diff --git a/README.markdown b/README.markdown
index 4d03421..b9e08c4 100644
--- a/README.markdown
+++ b/README.markdown
@@ -29,14 +29,15 @@
 4.3. [Are there any local checkers for HTML5 that I can use with syntastic?](#faqhtml5)  
 4.4. [The `perl` checker has stopped working...](#faqperl)  
 4.5. [What happened to the `rustc` checker?](#faqrust)  
-4.6. [I run a checker and the location list is not updated...](#faqloclist)  
-4.6. [I run`:lopen` or `:lwindow` and the error window is empty...](#faqloclist)  
-4.7. [How can I pass additional arguments to a checker?](#faqargs)  
-4.8. [Syntastic supports several checkers for my filetype - how do I tell which one(s) to use?](#faqcheckers)  
-4.9. [What is the difference between syntax checkers and style checkers?](#faqstyle)  
-4.10. [I have enabled multiple checkers for the current filetype.  How can I display all of the errors from all of the checkers together?](#faqaggregate)  
-4.11. [How can I jump between the different errors without using the location list at the bottom of the window?](#faqlnext)  
-4.12. [The error window is closed automatically when I :quit the current buffer but not when I :bdelete it?](#faqbdelete)  
+4.6. [What happened to the `xcrun` checker?](#faqxcrun)  
+4.7. [I run a checker and the location list is not updated...](#faqloclist)  
+4.7. [I run`:lopen` or `:lwindow` and the error window is empty...](#faqloclist)  
+4.8. [How can I pass additional arguments to a checker?](#faqargs)  
+4.9. [Syntastic supports several checkers for my filetype - how do I tell which one(s) to use?](#faqcheckers)  
+4.10. [What is the difference between syntax checkers and style checkers?](#faqstyle)  
+4.11. [I have enabled multiple checkers for the current filetype.  How can I display all of the errors from all of the checkers together?](#faqaggregate)  
+4.12. [How can I jump between the different errors without using the location list at the bottom of the window?](#faqlnext)  
+4.13. [The error window is closed automatically when I :quit the current buffer but not when I :bdelete it?](#faqbdelete)  
 5. [Resources](#otherresources)  
 
 - - -
@@ -51,18 +52,23 @@ can be done on demand, or automatically as files are saved. If syntax errors
 are detected, the user is notified and is happy because they didn't have to
 compile their code or execute their script to find them.
 
-At the time of this writing, syntax checking plugins exist for ActionScript,
-Ada, AppleScript, AsciiDoc, ASM, BEMHTML, Bro, Bourne shell, C, C++, C#, Cabal,
-Chef, CoffeeScript, Coco, Coq, CSS, Cucumber, CUDA, D, Dart, DocBook, Dust,
-Elixir, Erlang, eRuby, Fortran, Gentoo metadata, GLSL, Go, Haml, Haskell,
-Haxe, Handlebars, HSS, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON, JSX, LESS, Lex, Limbo,
-LISP, LLVM intermediate language, Lua, Markdown, MATLAB, NASM, Objective-C,
-Objective-C++, OCaml, Perl, Perl POD, PHP, gettext Portable Object, OS X and
-iOS property lists, Puppet, Python, R, Racket, Relax NG, reStructuredText, RPM
-spec, Ruby, SASS/SCSS, Scala, Slim, Tcl, TeX, Texinfo, Twig, TypeScript, Vala,
-Verilog, VHDL, VimL, xHtml, XML, XSLT, YACC, YAML, z80, Zope page templates,
-and zsh.  See the [wiki][3] for details about the corresponding supported
-checkers.
+At the time of this writing, syntastic has checking plugins for ActionScript,
+Ada, API Blueprint, AppleScript, AsciiDoc, ASM, BEMHTML, Bro, Bourne shell, C,
+C++, C#, Cabal, Chef, CoffeeScript, Coco, Coq, CSS, Cucumber, CUDA, D, Dart,
+DocBook, Dust, Elixir, Erlang, eRuby, Fortran, Gentoo metadata, GLSL, Go, Haml,
+Haskell, Haxe, Handlebars, HSS, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON, JSX, LESS, Lex,
+Limbo, LISP, LLVM intermediate language, Lua, Markdown, MATLAB, Mercury, NASM,
+Nix, Objective-C, Objective-C++, OCaml, Perl, Perl POD, PHP, gettext Portable
+Object, OS X and iOS property lists, Puppet, Python, R, Racket, Relax NG,
+reStructuredText, RPM spec, Ruby, SASS/SCSS, Scala, Slim, SML, Sphinx, Tcl,
+TeX, Texinfo, Twig, TypeScript, Vala, Verilog, VHDL, VimL, xHtml, XML, XSLT,
+YACC, YAML, z80, Zope page templates, and zsh.  See the [wiki][3] for details
+about the corresponding supported checkers.
+
+A number of third-party Vim plugins also provide checkers for syntastic,
+for example: [omnisharp-vim][25], [rust.vim][12], [syntastic-extras][26],
+[syntastic-more][27], [vim-crystal][29], [vim-eastwood][28], and
+[vim-swift][24].
 
 Below is a screenshot showing the methods that Syntastic uses to display syntax
 errors.  Note that, in practise, you will only have a subset of these methods
@@ -183,10 +189,32 @@ supported, look at the [wiki][3]. Note that aliases do not work; the actual
 executables must be available in your `$PATH`. Symbolic links are okay though.
 You can see syntastic's idea of available checkers by running `:SyntasticInfo`.
 
-Another reason it could fail is that either the command line options or the
-error output for a syntax checker may have changed. In this case, make sure you
-have the latest version of the syntax checker installed. If it still fails then
-create an issue - or better yet, create a pull request.
+A second probable reason is that none of the available checkers are
+enabled. Syntastic comes preconfigured with a default list of enabled checkers
+per filetype, but this list is kept short in order to prevent slowing down Vim
+or trying to run conflicting checks. The command `:SyntasticInfo` will show you
+which checkers are enabled. You can tell syntastic which checkers (among the
+available ones) you want to run by setting `g:syntastic_<filetype>_checkers` in
+your `vimrc` (see [below](#faqcheckers)).
+
+A third possible reason is that the `$PATH` seen by syntastic might not be same
+as the `$PATH` in your login shell. Syntastic runs checkers using the shell
+pointed to by Vim's `shell` (or by `g:syntastic_shell`, if set), and that's the
+shell you need to configure to set the proper `$PATH` and environment variables
+for your checkers. You can see syntastic's idea of `$PATH` by running
+```vim
+:echo syntastic#util#system('echo "$PATH"')
+```
+on UNIX and Mac OS-X systems, or
+```vim
+:echo syntastic#util#system('echo %PATH%')
+```
+on Windows.
+
+Finally, another reason it could fail is that either the command line options
+or the error output for a syntax checker may have changed. In this case, make
+sure you have the latest version of the syntax checker installed. If it still
+fails then post an [issue][4] - or better yet, create a pull request.
 
 <a name="faqpython3"></a>
 
@@ -204,8 +232,10 @@ __4.3. Q. Are there any local checkers for HTML5 that I can use with syntastic?_
 
 [HTML Tidy][18] has a fork named [HTML Tidy for HTML5][19].  It's a drop
 in replacement, and syntastic can use it without changes.  Just install it
-somewhere and point `g:syntastic_html_tidy_exec` to its executable.
-
+somewhere and point `g:syntastic_html_tidy_exec` to its executable:
+```vim
+let g:syntastic_html_tidy_exec = 'tidy5'
+```
 Alternatively, you can install [vnu.jar][21] from the [validator.nu][20]
 project and run it as a [HTTP server][23]:
 ```sh
@@ -236,14 +266,21 @@ let g:syntastic_enable_perl_checker = 1
 
 __4.5. Q. What happened to the `rustc` checker?__
 
-A. It has been included in the [Rust compiler package][12].  If you have
-a recent version of the Rust compiler, the checker should be picked up
-automatically by syntastic.
+A. It is now part of the [rust.vim][12] plugin.  If you install this plugin the
+checker should be picked up automatically by syntastic.
+
+<a name="faqxcrun"></a>
+
+__4.6. Q. What happened to the `xcrun` checker?__
+
+A. The `xcrun` checker used to have a security problem and it has been removed.
+A better checker for __Swift__ is part of the [vim-swift][24] plugin.  If you
+install this plugin the checker should be picked up automatically by syntastic.
 
 <a name="faqloclist"></a>
 
-__4.6. Q. I run a checker and the location list is not updated...__  
-__4.6. Q. I run`:lopen` or `:lwindow` and the error window is empty...__
+__4.7. Q. I run a checker and the location list is not updated...__  
+__4.7. Q. I run`:lopen` or `:lwindow` and the error window is empty...__
 
 A. By default the location list is changed only when you run the `:Errors`
 command, in order to minimise conflicts with other plugins.  If you want the
@@ -255,7 +292,7 @@ let g:syntastic_always_populate_loc_list = 1
 
 <a name="faqargs"></a>
 
-__4.7. Q. How can I pass additional arguments to a checker?__
+__4.8. Q. How can I pass additional arguments to a checker?__
 
 A. Almost all syntax checkers use the `makeprgBuild()` function. Those checkers
 that do can be configured using global variables. The general form of the
@@ -271,7 +308,7 @@ See `:help syntastic-checker-options` for more information.
 
 <a name="faqcheckers"></a>
 
-__4.8. Q. Syntastic supports several checkers for my filetype - how do I tell it
+__4.9. Q. Syntastic supports several checkers for my filetype - how do I tell it
 which one(s) to use?__
 
 A. Stick a line like this in your `vimrc`:
@@ -312,7 +349,7 @@ filetype of the current file is `php`).
 
 <a name="faqstyle"></a>
 
-__4.9. Q. What is the difference between syntax checkers and style checkers?__
+__4.10. Q. What is the difference between syntax checkers and style checkers?__
 
 A. The errors and warnings they produce are highlighted differently and can
 be filtered by different rules, but otherwise the distinction is pretty much
@@ -342,7 +379,7 @@ See `:help syntastic_quiet_messages` for details.
 
 <a name="faqaggregate"></a>
 
-__4.10. Q. I have enabled multiple checkers for the current filetype.  How can I
+__4.11. Q. I have enabled multiple checkers for the current filetype.  How can I
 display all of the errors from all of the checkers together?__
 
 A. Set `g:syntastic_aggregate_errors` to 1 in your `vimrc`:
@@ -354,7 +391,7 @@ See `:help syntastic-aggregating-errors` for more details.
 
 <a name="faqlnext"></a>
 
-__4.11. Q. How can I jump between the different errors without using the location
+__4.12. Q. How can I jump between the different errors without using the location
 list at the bottom of the window?__
 
 A. Vim provides several built-in commands for this. See `:help :lnext` and
@@ -366,7 +403,7 @@ mappings (among other things).
 
 <a name="faqbdelete"></a>
 
-__4.12. Q. The error window is closed automatically when I :quit the current buffer
+__4.13. Q. The error window is closed automatically when I :quit the current buffer
 but not when I :bdelete it?__
 
 A. There is no safe way to handle that situation automatically, but you can
@@ -374,7 +411,7 @@ work around it:
 
 ```vim
 nnoremap <silent> <C-d> :lclose<CR>:bdelete<CR>
-cabbrev <silent> bd lclose\|bdelete
+cabbrev <silent> bd <C-r>=(getcmdtype()==#':' && getcmdpos()==1 ? 'lclose\|bdelete' : 'bd')<CR>
 ```
 
 <a name="otherresources"></a>
@@ -404,18 +441,24 @@ a look at [jedi-vim][7], [python-mode][8], or [YouCompleteMe][9].
 [9]: http://valloric.github.io/YouCompleteMe/
 [10]: http://perldoc.perl.org/perlrun.html#*-c*
 [11]: https://github.com/scrooloose/syntastic/wiki/Syntax-Checker-Guide
-[12]: https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/
+[12]: https://github.com/rust-lang/rust.vim
 [13]: http://www.vim.org/
 [14]: https://github.com/Shougo/neobundle.vim
 [15]: https://github.com/MarcWeber/vim-addon-manager
 [16]: https://github.com/junegunn/vim-plug/
 [17]: https://github.com/gmarik/Vundle.vim
 [18]: http://tidy.sourceforge.net/
-[19]: http://w3c.github.io/tidy-html5/
+[19]: http://www.htacg.org/tidy-html5/
 [20]: http://about.validator.nu/
 [21]: https://github.com/validator/validator/releases/latest
 [22]: https://github.com/scrooloose/syntastic/wiki/HTML%3A---validator
 [23]: http://validator.github.io/validator/#standalone
+[24]: https://github.com/kballard/vim-swift
+[25]: https://github.com/OmniSharp/omnisharp-vim
+[26]: https://github.com/myint/syntastic-extras
+[27]: https://github.com/roktas/syntastic-more
+[28]: https://github.com/venantius/vim-eastwood
+[29]: https://github.com/rhysd/vim-crystal
 
 <!--
 vim:tw=79:sw=4:
diff --git a/autoload/syntastic/c.vim b/autoload/syntastic/c.vim
index 44279d1..5f31b61 100644
--- a/autoload/syntastic/c.vim
+++ b/autoload/syntastic/c.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_c_autoload") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_autoload') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_autoload = 1
@@ -10,19 +10,19 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 " convenience function to determine the 'null device' parameter
 " based on the current operating system
-function! syntastic#c#NullOutput() " {{{2
+function! syntastic#c#NullOutput() abort " {{{2
     let known_os = has('unix') || has('mac') || syntastic#util#isRunningWindows()
     return known_os ? '-o ' . syntastic#util#DevNull() : ''
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " read additional compiler flags from the given configuration file
 " the file format and its parsing mechanism is inspired by clang_complete
-function! syntastic#c#ReadConfig(file) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#c#ReadConfig(file) abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_CHECKERS, 'ReadConfig: looking for', a:file)
 
     " search upwards from the current file's directory
-    let config = findfile(a:file, '.;')
-    if config == ''
+    let config = findfile(a:file, escape(expand('%:p:h', 1), ' ') . ';')
+    if config ==# ''
         call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_CHECKERS, 'ReadConfig: file not found')
         return ''
     endif
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ function! syntastic#c#ReadConfig(file) " {{{2
     endtry
 
     " filter out empty lines and comments
-    call filter(lines, 'v:val !~ ''\v^(\s*#|$)''')
+    call filter(lines, 'v:val !~# ''\v^(\s*#|$)''')
 
     " remove leading and trailing spaces
     call map(lines, 'substitute(v:val, ''\m^\s\+'', "", "")')
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ function! syntastic#c#ReadConfig(file) " {{{2
     let parameters = []
     for line in lines
         let matches = matchstr(line, '\m\C^\s*-I\s*\zs.\+')
-        if matches != ''
+        if matches !=# ''
             " this one looks like an absolute path
             if match(matches, '\m^\%(/\|\a:\)') != -1
                 call add(parameters, '-I' . matches)
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ function! syntastic#c#ReadConfig(file) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " GetLocList() for C-like compilers
-function! syntastic#c#GetLocList(filetype, subchecker, options) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#c#GetLocList(filetype, subchecker, options) abort " {{{2
     try
         let flags = s:_get_cflags(a:filetype, a:subchecker, a:options)
     catch /\m\C^Syntastic: skip checks$/
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " Private functions {{{1
 
 " initialize c/cpp syntax checker handlers
-function! s:_init() " {{{2
+function! s:_init() abort " {{{2
     let s:handlers = []
     let s:cflags = {}
 
@@ -118,22 +118,22 @@ function! s:_init() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " register a handler dictionary object
-function! s:_registerHandler(regex, function, args) " {{{2
+function! s:_registerHandler(regex, function, args) abort " {{{2
     let handler = {}
-    let handler["regex"] = a:regex
-    let handler["func"] = function(a:function)
-    let handler["args"] = a:args
+    let handler['regex'] = a:regex
+    let handler['func'] = function(a:function)
+    let handler['args'] = a:args
     call add(s:handlers, handler)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " try to find library with 'pkg-config'
 " search possible libraries from first to last given
 " argument until one is found
-function! s:_checkPackage(name, ...) " {{{2
+function! s:_checkPackage(name, ...) abort " {{{2
     if executable('pkg-config')
         if !has_key(s:cflags, a:name)
             for pkg in a:000
-                let pkg_flags = system('pkg-config --cflags ' . pkg)
+                let pkg_flags = syntastic#util#system('pkg-config --cflags ' . pkg)
                 " since we cannot necessarily trust the pkg-config exit code
                 " we have to check for an error output as well
                 if v:shell_error == 0 && pkg_flags !~? 'not found'
@@ -150,10 +150,10 @@ function! s:_checkPackage(name, ...) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " try to find PHP includes with 'php-config'
-function! s:_checkPhp() " {{{2
+function! s:_checkPhp() abort " {{{2
     if executable('php-config')
         if !has_key(s:cflags, 'php')
-            let s:cflags['php'] = system('php-config --includes')
+            let s:cflags['php'] = syntastic#util#system('php-config --includes')
             let s:cflags['php'] = ' ' . substitute(s:cflags['php'], "\n", '', '')
         endif
         return s:cflags['php']
@@ -162,10 +162,10 @@ function! s:_checkPhp() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " try to find the python headers with distutils
-function! s:_checkPython() " {{{2
+function! s:_checkPython() abort " {{{2
     if executable('python')
         if !has_key(s:cflags, 'python')
-            let s:cflags['python'] = system('python -c ''from distutils import ' .
