diff --git a/1995/dodsond1/try.sh b/1995/dodsond1/try.sh
index dd17ce931..817cb73dc 100755
--- a/1995/dodsond1/try.sh
+++ b/1995/dodsond1/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,21 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+# 
+# try.sh - show IOCCC winner 1995/dodsond1
+#
 
-make all >/dev/null || exit 1
+# get CC
+
+# 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
 
 echo "$ cat try.this.txt"
 cat try.this.txt
diff --git a/1995/esde/try.sh b/1995/esde/try.sh
index f8e63399d..e64239021 100755
--- a/1995/esde/try.sh
+++ b/1995/esde/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - show IOCCC winner 1995/esde
+#
 
-make all >/dev/null || exit 1
+# 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
 
 echo "$ ./esde esde.data Johanson"
 ./esde esde.data Johanson
diff --git a/1996/august/try.sh b/1996/august/try.sh
index 16a76c35b..ca8898933 100755
--- a/1996/august/try.sh
+++ b/1996/august/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - show IOCCC winner 1996/august
+#
+
+# 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
 
-make clobber all
 set -x
 cat august.c test.oc | ./august > test.oo
 ./august < test.oo
@@ -14,7 +28,12 @@ cat parse.oo fac.oc | ./august | ./august
 
 rm august.oc
 make august.oc
+
+# this next step is vital for some compilers! Not having it will make the
+# compiler create code that enters an infinite loop. This is known to happen in
+# macOS as one example.
 sed -i'' '/^#/d' august.oc
+
 cat august.c august.oc | ./august > august.oo
 cat august.oo test.oo | ./august
 cat august.oo august.oo fac.oo | ./august
diff --git a/1996/gandalf/try.sh b/1996/gandalf/try.sh
index 03128d772..b7dd5acbb 100755
--- a/1996/gandalf/try.sh
+++ b/1996/gandalf/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,22 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - show IOCCC winner 1996/gandalf
+#
+# BTW: it is absolutely perilous to 'try' the patience of Gandalf: go ahead,
+# 'try it'! :-)
+#
 
-make all 1>/dev/null || exit 1
+# 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
 
 # remove temporary files to show later
 rm -f hatcat.txt cathat.txt hatcat2.txt cathat2.txt hatcat3.txt cathat3.txt
diff --git a/1996/schweikh2/try.sh b/1996/schweikh2/try.sh
index e95e3f1db..de86a4934 100755
--- a/1996/schweikh2/try.sh
+++ b/1996/schweikh2/try.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - show IOCCC winner 1996/schweikh2
+#
 
-make all >/dev/null || exit 1
+# 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 to run ./schweikh2: " 1>&2
 ./schweikh2
diff --git a/1996/westley/try.alt.sh b/1996/westley/try.alt.sh
index 0adf8e87c..6c9e4c480 100755
--- a/1996/westley/try.alt.sh
+++ b/1996/westley/try.alt.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+# 
+# try.alt.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 1996/westley alt code
+#
 
-make everything 1>/dev/null || exit 1
+# 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" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 echo "Showing alt grandfather clock:" 1>&2
 WESTLEY=./westley.alt ./clock1.sh
diff --git a/1996/westley/try.sh b/1996/westley/try.sh
index 8dea325ff..56cd8abe7 100755
--- a/1996/westley/try.sh
+++ b/1996/westley/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+# 
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 1996/westley
+#
 
-make everything 1>/dev/null || exit 1
+# 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" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 echo "Showing grandfather clock:" 1>&2
 WESTLEY=./westley ./clock1.sh
diff --git a/1998/bas2/try.sh b/1998/bas2/try.sh
index 08a76ae35..2bcacde81 100755
--- a/1998/bas2/try.sh
+++ b/1998/bas2/try.sh
@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # 
-# try.sh - demonstrate 1998/bas2
-#
-# If any args are specified it checks if it's a readable file and if it is it
-# feeds it to the program. If not it assumes it's a string and feeds that to the
-# program.
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 1998/bas2
 #
 
-make all || exit 1
+# 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
 
 echo "$ ./bas2 < bas2.c" 1>&2
 ./bas2 < bas2.c
diff --git a/1998/dorssel/try.sh b/1998/dorssel/try.sh
index caad9ec87..830cddfd2 100755
--- a/1998/dorssel/try.sh
+++ b/1998/dorssel/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # 
-# script to show 1998/dorssel
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 1998/dorssel
+#
+
+# 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
 
 echo "$ echo 'Simple as 123' | ./dorssel" 1>&2
 echo 'Simple as 123' | ./dorssel
diff --git a/1998/fanf/try.sh b/1998/fanf/try.sh
index 8622bfb10..8e0bfc016 100755
--- a/1998/fanf/try.sh
+++ b/1998/fanf/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+# 
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 1998/fanf
+#
 
-make all || exit 1
+# 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
 
 echo "$ echo '((\a(\b(\c(d)))) e' | ./fanf" 1>&2
 echo '((\a(\b(\c(d)))) e)' | ./fanf
diff --git a/1998/schnitzi/try.sh b/1998/schnitzi/try.sh
index 4b71a27a2..90817251e 100755
--- a/1998/schnitzi/try.sh
+++ b/1998/schnitzi/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+# 
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 1998/schnitzi
+#
 
-make all || exit 1
+# 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
 
 echo "$ ./schnitzi 3 > sort.c" 1>&2
 ./schnitzi 3 > sort.c
diff --git a/1998/schweikh3/try.sh b/1998/schweikh3/try.sh
index 4cc96b92c..ffd2b88b2 100755
--- a/1998/schweikh3/try.sh
+++ b/1998/schweikh3/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+# 
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 1998/schweikh3
+#
 
