diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
index 486ef394..1137507c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ class AbstractConnector(ABC):
     def update_book(self, book, data=None):
         ''' load new data '''
         if not book.sync and not book.sync_cover:
-            return
+            return book
 
         if not data:
             key = getattr(book, self.key_name)
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ def get_data(url):
     return data
 
 
-class SearchResult(object):
+class SearchResult:
     ''' standardized search result object '''
     def __init__(self, title, key, author, year):
         self.title = title
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ class SearchResult(object):
             self.key, self.title, self.author)
 
 
-class Mapping(object):
+class Mapping:
     ''' associate a local database field with a field in an external dataset '''
     def __init__(
             self, local_field, remote_field=None, formatter=None, model=None):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
index f776fa27..d74735d2 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
@@ -123,15 +123,15 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         return data.get('docs')
 
 
-    def format_search_result(self, doc):
+    def format_search_result(self, search_result):
         # build the remote id from the openlibrary key
-        key = self.books_url + doc['key']
-        author = doc.get('author_name') or ['Unknown']
+        key = self.books_url + search_result['key']
+        author = search_result.get('author_name') or ['Unknown']
         return SearchResult(
-            doc.get('title'),
+            search_result.get('title'),
             key,
             ', '.join(author),
-            doc.get('first_publish_year'),
+            search_result.get('first_publish_year'),
         )
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
index 48b49a6d..e1317597 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
@@ -7,10 +7,6 @@ from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, SearchResult
 
 class Connector(AbstractConnector):
     ''' instantiate a connector  '''
-    def __init__(self, identifier):
-        super().__init__(identifier)
-
-
     def search(self, query):
         ''' right now you can't search bookwyrm sorry, but when
         that gets implemented it will totally rule '''
@@ -44,18 +40,18 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         return search_results
 
 
-    def format_search_result(self, book):
+    def format_search_result(self, search_result):
         return SearchResult(
-            book.title,
-            book.local_id,
-            book.author_text,
-            book.published_date.year if book.published_date else None,
+            search_result.title,
+            search_result.local_id,
+            search_result.author_text,
+            search_result.published_date.year if \
+                    search_result.published_date else None,
         )
 
 
     def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
         ''' this COULD be semi-implemented but I think it shouldn't be used '''
-        pass
 
 
     def is_work_data(self, data):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/forms.py b/bookwyrm/forms.py
index db9a1b69..0419756a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/forms.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/forms.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-''' usin django model forms '''
+''' using django model forms '''
 import datetime
 
-from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 from django.forms import ModelForm, PasswordInput, widgets
 from django import forms
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/incoming.py b/bookwyrm/incoming.py
index dc6613f2..144400f9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/incoming.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/incoming.py
@@ -38,10 +38,8 @@ def shared_inbox(request):
 
     try:
         activity = json.loads(request.body)
-    except json.decoder.JSONDecodeError:
-        return HttpResponseBadRequest()
-
-    if not activity.get('object'):
+        activity_object = activity['object']
+    except (json.decoder.JSONDecodeError, KeyError):
         return HttpResponseBadRequest()
 
     if not has_valid_signature(request, activity):
@@ -74,7 +72,7 @@ def shared_inbox(request):
 
     handler = handlers.get(activity_type, None)
     if isinstance(handler, dict):
-        handler = handler.get(activity['object']['type'], None)
+        handler = handler.get(activity_object['type'], None)
 
     if not handler:
         return HttpResponseNotFound()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
index c7cea837..b2279bc9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ def construct_search_term(title, author):
 
 
 class ImportJob(models.Model):
+    ''' entry for a specific request for book data import '''
     user = models.ForeignKey(User, on_delete=models.CASCADE)
     created_date = models.DateTimeField(default=timezone.now)
     task_id = models.CharField(max_length=100, null=True)
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ class ImportJob(models.Model):
         'Status', null=True, on_delete=models.PROTECT)
 
 class ImportItem(models.Model):
+    ''' a single line of a csv being imported '''
     job = models.ForeignKey(
         ImportJob,
         on_delete=models.CASCADE,
@@ -77,6 +79,7 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
 