+            let s:cflags['python'] = syntastic#util#system('python -c ''from distutils import ' .
                 \ 'sysconfig; import sys; sys.stdout.write(sysconfig.get_python_inc())''')
             let s:cflags['python'] = substitute(s:cflags['python'], "\n", '', '')
             let s:cflags['python'] = ' -I' . s:cflags['python']
@@ -176,10 +176,10 @@ function! s:_checkPython() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " try to find the ruby headers with 'rbconfig'
-function! s:_checkRuby() " {{{2
+function! s:_checkRuby() abort " {{{2
     if executable('ruby')
         if !has_key(s:cflags, 'ruby')
-            let s:cflags['ruby'] = system('ruby -r rbconfig -e ' .
+            let s:cflags['ruby'] = syntastic#util#system('ruby -r rbconfig -e ' .
                 \ '''puts RbConfig::CONFIG["rubyhdrdir"] || RbConfig::CONFIG["archdir"]''')
             let s:cflags['ruby'] = substitute(s:cflags['ruby'], "\n", '', '')
             let s:cflags['ruby'] = ' -I' . s:cflags['ruby']
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " Utilities {{{1
 
 " resolve checker-related user variables
-function! s:_get_checker_var(scope, filetype, subchecker, name, default) " {{{2
+function! s:_get_checker_var(scope, filetype, subchecker, name, default) abort " {{{2
     let prefix = a:scope . ':' . 'syntastic_'
     if exists(prefix . a:filetype . '_' . a:subchecker . '_' . a:name)
         return {a:scope}:syntastic_{a:filetype}_{a:subchecker}_{a:name}
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ function! s:_get_checker_var(scope, filetype, subchecker, name, default) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " resolve user CFLAGS
-function! s:_get_cflags(ft, ck, opts) " {{{2
+function! s:_get_cflags(ft, ck, opts) abort " {{{2
     " determine whether to parse header files as well
     if has_key(a:opts, 'header_names') && expand('%', 1) =~? a:opts['header_names']
         if s:_get_checker_var('g', a:ft, a:ck, 'check_header', 0)
@@ -223,10 +223,10 @@ function! s:_get_cflags(ft, ck, opts) " {{{2
 
     " check if the user manually set some cflags
     let b_cflags = s:_get_checker_var('b', a:ft, a:ck, 'cflags', '')
-    if b_cflags == ''
-        " check whether to search for include files at all
-        if !s:_get_checker_var('g', a:ft, a:ck, 'no_include_search', 0)
-            if a:ft ==# 'c' || a:ft ==# 'cpp'
+    if b_cflags ==# ''
+        if a:ft ==# 'c' || a:ft ==# 'cpp'
+            " check whether to search for include files at all
+            if !s:_get_checker_var('g', a:ft, a:ck, 'no_include_search', 0)
                 " refresh the include file search if desired
                 if s:_get_checker_var('g', a:ft, a:ck, 'auto_refresh_includes', 0)
                     let flags .= ' ' . s:_search_headers()
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " get the gcc include directory argument depending on the default
 " includes and the optional user-defined 'g:syntastic_c_include_dirs'
-function! s:_get_include_dirs(filetype) " {{{2
+function! s:_get_include_dirs(filetype) abort " {{{2
     let include_dirs = []
 
     if a:filetype =~# '\v^%(c|cpp|objc|objcpp)$' &&
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " search the first 100 lines for include statements that are
 " given in the handlers dictionary
-function! s:_search_headers() " {{{2
+function! s:_search_headers() abort " {{{2
     let includes = ''
     let files = []
     let found = []
@@ -280,15 +280,15 @@ function! s:_search_headers() " {{{2
     " search current buffer
     for line in lines
         let file = matchstr(line, '\m"\zs\S\+\ze"')
-        if file != ''
+        if file !=# ''
             call add(files, file)
             continue
         endif
 
         for handler in s:handlers
-            if line =~# handler["regex"]
-                let includes .= call(handler["func"], handler["args"])
-                call add(found, handler["regex"])
+            if line =~# handler['regex']
+                let includes .= call(handler['func'], handler['args'])
+                call add(found, handler['regex'])
                 break
             endif
         endfor
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ function! s:_search_headers() " {{{2
 
     " search included headers
     for hfile in files
-        if hfile != ''
+        if hfile !=# ''
             let filename = expand('%:p:h', 1) . syntastic#util#Slash() . hfile
 
             try
@@ -308,14 +308,14 @@ function! s:_search_headers() " {{{2
             call filter(lines, 'v:val =~# ''\m^\s*#\s*include''')
 
             for handler in s:handlers
-                if index(found, handler["regex"]) != -1
+                if index(found, handler['regex']) != -1
                     continue
                 endif
 
                 for line in lines
-                    if line =~# handler["regex"]
-                        let includes .= call(handler["func"], handler["args"])
-                        call add(found, handler["regex"])
+                    if line =~# handler['regex']
+                        let includes .= call(handler['func'], handler['args'])
+                        call add(found, handler['regex'])
                         break
                     endif
                 endfor
diff --git a/autoload/syntastic/log.vim b/autoload/syntastic/log.vim
index 8573a2f..8990f5f 100644
--- a/autoload/syntastic/log.vim
+++ b/autoload/syntastic/log.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_log_autoload") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_log_autoload') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_log_autoload = 1
@@ -10,24 +10,24 @@ let s:one_time_notices_issued = []
 
 " Public functions {{{1
 
-function! syntastic#log#info(msg) " {{{2
-    echomsg "syntastic: info: " . a:msg
+function! syntastic#log#info(msg) abort " {{{2
+    echomsg 'syntastic: info: ' . a:msg
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#log#warn(msg) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#log#warn(msg) abort " {{{2
     echohl WarningMsg
-    echomsg "syntastic: warning: " . a:msg
+    echomsg 'syntastic: warning: ' . a:msg
     echohl None
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#log#error(msg) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#log#error(msg) abort " {{{2
     execute "normal \<Esc>"
     echohl ErrorMsg
-    echomsg "syntastic: error: " . a:msg
+    echomsg 'syntastic: error: ' . a:msg
     echohl None
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#log#oneTimeWarn(msg) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#log#oneTimeWarn(msg) abort " {{{2
     if index(s:one_time_notices_issued, a:msg) >= 0
         return
     endif
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ function! syntastic#log#oneTimeWarn(msg) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:OLD_VAR)
-function! syntastic#log#deprecationWarn(old, new, ...) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#log#deprecationWarn(old, new, ...) abort " {{{2
     if exists('g:syntastic_' . a:old) && !exists('g:syntastic_' . a:new)
         let msg = 'variable g:syntastic_' . a:old . ' is deprecated, please use '
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ function! syntastic#log#deprecationWarn(old, new, ...) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 0, l:OLD_VAR)
 
-function! syntastic#log#debug(level, msg, ...) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#log#debug(level, msg, ...) abort " {{{2
     if !s:_isDebugEnabled(a:level)
         return
     endif
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ function! syntastic#log#debug(level, msg, ...) " {{{2
     call s:_logRedirect(0)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#log#debugShowOptions(level, names) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#log#debugShowOptions(level, names) abort " {{{2
     if !s:_isDebugEnabled(a:level)
         return
     endif
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ function! syntastic#log#debugShowOptions(level, names) " {{{2
     let leader = s:_log_timestamp()
     call s:_logRedirect(1)
 
-    let vlist = copy(type(a:names) == type("") ? [a:names] : a:names)
+    let vlist = copy(type(a:names) == type('') ? [a:names] : a:names)
     if !empty(vlist)
         call map(vlist, "'&' . v:val . ' = ' . strtrans(string(eval('&' . v:val)))")
         echomsg leader . join(vlist, ', ')
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ function! syntastic#log#debugShowOptions(level, names) " {{{2
     call s:_logRedirect(0)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#log#debugShowVariables(level, names) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#log#debugShowVariables(level, names) abort " {{{2
     if !s:_isDebugEnabled(a:level)
         return
     endif
@@ -104,10 +104,10 @@ function! syntastic#log#debugShowVariables(level, names) " {{{2
     let leader = s:_log_timestamp()
     call s:_logRedirect(1)
 
-    let vlist = type(a:names) == type("") ? [a:names] : a:names
+    let vlist = type(a:names) == type('') ? [a:names] : a:names
     for name in vlist
         let msg = s:_format_variable(name)
-        if msg != ''
+        if msg !=# ''
             echomsg leader . msg
         endif
     endfor
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ function! syntastic#log#debugShowVariables(level, names) " {{{2
     call s:_logRedirect(0)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#log#debugDump(level) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#log#debugDump(level) abort " {{{2
     if !s:_isDebugEnabled(a:level)
         return
     endif
@@ -127,11 +127,11 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Private functions {{{1
 
-function! s:_isDebugEnabled_smart(level) " {{{2
+function! s:_isDebugEnabled_smart(level) abort " {{{2
     return and(g:syntastic_debug, a:level)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_isDebugEnabled_dumb(level) " {{{2
+function! s:_isDebugEnabled_dumb(level) abort " {{{2
     " poor man's bit test for bit N, assuming a:level == 2**N
     return (g:syntastic_debug / a:level) % 2
 endfunction " }}}2
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 let s:_isDebugEnabled = function(exists('*and') ? 's:_isDebugEnabled_smart' : 's:_isDebugEnabled_dumb')
 lockvar s:_isDebugEnabled
 
-function! s:_logRedirect(on) " {{{2
-    if exists("g:syntastic_debug_file")
+function! s:_logRedirect(on) abort " {{{2
+    if exists('g:syntastic_debug_file')
         if a:on
             try
                 execute 'redir >> ' . fnameescape(expand(g:syntastic_debug_file, 1))
@@ -158,11 +158,11 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Utilities {{{1
 
-function! s:_log_timestamp() " {{{2
+function! s:_log_timestamp() abort " {{{2
     return 'syntastic: ' . split(reltimestr(reltime(g:_SYNTASTIC_START)))[0] . ': '
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_format_variable(name) " {{{2
+function! s:_format_variable(name) abort " {{{2
     let vals = []
     if exists('g:syntastic_' . a:name)
         call add(vals, 'g:syntastic_' . a:name . ' = ' . strtrans(string(g:syntastic_{a:name})))
diff --git a/autoload/syntastic/postprocess.vim b/autoload/syntastic/postprocess.vim
index 80fd7cf..136fa58 100644
--- a/autoload/syntastic/postprocess.vim
+++ b/autoload/syntastic/postprocess.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_postprocess_autoload") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_postprocess_autoload') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_postprocess_autoload = 1
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 " Public functions {{{1
 
 " merge consecutive blanks
-function! syntastic#postprocess#compressWhitespace(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#postprocess#compressWhitespace(errors) abort " {{{2
     for e in a:errors
         let e['text'] = substitute(e['text'], "\001", '', 'g')
         let e['text'] = substitute(e['text'], '\n', ' ', 'g')
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function! syntastic#postprocess#compressWhitespace(errors) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " remove spurious CR under Cygwin
-function! syntastic#postprocess#cygwinRemoveCR(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#postprocess#cygwinRemoveCR(errors) abort " {{{2
     if has('win32unix')
         for e in a:errors
             let e['text'] = substitute(e['text'], '\r', '', 'g')
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ function! syntastic#postprocess#cygwinRemoveCR(errors) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " decode XML entities
-function! syntastic#postprocess#decodeXMLEntities(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#postprocess#decodeXMLEntities(errors) abort " {{{2
     for e in a:errors
         let e['text'] = syntastic#util#decodeXMLEntities(e['text'])
     endfor
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ function! syntastic#postprocess#decodeXMLEntities(errors) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " filter out errors referencing other files
-function! syntastic#postprocess#filterForeignErrors(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#postprocess#filterForeignErrors(errors) abort " {{{2
     return filter(copy(a:errors), 'get(v:val, "bufnr") == ' . bufnr(''))
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " make sure line numbers are not past end of buffers
 " XXX: this loads all referenced buffers in memory
-function! syntastic#postprocess#guards(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#postprocess#guards(errors) abort " {{{2
     let buffers = syntastic#util#unique(map(filter(copy(a:errors), 'v:val["valid"]'), 'str2nr(v:val["bufnr"])'))
 
     let guards = {}
diff --git a/autoload/syntastic/preprocess.vim b/autoload/syntastic/preprocess.vim
index 85d5981..87792bc 100644
--- a/autoload/syntastic/preprocess.vim
+++ b/autoload/syntastic/preprocess.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_preprocess_autoload") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_preprocess_autoload') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_preprocess_autoload = 1
@@ -8,19 +8,19 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 " Public functions {{{1
 
-function! syntastic#preprocess#cabal(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#preprocess#cabal(errors) abort " {{{2
     let out = []
     let star = 0
     for err in a:errors
         if star
-            if err == ''
+            if err ==# ''
                 let star = 0
             else
                 let out[-1] .= ' ' . err
             endif
         else
             call add(out, err)
-            if err =~ '\m^*\s'
+            if err =~# '\m^*\s'
                 let star = 1
             endif
         endif
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function! syntastic#preprocess#cabal(errors) " {{{2
     return out
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#preprocess#checkstyle(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#preprocess#checkstyle(errors) abort " {{{2
     let out = []
     let fname = expand('%', 1)
     for err in a:errors
@@ -55,23 +55,28 @@ function! syntastic#preprocess#checkstyle(errors) " {{{2
     return out
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#preprocess#cppcheck(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#preprocess#cppcheck(errors) abort " {{{2
     return map(copy(a:errors), 'substitute(v:val, ''\v^\[[^]]+\]\zs( -\> \[[^]]+\])+\ze:'', "", "")')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:true)
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:false)
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:null)
-function! syntastic#preprocess#flow(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#preprocess#flow(errors) abort " {{{2
     " JSON artifacts
     let true = 1
     let false = 0
     let null = ''
 
+    let idx = 0
+    while idx < len(a:errors) && a:errors[idx][0] != '{'
+        let idx += 1
+    endwhile
+
     " A hat tip to Marc Weber for this trick
     " http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17751186/iterating-over-a-string-in-vimscript-or-parse-a-json-file/19105763#19105763
     try
-        let errs = eval(join(a:errors, ''))
+        let errs = eval(join(a:errors[idx :], ''))
     catch
         let errs = {}
     endtry
@@ -88,7 +93,7 @@ function! syntastic#preprocess#flow(errors) " {{{2
                         \ m['path'] . ':' .
                         \ m['line'] . ':' .
                         \ m['start'] . ':' .
-                        \ (m['line'] ==# m['endline'] ? m['end'] . ':' : '') .
+                        \ (m['line'] ==# m['endline'] && str2nr(m['end']) > 0 ? m['end'] . ':' : '') .
                         \ ' ' . m['descr']
 
                     if len(t)
@@ -123,11 +128,18 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 0, l:false)
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 0, l:null)
 
-function! syntastic#preprocess#killEmpty(errors) " {{{2
-    return filter(copy(a:errors), 'v:val != ""')
+function! syntastic#preprocess#iconv(errors) abort " {{{2
+    return
+        \ (has('iconv') || has('iconv/dyn')) && &encoding !=# '' && &encoding !=# 'utf-8' ?
+        \       map(a:errors, 'iconv(v:val, "utf-8", &encoding)') :
+        \       a:errors
+endfunction " }}}2
+
+function! syntastic#preprocess#killEmpty(errors) abort " {{{2
+    return filter(copy(a:errors), 'v:val !=# ""')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#preprocess#perl(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#preprocess#perl(errors) abort " {{{2
     let out = []
 
     for e in a:errors
@@ -143,7 +155,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:true)
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:false)
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:null)
-function! syntastic#preprocess#prospector(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#preprocess#prospector(errors) abort " {{{2
     " JSON artifacts
     let true = 1
     let false = 0
@@ -158,36 +170,38 @@ function! syntastic#preprocess#prospector(errors) " {{{2
     endtry
 
     let out = []
-    if type(errs) == type({}) && has_key(errs, 'messages') && type(errs['messages']) == type([])
-        for e in errs['messages']
-            if type(e) == type({})
-                try
-                    if e['source'] ==# 'pylint'
-                        let e['location']['character'] += 1
-                    endif
-
-                    let msg =
-                        \ e['location']['path'] . ':' .
-                        \ e['location']['line'] . ':' .