-make all || exit 1
+# 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
 
 echo "$ cp -f schweikh3 file1"
 cp -f schweikh3 file1
diff --git a/1998/tomtorfs/try.sh b/1998/tomtorfs/try.sh
index b3189d7c0..f68f90c27 100755
--- a/1998/tomtorfs/try.sh
+++ b/1998/tomtorfs/try.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,20 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 #
-# script to demonstrate 1998/tomtorfs
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 1998/tomtorfs
 #
 
+# 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
+
 rm -f file.A file.B file.C
 
 echo "$ echo abscond conferrable > file.A" 1>&2
diff --git a/2000/tomx/try.alt.sh b/2000/tomx/try.alt.sh
index 1d8f730d8..0ffb04090 100755
--- a/2000/tomx/try.alt.sh
+++ b/2000/tomx/try.alt.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-# 
-# try.sh - script to show 2000/tomx
+#
+# try.alt.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2000/tomx alt code
+#
+
+# 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" alt >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 echo "Using tomx.alt.c to compile mkentry.c directly:" 1>&2
 echo "$ chmod +x tomx.alt.c" 1>&2
diff --git a/2000/tomx/try.sh b/2000/tomx/try.sh
index db719b5b8..e3bb764dc 100755
--- a/2000/tomx/try.sh
+++ b/2000/tomx/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-# 
-# try.sh - script to show 2000/tomx
+#
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2000/tomx
+#
+
+# 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
 
 if [[ ! -f "tomx" || ! -e "tomx" ]]; then
     echo "Compiling tomx.c:" 1>&2
diff --git a/2001/anonymous/try.sh b/2001/anonymous/try.sh
index fc509fca7..71330cfc5 100755
--- a/2001/anonymous/try.sh
+++ b/2001/anonymous/try.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,21 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2001/anonymous
+#
 
-make clobber alt all >/dev/null 2>&1
+# 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
 
+# 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
 
 TARGET="anonymous.ten"
 if [[ -f "$TARGET" ]]; then
@@ -28,6 +42,7 @@ if [[ -f "$TARGET" ]]; then
 else
     echo "cannot compile anonymous.ten.c as 32-bit, sorry."
     echo "will run 64-bit version directly."
+    make anonymous.ten.64
     sleep 3
     echo "$ ./$TARGET.64"
     ./"$TARGET".64
diff --git a/2011/akari/try.sh b/2011/akari/try.sh
index 08cc310ef..8c5846d1e 100755
--- a/2011/akari/try.sh
+++ b/2011/akari/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,24 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2011/akari
+#
 
-make clobber akari || exit 1
+# 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
+
+# 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" all >/dev/null
+
+# clean out old binaries except the entry itself
+rm -f akari2 akari3 akari4
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 ./akari < example.ppm > odd_output.ppm
 ./akari - - even < example.ppm > even_output.ppm
diff --git a/2011/dlowe/try.sh b/2011/dlowe/try.sh
index add9107e1..5ba749b1e 100755
--- a/2011/dlowe/try.sh
+++ b/2011/dlowe/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,21 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2011/dlowe
+#
 
-make clobber dlowe || exit 1
+# 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
+
+# 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" all >/dev/null
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 ./dlowe dlowe.c < dlowe-aux-data/ioccc-winlose-trained.net
 ./dlowe dlowe < dlowe-aux-data/ioccc-winlose-trained.net
diff --git a/2012/kang/de.alt.sh b/2012/kang/de.alt.sh
index fd5de0723..c5449d4be 100755
--- a/2012/kang/de.alt.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/de.alt.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,17 @@
 # What does it get right and what does it get wrong? Why does it get what it
 # gets wrong wrong?
 
-make everything || exit 1
+# 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" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 # set up path to program if not set
 if [[ -z "$KANG" ]]; then
diff --git a/2012/kang/de.sh b/2012/kang/de.sh
index 2d0dbf622..75e59b99c 100755
--- a/2012/kang/de.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/de.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,17 @@
 # What does it get right and what does it get wrong? Why does it get what it
 # gets wrong wrong?
 
-make everything || exit 1
+# 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" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 # set up path to program if not set
 if [[ -z "$KANG" ]]; then
diff --git a/2012/kang/en.alt.sh b/2012/kang/en.alt.sh
index afc61e430..098a0d5f3 100755
--- a/2012/kang/en.alt.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/en.alt.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,17 @@
 # What does it get right and what does it get wrong? Why does it get what it
 # gets wrong wrong?
 
-make everything || exit 1
+# 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" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 # set up path to program if not set
 if [[ -z "$KANG" ]]; then
diff --git a/2012/kang/en.sh b/2012/kang/en.sh
index 995c4d6e6..02aa3e808 100755
--- a/2012/kang/en.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/en.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,18 @@
 # What does it get right and what does it get wrong? Why does it get what it
 # gets wrong wrong?
 
-make everything || exit 1
+
+# 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" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 # set up path to program if not set
 if [[ -z "$KANG" ]]; then
diff --git a/2012/kang/try.sh b/2012/kang/try.sh
index 97bec68f4..fa08e6771 100755
--- a/2012/kang/try.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,18 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2012/kang
 
-make everything || exit 1
+# 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" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 echo "$ echo Nineteen hundred and eighty-four | ./kang"
 echo Nineteen hundred and eighty-four | ./kang
diff --git a/2013/birken/try.sh b/2013/birken/try.sh
index 1790cfb70..faaa5a513 100755
--- a/2013/birken/try.sh
+++ b/2013/birken/try.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,18 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2013/birken
 
-make clobber everything 2>/dev/null
+# 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" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
 
 if [[ -z "$BIRKEN" ]]; then
     BIRKEN="birken.alt"