     @property
     def isbn(self):
+        ''' pulls out the isbn13 field from the csv line data '''
         return unquote_string(self.data['ISBN13'])
 
     @property
@@ -87,24 +90,29 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
 
     @property
     def review(self):
+        ''' a user-written review, to be imported with the book data '''
         return self.data['My Review']
 
     @property
     def rating(self):
+        ''' x/5 star rating for a book '''
         return int(self.data['My Rating'])
 
     @property
     def date_added(self):
+        ''' when the book was added to this dataset '''
         if self.data['Date Added']:
             return dateutil.parser.parse(self.data['Date Added'])
 
     @property
     def date_read(self):
+        ''' the date a book was completed '''
         if self.data['Date Read']:
             return dateutil.parser.parse(self.data['Date Read'])
 
     @property
     def reads(self):
+        ''' formats a read through dataset for the book in this line '''
         if (self.shelf == 'reading'
                 and self.date_added and not self.date_read):
             return [ReadThrough(start_date=self.date_added)]
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/site.py b/bookwyrm/models/site.py
index 3f7f15f3..1472ab25 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/site.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/site.py
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
+''' the particulars for this instance of BookWyrm '''
 import base64
 
 from Crypto import Random
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils import timezone
-import datetime
 
 from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
 from .user import User
 
 class SiteSettings(models.Model):
+    ''' customized settings for this instance '''
     name = models.CharField(default=DOMAIN, max_length=100)
     instance_description = models.TextField(
         default="This instance has no description.")
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ class SiteSettings(models.Model):
 
     @classmethod
     def get(cls):
+        ''' gets the site settings db entry or defaults '''
         try:
             return cls.objects.get(id=1)
         except cls.DoesNotExist:
@@ -26,9 +28,11 @@ class SiteSettings(models.Model):
             return default_settings
 
 def new_invite_code():
+    ''' the identifier for a user invite '''
     return base64.b32encode(Random.get_random_bytes(5)).decode('ascii')
 
 class SiteInvite(models.Model):
+    ''' gives someone access to create an account on the instance '''
     code = models.CharField(max_length=32, default=new_invite_code)
     expiry = models.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True)
     use_limit = models.IntegerField(blank=True, null=True)
@@ -36,10 +40,12 @@ class SiteInvite(models.Model):
     user = models.ForeignKey(User, on_delete=models.CASCADE)
 
     def valid(self):
+        ''' make sure it hasn't expired or been used '''
         return (
             (self.expiry is None or self.expiry > timezone.now()) and
             (self.use_limit is None or self.times_used < self.use_limit))
 
     @property
     def link(self):
+        ''' formats the invite link '''
         return "https://{}/invite/{}".format(DOMAIN, self.code)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/sanitize_html.py b/bookwyrm/sanitize_html.py
index 70f63ed2..9c5ca73a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/sanitize_html.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/sanitize_html.py
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 from html.parser import HTMLParser
 
 class InputHtmlParser(HTMLParser):
-    ''' Removes any html that isn't whitelisted from a block '''
+    ''' Removes any html that isn't allowed_tagsed from a block '''
 
     def __init__(self):
         HTMLParser.__init__(self)
-        self.whitelist = ['p', 'b', 'i', 'pre', 'a', 'span']
+        self.allowed_tags = ['p', 'b', 'i', 'pre', 'a', 'span']
         self.tag_stack = []
         self.output = []
         # if the html appears invalid, we just won't allow any at all
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class InputHtmlParser(HTMLParser):
 
     def handle_starttag(self, tag, attrs):
         ''' check if the tag is valid '''
-        if self.allow_html and tag in self.whitelist:
+        if self.allow_html and tag in self.allowed_tags:
             self.output.append(('tag', self.get_starttag_text()))
             self.tag_stack.append(tag)
         else:
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class InputHtmlParser(HTMLParser):
 
     def handle_endtag(self, tag):
         ''' keep the close tag '''
-        if not self.allow_html or tag not in self.whitelist:
+        if not self.allow_html or tag not in self.allowed_tags:
             self.output.append(('data', ''))
             return
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/settings.py b/bookwyrm/settings.py
index 8d1276c7..9faba08a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/settings.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/settings.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ OL_URL = env('OL_URL')
 # Application definition
 