-                        \ e['location']['character'] . ': ' .
-                        \ e['code'] . ' ' .
-                        \ e['message'] . ' ' .
-                        \ '[' . e['source'] . ']'
-
-                    call add(out, msg)
-                catch /\m^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E716/
+    if type(errs) == type({}) && has_key(errs, 'messages')
+        if type(errs['messages']) == type([])
+            for e in errs['messages']
+                if type(e) == type({})
+                    try
+                        if e['source'] ==# 'pylint'
+                            let e['location']['character'] += 1
+                        endif
+
+                        let msg =
+                            \ e['location']['path'] . ':' .
+                            \ e['location']['line'] . ':' .
+                            \ e['location']['character'] . ': ' .
+                            \ e['code'] . ' ' .
+                            \ e['message'] . ' ' .
+                            \ '[' . e['source'] . ']'
+
+                        call add(out, msg)
+                    catch /\m^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E716/
+                        call syntastic#log#warn('checker python/prospector: unknown error format')
+                        let out = []
+                        break
+                    endtry
+                else
                     call syntastic#log#warn('checker python/prospector: unknown error format')
                     let out = []
                     break
-                endtry
-            else
-                call syntastic#log#warn('checker python/prospector: unknown error format')
-                let out = []
-                break
-            endif
-        endfor
-    else
-        call syntastic#log#warn('checker python/prospector: unknown error format')
+                endif
+            endfor
+        else
+            call syntastic#log#warn('checker python/prospector: unknown error format')
+        endif
     endif
 
     return out
@@ -196,16 +210,16 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 0, l:false)
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 0, l:null)
 
-function! syntastic#preprocess#rparse(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#preprocess#rparse(errors) abort " {{{2
     let errlist = copy(a:errors)
 
     " remove uninteresting lines and handle continuations
     let i = 0
     while i < len(errlist)
-        if i > 0 && errlist[i][:1] == '  ' && errlist[i] !~ '\m\s\+\^$'
+        if i > 0 && errlist[i][:1] ==# '  ' && errlist[i] !~# '\m\s\+\^$'
             let errlist[i-1] .= errlist[i][1:]
             call remove(errlist, i)
-        elseif errlist[i] !~ '\m^\(Lint:\|Lint checking:\|Error in\) '
+        elseif errlist[i] !~# '\m^\(Lint:\|Lint checking:\|Error in\) '
             call remove(errlist, i)
         else
             let i += 1
@@ -222,7 +236,7 @@ function! syntastic#preprocess#rparse(errors) " {{{2
                     call add(out, 'E:' . fname . ':' . line . ': ' . parts[1])
                 endfor
             endif
-            if len(parts) >= 5 && parts[4] != ''
+            if len(parts) >= 5 && parts[4] !=# ''
                 call add(out, 'E:' . fname . ':0: ' . parts[1] . ' - ' . parts[4] . ' messages not shown')
             endif
         elseif match(e, '\m^Lint checking: ') == 0
@@ -235,11 +249,11 @@ function! syntastic#preprocess#rparse(errors) " {{{2
     return out
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#preprocess#tslint(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#preprocess#tslint(errors) abort " {{{2
     return map(copy(a:errors), 'substitute(v:val, ''\m^\(([^)]\+)\)\s\(.\+\)$'', ''\2 \1'', "")')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#preprocess#validator(errors) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#preprocess#validator(errors) abort " {{{2
     let out = []
     for e in a:errors
         let parts = matchlist(e, '\v^"([^"]+)"(.+)')
@@ -254,6 +268,58 @@ function! syntastic#preprocess#validator(errors) " {{{2
     return out
 endfunction " }}}2
 
+" @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:true)
+" @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:false)
+" @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:null)
+function! syntastic#preprocess#vint(errors) abort " {{{2
+    " JSON artifacts
+    let true = 1
+    let false = 0
+    let null = ''
+
+    " A hat tip to Marc Weber for this trick
+    " http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17751186/iterating-over-a-string-in-vimscript-or-parse-a-json-file/19105763#19105763
+    try
+        let errs = eval(join(a:errors, ''))
+    catch
+        let errs = []
+    endtry
+
+    let out = []
+    if type(errs) == type([])
+        for e in errs
+            if type(e) == type({})
+                try
+                    let msg =
+                        \ e['file_path'] . ':' .
+                        \ e['line_number'] . ':' .
+                        \ e['column_number'] . ':' .
+                        \ e['severity'][0] . ': ' .
+                        \ e['description'] . ' (' .
+                        \ e['policy_name'] . ')'
+
+                    call add(out, msg)
+                catch /\m^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E716/
+                    call syntastic#log#warn('checker vim/vint: unknown error format')
+                    let out = []
+                    break
+                endtry
+            else
+                call syntastic#log#warn('checker vim/vint: unknown error format')
+                let out = []
+                break
+            endif
+        endfor
+    else
+        call syntastic#log#warn('checker vim/vint: unknown error format')
+    endif
+
+    return out
+endfunction " }}}2
+" @vimlint(EVL102, 0, l:true)
+" @vimlint(EVL102, 0, l:false)
+" @vimlint(EVL102, 0, l:null)
+
 " }}}1
 
 let &cpo = s:save_cpo
diff --git a/autoload/syntastic/util.vim b/autoload/syntastic/util.vim
index a87e2e2..bd3e2e1 100644
--- a/autoload/syntastic/util.vim
+++ b/autoload/syntastic/util.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_util_autoload') || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_util_autoload') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_util_autoload = 1
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 " Public functions {{{1
 
-function! syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() abort " {{{2
     return has('win16') || has('win32') || has('win64')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#util#DevNull() " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#DevNull() abort " {{{2
     if syntastic#util#isRunningWindows()
         return 'NUL'
     endif
@@ -21,28 +21,51 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Get directory separator
 function! syntastic#util#Slash() abort " {{{2
-    return (!exists("+shellslash") || &shellslash) ? '/' : '\'
+    return (!exists('+shellslash') || &shellslash) ? '/' : '\'
+endfunction " }}}2
+
+function! syntastic#util#CygwinPath(path) abort " {{{2
+    return substitute(syntastic#util#system('cygpath -m ' . syntastic#util#shescape(a:path)), "\n", '', 'g')
+endfunction " }}}2
+
+function! syntastic#util#system(command) abort " {{{2
+    let old_shell = &shell
+    let old_lc_messages = $LC_MESSAGES
+    let old_lc_all = $LC_ALL
+
+    let &shell = syntastic#util#var('shell')
+    let $LC_MESSAGES = 'C'
+    let $LC_ALL = ''
+
+    let out = system(a:command)
+
+    let $LC_ALL = old_lc_all
+    let $LC_MESSAGES = old_lc_messages
+
+    let &shell = old_shell
+
+    return out
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Create a temporary directory
-function! syntastic#util#tmpdir() " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#tmpdir() abort " {{{2
     let tempdir = ''
 
     if (has('unix') || has('mac')) && executable('mktemp')
         " TODO: option "-t" to mktemp(1) is not portable
-        let tmp = $TMPDIR != '' ? $TMPDIR : $TMP != '' ? $TMP : '/tmp'
-        let out = split(system('mktemp -q -d ' . tmp . '/vim-syntastic-' . getpid() . '-XXXXXXXX'), "\n")
+        let tmp = $TMPDIR !=# '' ? $TMPDIR : $TMP !=# '' ? $TMP : '/tmp'
+        let out = split(syntastic#util#system('mktemp -q -d ' . tmp . '/vim-syntastic-' . getpid() . '-XXXXXXXX'), "\n")
         if v:shell_error == 0 && len(out) == 1
             let tempdir = out[0]
         endif
     endif
 
-    if tempdir == ''
+    if tempdir ==# ''
         if has('win32') || has('win64')
             let tempdir = $TEMP . syntastic#util#Slash() . 'vim-syntastic-' . getpid()
         elseif has('win32unix')
-            let tempdir = s:CygwinPath('/tmp/vim-syntastic-'  . getpid())
-        elseif $TMPDIR != ''
+            let tempdir = syntastic#util#CygwinPath('/tmp/vim-syntastic-'  . getpid())
+        elseif $TMPDIR !=# ''
             let tempdir = $TMPDIR . '/vim-syntastic-' . getpid()
         else
             let tempdir = '/tmp/vim-syntastic-' . getpid()
@@ -60,7 +83,7 @@ function! syntastic#util#tmpdir() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Recursively remove a directory
-function! syntastic#util#rmrf(what) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#rmrf(what) abort " {{{2
     " try to make sure we don't delete directories we didn't create
     if a:what !~? 'vim-syntastic-'
         return
@@ -74,8 +97,8 @@ function! syntastic#util#rmrf(what) " {{{2
                 \ has('win16') || has('win95') || has('dos16') || has('dos32') ? 'deltree /Y' : ''
         endif
 
-        if s:rmrf != ''
-            silent! call system(s:rmrf . ' ' . syntastic#util#shescape(a:what))
+        if s:rmrf !=# ''
+            silent! call syntastic#util#system(s:rmrf . ' ' . syntastic#util#shescape(a:what))
         else
             call s:_rmrf(a:what)
         endif
@@ -94,10 +117,10 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 "returns
 "
 "{'exe': '/usr/bin/perl', 'args': ['-f', '-bar']}
-function! syntastic#util#parseShebang() " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#parseShebang() abort " {{{2
     for lnum in range(1, 5)
         let line = getline(lnum)
-        if line =~ '^#!'
+        if line =~# '^#!'
             let line = substitute(line, '\v^#!\s*(\S+/env(\s+-\S+)*\s+)?', '', '')
             let exe = matchstr(line, '\m^\S*\ze')
             let args = split(matchstr(line, '\m^\S*\zs.*'))
@@ -109,7 +132,7 @@ function! syntastic#util#parseShebang() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Get the value of a variable.  Allow local variables to override global ones.
-function! syntastic#util#var(name, ...) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#var(name, ...) abort " {{{2
     return
         \ exists('b:syntastic_' . a:name) ? b:syntastic_{a:name} :
         \ exists('g:syntastic_' . a:name) ? g:syntastic_{a:name} :
@@ -117,8 +140,8 @@ function! syntastic#util#var(name, ...) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Parse a version string.  Return an array of version components.
-function! syntastic#util#parseVersion(version) " {{{2
-    return map(split(matchstr( a:version, '\v^\D*\zs\d+(\.\d+)+\ze' ), '\m\.'), 'str2nr(v:val)')
+function! syntastic#util#parseVersion(version, ...) abort " {{{2
+    return map(split(matchstr( a:version, a:0 ? a:1 : '\v^\D*\zs\d+(\.\d+)+\ze' ), '\m\.'), 'str2nr(v:val)')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Verify that the 'installed' version is at least the 'required' version.
@@ -127,13 +150,13 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " the "missing" elements will be assumed to be 0 for the purposes of checking.
 "
 " See http://semver.org for info about version numbers.
-function! syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(installed, required) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(installed, required) abort " {{{2
     return syntastic#util#compareLexi(a:installed, a:required) >= 0
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Almost lexicographic comparison of two lists of integers. :) If lists
 " have different lengths, the "missing" elements are assumed to be 0.
-function! syntastic#util#compareLexi(a, b) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#compareLexi(a, b) abort " {{{2
     for idx in range(max([len(a:a), len(a:b)]))
         let a_element = str2nr(get(a:a, idx, 0))
         let b_element = str2nr(get(a:b, idx, 0))
@@ -141,7 +164,7 @@ function! syntastic#util#compareLexi(a, b) " {{{2
             return a_element > b_element ? 1 : -1
         endif
     endfor
-    " Everything matched, so it is at least the required version.
+    " still here, thus everything matched
     return 0
 endfunction " }}}2
 
@@ -150,7 +173,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 let s:_width = function(exists('*strwidth') ? 'strwidth' : 'strlen')
 lockvar s:_width
 
-function! syntastic#util#screenWidth(str, tabstop) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#screenWidth(str, tabstop) abort " {{{2
     let chunks = split(a:str, "\t", 1)
     let width = s:_width(chunks[-1])
     for c in chunks[:-2]
@@ -161,13 +184,13 @@ function! syntastic#util#screenWidth(str, tabstop) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 "print as much of a:msg as possible without "Press Enter" prompt appearing
-function! syntastic#util#wideMsg(msg) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#wideMsg(msg) abort " {{{2
     let old_ruler = &ruler
     let old_showcmd = &showcmd
 
     "This is here because it is possible for some error messages to
     "begin with \n which will cause a "press enter" prompt.
-    let msg = substitute(a:msg, "\n", "", "g")
+    let msg = substitute(a:msg, "\n", '', 'g')
 
     "convert tabs to spaces so that the tabs count towards the window
     "width as the proper amount of characters
@@ -185,7 +208,7 @@ function! syntastic#util#wideMsg(msg) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Check whether a buffer is loaded, listed, and not hidden
-function! syntastic#util#bufIsActive(buffer) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#bufIsActive(buffer) abort " {{{2
     " convert to number, or hell breaks loose
     let buf = str2nr(a:buffer)
 
@@ -203,13 +226,15 @@ function! syntastic#util#bufIsActive(buffer) " {{{2
     return 0
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-" start in directory a:where and walk up the parent folders until it
-" finds a file matching a:what; return path to that file
-function! syntastic#util#findInParent(what, where) " {{{2
+" start in directory a:where and walk up the parent folders until it finds a
+" file matching a:what; return path to that file; do NOT use this function if
+" a:what doesn't contain wildcards, use findfile(a:what, escape(a:where, ' ') . ';')
+" instead
+function! syntastic#util#findInParent(what, where) abort " {{{2
     let here = fnamemodify(a:where, ':p')
 
     let root = syntastic#util#Slash()
-    if syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() && here[1] == ':'
+    if syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() && here[1] ==# ':'
         " The drive letter is an ever-green source of fun.  That's because
         " we don't care about running syntastic on Amiga these days. ;)
         let root = fnamemodify(root, ':p')
@@ -217,7 +242,7 @@ function! syntastic#util#findInParent(what, where) " {{{2
     endif
 
     let old = ''
-    while here != ''
+    while here !=# ''
         let p = split(globpath(here, a:what, 1), '\n')
 
         if !empty(p)
@@ -237,7 +262,7 @@ function! syntastic#util#findInParent(what, where) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Returns unique elements in a list
-function! syntastic#util#unique(list) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#unique(list) abort " {{{2
     let seen = {}
     let uniques = []
     for e in a:list
@@ -250,18 +275,18 @@ function! syntastic#util#unique(list) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " A less noisy shellescape()
-function! syntastic#util#shescape(string) " {{{2
-    return a:string =~ '\m^[A-Za-z0-9_/.-]\+$' ? a:string : shellescape(a:string)
+function! syntastic#util#shescape(string) abort " {{{2
+    return a:string =~# '\m^[A-Za-z0-9_/.-]\+$' ? a:string : shellescape(a:string)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " A less noisy shellescape(expand())
-function! syntastic#util#shexpand(string, ...) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#shexpand(string, ...) abort " {{{2
     return syntastic#util#shescape(a:0 ? expand(a:string, a:1) : expand(a:string, 1))
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Escape arguments
-function! syntastic#util#argsescape(opt) " {{{2
-    if type(a:opt) == type('') && a:opt != ''
+function! syntastic#util#argsescape(opt) abort " {{{2
+    if type(a:opt) == type('') && a:opt !=# ''
         return [a:opt]
     elseif type(a:opt) == type([])
         return map(copy(a:opt), 'syntastic#util#shescape(v:val)')
@@ -271,7 +296,7 @@ function! syntastic#util#argsescape(opt) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " decode XML entities
-function! syntastic#util#decodeXMLEntities(string) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#decodeXMLEntities(string) abort " {{{2
     let str = a:string
     let str = substitute(str, '\m&lt;', '<', 'g')
     let str = substitute(str, '\m&gt;', '>', 'g')
@@ -281,7 +306,7 @@ function! syntastic#util#decodeXMLEntities(string) " {{{2
     return str
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#util#redraw(full) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#redraw(full) abort " {{{2
     if a:full
         redraw!
     else
@@ -289,7 +314,7 @@ function! syntastic#util#redraw(full) " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! syntastic#util#dictFilter(errors, filter) " {{{2
+function! syntastic#util#dictFilter(errors, filter) abort " {{{2
     let rules = s:_translateFilter(a:filter)
     " call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, "applying filter:", rules)
     try
@@ -300,18 +325,17 @@ function! syntastic#util#dictFilter(errors, filter) " {{{2
     endtry
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-" Return a [high, low] list of integers, representing the time
-" (hopefully high resolution) since program start
-" TODO: This assumes reltime() returns a list of integers.
