1 1 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hoyle 2 0 1 0 -0.001 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hoyle 2 0 1 0 -0.001
+./hoyle 2 0 1 0 -0.001 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hoyle 1 2 3 42 -0.42 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hoyle 1 2 3 42 -0.42
+./hoyle 1 2 3 42 -0.42 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hoyle 42 42 42 42 42 42 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hoyle 42 42 42 42 42 42
+./hoyle 42 42 42 42 42 42 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hoyle 42 42 42 42 42 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hoyle 42 42 42 42 42
+./hoyle 42 42 42 42 42 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hoyle 0 0 1 | tee hoyle1.txt (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hoyle 0 0 1 | tee hoyle1.txt | less -rEXF
+./hoyle 0 0 1 | tee hoyle1.txt | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hoyle 0 0 2 | tee hoyle2.txt (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hoyle 0 0 2 | tee hoyle2.txt | less -rEXF
+./hoyle 0 0 2 | tee hoyle2.txt | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: diff -s hoyle1.txt hoyle2.txt: "
diff --git a/2004/newbern/try.sh b/2004/newbern/try.sh
index fa2265691..7e18aa363 100755
--- a/2004/newbern/try.sh
+++ b/2004/newbern/try.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ clear
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./newbern newbern.dat \"IOCCC 2004\" (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./newbern newbern.dat "IOCCC 2004" | less -rEXF
+./newbern newbern.dat "IOCCC 2004" | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo SOS | ./newbern: "
@@ -27,5 +27,5 @@ echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./newbern newbern.dat IOCCC x (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./newbern newbern.dat IOCCC x | less -rEXF
+./newbern newbern.dat IOCCC x | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
diff --git a/2004/omoikane/try.sh b/2004/omoikane/try.sh
index 791cbebae..a026aff27 100755
--- a/2004/omoikane/try.sh
+++ b/2004/omoikane/try.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2004/omoikane
+#
 
+# make sure CC is set so that when we do make CC="$CC" it isn't empty. Doing it
+# this way allows us to have the user specify a different compiler in an easy
+# way.
+if [[ -z "$CC" ]]; then
+    CC="cc"
+fi
+
+make CC="$CC" all >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./omoikane omoikane.info omoikane.info omoikane.output: "
 echo 1>&2
diff --git a/2004/sds/try.sh b/2004/sds/try.sh
index 80fde7233..30cdb4c86 100755
--- a/2004/sds/try.sh
+++ b/2004/sds/try.sh
@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@ clear
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show sds.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-less -rEXF sds.c
+less -rEXFK sds.c
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./sds < sds.c | tee encoder.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./sds < sds.c | tee encoder.c | less -rEXF
+./sds < sds.c | tee encoder.c | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: make encoder 2>/dev/null: "
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ echo 1>&2
 echo "$ ./encoder README.md <sds.c | tee sds_msg.c" 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./encoder README.md <sds.c | tee sds_msg.c | less -rEXF
+./encoder README.md <sds.c | tee sds_msg.c | less -rEXFK
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: make sds_msg 2>/dev/null: "
 echo 1>&2
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ echo 1>&2
 echo "$ ./sds_msg < sds.c | tee sds2_msg.c | less -rEXF" 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./sds_msg < sds.c | tee sds2_msg.c | less -rEXF
+./sds_msg < sds.c | tee sds2_msg.c | less -rEXFK
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: diff -s sds2_msg.c encoder.c: "
 echo 1>&2
@@ -58,12 +58,12 @@ echo 1>&2
 echo "$ ./encoder message < README.md | tee remarks.md" 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./encoder message < README.md | tee remarks.md | less -rEXF
+./encoder message < README.md | tee remarks.md | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: diff remarks.md README.md: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: diff remarks.md README.md (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-diff remarks.md README.md # notice how similar they are
+diff remarks.md README.md | less -rEXFK
 echo "Did you notice how similar they are?" 1>&2
 echo 1>&2
 
diff --git a/2005/aidan/Makefile b/2005/aidan/Makefile
index a8316a53c..17a9bf762 100644
--- a/2005/aidan/Makefile
+++ b/2005/aidan/Makefile
@@ -132,11 +132,11 @@ all: data ${TARGET}
 ${PROG}: ${PROG}.c
 	${CC} ${CFLAGS} $< -o $@ ${LDFLAGS}
 
-test: test-su.perl
-	${PERL} $<
+test: ${PROG} test-su.perl
+	${PERL} test-su.perl
 
-test-n0: test-su.perl
-	${PERL} $< -n 0
+test-n0: ${PROG} test-su.perl
+	${PERL} test-su.perl -n 0
 
 # alternative executable
 #
diff --git a/2005/boutines/README.md b/2005/boutines/README.md
index d013543a6..81a1746cc 100644
--- a/2005/boutines/README.md
+++ b/2005/boutines/README.md
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ make
 
 You will need an [SVG](https://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/expanded-toc.html) viewer or
 a converter like [ImageMagick](https://imagemagick.org/index.php)'s `convert`.
+See [FAQ 3.17 - How do I compile and install ImageMagick for entries that
+require it?](/faq.md#imagemagick).
 