 INSTALLED_APPS = [
-    #'django.contrib.admin',
+    'django.contrib.admin',
     'django.contrib.auth',
     'django.contrib.contenttypes',
     'django.contrib.sessions',
diff --git a/bookwyrm/signatures.py b/bookwyrm/signatures.py
index c68381a9..0aa74918 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/signatures.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/signatures.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+''' signs activitypub activities '''
 import hashlib
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 import datetime
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ from Crypto.Hash import SHA256
 MAX_SIGNATURE_AGE = 300
 
 def create_key_pair():
+    ''' a new public/private key pair, used for creating new users '''
     random_generator = Random.new().read
     key = RSA.generate(1024, random_generator)
     private_key = key.export_key().decode('utf8')
@@ -20,6 +22,7 @@ def create_key_pair():
 
 
 def make_signature(sender, destination, date, digest):
+    ''' uses a private key to sign an outgoing message '''
     inbox_parts = urlparse(destination)
     signature_headers = [
         '(request-target): post %s' % inbox_parts.path,
@@ -38,10 +41,15 @@ def make_signature(sender, destination, date, digest):
     }
     return ','.join('%s="%s"' % (k, v) for (k, v) in signature.items())
 
+
 def make_digest(data):
-    return 'SHA-256=' + b64encode(hashlib.sha256(data.encode('utf-8')).digest()).decode('utf-8')
+    ''' creates a message digest for signing '''
+    return 'SHA-256=' + b64encode(hashlib.sha256(data.encode('utf-8'))\
+            .digest()).decode('utf-8')
+
 
 def verify_digest(request):
+    ''' checks if a digest is syntactically valid and matches the message '''
     algorithm, digest = request.headers['digest'].split('=', 1)
     if algorithm == 'SHA-256':
         hash_function = hashlib.sha256
@@ -55,6 +63,7 @@ def verify_digest(request):
         raise ValueError("Invalid HTTP Digest header")
 
 class Signature:
+    ''' read and validate incoming signatures '''
     def __init__(self, key_id, headers, signature):
         self.key_id = key_id
         self.headers = headers
@@ -62,6 +71,7 @@ class Signature:
 
     @classmethod
     def parse(cls, request):
+        ''' extract and parse a signature from an http request '''
         signature_dict = {}
         for pair in request.headers['Signature'].split(','):
             k, v = pair.split('=', 1)
@@ -105,7 +115,9 @@ class Signature:
         # raises a ValueError if it fails
         signer.verify(digest, self.signature)
 
+
 def http_date_age(datestr):
+    ''' age of a signature in seconds '''
     parsed = datetime.datetime.strptime(datestr, '%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S GMT')
     delta = datetime.datetime.utcnow() - parsed
     return delta.total_seconds()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templatetags/fr_display.py b/bookwyrm/templatetags/fr_display.py
index 578ee13e..cf4e46bb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templatetags/fr_display.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/templatetags/fr_display.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def get_boosted(boost):
 def get_edition_info(book):
     ''' paperback, French language, 1982 '''
     if not book:
-        return
+        return ''
     items = [
         book.physical_format if isinstance(book, models.Edition) else None,
         book.languages[0] + ' language' if book.languages and \
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ def current_shelf(context, book):
 
 @register.simple_tag(takes_context=False)
 def latest_read_through(book, user):
+    ''' the most recent read activity '''
     return models.ReadThrough.objects.filter(
         user=user,
         book=book).order_by('-created_date').first()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
index a7ec9dcb..f4af8a1a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from bookwyrm.connectors.abstract_connector import Mapping,\
 from bookwyrm.connectors.bookwyrm_connector import Connector
 