-function! syntastic#util#stamp() " {{{2
-    return reltime(g:_SYNTASTIC_START)
+" Return a [seconds, fractions] list of strings, representing the
+" (hopefully high resolution) time since program start
+function! syntastic#util#stamp() abort " {{{2
+    return split( split(reltimestr(reltime(g:_SYNTASTIC_START)))[0], '\.' )
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " }}}1
 
 " Private functions {{{1
 
-function! s:_translateFilter(filters) " {{{2
+function! s:_translateFilter(filters) abort " {{{2
     let conditions = []
     for k in keys(a:filters)
         if type(a:filters[k]) == type([])
@@ -322,14 +346,14 @@ function! s:_translateFilter(filters) " {{{2
     endfor
 
     if conditions == []
-        let conditions = ["1"]
+        let conditions = ['1']
     endif
     return len(conditions) == 1 ? conditions[0] : join(map(conditions, '"(" . v:val . ")"'), ' && ')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_translateElement(key, term) " {{{2
+function! s:_translateElement(key, term) abort " {{{2
     let fkey = a:key
-    if fkey[0] == '!'
+    if fkey[0] ==# '!'
         let fkey = fkey[1:]
         let not = 1
     else
@@ -354,18 +378,18 @@ function! s:_translateElement(key, term) " {{{2
         let op = not ? ' =~# ' : ' !~# '
         let ret = 'bufname(str2nr(v:val["bufnr"]))'
         let mod = fkey[4:]
-        if mod != ''
+        if mod !=# ''
             let ret = 'fnamemodify(' . ret . ', ' . string(mod) . ')'
         endif
         let ret .= op . string(a:term)
     else
         call syntastic#log#warn('quiet_messages: ignoring invalid key ' . strtrans(string(fkey)))
-        let ret = "1"
+        let ret = '1'
     endif
     return ret
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_rmrf(what) " {{{2
+function! s:_rmrf(what) abort " {{{2
     if !exists('s:rmdir')
         let s:rmdir = syntastic#util#shescape(get(g:, 'netrw_localrmdir', 'rmdir'))
     endif
@@ -378,7 +402,7 @@ function! s:_rmrf(what) " {{{2
         for f in split(globpath(a:what, '*', 1), "\n")
             call s:_rmrf(f)
         endfor
-        silent! call system(s:rmdir . ' ' . syntastic#util#shescape(a:what))
+        silent! call syntastic#util#system(s:rmdir . ' ' . syntastic#util#shescape(a:what))
     else
         silent! call delete(a:what)
     endif
diff --git a/doc/syntastic.txt b/doc/syntastic.txt
index 423bd7d..adb52af 100644
--- a/doc/syntastic.txt
+++ b/doc/syntastic.txt
@@ -39,16 +39,23 @@ CONTENTS                                                  *syntastic-contents*
     6.Notes........................................|syntastic-notes|
         6.1.Handling of composite filetypes........|syntastic-composite|
         6.2.Editing files over network.............|syntastic-netrw|
-        6.3.Interaction with python-mode...........|syntastic-pymode|
-        6.4.Interaction with YouCompleteMe.........|syntastic-ycm|
-        6.5.Interaction with the fish shell........|syntastic-fish|
-        6.6.Interaction with PowerShell............|syntastic-powershell|
-        6.7.Using syntastic with the fizsh shell...|syntastic-fizsh|
-        6.8.Interaction with Eclim.................|syntastic-eclim|
-        6.9.Interaction with vim-virtualenv........|syntastic-vim-virtualenv|
-        6.10.Interaction with vim-auto-save........|syntastic-vim-auto-save|
-    7.About........................................|syntastic-about|
-    8.License......................................|syntastic-license|
+        6.3.The 'shellslash' option................|syntastic-shellslash|
+        6.4.Saving Vim sessions....................|syntastic-sessions|
+    7.Compatibility with other software............|syntastic-compatibility|
+        7.1.The csh and tcsh shells................|syntastic-csh|
+        7.2.Eclim..................................|syntastic-eclim|
+        7.3.The fish shell.........................|syntastic-fish|
+        7.4.The fizsh shell........................|syntastic-fizsh|
+        7.5.powerline..............................|syntastic-powerline|
+        7.6.The PowerShell shell...................|syntastic-powershell|
+        7.7.python-mode............................|syntastic-pymode|
+        7.8.vim-auto-save..........................|syntastic-vim-auto-save|
+        7.9.vim-go.................................|syntastic-vim-go|
+        7.10.vim-virtualenv........................|syntastic-vim-virtualenv|
+        7.11.YouCompleteMe.........................|syntastic-ycm|
+        7.12.The zsh shell and rvm.................|syntastic-zsh|
+    8.About........................................|syntastic-about|
+    9.License......................................|syntastic-license|
 
 
 ==============================================================================
@@ -602,6 +609,20 @@ looking at their exit codes. The "cmd.exe" shell on Windows make these checks
 meaningless, by returning 1 to Vim when the checkers exit with non-zero codes.
 The above variable can be used to disable exit code checks in syntastic.
 
+                                                           *'syntastic_shell'*
+Default: Vim's 'shell'
+
+This is the (full path to) the shell syntastic will use to run the checkers.
+On UNIX and Mac OS-X this shell must accept Bourne-compatible syntax for
+file "stdout" and "stderr" redirections ">file" and "2>file".  Examples of
+compatible shells are "zsh", "bash", "ksh", and of course the original Bourne
+"sh".
+
+This shell is independent of Vim's 'shell', and it isn't used for interactive
+operations.  It must take care to initialize all environment variables needed
+by the checkers you're using.  Example: >
+    let g:syntastic_shell = "/bin/sh"
+<
                                                            *'syntastic_debug'*
 Default: 0
 Set this to the sum of one or more of the following flags to enable
@@ -782,96 +803,162 @@ of operation.  It can only check files that can be accessed directly by local
 checkers, without any translation or conversion.
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.3 Interaction with python-mode                            *syntastic-pymode*
+6.3 The 'shellslash' option                             *syntastic-shellslash*
 
-Syntastic can be used along with the 'python-mode' Vim plugin (see
-https://github.com/klen/python-mode). However, they both run syntax checks by
-default when you save buffers to disk, and this is probably not what you want.
-To avoid both plugins opening error windows, you can either set passive mode
-for python in syntastic (see |syntastic_mode_map|), or disable lint checks in
-'python-mode', by setting |pymode_lint_write| to 0. E.g.: >
-    let g:pymode_lint_write = 0
+The 'shellslash' option is relevant only on Windows systems.  This option
+determines (among other things) the rules for quoting command lines, and there
+is no easy way for syntastic to make sure its state is appropriate for your
+shell.  It should be turned off if your 'shell' (or |g:syntastic_shell|) is
+"cmd.exe", and on for shells that expect an UNIX-like syntax, such as Cygwin's
+"sh".  Most checkers will stop working if 'shellslash' is set to the wrong
+value.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+6.4 Saving Vim sessions                                   *syntastic-sessions*
+
+If you use |:mksession| to save Vim sessions you should probably make sure to
+remove option "blank" from 'sessionoptions': >
+    set sessionoptions-=blank
 <
+This will prevent |:mksession| from saving |syntastic-error-window| as empty
+quickfix windows.
+
+==============================================================================
+7. Compatibility with other software                 *syntastic-compatibility*
+
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.4 Interaction with YouCompleteMe                             *syntastic-ycm*
+7.1 The csh and tcsh shells                                    *syntastic-csh*
 
-Syntastic can be used together with the 'YouCompleteMe' Vim plugin (see
-http://valloric.github.io/YouCompleteMe/).  However, by default 'YouCompleteMe'
-disables syntastic's checkers for the "c", "cpp", "objc", and "objcpp"
-filetypes, in order to allow its own checkers to run.  If you want to use YCM's
-identifier completer but still run syntastic's checkers for those filetypes you
-have to set |ycm_show_diagnostics_ui| to 0. E.g.: >
-    let g:ycm_show_diagnostics_ui = 0
+The "csh" and "tcsh" shells are mostly compatible with syntastic.  However,
+some checkers assume Bourne shell syntax for redirecting "stderr".  For this
+reason, you should point |g:syntastic_shell| to a Bourne-compatible shell,
+such as "zsh", "bash", "ksh", or even the original Bourne "sh": >
+    let g:syntastic_shell = "/bin/sh"
 <
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.5 Interaction with the fish shell                           *syntastic-fish*
+7.2. Eclim                                                   *syntastic-eclim*
 
-At the time of this writing the 'fish' shell (see http://fishshell.com/)
-doesn't support the standard UNIX syntax for file redirections, and thus it
-can't be used together with syntastic. You don't need to change your login
-shell to address this problem, but you do have to point Vim's 'shell' to a more
-traditional shell, such as "zsh", "bash", "ksh", or even the original Bourne
-"sh": >
-    set shell=bash
+Syntastic can be used together with "Eclim" (see http://eclim.org/). However,
+by default Eclim disables syntastic's checks for the filetypes it supports, in
+order to run its own validation. If you'd prefer to use Eclim but still run
+syntastic's checks, set |g:EclimFileTypeValidate| to 0: >
+    let g:EclimFileTypeValidate = 0
 <
+It is also possible to re-enable syntastic checks only for some filetypes, and
+run Eclim's validation for others. Please consult Eclim's documentation for
+details.
+
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.6. Interaction with PowerShell                        *syntastic-powershell*
+7.3 The fish shell                                            *syntastic-fish*
 
-At the time of this writing, syntastic is not compatible with using 'Windows
-PowerShell' (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb978526.aspx) as Vim's
-'shell'.  You may still run Vim from 'PowerShell', but you do have to point
-Vim's 'shell' to a more traditional program, such as 'cmd.exe': >
-    set shell=cmd.exe
+At the time of this writing the "fish" shell (see http://fishshell.com/)
+doesn't support the standard UNIX syntax for file redirections, and thus it
+can't be used together with syntastic. You can however set |g:syntastic_shell|
+to a more traditional shell, such as "zsh", "bash", "ksh", or even the
+original Bourne "sh": >
+    let g:syntastic_shell = "/bin/sh"
 <
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.7. Using syntastic with the fizsh shell                    *syntastic-fizsh*
+7.4. The fizsh shell                                         *syntastic-fizsh*
 
-Using syntastic with the 'fizsh' shell (see https://github.com/zsh-users/fizsh)
+Using syntastic with the "fizsh" shell (see https://github.com/zsh-users/fizsh)
 is possible, but potentially problematic. In order to do it you'll need to set
 'shellredir' like this: >
     set shellredir=>%s\ 2>&1
 <
 Please keep in mind however that Vim can't take advantage of any of the
-interactive features of 'fizsh'. Using a more traditional shell such as "zsh",
+interactive features of "fizsh". Using a more traditional shell such as "zsh",
 "bash", "ksh", or the original Bourne "sh" might be a better choice: >
-    set shell=zsh
+    let g:syntastic_shell = "/bin/sh"
 <
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.8. Interaction with Eclim                                  *syntastic-eclim*
+7.5. powerline                                           *syntastic-powerline*
+
+The "powerline" Vim plugin (https://github.com/powerline/powerline) comes
+packaged with a syntastic segment. To customize this segment create a file
+~/.config/powerline/themes/vim/default.json, with a content like this: >
+    {
+        "segment_data" : {
+            "powerline.segments.vim.plugin.syntastic.syntastic" : {
+                "args" : {
+                    "err_format" : "Err: {first_line} #{num} ",
+                    "warn_format" : "Warn: {first_line} #{num} "
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+<
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+7.6. The PowerShell shell                               *syntastic-powershell*
 
-Syntastic can be used together with 'Eclim' (see http://eclim.org/). However,
-by default Eclim disables syntastic's checks for the filetypes it supports, in
-order to run its own validation. If you'd prefer to use Eclim but still run
-syntastic's checks, set |g:EclimFileTypeValidate| to 0: >
-    let g:EclimFileTypeValidate = 0
+At the time of this writing, syntastic is not compatible with using "Windows
+PowerShell" (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb978526.aspx) as Vim's
+'shell'.  You may still run Vim from 'PowerShell', but you do have to point
+Vim's 'shell' to a more traditional program, such as "cmd.exe": >
+    set shell=cmd.exe
 <
-It is also possible to re-enable syntastic checks only for some filetypes, and
-run Eclim's validation for others. Please consult Eclim's documentation for
-details.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+7.7 python-mode                                             *syntastic-pymode*
+
+Syntastic can be used along with the "python-mode" Vim plugin (see
+https://github.com/klen/python-mode). However, they both run syntax checks by
+default when you save buffers to disk, and this is probably not what you want.
+To avoid both plugins opening error windows, you can either set passive mode
+for python in syntastic (see |syntastic_mode_map|), or disable lint checks in
+"python-mode", by setting |pymode_lint_write| to 0. E.g.: >
+    let g:pymode_lint_write = 0
+<
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+7.8. vim-auto-save                                   *syntastic-vim-auto-save*
+
+Syntastic can be used together with the "vim-auto-save" Vim plugin (see
+https://github.com/907th/vim-auto-save).  However, syntastic checks in active
+mode only work with "vim-auto-save" version 0.1.7 or later.
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.9. Interaction with vim-virtualenv                *syntastic-vim-virtualenv*
+7.9. vim-go                                                 *syntastic-vim-go*
+
+The "vim-go" Vim plugin (https://github.com/fatih/vim-go) uses |quickfix|
+lists, and thus doesn't conflict with syntastic (which uses |location-list|
+lists).  However, both "vim-go" and syntastic run syntax checks by default
+when you save buffers to disk, and this can have confusing results.  To
+avoid both plugins opening error windows, you can either set passive
+mode for go in syntastic (see |syntastic_mode_map|), or prevent "vim-go"
+from showing a quickfix window when |g:go_fmt_command| fails, by setting
+|g:go_fmt_fail_silently| to 1.  E.g.: >
+    let g:go_fmt_fail_silently = 1
+<
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+7.10. vim-virtualenv                                *syntastic-vim-virtualenv*
 
 At the time of this writing, syntastic can't run checkers installed
-in Python virtual environments activated by 'vim-virtualenv' (see
+in Python virtual environments activated by "vim-virtualenv" (see
 https://github.com/jmcantrell/vim-virtualenv).  This is a limitation of
-'vim-virtualenv'.
+"vim-virtualenv".
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+7.11 YouCompleteMe                                             *syntastic-ycm*
 
+Syntastic can be used together with the "YouCompleteMe" Vim plugin (see
+http://valloric.github.io/YouCompleteMe/).  However, by default "YouCompleteMe"
+disables syntastic's checkers for the "c", "cpp", "objc", and "objcpp"
+filetypes, in order to allow its own checkers to run.  If you want to use YCM's
+identifier completer but still run syntastic's checkers for those filetypes you
+have to set |ycm_show_diagnostics_ui| to 0. E.g.: >
+    let g:ycm_show_diagnostics_ui = 0
+<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.10. Interaction with vim-auto-save                 *syntastic-vim-auto-save*
-
-At the time of this writing, syntastic checks in active mode are not triggered
-by 'vim-auto-save' (see https://github.com/907th/vim-auto-save). The reason is
-a limitation in 'vim-auto-save', namely a missing flag to an 'autocmd' (see
-|autocmd-nested|). Fortunately it's pretty easy to achieve a similar effect
-without 'vim-auto-save'': >
-    augroup syntastic
-        autocmd CursorHold * nested update
-    augroup END
-    set updatetime=200
+7.12 The zsh shell and rvm                                     *syntastic-zsh*
+
+If you're running MacVim together with the "zsh" shell (http://www.zsh.org/)
+and "rvm" (https://rvm.io/), you need to be aware that MacVim does not source
+the .zshrc file, but will source a .zshenv file.  Consequently you have to
+either source the "rvm" scripts from within .zshenv, or just set your shell to
+"sh": >
+    let g:syntastic_shell = "/bin/sh"
 <
 ==============================================================================
-7. About                                                     *syntastic-about*
+8. About                                                     *syntastic-about*
 
 The core maintainers of syntastic are:
     Martin Grenfell (GitHub: scrooloose)
@@ -883,9 +970,9 @@ Find the latest version of syntastic at:
     http://github.com/scrooloose/syntastic
 
 ==============================================================================
-8. License                                                 *syntastic-license*
+9. License                                                 *syntastic-license*
 
-Syntastic is released under the wtfpl.
+Syntastic is released under the WTFPL.
 See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING.