 Look here to find some [SVG Viewer
 Implementations](https://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/WG/wiki/Implementations).
diff --git a/2005/boutines/try.sh b/2005/boutines/try.sh
index aae39ffbf..d09f2a484 100755
--- a/2005/boutines/try.sh
+++ b/2005/boutines/try.sh
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ if [[ ! -f result.svg && ! -f test.svg ]]; then
 fi
 
 if [[ -n "$CONVERT" ]]; then
-
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: convert test.svg test.png: "
     echo 1>&2
     if ! convert test.svg test.png; then
@@ -66,4 +65,5 @@ else
     echo 1>&2
     echo "convert not found (ImageMagick not installed?)" 1>&2
     echo "Try viewing *.svg with a graphics viewer that can view SVG files." 1>&2
+    echo "Tip: see https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/faq.md#imagemagick." 1>&2
 fi
diff --git a/2013/endoh3/try.sh b/2013/endoh3/try.sh
index 39586e6b2..7fe5cb64a 100755
--- a/2013/endoh3/try.sh
+++ b/2013/endoh3/try.sh
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ endoh3()
 	    echo 1>&2
 	else
 	    echo "Please install either SoX, ruby or padsp (from PulseAudio)." 1>&2
+	    echo "Tip: see https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/faq.md#sox." 1>&2
 	    exit 1
 	fi
     fi
diff --git a/thanks-for-help.md b/thanks-for-help.md
index f4f8ef7f9..8e34cc346 100644
--- a/thanks-for-help.md
+++ b/thanks-for-help.md
@@ -2808,14 +2808,19 @@ void e(n,h){
 
 ```
 
-This was not really worth a thanks per se but it was originally done by adding
-`int`. The better solution is to disable the warning which is what was done
-later on to make it more like the original.
+and for some reason it was being reported as an error. This was not really worth
+a thanks per se but it was originally done by adding `int`. The better solution
+is to disable the warning which is what was done later on to make it more like
+the original.
 
-Yusuke provided a proper command line for macOS (to do with sound; see his
+[Yusuke](#yusuke) provided a proper command line for those without `/dev/audio`
+or `/dev/sound/dsp` (which is most everyone nowadays, it seems, and especially
+those with macOS) (to do with sound; see his
 [/2013/endoh3/README.md](/2013/endoh3/README.md) entry where he also refers to
 sound devices in macOS).
 
+Cody added the [try.sh](/2001/coupard/try.sh).
+
 
 ## <a name="2001_ctk"></a>[2001/ctk](/2001/ctk/ctk.c) ([README.md](/2001/ctk/README.md]))
 
diff --git a/tmp/update-manifest.sh b/tmp/update-manifest.sh
index face10c26..5110b2b46 100755
--- a/tmp/update-manifest.sh
+++ b/tmp/update-manifest.sh
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ fi
 
 # first determine if git is executable
 if [[ -z "$GIT" || ! -f "$GIT" || ! -x "$GIT" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: git not an executable file: $GIT" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: ERROR: git not a regular executable file: $GIT" 1>&2
     exit 3
 fi
 
@@ -106,22 +106,33 @@ if ! cd "$TOPDIR"; then
 fi
 
 # I have found problems using git rev-parse to verify that we're in a git repo
-# so use git status instead. Plus we need the user to see git status anyway.
-"$GIT" status 1>&2
-status="$?"
-if [[ "$status" -ne 0 ]]; then
+# plus we need the user to see git status anyway so use git status instead.
+if ! "$GIT" status 1>&2; then
     echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
     echo 1>&2
     echo "$(basename "$0"): ERROR: ${PWD} is not a git repository" 1>&2
     exit 3
 fi
 
+echo 1>&2
+echo "NOTE: manifest.numbers and manifest.csv may be modified here but nothing else" 1>&2
+echo "may be and no new files may be staged for commit either:" 1>&2
 read -r -p "Do you have a clean state from git status (Y/N)? "
 if [[ "$REPLY" != "Y" && "$REPLY" != "y" ]]; then
     echo "$0: exiting 4 due to user telling us there's a problem." 1>&2
     exit 4
 fi
 
+# ask user if they're on the correct branch
+#
+echo "Showing branches: " 1>&2
+"$GIT" branch 1>&2
+read -r -p "Are you on the right branch (Y/N)? "
+if [[ "$REPLY" != "Y" && "$REPLY" != "y" ]]; then
+    echo "$0: exiting 4 due to user telling us there's a problem." 1>&2
+    exit 4
+fi
+
 # now cd to the tmp directory
 #
 if ! cd tmp; then