 
-class BookWyrmConnector(TestCase):
+class AbstractConnector(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(title='Example Edition')
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_broadcast.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_broadcast.py
index 36e74aba..1112b3fa 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_broadcast.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_broadcast.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from django.test import TestCase
 
 from bookwyrm import models, broadcast
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
 
 
 class Book(TestCase):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/urls.py b/bookwyrm/urls.py
index e46c8d2c..9f20e233 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/urls.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/urls.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ''' url routing for the app and api '''
 from django.conf.urls.static import static
-#from django.contrib import admin
+from django.contrib import admin
 from django.urls import path, re_path
 
 from bookwyrm import incoming, outgoing, views, settings, wellknown
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ book_path = r'^book/(?P<book_id>\d+)'
 handler404 = 'bookwyrm.views.not_found_page'
 handler500 = 'bookwyrm.views.server_error_page'
 urlpatterns = [
-#    path('admin/', admin.site.urls),
+    path('admin/', admin.site.urls),
 
     # federation endpoints
     re_path(r'^inbox/?$', incoming.shared_inbox),
@@ -66,15 +66,18 @@ urlpatterns = [
 
     # books
     re_path(r'%s(.json)?/?$' % book_path, views.book_page),
-    re_path(r'%s/(?P<tab>friends|local|federated)?$' % book_path, views.book_page),
+    re_path(r'%s/(?P<tab>friends|local|federated)?$' % \
+            book_path, views.book_page),
     re_path(r'%s/edit/?$' % book_path, views.edit_book_page),
     re_path(r'^editions/(?P<work_id>\d+)/?$', views.editions_page),
 
     re_path(r'^author/(?P<author_id>[\w\-]+)(.json)?/?$', views.author_page),
     # TODO: tag needs a .json path
     re_path(r'^tag/(?P<tag_id>.+)/?$', views.tag_page),
-    re_path(r'^%s/shelf/(?P<shelf_identifier>[\w-]+)(.json)?/?$' % user_path, views.shelf_page),
-    re_path(r'^%s/shelf/(?P<shelf_identifier>[\w-]+)(.json)?/?$' % local_user_path, views.shelf_page),
+    re_path(r'^%s/shelf/(?P<shelf_identifier>[\w-]+)(.json)?/?$' % \
+            user_path, views.shelf_page),
+    re_path(r'^%s/shelf/(?P<shelf_identifier>[\w-]+)(.json)?/?$' % \
+            local_user_path, views.shelf_page),
 
     re_path(r'^search/?$', views.search),
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/view_actions.py b/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
index c06e3d9f..ad07eaf4 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
@@ -435,6 +435,7 @@ def import_data(request):
 
 @login_required
 def create_invite(request):
+    ''' creates a user invite database entry '''
     form = forms.CreateInviteForm(request.POST)
     if not form.is_valid():
         return HttpResponseBadRequest("ERRORS : %s" % (form.errors,))
diff --git a/celerywyrm/__init__.py b/celerywyrm/__init__.py
index 3e6ab9e5..1c8fa15d 100644
--- a/celerywyrm/__init__.py
+++ b/celerywyrm/__init__.py
@@ -6,5 +6,3 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from .celery import app as celery_app
 
 __all__ = ('celery_app',)
-
-
diff --git a/celerywyrm/celery.py b/celerywyrm/celery.py
index cae546a3..f566bbed 100644
--- a/celerywyrm/celery.py
+++ b/celerywyrm/celery.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+''' configures celery for task management '''
 from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from . import settings
 
@@ -22,4 +23,3 @@ app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='incoming')
 app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='broadcast')
 app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='books_manager')
 app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='goodreads_import')
-
diff --git a/fr-dev b/fr-dev
index 8fad19dd..15dddd2c 100755
--- a/fr-dev
+++ b/fr-dev
@@ -45,6 +45,6 @@ case "$1" in
         docker-compose exec web coverage report
         ;;
     *)
-        echo "Unrecognised command. Try: up, initdb, resetdb,makemigrations, migrate, shell, dbshell, restart_celery, test, test_report"
+        echo "Unrecognised command. Try: up, initdb, resetdb, makemigrations, migrate, shell, dbshell, restart_celery, test, test_report"
         ;;
 esac