 
  vim:tw=78:sw=4:ft=help:norl:
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic.vim b/plugin/syntastic.vim
index 1061a92..ff4c457 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_plugin = 1
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if has('reltime')
     lockvar! g:_SYNTASTIC_START
 endif
 
-let g:_SYNTASTIC_VERSION = '3.6.0-5'
+let g:_SYNTASTIC_VERSION = '3.6.0-102'
 lockvar g:_SYNTASTIC_VERSION
 
 " Sanity checks {{{1
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ for s:feature in [
             \ 'user_commands'
         \ ]
     if !has(s:feature)
-        call syntastic#log#error("need Vim compiled with feature " . s:feature)
+        call syntastic#log#error('need Vim compiled with feature ' . s:feature)
         finish
     endif
 endfor
@@ -42,15 +42,25 @@ endfor
 let s:_running_windows = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows()
 lockvar s:_running_windows
 
-if !s:_running_windows && executable('uname')
+if !exists('g:syntastic_shell')
+    let g:syntastic_shell = &shell
+endif
+
+if s:_running_windows
+    let g:_SYNTASTIC_UNAME = 'Windows'
+elseif executable('uname')
     try
-        let s:_uname = system('uname')
+        let g:_SYNTASTIC_UNAME = split(syntastic#util#system('uname'), "\n")[0]
     catch /\m^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E484/
-        call syntastic#log#error("your shell " . &shell . " can't handle traditional UNIX syntax for redirections")
+        call syntastic#log#error("your shell " .  syntastic#util#var('shell') . " can't handle traditional UNIX syntax for redirections")
         finish
+    catch /\m^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E684/
+        let g:_SYNTASTIC_UNAME = 'Unknown'
     endtry
-    lockvar s:_uname
+else
+    let g:_SYNTASTIC_UNAME = 'Unknown'
 endif
+lockvar g:_SYNTASTIC_UNAME
 
 " }}}1
 
@@ -61,7 +71,6 @@ let g:_SYNTASTIC_DEFAULTS = {
         \ 'always_populate_loc_list': 0,
         \ 'auto_jump':                0,
         \ 'auto_loc_list':            2,
-        \ 'bash_hack':                0,
         \ 'check_on_open':            0,
         \ 'check_on_wq':              1,
         \ 'cursor_columns':           1,
@@ -71,7 +80,7 @@ let g:_SYNTASTIC_DEFAULTS = {
         \ 'enable_highlighting':      1,
         \ 'enable_signs':             1,
         \ 'error_symbol':             '>>',
-        \ 'exit_checks':              !(s:_running_windows && &shell =~? '\m\<cmd\.exe$'),
+        \ 'exit_checks':              !(s:_running_windows && syntastic#util#var('shell', &shell) =~? '\m\<cmd\.exe$'),
         \ 'filetype_map':             {},
         \ 'full_redraws':             !(has('gui_running') || has('gui_macvim')),
         \ 'id_checkers':              1,
@@ -80,6 +89,7 @@ let g:_SYNTASTIC_DEFAULTS = {
         \ 'loc_list_height':          10,
         \ 'quiet_messages':           {},
         \ 'reuse_loc_lists':          0,
+        \ 'shell':                    &shell,
         \ 'sort_aggregated_errors':   1,
         \ 'stl_format':               '[Syntax: line:%F (%t)]',
         \ 'style_error_symbol':       'S>',
@@ -94,7 +104,7 @@ for s:key in keys(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEFAULTS)
     endif
 endfor
 
-if exists("g:syntastic_quiet_warnings")
+if exists('g:syntastic_quiet_warnings')
     call syntastic#log#oneTimeWarn("variable g:syntastic_quiet_warnings is deprecated, please use let g:syntastic_quiet_messages = {'level': 'warnings'} instead")
     if g:syntastic_quiet_warnings
         let s:quiet_warnings = get(g:syntastic_quiet_messages, 'type', [])
@@ -152,7 +162,7 @@ let s:modemap = g:SyntasticModeMap.Instance()
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 1, a:cursorPos)
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 1, a:cmdLine)
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 1, a:argLead)
-function! s:CompleteCheckerName(argLead, cmdLine, cursorPos) " {{{2
+function! s:CompleteCheckerName(argLead, cmdLine, cursorPos) abort " {{{2
     let checker_names = []
     for ft in s:_resolve_filetypes([])
         call extend(checker_names, s:registry.getNamesOfAvailableCheckers(ft))
@@ -167,7 +177,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 1, a:cursorPos)
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 1, a:cmdLine)
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 1, a:argLead)
-function! s:CompleteFiletypes(argLead, cmdLine, cursorPos) " {{{2
+function! s:CompleteFiletypes(argLead, cmdLine, cursorPos) abort " {{{2
     return join(s:registry.getKnownFiletypes(), "\n")
 endfunction " }}}2
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 0, a:cursorPos)
@@ -185,34 +195,34 @@ command! SyntasticSetLoclist call SyntasticSetLoclist()
 
 " Public API {{{1
 
-function! SyntasticCheck(...) " {{{2
+function! SyntasticCheck(...) abort " {{{2
     call s:UpdateErrors(0, a:000)
     call syntastic#util#redraw(g:syntastic_full_redraws)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! SyntasticInfo(...) " {{{2
+function! SyntasticInfo(...) abort " {{{2
     call s:modemap.modeInfo(a:000)
     call s:registry.echoInfoFor(s:_resolve_filetypes(a:000))
     call s:_explain_skip(a:000)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! SyntasticErrors() " {{{2
+function! SyntasticErrors() abort " {{{2
     call g:SyntasticLoclist.current().show()
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! SyntasticReset() " {{{2
+function! SyntasticReset() abort " {{{2
     call s:ClearCache()
     call s:notifiers.refresh(g:SyntasticLoclist.New([]))
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! SyntasticToggleMode() " {{{2
+function! SyntasticToggleMode() abort " {{{2
     call s:modemap.toggleMode()
     call s:ClearCache()
     call s:notifiers.refresh(g:SyntasticLoclist.New([]))
     call s:modemap.echoMode()
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! SyntasticSetLoclist() " {{{2
+function! SyntasticSetLoclist() abort " {{{2
     call g:SyntasticLoclist.current().setloclist()
 endfunction " }}}2
 
@@ -233,32 +243,32 @@ if v:version > 703 || (v:version == 703 && has('patch544'))
     augroup END
 endif
 
-function! s:BufReadPostHook() " {{{2
+function! s:BufReadPostHook() abort " {{{2
     if g:syntastic_check_on_open
         call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_AUTOCOMMANDS,
-            \ 'autocmd: BufReadPost, buffer ' . bufnr("") . ' = ' . string(bufname(str2nr(bufnr("")))))
+            \ 'autocmd: BufReadPost, buffer ' . bufnr('') . ' = ' . string(bufname(str2nr(bufnr('')))))
         call s:UpdateErrors(1, [])
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:BufWritePostHook() " {{{2
+function! s:BufWritePostHook() abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_AUTOCOMMANDS,
-        \ 'autocmd: BufWritePost, buffer ' . bufnr("") . ' = ' . string(bufname(str2nr(bufnr("")))))
+        \ 'autocmd: BufWritePost, buffer ' . bufnr('') . ' = ' . string(bufname(str2nr(bufnr('')))))
     call s:UpdateErrors(1, [])
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:BufEnterHook() " {{{2
+function! s:BufEnterHook() abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_AUTOCOMMANDS,
-        \ 'autocmd: BufEnter, buffer ' . bufnr("") . ' = ' . string(bufname(str2nr(bufnr("")))) .
+        \ 'autocmd: BufEnter, buffer ' . bufnr('') . ' = ' . string(bufname(str2nr(bufnr('')))) .
         \ ', &buftype = ' . string(&buftype))
-    if &buftype == ''
+    if &buftype ==# ''
         call s:notifiers.refresh(g:SyntasticLoclist.current())
-    elseif &buftype == 'quickfix'
+    elseif &buftype ==# 'quickfix'
         " TODO: this is needed because in recent versions of Vim lclose
         " can no longer be called from BufWinLeave
         " TODO: at this point there is no b:syntastic_loclist
         let loclist = filter(copy(getloclist(0)), 'v:val["valid"] == 1')
-        let owner = str2nr(getbufvar(bufnr(""), 'syntastic_owner_buffer'))
+        let owner = str2nr(getbufvar(bufnr(''), 'syntastic_owner_buffer'))
         let buffers = syntastic#util#unique(map(loclist, 'v:val["bufnr"]') + (owner ? [owner] : []))
         if get(w:, 'syntastic_loclist_set', 0) && !empty(loclist) && empty(filter( buffers, 'syntastic#util#bufIsActive(v:val)' ))
             call SyntasticLoclistHide()
@@ -266,9 +276,9 @@ function! s:BufEnterHook() " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:QuitPreHook() " {{{2
+function! s:QuitPreHook() abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_AUTOCOMMANDS,
-        \ 'autocmd: QuitPre, buffer ' . bufnr("") . ' = ' . string(bufname(str2nr(bufnr("")))))
+        \ 'autocmd: QuitPre, buffer ' . bufnr('') . ' = ' . string(bufname(str2nr(bufnr('')))))
     let b:syntastic_skip_checks = get(b:, 'syntastic_skip_checks', 0) || !syntastic#util#var('check_on_wq')
     if get(w:, 'syntastic_loclist_set', 0)
         call SyntasticLoclistHide()
@@ -280,7 +290,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " Main {{{1
 
 "refresh and redraw all the error info for this buf when saving or reading
-function! s:UpdateErrors(auto_invoked, checker_names) " {{{2
+function! s:UpdateErrors(auto_invoked, checker_names) abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debugShowVariables(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, 'version')
     call syntastic#log#debugShowOptions(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, s:_DEBUG_DUMP_OPTIONS)
     call syntastic#log#debugDump(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_VARIABLES)
@@ -294,6 +304,9 @@ function! s:UpdateErrors(auto_invoked, checker_names) " {{{2
     let run_checks = !a:auto_invoked || s:modemap.doAutoChecking()
     if run_checks
         call s:CacheErrors(a:checker_names)
+        unlockvar! b:syntastic_changedtick
+        let b:syntastic_changedtick = b:changedtick
+        lockvar! b:syntastic_changedtick
     endif
 
     let loclist = g:SyntasticLoclist.current()
@@ -325,7 +338,7 @@ function! s:UpdateErrors(auto_invoked, checker_names) " {{{2
             " order, which can lead to missing filetype when jumping
             " to a new file; the following is a workaround for the
             " resulting brain damage
-            if &filetype == ''
+            if &filetype ==# ''
                 silent! filetype detect
             endif
         endif
@@ -336,13 +349,13 @@ function! s:UpdateErrors(auto_invoked, checker_names) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 "clear the loc list for the buffer
-function! s:ClearCache() " {{{2
+function! s:ClearCache() abort " {{{2
     call s:notifiers.reset(g:SyntasticLoclist.current())
     call b:syntastic_loclist.destroy()
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 "detect and cache all syntax errors in this buffer
-function! s:CacheErrors(checker_names) " {{{2
+function! s:CacheErrors(checker_names) abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, 'CacheErrors: ' .
         \ (len(a:checker_names) ? join(a:checker_names) : 'default checkers'))
     call s:ClearCache()
@@ -351,7 +364,8 @@ function! s:CacheErrors(checker_names) " {{{2
     if !s:_skip_file()
         " debug logging {{{3
         call syntastic#log#debugShowVariables(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, 'aggregate_errors')
-        call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, 'getcwd() = ' . getcwd())
+        call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_CHECKERS, '$PATH = ' . string($PATH))
+        call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, 'getcwd() = ' . string(getcwd()))
         " }}}3
 
         let filetypes = s:_resolve_filetypes([])
@@ -452,20 +466,15 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 "   'env' - environment variables to set before running the checker
 "   'returns' - a list of valid exit codes for the checker
 " @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:env_save)
-function! SyntasticMake(options) " {{{2
+function! SyntasticMake(options) abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, 'SyntasticMake: called with options:', a:options)
 
     " save options and locale env variables {{{3
-    let old_shellredir = &shellredir
     let old_local_errorformat = &l:errorformat
     let old_errorformat = &errorformat
     let old_cwd = getcwd()
-    let old_lc_messages = $LC_MESSAGES
-    let old_lc_all = $LC_ALL
     " }}}3
 
-    call s:_bash_hack()
-
     if has_key(a:options, 'errorformat')
         let &errorformat = a:options['errorformat']
     endif
@@ -479,23 +488,19 @@ function! SyntasticMake(options) " {{{2
     if has_key(a:options, 'env') && len(a:options['env'])
         for key in keys(a:options['env'])
             if key =~? '\m^[a-z_]\+$'
-                exec 'let env_save[' . string(key) . '] = $' . key
-                exec 'let $' . key . ' = ' . string(a:options['env'][key])
+                execute 'let env_save[' . string(key) . '] = $' . key
+                execute 'let $' . key . ' = ' . string(a:options['env'][key])
             endif
         endfor
     endif
-    let $LC_MESSAGES = 'C'
-    let $LC_ALL = ''
     " }}}3
 
-    let err_lines = split(system(a:options['makeprg']), "\n", 1)
+    let err_lines = split(syntastic#util#system(a:options['makeprg']), "\n", 1)
 
     " restore environment variables {{{3
-    let $LC_ALL = old_lc_all
-    let $LC_MESSAGES = old_lc_messages
     if len(env_save)
         for key in keys(env_save)
-            exec 'let $' . key . ' = ' . string(env_save[key])
+            execute 'let $' . key . ' = ' . string(env_save[key])
         endfor
     endif
     " }}}3
@@ -540,10 +545,9 @@ function! SyntasticMake(options) " {{{2
     " restore options {{{3
     let &errorformat = old_errorformat
     let &l:errorformat = old_local_errorformat
-    let &shellredir = old_shellredir
     " }}}3
 
-    if !s:_running_windows && (s:_os_name() =~ "FreeBSD" || s:_os_name() =~ "OpenBSD")
+    if !s:_running_windows && (s:_os_name() =~? 'FreeBSD' || s:_os_name() =~? 'OpenBSD')
         call syntastic#util#redraw(g:syntastic_full_redraws)
     endif
 
@@ -582,7 +586,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 "g:syntastic_stl_format
 "
 "return '' if no errors are cached for the buffer
-function! SyntasticStatuslineFlag() " {{{2
+function! SyntasticStatuslineFlag() abort " {{{2
     return g:SyntasticLoclist.current().getStatuslineFlag()
 endfunction " }}}2
 
@@ -590,12 +594,12 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Utilities {{{1
 
-function! s:_resolve_filetypes(filetypes) " {{{2
+function! s:_resolve_filetypes(filetypes) abort " {{{2
     let type = len(a:filetypes) ? a:filetypes[0] : &filetype
     return split( get(g:syntastic_filetype_map, type, type), '\m\.' )
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_ignore_file(filename) " {{{2
+function! s:_ignore_file(filename) abort " {{{2
     let fname = fnamemodify(a:filename, ':p')
     for pattern in g:syntastic_ignore_files
         if fname =~# pattern
@@ -606,9 +610,9 @@ function! s:_ignore_file(filename) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Skip running in special buffers
-function! s:_skip_file() " {{{2
+function! s:_skip_file() abort " {{{2
     let fname = expand('%', 1)
-    let skip = get(b:, 'syntastic_skip_checks', 0) || (&buftype != '') ||
+    let skip = get(b:, 'syntastic_skip_checks', 0) || (&buftype !=# '') ||
         \ !filereadable(fname) || getwinvar(0, '&diff') || s:_ignore_file(fname) ||
         \ fnamemodify(fname, ':e') =~? g:syntastic_ignore_extensions
     if skip
@@ -618,7 +622,7 @@ function! s:_skip_file() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Explain why checks will be skipped for the current file
-function! s:_explain_skip(filetypes) " {{{2
+function! s:_explain_skip(filetypes) abort " {{{2
     if empty(a:filetypes) && s:_skip_file()
         let why = []
         let fname = expand('%', 1)
@@ -626,7 +630,7 @@ function! s:_explain_skip(filetypes) " {{{2
         if get(b:, 'syntastic_skip_checks', 0)
             call add(why, 'b:syntastic_skip_checks set')
         endif
-        if &buftype != ''
+        if &buftype !=# ''
             call add(why, 'buftype = ' . string(&buftype))
         endif
         if !filereadable(fname)
@@ -647,7 +651,7 @@ function! s:_explain_skip(filetypes) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Take a list of errors and add default values to them from a:options
-function! s:_add_to_errors(errors, options) " {{{2
+function! s:_add_to_errors(errors, options) abort " {{{2
     for err in a:errors
         for key in keys(a:options)
             if !has_key(err, key) || empty(err[key])
@@ -659,30 +663,8 @@ function! s:_add_to_errors(errors, options) " {{{2
     return a:errors
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-" XXX: Is this still needed?
-" The script changes &shellredir to stop the screen
-" flicking when shelling out to syntax checkers.
