diff --git a/check-syntax.sh b/check-syntax.sh
index d882184..d1daf1e 100755
--- a/check-syntax.sh
+++ b/check-syntax.sh
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@ fi
 echo "=> pyflakes version:"
 pyflakes --version
 
-echo "---------------------"
-
 # check shell scripts
 # SC2002: Useless cat
 # SC2126: Consider using grep -c instead of grep|wc -l
 # SC2129: Consider using { cmd1; cmd2; } >> file instead of individual redirects
 # SC2181: Check exit code directly with e.g. 'if mycmd;', not indirectly with $?
+echo "--------------------------------------"
 echo "checking shell scripts with shellcheck"
+echo "--------------------------------------"
 find . -iname '*.sh' | while read -r script; do
   echo "checking ${script}"
   shellcheck -x \
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ find . -iname '*.sh' | while read -r script; do
 done
 
 # check other python scripts
+echo "-----------------------------------------"
 echo "checking other python scripts with pylint"
+echo "-----------------------------------------"
 find . -name "*.py" -not -path "./dotdrop/*" | while read -r script; do
   echo "checking ${script}"
   pylint -sn \
@@ -68,16 +70,22 @@ done
 # PEP8 tests
 # W503: Line break occurred before a binary operator
 # W504: Line break occurred after a binary operator
+echo "---------------------------------"
 echo "checking dotdrop with pycodestyle"
+echo "---------------------------------"
 pycodestyle --ignore=W503,W504 dotdrop/
 pycodestyle scripts/
 
 # pyflakes tests
+echo "------------------------------"
 echo "checking dotdrop with pyflakes"
+echo "------------------------------"
 pyflakes dotdrop/
 
 # pylint
+echo "----------------------------"
 echo "checking dotdrop with pylint"
+echo "----------------------------"
 # https://pylint.pycqa.org/en/latest/user_guide/checkers/features.html
 # R0902: too-many-instance-attributes
 # R0913: too-many-arguments
@@ -98,6 +106,9 @@ pylint \
   --disable=R0904 \
   dotdrop/
 
+echo "------------------------"
+echo "checking for more issues"
+echo "------------------------"
 set +e
 exceptions="save_uservariables_name\|@@\|diff_cmd\|original,\|modified,"
 # f-string errors and missing f literal
diff --git a/scripts/check_links.py b/scripts/check_links.py
index ba6799b..b396558 100755
--- a/scripts/check_links.py
+++ b/scripts/check_links.py
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ def check_links(urls):
                             allow_redirects=True,
                             headers=HEADERS).status_code
         if ret not in VALID_RET:
+            msg = (
+                f'    [WARN] HEAD {url} returned {ret}'
+                f' ... checking with GET'
+            )
+            print(msg)
             verb = 'get'
             ret = requests.get(url,
                                timeout=TIMEOUT,
diff --git a/tests/test_update.py b/tests/test_update.py
index a9f102c..ffaaf62 100644
--- a/tests/test_update.py
+++ b/tests/test_update.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from tests.helpers import create_dir, get_string, get_tempdir, clean, \
 
 
 class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):
+    """unit test"""
 
     CONFIG_BACKUP = False
     CONFIG_CREATE = True
@@ -46,16 +47,16 @@ class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):
         self.addCleanup(clean, dotfilespath)
 
         # create the dotfiles to test
-        d1, c1 = create_random_file(fold_config)
+        d1, _ = create_random_file(fold_config)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(d1))
         self.addCleanup(clean, d1)
 
-        d2, c2 = create_random_file(fold_config)
+        d2, _ = create_random_file(fold_config)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(d2))
         self.addCleanup(clean, d2)
 
         # template
-        d3t, c3t = create_random_file(fold_config)
+        d3t, _ = create_random_file(fold_config)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(d3t))
         self.addCleanup(clean, d3t)
 
@@ -74,9 +75,9 @@ class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):
         dir1sub2str = 'sub2'
         sub2 = os.path.join(dir1, dir1sub2str)
         create_dir(sub2)
-        f1s1, f1s1c1 = create_random_file(sub1)
+        f1s1, _ = create_random_file(sub1)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(f1s1))
-        f1s2, f1s2c1 = create_random_file(sub2)
+        f1s2, _ = create_random_file(sub2)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(f1s2))
 
