diff --git a/util/algorithm.py b/util/algorithm.py
index faa40d9..92b0380 100644
--- a/util/algorithm.py
+++ b/util/algorithm.py
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 import copy
 
-# algorithm copied from
-# http://blog.impressiver.com/post/31434674390/deep-merge-multiple-python-dicts
-# nicely done :)
+
 def merge(target, *args):
+    """Merges arbitrary data - copied from http://blog.impressiver.com/post/31434674390/deep-merge-multiple-python-dicts
+
+    :param target: the data structure to fill
+    :param args: a list of data structures to merge into target
+
+    :return: target, with all data in args merged into it
+    :rtype: whatever type was originally passed in
+    """
     if len(args) > 1:
         for item in args:
             merge(target, item)
diff --git a/util/cli.py b/util/cli.py
index 5ea29f4..fd54093 100644
--- a/util/cli.py
+++ b/util/cli.py
@@ -5,6 +5,19 @@ import logging
 
 
 def execute(cmd, wait=True, ignore_errors=False, include_stderr=False, env=None):
+    """Executes a commandline utility and returns its output
+
+    :param cmd: the command (as string) to execute, returns the program's output
+    :param wait: set to True to wait for command completion, False to return immediately, defaults to True
+    :param ignore_errors: set to True to return a string when an exception is thrown, otherwise might throw, defaults to False
+    :param include_stderr: set to True to include stderr output in the return value, defaults to False
+    :param env: provide a dict here to specify a custom execution environment, defaults to None
+
+    :raises RuntimeError: the command either didn't exist or didn't exit cleanly, and ignore_errors was set to False
+
+    :return: output of cmd, or stderr, if ignore_errors is True and the command failed
+    :rtype: string
+    """
     args = shlex.split(cmd)
     logging.debug(cmd)
     try:
diff --git a/util/format.py b/util/format.py
index d5dc15a..d0eea10 100644
--- a/util/format.py
+++ b/util/format.py
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@ import re
 
 
 def asbool(val):
+    """Converts a value into a boolean
+
+    :param val: value to convert; accepts a wide range of
+        possible representations, such as yes, no, true, false, on, off
+
+    :return: True of val maps to true, False otherwise
+    :rtype: boolean
+    """
     if val is None:
         return False
     if isinstance(val, bool):
@@ -11,6 +19,17 @@ def asbool(val):
 
 
 def asint(val, minimum=None, maximum=None):
+    """Converts a value into an integer
+
+    :param val: value to convert
+    :param minimum: if specified, this determines the lower
+        boundary for the returned value, defaults to None
+    :param maximum: if specified, this determines the upper
+        boundary for the returned value, defaults to None
+
+    :return: integer representation of value
+    :rtype: integer
+    """
     if val is None:
         val = 0
     val = int(val)
@@ -20,6 +39,13 @@ def asint(val, minimum=None, maximum=None):
 
 
 def aslist(val):
+    """Converts a comma-separated value string into a list
+
+    :param val: value to convert, either a single value or a comma-separated string
+
+    :return: list representation of the value passed in
+    :rtype: list of strings
+    """
     if val is None:
         return []
     if isinstance(val, list):
@@ -30,11 +56,30 @@ def aslist(val):
 __UNITS = {"metric": "C", "kelvin": "K", "imperial": "F", "default": "C"}
 
 
-def astemperature(value, unit="metric"):
+def astemperature(val, unit="metric"):
+    """Returns a temperature representation of the input value
+
+    :param val: value to format, must be convertible into an integer
+    :param unit: unit of the input value, supported units are:
+        metric, kelvin, imperial, defaults to metric
+
+    :return: temperature representation of the input value
+    :rtype: string
+    """
     return "{}°{}".format(int(value), __UNITS.get(unit, __UNITS["default"]))
 
 
 def byte(val, fmt="{:.2f}"):
+    """Returns a byte representation of the input value
+
+    :param val: value to format, must be convertible into a float
+    :param fmt: optional output format string, defaults to {:.2f}
+
+    :return: byte representation (e.g. <X> KiB, GiB, etc.) of the input value
+    :rtype: string
+    """
+
+    val = float(val)
     for unit in ["", "Ki", "Mi", "Gi"]:
         if val < 1024.0:
             return "{}{}B".format(fmt, unit).format(val)
@@ -46,6 +91,13 @@ __seconds_pattern = re.compile("(([\d\.?]+)h)?(([\d\.]+)m)?([\d\.]+)?s?")
 
 
 def seconds(duration):
+    """Returns a time duration (in seconds) representation of the input value
+
+    :param duration: value to format (e.g. 5h30m2s)
+
+    :return: duration in seconds of the input value
+    :rtype: float
+    """
     if isinstance(duration, int) or isinstance(duration, float):
         return float(duration)
 
@@ -62,6 +114,15 @@ def seconds(duration):
 
 
 def duration(duration, compact=False, unit=False):
+    """Returns a time duration string representing the input value
+
+    :param duration: value to format, must be convertible into an into
+    :param compact: whether to show also seconds, defaults to False
+    :param unit: whether to display he unit, defaults to False
+
+    :return: duration representation (e.g. 5:02s) of the input value
+    :rtype: string
+    """
     duration = int(duration)
     if duration < 0:
         return "n/a"
diff --git a/util/location.py b/util/location.py
index caaee40..f8cb441 100644
--- a/util/location.py
+++ b/util/location.py
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+"""Retrieves location information from an external
+service and caches it for 12h (retries are done every
+30m in case of problems)
+
+Right now, it uses (in order of preference):
+    - http://free.ipwhois.io/
+    - http://ipapi.co/
+"""
+
+
 import json
 import time
 import urllib.request
@@ -5,7 +15,6 @@ import urllib.request
 __document = None
 __data = {}
 __next = 0
-
 __sources = [
     {
         "url": "http://free.ipwhois.io/json/",
@@ -58,19 +67,36 @@ def __get(name, default=None):
 
 
 def reset():
+    """Resets the location library, ensuring that a new query will be started
+    """
     global __next
     __next = 0
 
 
 def coordinates():
+    """Returns a latitude, longitude pair
+
+    :return: current latitude and longitude
+    :rtype: pair of strings
+    """
     return __get("latitude"), __get("longitude")
 
 
 def country():
+    """Returns the current country name
+
+    :return: country name
+    :rtype: string
+    """
     return __get("country")
 
 
 def public_ip():
+    """Returns the current public IP
+
+    :return: public IP
+    :rtype: string
+    """
     return __get("public_ip")