-function! s:_bash_hack() " {{{2
-    if g:syntastic_bash_hack
-        if !exists('s:shell_is_bash')
-            let s:shell_is_bash =
-                \ !s:_running_windows &&
-                \ (s:_os_name() !~# "FreeBSD") && (s:_os_name() !~# "OpenBSD") &&
-                \ &shell =~# '\m\<bash$'
-        endif
-
-        if s:shell_is_bash
-            let &shellredir = '&>'
-        endif
-    endif
-endfunction " }}}2
-
-function! s:_os_name() " {{{2
-    if !exists('s:_uname')
-        let s:_uname = system('uname')
-        lockvar s:_uname
-    endif
-    return s:_uname
+function! s:_os_name() abort " {{{2
+    return g:_SYNTASTIC_UNAME
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " }}}1
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/autoloclist.vim b/plugin/syntastic/autoloclist.vim
index efda895..da99dbb 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/autoloclist.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/autoloclist.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_autoloclist") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_autoloclist') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_autoloclist = 1
@@ -7,17 +7,17 @@ let g:SyntasticAutoloclistNotifier = {}
 
 " Public methods {{{1
 "
-function! g:SyntasticAutoloclistNotifier.New() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticAutoloclistNotifier.New() abort " {{{2
     let newObj = copy(self)
     return newObj
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticAutoloclistNotifier.refresh(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticAutoloclistNotifier.refresh(loclist) abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'autoloclist: refresh')
     call g:SyntasticAutoloclistNotifier.AutoToggle(a:loclist)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticAutoloclistNotifier.AutoToggle(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticAutoloclistNotifier.AutoToggle(loclist) abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'autoloclist: toggle')
     if !a:loclist.isEmpty()
         if syntastic#util#var('auto_loc_list') == 1
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/balloons.vim b/plugin/syntastic/balloons.vim
index 7ba575f..fdd70bf 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/balloons.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/balloons.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_balloons") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_balloons') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_balloons = 1
@@ -11,17 +11,17 @@ let g:SyntasticBalloonsNotifier = {}
 
 " Public methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticBalloonsNotifier.New() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticBalloonsNotifier.New() abort " {{{2
     let newObj = copy(self)
     return newObj
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticBalloonsNotifier.enabled() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticBalloonsNotifier.enabled() abort " {{{2
     return has('balloon_eval') && syntastic#util#var('enable_balloons')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Update the error balloons
-function! g:SyntasticBalloonsNotifier.refresh(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticBalloonsNotifier.refresh(loclist) abort " {{{2
     unlet! b:syntastic_private_balloons
     if self.enabled() && !a:loclist.isEmpty()
         let b:syntastic_private_balloons = a:loclist.balloons()
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Reset the error balloons
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 1, a:loclist)
-function! g:SyntasticBalloonsNotifier.reset(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticBalloonsNotifier.reset(loclist) abort " {{{2
     let b:syntastic_private_balloons = {}
     if has('balloon_eval')
         call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'balloons: reset')
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Private functions {{{1
 
-function! SyntasticBalloonsExprNotifier() " {{{2
+function! SyntasticBalloonsExprNotifier() abort " {{{2
     if !exists('b:syntastic_private_balloons')
         return ''
     endif
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/checker.vim b/plugin/syntastic/checker.vim
index 88d8a1f..89772cc 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/checker.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/checker.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_checker") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_checker') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_checker = 1
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ let g:SyntasticChecker = {}
 
 " Public methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.New(args) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.New(args) abort " {{{2
     let newObj = copy(self)
 
     let newObj._filetype = a:args['filetype']
@@ -40,32 +40,56 @@ function! g:SyntasticChecker.New(args) " {{{2
     return newObj
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.getFiletype() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.getFiletype() abort " {{{2
     return self._filetype
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.getName() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.getName() abort " {{{2
     return self._name
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.getExec() " {{{2
-    return
+" Synchronise _exec with user's setting.  Force re-validation if needed.
+"
+" XXX: This function must be called at least once before calling either
+" getExec() or getExecEscaped().  Normally isAvailable() does that for you
+" automatically, but you should keep still this in mind if you change the
+" current checker workflow.
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.syncExec() dict " {{{2
+    let user_exec =
         \ expand( exists('b:syntastic_' . self._name . '_exec') ? b:syntastic_{self._name}_exec :
-        \ syntastic#util#var(self._filetype . '_' . self._name . '_exec', self._exec), 1 )
+        \ syntastic#util#var(self._filetype . '_' . self._name . '_exec'), 1 )
+
+    if user_exec !=# '' && user_exec !=# self._exec
+        let self._exec = user_exec
+        if has_key(self, '_available')
+            " we have a new _exec on the block, it has to be validated
+            call remove(self, '_available')
+        endif
+    endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.getExecEscaped() " {{{2
-    return syntastic#util#shescape(self.getExec())
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.getExec() abort " {{{2
+    return self._exec
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.getLocListRaw() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.getExecEscaped() abort " {{{2
+    return syntastic#util#shescape(self._exec)
+endfunction " }}}2
+
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.getLocListRaw() abort " {{{2
     let name = self._filetype . '/' . self._name
     try
         let list = self._locListFunc()
-        call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, 'getLocList: checker ' . name . ' returned ' . v:shell_error)
+        if self._exec !=# ''
+            call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_TRACE, 'getLocList: checker ' . name . ' returned ' . v:shell_error)
+        endif
     catch /\m\C^Syntastic: checker error$/
         let list = []
-        call syntastic#log#error('checker ' . name . ' returned abnormal status ' . v:shell_error)
+        if self._exec !=# ''
+            call syntastic#log#error('checker ' . name . ' returned abnormal status ' . v:shell_error)
+        else
+            call syntastic#log#error('checker ' . name . ' aborted')
+        endif
     endtry
     call self._populateHighlightRegexes(list)
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_LOCLIST, name . ' raw:', list)
@@ -73,16 +97,15 @@ function! g:SyntasticChecker.getLocListRaw() " {{{2
     return list
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.getLocList() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.getLocList() abort " {{{2
     return g:SyntasticLoclist.New(self.getLocListRaw())
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.getVersion(...) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.getVersion(...) abort " {{{2
     if !exists('self._version')
         let command = a:0 ? a:1 : self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version'
-        let version_output = system(command)
-        call syntastic#log#debug( g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_CHECKERS,
-            \ self._filetype . '/' . self._name . ': output of ' . string(command) . ': ' .
+        let version_output = syntastic#util#system(command)
+        call self.log('getVersion: ' . string(command) . ': ' .
             \ string(split(version_output, "\n", 1)) .
             \ (v:shell_error ? ' (exit code ' . v:shell_error . ')' : '') )
         call self.setVersion(syntastic#util#parseVersion(version_output))
@@ -90,7 +113,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticChecker.getVersion(...) " {{{2
     return get(self, '_version', [])
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.setVersion(version) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.setVersion(version) abort " {{{2
     if len(a:version)
         let self._version = copy(a:version)
         call self.log(self.getExec() . ' version =', a:version)
@@ -99,7 +122,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticChecker.setVersion(version) " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.log(msg, ...) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.log(msg, ...) abort " {{{2
     let leader = self._filetype . '/' . self._name . ': '
     if a:0 > 0
         call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_CHECKERS, leader . a:msg, a:1)
@@ -108,7 +131,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticChecker.log(msg, ...) " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.makeprgBuild(opts) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.makeprgBuild(opts) abort " {{{2
     let basename = self._filetype . '_' . self._name . '_'
 
     let parts = []
@@ -121,20 +144,21 @@ function! g:SyntasticChecker.makeprgBuild(opts) " {{{2
     return join(parts)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.isAvailable() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.isAvailable() abort " {{{2
+    call self.syncExec()
     if !has_key(self, '_available')
         let self._available = self._isAvailableFunc()
     endif
     return self._available
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.wantSort() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.wantSort() abort " {{{2
     return syntastic#util#var(self._filetype . '_' . self._name . '_sort', 0)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " This method is no longer used by syntastic.  It's here only to maintain
 " backwards compatibility with external checkers which might depend on it.
-function! g:SyntasticChecker.setWantSort(val) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker.setWantSort(val) abort " {{{2
     if !exists('g:syntastic_' . self._filetype . '_' . self._name . '_sort')
         let g:syntastic_{self._filetype}_{self._name}_sort = a:val
     endif
@@ -144,7 +168,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Private methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker._quietMessages(errors) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker._quietMessages(errors) abort " {{{2
     " wildcard quiet_messages
     let quiet_filters = copy(syntastic#util#var('quiet_messages', {}))
     if type(quiet_filters) != type({})
@@ -169,12 +193,12 @@ function! g:SyntasticChecker._quietMessages(errors) " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker._populateHighlightRegexes(errors) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker._populateHighlightRegexes(errors) abort " {{{2
     if has_key(self, '_highlightRegexFunc')
         for e in a:errors
             if e['valid']
                 let term = self._highlightRegexFunc(e)
-                if term != ''
+                if term !=# ''
                     let e['hl'] = term
                 endif
             endif
@@ -182,7 +206,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticChecker._populateHighlightRegexes(errors) " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticChecker._getOpt(opts, basename, name, default) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticChecker._getOpt(opts, basename, name, default) abort " {{{2
     let ret = []
     call extend( ret, syntastic#util#argsescape(get(a:opts, a:name . '_before', '')) )
     call extend( ret, syntastic#util#argsescape(syntastic#util#var( a:basename . a:name, get(a:opts, a:name, a:default) )) )
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/cursor.vim b/plugin/syntastic/cursor.vim
index c81cf82..f59d87b 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/cursor.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/cursor.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_cursor") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_cursor') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_cursor = 1
@@ -7,16 +7,16 @@ let g:SyntasticCursorNotifier = {}
 
 " Public methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticCursorNotifier.New() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticCursorNotifier.New() abort " {{{2
     let newObj = copy(self)
     return newObj
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticCursorNotifier.enabled() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticCursorNotifier.enabled() abort " {{{2
     return syntastic#util#var('echo_current_error')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticCursorNotifier.refresh(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticCursorNotifier.refresh(loclist) abort " {{{2
     if self.enabled() && !a:loclist.isEmpty()
         call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'cursor: refresh')
         let b:syntastic_private_messages = copy(a:loclist.messages(bufnr('')))
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticCursorNotifier.refresh(loclist) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 1, a:loclist)
-function! g:SyntasticCursorNotifier.reset(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticCursorNotifier.reset(loclist) abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'cursor: reset')
     autocmd! syntastic CursorMoved
     unlet! b:syntastic_private_messages
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Private functions {{{1
 
-function! SyntasticRefreshCursor() " {{{2
+function! SyntasticRefreshCursor() abort " {{{2
     if !exists('b:syntastic_private_messages') || empty(b:syntastic_private_messages)
         " file not checked
         return
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Utilities {{{1
 
-function! s:_is_same_index(line, old_line, column, idx, messages) " {{{2
+function! s:_is_same_index(line, old_line, column, idx, messages) abort " {{{2
     if a:old_line >= 0 && a:line == a:old_line && a:idx >= 0
         if len(a:messages) <= 1
             return 1
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ function! s:_is_same_index(line, old_line, column, idx, messages) " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_find_index(column, messages) " {{{2
+function! s:_find_index(column, messages) abort " {{{2
     let max = len(a:messages) - 1
     if max == 0
         return 0
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/highlighting.vim b/plugin/syntastic/highlighting.vim
index 0f027b1..a9e1a08 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/highlighting.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/highlighting.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_highlighting") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_highlighting') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_highlighting = 1
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ let s:setup_done = 0
 
 " Public methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier.New() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier.New() abort " {{{2
     let newObj = copy(self)
 
     if !s:setup_done
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier.New() " {{{2
     return newObj
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier.enabled() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier.enabled() abort " {{{2
     return s:has_highlighting && syntastic#util#var('enable_highlighting')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-" Sets error highlights in the cuirrent window
-function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier.refresh(loclist) " {{{2
+" Sets error highlights in the current window
+function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier.refresh(loclist) abort " {{{2
     if self.enabled()
         call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'highlighting: refresh')
         call self._reset()
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Remove all error highlights from the window
 " @vimlint(EVL103, 1, a:loclist)
-function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier.reset(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier.reset(loclist) abort " {{{2
     if s:has_highlighting
         call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'highlighting: reset')
         call self._reset()
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " Private methods {{{1
 
 " One time setup: define our own highlighting
-function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier._setup() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier._setup() abort " {{{2
     if s:has_highlighting
         if !hlexists('SyntasticError')
             highlight link SyntasticError SpellBad
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier._setup() " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier._reset() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticHighlightingNotifier._reset() abort " {{{2
     for match in getmatches()
         if stridx(match['group'], 'Syntastic') == 0
             call matchdelete(match['id'])
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/loclist.vim b/plugin/syntastic/loclist.vim
index ced9357..48f44ba 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/loclist.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/loclist.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_loclist") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_loclist') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_loclist = 1
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ let g:SyntasticLoclist = {}
 
 " Public methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.New(rawLoclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.New(rawLoclist) abort " {{{2
     let newObj = copy(self)
 
     let llist = filter(copy(a:rawLoclist), 'v:val["valid"] == 1')
 
     for e in llist
-        if get(e, 'type', '') == ''
+        if get(e, 'type', '') ==# ''
             let e['type'] = 'E'
         endif
     endfor
@@ -27,20 +27,20 @@ function! g:SyntasticLoclist.New(rawLoclist) " {{{2
     return newObj
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.current() " {{{2
-    if !exists("b:syntastic_loclist") || empty(b:syntastic_loclist)
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.current() abort " {{{2
+    if !exists('b:syntastic_loclist') || empty(b:syntastic_loclist)
         let b:syntastic_loclist = g:SyntasticLoclist.New([])
     endif
     return b:syntastic_loclist
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.extend(other) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.extend(other) abort " {{{2
     let list = self.copyRaw()
     call extend(list, a:other.copyRaw())
     return g:SyntasticLoclist.New(list)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.sort() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.sort() abort " {{{2
     if !self._sorted
         for e in self._rawLoclist
             call s:_set_screen_column(e)
@@ -52,39 +52,39 @@ function! g:SyntasticLoclist.sort() " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.isEmpty() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.isEmpty() abort " {{{2
     return empty(self._rawLoclist)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.isNewerThan(stamp) " {{{2
-    if !exists("self._stamp")
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.isNewerThan(stamp) abort " {{{2
+    if !exists('self._stamp')
         let self._stamp = []
         return 0
     endif
     return syntastic#util#compareLexi(self._stamp, a:stamp) > 0
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.copyRaw() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.copyRaw() abort " {{{2
     return copy(self._rawLoclist)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getRaw() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getRaw() abort " {{{2
     return self._rawLoclist
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getBuffers() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getBuffers() abort " {{{2
     return syntastic#util#unique(map(copy(self._rawLoclist), 'str2nr(v:val["bufnr"])') + [self._owner])
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getCursorColumns() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getCursorColumns() abort " {{{2
     return self._columns
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getStatuslineFlag() " {{{2
-    if !exists("self._stl_format")
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getStatuslineFlag() abort " {{{2
+    if !exists('self._stl_format')
         let self._stl_format = ''
     endif
-    if !exists("self._stl_flag")
+    if !exists('self._stl_flag')
         let self._stl_flag = ''
     endif
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getStatuslineFlag() " {{{2
     return self._stl_flag
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getFirstError(...) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getFirstError(...) abort " {{{2
     let max_issues = len(self._rawLoclist)
     if a:0 && a:1 < max_issues
         let max_issues = a:1
@@ -148,23 +148,23 @@ function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getFirstError(...) " {{{2
     return 0
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getName() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getName() abort " {{{2
     return len(self._name)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.setName(name) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.setName(name) abort " {{{2
     let self._name = a:name
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getOwner() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.getOwner() abort " {{{2
     return self._owner
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.setOwner(buffer) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.setOwner(buffer) abort " {{{2
     let self._owner = type(a:buffer) == type(0) ? a:buffer : str2nr(a:buffer)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.deploy() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.deploy() abort " {{{2
     call self.setOwner(bufnr(''))
     let self._stamp = syntastic#util#stamp()
     for buf in self.getBuffers()
@@ -172,21 +172,21 @@ function! g:SyntasticLoclist.deploy() " {{{2
     endfor
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.destroy() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.destroy() abort " {{{2
     for buf in self.getBuffers()
         call setbufvar(buf, 'syntastic_loclist', {})
     endfor
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.decorate(tag) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.decorate(tag) abort " {{{2
     for e in self._rawLoclist
         let e['text'] .= ' [' . a:tag . ']'
     endfor
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.balloons() " {{{2
-    if !exists("self._cachedBalloons")
-        let sep = has("balloon_multiline") ? "\n" : ' | '
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.balloons() abort " {{{2
+    if !exists('self._cachedBalloons')
+        let sep = has('balloon_multiline') ? "\n" : ' | '
 
         let self._cachedBalloons = {}
         for e in self._rawLoclist
@@ -207,29 +207,29 @@ function! g:SyntasticLoclist.balloons() " {{{2
     return get(self._cachedBalloons, bufnr(''), {})
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.errors() " {{{2
-    if !exists("self._cachedErrors")
-        let self._cachedErrors = self.filter({'type': "E"})
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.errors() abort " {{{2
+    if !exists('self._cachedErrors')
+        let self._cachedErrors = self.filter({'type': 'E'})
     endif
     return self._cachedErrors
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.warnings() " {{{2
-    if !exists("self._cachedWarnings")
-        let self._cachedWarnings = self.filter({'type': "W"})
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.warnings() abort " {{{2
+    if !exists('self._cachedWarnings')
+        let self._cachedWarnings = self.filter({'type': 'W'})
     endif
     return self._cachedWarnings
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Legacy function.  Syntastic no longer calls it, but we keep it
 " around because other plugins (f.i. powerline) depend on it.