         # create the directory to test
@@ -93,38 +94,38 @@ class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):
                                       backup=self.CONFIG_BACKUP,
                                       create=self.CONFIG_CREATE)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(confpath))
-        o = load_options(confpath, profile)
-        o.update_showpatch = True
+        opt = load_options(confpath, profile)
+        opt.update_showpatch = True
         dfiles = [d1, dir1, d2, d3t, dsubstmp]
 
         # import the files
-        o.import_path = dfiles
-        cmd_importer(o)
+        opt.import_path = dfiles
+        cmd_importer(opt)
 
         # get new config
-        o = load_options(confpath, profile)
-        o.safe = False
-        o.update_showpatch = True
-        o.debug = True
+        opt = load_options(confpath, profile)
+        opt.safe = False
+        opt.update_showpatch = True
+        opt.debug = True
         trans = Transform('trans', 'cp -r {0} {1}')
         d3tb = os.path.basename(d3t)
-        for dotfile in o.dotfiles:
+        for dotfile in opt.dotfiles:
             if os.path.basename(dotfile.dst) == d3tb:
                 # patch the template
-                src = os.path.join(o.dotpath, dotfile.src)
+                src = os.path.join(opt.dotpath, dotfile.src)
                 src = os.path.expanduser(src)
                 edit_content(src, '{{@@ profile @@}}')
             left = os.path.realpath(os.path.basename(dotfile.dst))
             right = os.path.realpath(dirsubs)
             if left == right:
                 # retrieve the path of the sub in the dotpath
-                d1indotpath = os.path.join(o.dotpath, dotfile.src)
+                d1indotpath = os.path.join(opt.dotpath, dotfile.src)
                 d1indotpath = os.path.expanduser(d1indotpath)
             dotfile.trans_w = trans
 
         # update template
-        o.update_path = [d3t]
-        self.assertFalse(cmd_update(o))
+        opt.update_path = [d3t]
+        self.assertFalse(cmd_update(opt))
 
         # update sub dirs
         gone = os.path.join(d1indotpath, dir1string)
@@ -132,8 +133,8 @@ class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(gone))
         clean(sub1)  # dir1sub1str
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(gone))
-        o.update_path = [dsubstmp]
-        cmd_update(o)
+        opt.update_path = [dsubstmp]
+        cmd_update(opt)
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(gone))
 
         # edit the files
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):
         edit_content(dirf1, 'newcontent')
 
         # add more file
-        dirf2, _ = create_random_file(dpath)
+        _, _ = create_random_file(dpath)
 
         # add more dirs
         dpath = os.path.join(dpath, get_string(5))
@@ -149,36 +150,43 @@ class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):
         create_random_file(dpath)
 
         # update it
-        o.update_path = [d1, dir1]
-        cmd_update(o)
+        opt.update_path = [d1, dir1]
+        cmd_update(opt)
 
         # test content
-        newcontent = open(d1, 'r').read()
+        newcontent = ''
+        with open(d1, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
+            newcontent = file.read()
         self.assertTrue(newcontent == 'newcontent')
-        newcontent = open(dirf1, 'r').read()
+        newcontent = ''
+        with open(dirf1, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
+            newcontent = file.read()
         self.assertTrue(newcontent == 'newcontent')
 
         edit_content(d2, 'newcontentbykey')
 
         # update it by key
-        dfiles = o.dotfiles
+        dfiles = opt.dotfiles
         d2key = ''
-        for ds in dfiles:
-            t = os.path.expanduser(ds.dst)
-            if t == d2:
-                d2key = ds.key
+        for dotfile in dfiles:
+            src = os.path.expanduser(dotfile.dst)
+            if src == d2:
+                d2key = dotfile.key
                 break
         self.assertTrue(d2key != '')
-        o.update_path = [d2key]
-        o.update_iskey = True
-        cmd_update(o)
+        opt.update_path = [d2key]
+        opt.update_iskey = True
+        cmd_update(opt)
 
         # test content
-        newcontent = open(d2, 'r').read()
+        newcontent = ''
+        with open(d2, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
+            newcontent = file.read()
         self.assertTrue(newcontent == 'newcontentbykey')
 
 
 def main():
+    """entry point"""
     unittest.main()