diff --git a/bin/entry2csv.sh b/bin/entry2csv.sh
index 94e391e78..ca8ebfc59 100755
--- a/bin/entry2csv.sh
+++ b/bin/entry2csv.sh
@@ -135,6 +135,17 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
 fi
 export TOPDIR
 #
+VERGE=$(type -P verge)
+export VERGE
+if [[ -z $VERGE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: verge is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install verge:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
 export JSTRDECODE
 if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
@@ -145,6 +156,16 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="1.2.0"
+JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
+if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: consider updating jstrdecode from mkiocccentry repo" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
 #
 export NOOP=
 export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
@@ -638,7 +659,10 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERGE=$VERGE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: EXIT_CODE=$EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/gen-authors.sh b/bin/gen-authors.sh
index 337344492..1f755b436 100755
--- a/bin/gen-authors.sh
+++ b/bin/gen-authors.sh
@@ -105,6 +105,17 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
 fi
 export TOPDIR
 #
+VERGE=$(type -P verge)
+export VERGE
+if [[ -z $VERGE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: verge is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install verge:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
 export JSTRDECODE
 if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
@@ -115,6 +126,16 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="1.2.0"
+JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
+if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: consider updating jstrdecode from mkiocccentry repo" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
 #
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="./"
 export TAGLINE="bin/$NAME"
@@ -524,7 +545,10 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERGE=$VERGE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TAGLINE=$TAGLINE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: MD2HTML_SH=$MD2HTML_SH" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/gen-location.sh b/bin/gen-location.sh
index 65dd5369b..cf06d7095 100755
--- a/bin/gen-location.sh
+++ b/bin/gen-location.sh
@@ -102,6 +102,17 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
 fi
 export TOPDIR
 #
+VERGE=$(type -P verge)
+export VERGE
+if [[ -z $VERGE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: verge is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install verge:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
 export JSTRDECODE
 if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
@@ -112,6 +123,16 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="1.2.0"
+JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
+if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: consider updating jstrdecode from mkiocccentry repo" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
 #
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="./"
 export TAGLINE="bin/$NAME"
@@ -419,7 +440,10 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERGE=$VERGE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TAGLINE=$TAGLINE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: MD2HTML_SH=$MD2HTML_SH" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/gen-years.sh b/bin/gen-years.sh
index 89e510d7f..fc2427d33 100755
--- a/bin/gen-years.sh
+++ b/bin/gen-years.sh
@@ -105,6 +105,17 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
 fi
 export TOPDIR
 #
+VERGE=$(type -P verge)
+export VERGE
+if [[ -z $VERGE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: verge is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install verge:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
 export JSTRDECODE
 if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
@@ -115,6 +126,16 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="1.2.0"
+JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
+if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: consider updating jstrdecode from mkiocccentry repo" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
 #
 TAC_TOOL=$(type -P tac)
 export TAC_TOOL
@@ -574,7 +595,10 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERGE=$VERGE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TAC_TOOL=$TAC_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: FMT_TOOL=$FMT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/output-index-author.sh b/bin/output-index-author.sh
index 1521030ee..dc5f7081f 100755
--- a/bin/output-index-author.sh
+++ b/bin/output-index-author.sh
@@ -121,6 +121,17 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
 fi
 export TOPDIR
 #
+VERGE=$(type -P verge)
+export VERGE
+if [[ -z $VERGE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: verge is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install verge:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
 export JSTRDECODE
 if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
@@ -131,6 +142,16 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="1.2.0"
+JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
+if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: consider updating jstrdecode from mkiocccentry repo" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
 #
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="../../"
 export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
@@ -666,7 +687,10 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERGE=$VERGE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/output-year-index.sh b/bin/output-year-index.sh
index 54b1369af..05ed202e7 100755
--- a/bin/output-year-index.sh
+++ b/bin/output-year-index.sh
@@ -130,6 +130,17 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
 fi
 export TOPDIR
 #
+VERGE=$(type -P verge)
+export VERGE
+if [[ -z $VERGE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: verge is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install verge:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
 export JSTRDECODE
 if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
@@ -140,6 +151,16 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="1.2.0"
+JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
+if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: consider updating jstrdecode from mkiocccentry repo" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
 #
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="../../"
 export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
@@ -554,7 +575,10 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERGE=$VERGE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/subst.entry-index.sh b/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
index b93974be8..553b0d9dc 100755
--- a/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
+++ b/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
@@ -123,6 +123,17 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
 fi
 export TOPDIR
 #
+VERGE=$(type -P verge)
+export VERGE
+if [[ -z $VERGE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: verge is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install verge:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
 export JSTRDECODE
 if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
@@ -133,6 +144,16 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="1.2.0"
+JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
+if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: consider updating jstrdecode from mkiocccentry repo" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
 #
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="../../"
 export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
@@ -574,7 +595,10 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERGE=$VERGE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2