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.hasErrorsOrWarningsToDisplay() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.hasErrorsOrWarningsToDisplay() abort " {{{2
     return !self.isEmpty()
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " cache used by EchoCurrentError()
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.messages(buf) " {{{2
-    if !exists("self._cachedMessages")
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.messages(buf) abort " {{{2
+    if !exists('self._cachedMessages')
         let self._cachedMessages = {}
 
         let errors = self.errors() + self.warnings()
@@ -280,14 +280,14 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 "would return all errors for buffer 10.
 "
 "Note that all comparisons are done with ==?
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.filter(filters) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.filter(filters) abort " {{{2
     let conditions = values(map(copy(a:filters), 's:_translate(v:key, v:val)'))
     let filter = len(conditions) == 1 ?
         \ conditions[0] : join(map(conditions, '"(" . v:val . ")"'), ' && ')
     return filter(copy(self._rawLoclist), filter)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.setloclist() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.setloclist() abort " {{{2
     if !exists('w:syntastic_loclist_set')
         let w:syntastic_loclist_set = 0
     endif
@@ -298,15 +298,15 @@ function! g:SyntasticLoclist.setloclist() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 "display the cached errors for this buf in the location list
-function! g:SyntasticLoclist.show() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.show() abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'loclist: show')
     call self.setloclist()
 
     if !self.isEmpty()
         let num = winnr()
-        execute "lopen " . syntastic#util#var('loc_list_height')
+        execute 'lopen ' . syntastic#util#var('loc_list_height')
         if num != winnr()
-            wincmd p
+            execute num . 'wincmd w'
         endif
 
         " try to find the loclist window and set w:quickfix_title
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticLoclist.show() " {{{2
                 " errors == getloclist(0) is the only somewhat safe way to
                 " achieve that
                 if strpart(title, 0, 16) ==# ':SyntasticCheck ' ||
-                            \ ( (title == '' || title ==# ':setloclist()') && errors == getloclist(0) )
+                            \ ( (title ==# '' || title ==# ':setloclist()') && errors == getloclist(0) )
                     call setwinvar(win, 'quickfix_title', ':SyntasticCheck ' . self._name)
                     call setbufvar(buf, 'syntastic_owner_buffer', self._owner)
                 endif
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Public functions {{{1
 
-function! SyntasticLoclistHide() " {{{2
+function! SyntasticLoclistHide() abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'loclist: hide')
     silent! lclose
 endfunction " }}}2
@@ -342,11 +342,11 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Utilities {{{1
 
-function! s:_translate(key, val) " {{{2
+function! s:_translate(key, val) abort " {{{2
     return 'get(v:val, ' . string(a:key) . ', "") ==? ' . string(a:val)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_set_screen_column(item) " {{{2
+function! s:_set_screen_column(item) abort " {{{2
     if !has_key(a:item, 'scol')
         let col = get(a:item, 'col', 0)
         if col != 0 && get(a:item, 'vcol', 0) == 0
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ function! s:_set_screen_column(item) " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_remove_shadowed_items(errors) " {{{2
+function! s:_remove_shadowed_items(errors) abort " {{{2
     " keep only the first message at a given column
     let i = 0
     while i < len(a:errors) - 1
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ function! s:_remove_shadowed_items(errors) " {{{2
     endwhile
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_compare_error_items_by_columns(a, b) " {{{2
+function! s:_compare_error_items_by_columns(a, b) abort " {{{2
     if a:a['bufnr'] != a:b['bufnr']
         " group by file
         return a:a['bufnr'] - a:b['bufnr']
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ function! s:_compare_error_items_by_columns(a, b) " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_compare_error_items_by_lines(a, b) " {{{2
+function! s:_compare_error_items_by_lines(a, b) abort " {{{2
     if a:a['bufnr'] != a:b['bufnr']
         " group by file
         return a:a['bufnr'] - a:b['bufnr']
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/modemap.vim b/plugin/syntastic/modemap.vim
index 4b54a26..501c82b 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/modemap.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/modemap.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_modemap") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_modemap') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_modemap = 1
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ let g:SyntasticModeMap = {}
 
 " Public methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap.Instance() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap.Instance() abort " {{{2
     if !exists('s:SyntasticModeMapInstance')
         let s:SyntasticModeMapInstance = copy(self)
         call s:SyntasticModeMapInstance.synch()
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticModeMap.Instance() " {{{2
     return s:SyntasticModeMapInstance
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap.synch() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap.synch() abort " {{{2
     if exists('g:syntastic_mode_map')
         let self._mode = get(g:syntastic_mode_map, 'mode', 'active')
         let self._activeFiletypes = copy(get(g:syntastic_mode_map, 'active_filetypes', []))
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticModeMap.synch() " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap.allowsAutoChecking(filetype) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap.allowsAutoChecking(filetype) abort " {{{2
     let fts = split(a:filetype, '\m\.')
 
     if self.isPassive()
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticModeMap.allowsAutoChecking(filetype) " {{{2
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap.doAutoChecking() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap.doAutoChecking() abort " {{{2
     let local_mode = get(b:, 'syntastic_mode', '')
     if local_mode ==# 'active' || local_mode ==# 'passive'
         return local_mode ==# 'active'
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ function! g:SyntasticModeMap.doAutoChecking() " {{{2
     return self.allowsAutoChecking(&filetype)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap.isPassive() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap.isPassive() abort " {{{2
     return self._mode ==# 'passive'
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap.toggleMode() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap.toggleMode() abort " {{{2
     call self.synch()
 
     if self._mode ==# 'active'
@@ -67,12 +67,12 @@ function! g:SyntasticModeMap.toggleMode() " {{{2
     let g:syntastic_mode_map['mode'] = self._mode
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap.echoMode() " {{{2
-    echo "Syntastic: " . self._mode . " mode enabled"
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap.echoMode() abort " {{{2
+    echo 'Syntastic: ' . self._mode . ' mode enabled'
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap.modeInfo(filetypes) " {{{2
-    echomsg 'Syntastic version: ' . g:_SYNTASTIC_VERSION
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap.modeInfo(filetypes) abort " {{{2
+    echomsg 'Syntastic version: ' . g:_SYNTASTIC_VERSION . ' (Vim ' . v:version . ', ' . g:_SYNTASTIC_UNAME . ')'
     let type = len(a:filetypes) ? a:filetypes[0] : &filetype
     echomsg 'Info for filetype: ' . type
 
@@ -104,11 +104,11 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Private methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap._isOneFiletypeActive(filetypes) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap._isOneFiletypeActive(filetypes) abort " {{{2
     return !empty(filter(copy(a:filetypes), 'index(self._activeFiletypes, v:val) != -1'))
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticModeMap._noFiletypesArePassive(filetypes) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticModeMap._noFiletypesArePassive(filetypes) abort " {{{2
     return empty(filter(copy(a:filetypes), 'index(self._passiveFiletypes, v:val) != -1'))
 endfunction " }}}2
 
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/notifiers.vim b/plugin/syntastic/notifiers.vim
index 7f933a1..fe158ca 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/notifiers.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/notifiers.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifiers") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_notifiers') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_notifiers = 1
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ lockvar! s:_PERSISTENT_NOTIFIERS
 
 " Public methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.Instance() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.Instance() abort " {{{2
     if !exists('s:SyntasticNotifiersInstance')
         let s:SyntasticNotifiersInstance = copy(self)
         call s:SyntasticNotifiersInstance._initNotifiers()
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.Instance() " {{{2
     return s:SyntasticNotifiersInstance
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.refresh(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.refresh(loclist) abort " {{{2
     if !a:loclist.isEmpty() && !a:loclist.isNewerThan([])
         " loclist not fully constructed yet
         return
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.refresh(loclist) " {{{2
     endfor
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.reset(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.reset(loclist) abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'notifiers: reset')
     for type in self._enabled_types
         let class = substitute(type, '\m.*', 'Syntastic\u&Notifier', '')
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Private methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticNotifiers._initNotifiers() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticNotifiers._initNotifiers() abort " {{{2
     let self._notifier = {}
     for type in s:_NOTIFIER_TYPES
         let class = substitute(type, '\m.*', 'Syntastic\u&Notifier', '')
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/registry.vim b/plugin/syntastic/registry.vim
index be597c5..2a09a73 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/registry.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/registry.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_registry") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_registry') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_registry = 1
@@ -6,92 +6,96 @@ let g:loaded_syntastic_registry = 1
 " Initialisation {{{1
 
 let s:_DEFAULT_CHECKERS = {
-        \ 'actionscript':['mxmlc'],
-        \ 'ada':         ['gcc'],
-        \ 'applescript': ['osacompile'],
-        \ 'asciidoc':    ['asciidoc'],
-        \ 'asm':         ['gcc'],
-        \ 'bro':         ['bro'],
-        \ 'bemhtml':     ['bemhtmllint'],
-        \ 'c':           ['gcc'],
-        \ 'cabal':       ['cabal'],
-        \ 'chef':        ['foodcritic'],
-        \ 'co':          ['coco'],
-        \ 'cobol':       ['cobc'],
-        \ 'coffee':      ['coffee', 'coffeelint'],
-        \ 'coq':         ['coqtop'],
-        \ 'cpp':         ['gcc'],
-        \ 'cs':          ['mcs'],
-        \ 'css':         ['csslint'],
-        \ 'cucumber':    ['cucumber'],
-        \ 'cuda':        ['nvcc'],
-        \ 'd':           ['dmd'],
-        \ 'dart':        ['dartanalyzer'],
-        \ 'docbk':       ['xmllint'],
-        \ 'dustjs':      ['swiffer'],
-        \ 'elixir':      [],
-        \ 'erlang':      ['escript'],
-        \ 'eruby':       ['ruby'],
-        \ 'fortran':     ['gfortran'],
-        \ 'glsl':        ['cgc'],
-        \ 'go':          ['go'],
-        \ 'haml':        ['haml'],
-        \ 'handlebars':  ['handlebars'],
-        \ 'haskell':     ['ghc_mod', 'hdevtools', 'hlint'],
-        \ 'haxe':        ['haxe'],
-        \ 'hss':         ['hss'],
-        \ 'html':        ['tidy'],
-        \ 'java':        ['javac'],
-        \ 'javascript':  ['jshint', 'jslint'],
-        \ 'json':        ['jsonlint', 'jsonval'],
-        \ 'less':        ['lessc'],
-        \ 'lex':         ['flex'],
-        \ 'limbo':       ['limbo'],
-        \ 'lisp':        ['clisp'],
-        \ 'llvm':        ['llvm'],
-        \ 'lua':         ['luac'],
-        \ 'markdown':    ['mdl'],
-        \ 'matlab':      ['mlint'],
-        \ 'nasm':        ['nasm'],
-        \ 'nroff':       ['mandoc'],
-        \ 'objc':        ['gcc'],
-        \ 'objcpp':      ['gcc'],
-        \ 'ocaml':       ['camlp4o'],
-        \ 'perl':        ['perlcritic'],
-        \ 'php':         ['php', 'phpcs', 'phpmd'],
-        \ 'po':          ['msgfmt'],
-        \ 'pod':         ['podchecker'],
-        \ 'puppet':      ['puppet', 'puppetlint'],
-        \ 'python':      ['python', 'flake8', 'pylint'],
-        \ 'r':           [],
-        \ 'racket':      ['racket'],
-        \ 'rnc':         ['rnv'],
-        \ 'rst':         ['rst2pseudoxml'],
-        \ 'ruby':        ['mri'],
-        \ 'sass':        ['sass'],
-        \ 'scala':       ['fsc', 'scalac'],
-        \ 'scss':        ['sass', 'scss_lint'],
-        \ 'sh':          ['sh', 'shellcheck'],
-        \ 'slim':        ['slimrb'],
-        \ 'spec':        ['rpmlint'],
-        \ 'tcl':         ['nagelfar'],
-        \ 'tex':         ['lacheck', 'chktex'],
-        \ 'texinfo':     ['makeinfo'],
-        \ 'text':        [],
-        \ 'twig':        ['twiglint'],
-        \ 'typescript':  ['tsc'],
-        \ 'vala':        ['valac'],
-        \ 'verilog':     ['verilator'],
-        \ 'vhdl':        ['ghdl'],
-        \ 'vim':         ['vimlint'],
-        \ 'xhtml':       ['tidy'],
-        \ 'xml':         ['xmllint'],
-        \ 'xslt':        ['xmllint'],
-        \ 'yacc':        ['bison'],
-        \ 'yaml':        ['jsyaml'],
-        \ 'z80':         ['z80syntaxchecker'],
-        \ 'zpt':         ['zptlint'],
-        \ 'zsh':         ['zsh', 'shellcheck'],
+        \ 'actionscript':  ['mxmlc'],
+        \ 'ada':           ['gcc'],
+        \ 'apiblueprint':  ['snowcrash'],
+        \ 'applescript':   ['osacompile'],
+        \ 'asciidoc':      ['asciidoc'],
+        \ 'asm':           ['gcc'],
+        \ 'bro':           ['bro'],
+        \ 'bemhtml':       ['bemhtmllint'],
+        \ 'c':             ['gcc'],
+        \ 'cabal':         ['cabal'],
+        \ 'chef':          ['foodcritic'],
+        \ 'co':            ['coco'],
+        \ 'cobol':         ['cobc'],
+        \ 'coffee':        ['coffee', 'coffeelint'],
+        \ 'coq':           ['coqtop'],
+        \ 'cpp':           ['gcc'],
+        \ 'cs':            ['mcs'],
+        \ 'css':           ['csslint'],
+        \ 'cucumber':      ['cucumber'],
+        \ 'cuda':          ['nvcc'],
+        \ 'd':             ['dmd'],
+        \ 'dart':          ['dartanalyzer'],
+        \ 'docbk':         ['xmllint'],
+        \ 'dustjs':        ['swiffer'],
+        \ 'elixir':        [],
+        \ 'erlang':        ['escript'],
+        \ 'eruby':         ['ruby'],
+        \ 'fortran':       ['gfortran'],
+        \ 'glsl':          ['cgc'],
+        \ 'go':            ['go'],
+        \ 'haml':          ['haml'],
+        \ 'handlebars':    ['handlebars'],
+        \ 'haskell':       ['ghc_mod', 'hdevtools', 'hlint'],
+        \ 'haxe':          ['haxe'],
+        \ 'hss':           ['hss'],
+        \ 'html':          ['tidy'],
+        \ 'java':          ['javac'],
+        \ 'javascript':    ['jshint', 'jslint'],
+        \ 'json':          ['jsonlint', 'jsonval'],
+        \ 'less':          ['lessc'],
+        \ 'lex':           ['flex'],
+        \ 'limbo':         ['limbo'],
+        \ 'lisp':          ['clisp'],
+        \ 'llvm':          ['llvm'],
+        \ 'lua':           ['luac'],
+        \ 'markdown':      ['mdl'],
+        \ 'matlab':        ['mlint'],
+        \ 'mercury':       ['mmc'],
+        \ 'nasm':          ['nasm'],
+        \ 'nix':           ['nix'],
+        \ 'nroff':         ['mandoc'],
+        \ 'objc':          ['gcc'],
+        \ 'objcpp':        ['gcc'],
+        \ 'ocaml':         ['camlp4o'],
+        \ 'perl':          ['perlcritic'],
+        \ 'php':           ['php', 'phpcs', 'phpmd'],
+        \ 'po':            ['msgfmt'],
+        \ 'pod':           ['podchecker'],
+        \ 'puppet':        ['puppet', 'puppetlint'],
+        \ 'python':        ['python', 'flake8', 'pylint'],
+        \ 'r':             [],
+        \ 'racket':        ['racket'],
+        \ 'rnc':           ['rnv'],
+        \ 'rst':           ['rst2pseudoxml'],
+        \ 'ruby':          ['mri'],
+        \ 'sass':          ['sass'],
+        \ 'scala':         ['fsc', 'scalac'],
+        \ 'scss':          ['sass', 'scss_lint'],
+        \ 'sh':            ['sh', 'shellcheck'],
+        \ 'slim':          ['slimrb'],
+        \ 'sml':           ['smlnj'],
+        \ 'spec':          ['rpmlint'],
+        \ 'tcl':           ['nagelfar'],
+        \ 'tex':           ['lacheck', 'chktex'],
+        \ 'texinfo':       ['makeinfo'],
+        \ 'text':          [],
+        \ 'twig':          ['twiglint'],
+        \ 'typescript':    ['tsc'],
+        \ 'vala':          ['valac'],
+        \ 'verilog':       ['verilator'],
+        \ 'vhdl':          ['ghdl'],
+        \ 'vim':           ['vimlint'],
+        \ 'xhtml':         ['tidy'],
+        \ 'xml':           ['xmllint'],
+        \ 'xslt':          ['xmllint'],
+        \ 'yacc':          ['bison'],
+        \ 'yaml':          ['jsyaml'],
+        \ 'z80':           ['z80syntaxchecker'],
+        \ 'zpt':           ['zptlint'],
+        \ 'zsh':           ['zsh'],
     \ }
 lockvar! s:_DEFAULT_CHECKERS
 
@@ -102,6 +106,7 @@ let s:_DEFAULT_FILETYPE_MAP = {
         \ 'litcoffee': 'coffee',
         \ 'mail': 'text',
         \ 'mkd': 'markdown',
+        \ 'pe-puppet': 'puppet',
         \ 'sgml': 'docbk',
         \ 'sgmllnx': 'docbk',
     \ }
@@ -136,7 +141,7 @@ let g:SyntasticRegistry = {}
 " parameters, all private methods take normalized filetypes.  Public methods
 " are thus supposed to normalize filetypes before calling private methods.
 
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry.Instance() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry.Instance() abort " {{{2
     if !exists('s:SyntasticRegistryInstance')
         let s:SyntasticRegistryInstance = copy(self)
         let s:SyntasticRegistryInstance._checkerMap = {}
@@ -145,7 +150,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticRegistry.Instance() " {{{2
     return s:SyntasticRegistryInstance
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker(args) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker(args) abort " {{{2
     let checker = g:SyntasticChecker.New(a:args)
     let registry = g:SyntasticRegistry.Instance()
     call registry._registerChecker(checker)
@@ -155,7 +160,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " If hints_list is empty, user settings are are used instead. Checkers are
 " not checked for availability (that is, the corresponding IsAvailable() are
 " not run).
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry.getCheckers(ftalias, hints_list) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry.getCheckers(ftalias, hints_list) abort " {{{2
     let ft = s:_normalise_filetype(a:ftalias)
     call self._loadCheckersFor(ft)
 
@@ -178,11 +183,11 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Same as getCheckers(), but keep only the checkers available.  This runs the
 " corresponding IsAvailable() functions for all checkers.
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry.getCheckersAvailable(ftalias, hints_list) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry.getCheckersAvailable(ftalias, hints_list) abort " {{{2
     return filter(self.getCheckers(a:ftalias, a:hints_list), 'v:val.isAvailable()')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry.getKnownFiletypes() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry.getKnownFiletypes() abort " {{{2
     let types = keys(s:_DEFAULT_CHECKERS)
 
     call extend(types, keys(s:_DEFAULT_FILETYPE_MAP))
@@ -198,13 +203,13 @@ function! g:SyntasticRegistry.getKnownFiletypes() " {{{2
     return syntastic#util#unique(types)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry.getNamesOfAvailableCheckers(ftalias) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry.getNamesOfAvailableCheckers(ftalias) abort " {{{2
     let ft = s:_normalise_filetype(a:ftalias)
     call self._loadCheckersFor(ft)
     return keys(filter( copy(self._checkerMap[ft]), 'v:val.isAvailable()' ))
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry.echoInfoFor(ftalias_list) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry.echoInfoFor(ftalias_list) abort " {{{2
     let ft_list = syntastic#util#unique(map( copy(a:ftalias_list), 's:_normalise_filetype(v:val)' ))
     if len(ft_list) != 1
         let available = []
@@ -273,16 +278,16 @@ function! g:SyntasticRegistry._registerChecker(checker) abort " {{{2
     let self._checkerMap[ft][name] = a:checker
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry._filterCheckersByName(checkers_map, list) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry._filterCheckersByName(checkers_map, list) abort " {{{2
     return filter( map(copy(a:list), 'get(a:checkers_map, v:val, {})'), '!empty(v:val)' )
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry._loadCheckersFor(filetype) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry._loadCheckersFor(filetype) abort " {{{2
     if has_key(self._checkerMap, a:filetype)
         return
     endif
 
-    execute "runtime! syntax_checkers/" . a:filetype . "/*.vim"
+    execute 'runtime! syntax_checkers/' . a:filetype . '/*.vim'
 
     if !has_key(self._checkerMap, a:filetype)
         let self._checkerMap[a:filetype] = {}
@@ -290,7 +295,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticRegistry._loadCheckersFor(filetype) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Check for obsolete variable g:syntastic_<filetype>_checker
-function! g:SyntasticRegistry._checkDeprecation(filetype) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticRegistry._checkDeprecation(filetype) abort " {{{2
     if exists('g:syntastic_' . a:filetype . '_checker') && !exists('g:syntastic_' . a:filetype . '_checkers')
         let g:syntastic_{a:filetype}_checkers = [g:syntastic_{a:filetype}_checker]
         call syntastic#log#oneTimeWarn('variable g:syntastic_' . a:filetype . '_checker is deprecated')
@@ -303,14 +308,14 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 "resolve filetype aliases, and replace - with _ otherwise we cant name
 "syntax checker functions legally for filetypes like "gentoo-metadata"
-function! s:_normalise_filetype(ftalias) " {{{2
+function! s:_normalise_filetype(ftalias) abort " {{{2
     let ft = get(s:_DEFAULT_FILETYPE_MAP, a:ftalias, a:ftalias)
     let ft = get(g:syntastic_filetype_map, ft, ft)
     let ft = substitute(ft, '\m-', '_', 'g')
     return ft
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_disabled_by_eclim(filetype) " {{{2
+function! s:_disabled_by_eclim(filetype) abort " {{{2
     if index(s:_ECLIM_TYPES, a:filetype) >= 0
         let lang = toupper(a:filetype[0]) . a:filetype[1:]
         let ft = a:filetype !=# 'cpp' ? lang : 'C'
@@ -320,7 +325,7 @@ function! s:_disabled_by_eclim(filetype) " {{{2
     return 0
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! s:_disabled_by_ycm(filetype) " {{{2
+function! s:_disabled_by_ycm(filetype) abort " {{{2
     return index(s:_YCM_TYPES, a:filetype) >= 0
 endfunction " }}}2
 
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/signs.vim b/plugin/syntastic/signs.vim
index db801a7..1b89d2f 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/signs.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/signs.vim
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_signs") || !exists("g:loaded_syntastic_plugin")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_signs') || !exists('g:loaded_syntastic_plugin')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_signs = 1
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ let s:setup_done = 0
 
 " Public methods {{{1
 
-function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier.New() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier.New() abort " {{{2
     let newObj = copy(self)
 
     if !s:setup_done
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier.New() " {{{2
     return newObj
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier.enabled() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier.enabled() abort " {{{2
     return has('signs') && syntastic#util#var('enable_signs')
 endfunction " }}}2
 
-function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier.refresh(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier.refresh(loclist) abort " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:_SYNTASTIC_DEBUG_NOTIFICATIONS, 'signs: refresh')
     let old_signs = copy(self._bufSignIds())
     if self.enabled()
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 " Private methods {{{1
 
 " One time setup: define our own sign types and highlighting
-function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._setup() " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._setup() abort " {{{2
     if has('signs')
         if !hlexists('SyntasticErrorSign')
             highlight link SyntasticErrorSign error
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._setup() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Place signs by all syntax errors in the buffer
-function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._signErrors(loclist) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._signErrors(loclist) abort " {{{2
     let loclist = a:loclist
     if !loclist.isEmpty()
 
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._signErrors(loclist) " {{{2
                 let sign_subtype = get(i, 'subtype', '')
                 let sign_type = 'Syntastic' . sign_subtype . sign_severity
 
-                execute "sign place " . s:next_sign_id . " line=" . i['lnum'] . " name=" . sign_type . " buffer=" . i['bufnr']
+                execute 'sign place ' . s:next_sign_id . ' line=' . i['lnum'] . ' name=' . sign_type . ' buffer=' . i['bufnr']
                 call add(self._bufSignIds(), s:next_sign_id)
                 let s:next_sign_id += 1
             endif
@@ -116,18 +116,18 @@ function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._signErrors(loclist) " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Remove the signs with the given ids from this buffer
-function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._removeSigns(ids) " {{{2
+function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._removeSigns(ids) abort " {{{2
     if has('signs')
         for s in reverse(copy(a:ids))
-            execute "sign unplace " . s
+            execute 'sign unplace ' . s
             call remove(self._bufSignIds(), index(self._bufSignIds(), s))
         endfor
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 " Get all the ids of the SyntaxError signs in the buffer
-function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._bufSignIds() " {{{2
-    if !exists("b:syntastic_private_sign_ids")
+function! g:SyntasticSignsNotifier._bufSignIds() abort " {{{2
+    if !exists('b:syntastic_private_sign_ids')
         let b:syntastic_private_sign_ids = []
     endif
     return b:syntastic_private_sign_ids
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/actionscript/mxmlc.vim b/syntax_checkers/actionscript/mxmlc.vim
index 83803bd..1066769 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/actionscript/mxmlc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/actionscript/mxmlc.vim
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_actionscript_mxmlc_GetHighlightRegex(item)
 
     endif
 
-    return term != '' ? '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>' : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>' : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_actionscript_mxmlc_GetLocList() dict
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/apiblueprint/snowcrash.vim b/syntax_checkers/apiblueprint/snowcrash.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..90109c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/apiblueprint/snowcrash.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        snowcrash.vim
+"Description: Syntax checking plugin for syntastic.vim
+"Maintainer:  LCD 47 <lcd047 at gmail dot com>
+"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
+"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
+"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
+"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
+"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+"
+"============================================================================
+
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_apiblueprint_snowcrash_checker')
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_apiblueprint_snowcrash_checker = 1
+
+if !exists('g:syntastic_apiblueprint_snowcrash_sort')
+    let g:syntastic_apiblueprint_snowcrash_sort = 1
+endif
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_apiblueprint_snowcrash_GetLocList() dict
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'post_args': '-u -l' })
+
+    let errorformat =
+        \ '%trror: (%n)  %m,' .
+        \ '%tarning: (%n)  %m,' .
+        \ '%-G%.%#'
+
+    let loclist = SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')},
+        \ 'returns': [0, 2] })
+
+    for e in loclist
+        let matches = matchlist(e['text'], '\v^(.+); line (\d+), column (\d+) - line (\d+), column (\d+)$')
+        if len(matches) > 5
+            let e['lnum'] = str2nr(matches[2])
+            let e['col']  = str2nr(matches[3])
+            let e['vcol'] = 0
+
+            if matches[2] == matches[4]
+                let e['hl'] = '\%>' . (e['col'] - 1) . 'c\%<' . matches[5] . 'c'
+            endif
+
+            let e['text'] = matches[1]
+        else
+            let e['valid'] = 0
+        endif
+    endfor
+
+    return loclist
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'apiblueprint',
+    \ 'name': 'snowcrash'})
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/applescript/osacompile.vim b/syntax_checkers/applescript/osacompile.vim
index e3131f0..406e029 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/applescript/osacompile.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/applescript/osacompile.vim
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_applescript_osacompile_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_applescript_osacompile_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_applescript_osacompile_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/asciidoc/asciidoc.vim b/syntax_checkers/asciidoc/asciidoc.vim
index 03262e6..74f3c13 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/asciidoc/asciidoc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/asciidoc/asciidoc.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_asciidoc_asciidoc_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_asciidoc_asciidoc_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_asciidoc_asciidoc_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/bemhtml/bemhtmllint.vim b/syntax_checkers/bemhtml/bemhtmllint.vim
index 03ab79b..1837067 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/bemhtml/bemhtmllint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/bemhtml/bemhtmllint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_bemhtml_bemhtmllint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_bemhtml_bemhtmllint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/bro/bro.vim b/syntax_checkers/bro/bro.vim
index 410304b..38dfbde 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/bro/bro.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/bro/bro.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_bro_bro_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_bro_bro_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_bro_bro_checker = 1
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_bro_bro_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m at or near "\zs[^"]\+\ze"')
-    return term != '' ? '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>' : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>' : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_bro_bro_IsAvailable() dict
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_bro_bro_IsAvailable() dict
         return 0
     endif
 
-    if system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --help') !~# '--parse-only'
+    if syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --help') !~# '--parse-only'
         call self.log('unknown option "--parse-only"')
         return 0
     endif
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/checkpatch.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/checkpatch.vim
index ea64ec4..43b047c 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/checkpatch.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/checkpatch.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_c_checkpatch_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_checkpatch_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_checkpatch_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/clang_check.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/clang_check.vim
index 8110d14..19e67f1 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/clang_check.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/clang_check.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_c_clang_check_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_clang_check_checker')
   finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_clang_check_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/clang_tidy.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/clang_tidy.vim
index 250506a..d3876ea 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/clang_tidy.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/clang_tidy.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_c_clang_tidy_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_clang_tidy_checker')
   finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_clang_tidy_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/cppcheck.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/cppcheck.vim
index a9d9b9e..cd802a8 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/cppcheck.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/cppcheck.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_c_cppcheck_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_cppcheck_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_cppcheck_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/oclint.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/oclint.vim
index 3cb8cad..f172a11 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/oclint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/oclint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_c_oclint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_oclint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_oclint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/pc_lint.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/pc_lint.vim
index 3a606d2..347baac 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/pc_lint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/pc_lint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_c_pc_lint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_pc_lint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_pc_lint_checker = 1
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ if !exists('g:syntastic_pc_lint_config_file')
 endif
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_c_pc_lint_GetLocList() dict
-    let config = findfile(g:syntastic_pc_lint_config_file, '.;')
+    let config = findfile(g:syntastic_pc_lint_config_file, escape(expand('%:p:h', 1), ' ') . ';')
     call self.log('config =', config)
 
     " -hFs1         - show filename, add space after messages, try to make message 1 line
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/sparse.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/sparse.vim
index dfb29c9..ca831c0 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/sparse.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/sparse.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_c_sparse_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_sparse_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_sparse_checker = 1
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_c_sparse_GetLocList() dict
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")},
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')},
         \ 'returns': [0, 1] })
     return loclist
 endfunction
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/splint.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/splint.vim
index 8d8ee32..a4e19f0 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/splint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/splint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_c_splint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_splint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_splint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cabal/cabal.vim b/syntax_checkers/cabal/cabal.vim
index 24059fe..e43aefa 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cabal/cabal.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cabal/cabal.vim
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_cabal_cabal_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let field = matchstr(a:item['text'], "\\vParse of field '\\zs[^']+")
-    if field != ''
+    if field !=# ''
         return '\v\c^\s*' . field . '\s*:\s*\zs.*$'
     endif
     let field = matchstr(a:item['text'], "\\v(^|\\s)'\\zs[^']+\\ze'")
-    if field != ''
+    if field !=# ''
         return '\V\c\<' . escape(field, '\') . '\>'
     endif
     return ''
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/chef/foodcritic.vim b/syntax_checkers/chef/foodcritic.vim
index 77e70cb..35380aa 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/chef/foodcritic.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/chef/foodcritic.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_chef_foodcritic_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_chef_foodcritic_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_chef_foodcritic_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/co/coco.vim b/syntax_checkers/co/coco.vim
index 4780bf1..9be5d7d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/co/coco.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/co/coco.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_co_coco_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_co_coco_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_co_coco_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/coffee/coffee.vim b/syntax_checkers/coffee/coffee.vim
index 3ed2aa8..3b521fc 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/coffee/coffee.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/coffee/coffee.vim
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 " Note: this script requires CoffeeScript version 1.6.2 or newer.
 "
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_coffee_coffee_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_coffee_coffee_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_coffee_coffee_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/coffee/coffeelint.vim b/syntax_checkers/coffee/coffeelint.vim
index 027f070..e153ed3 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/coffee/coffeelint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/coffee/coffeelint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_coffee_coffeelint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_coffee_coffeelint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_coffee_coffeelint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/coq/coqtop.vim b/syntax_checkers/coq/coqtop.vim
index c22bd77..9d96a5a 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/coq/coqtop.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/coq/coqtop.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_coq_coqtop_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_coq_coqtop_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_coq_coqtop_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cpp/clang_check.vim b/syntax_checkers/cpp/clang_check.vim
index a8bcc90..1a92d4b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cpp/clang_check.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cpp/clang_check.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_clang_check_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_clang_check_checker')
   finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_clang_check_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cpp/clang_tidy.vim b/syntax_checkers/cpp/clang_tidy.vim
index d752e66..b45cf75 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cpp/clang_tidy.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cpp/clang_tidy.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_clang_tidy_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_clang_tidy_checker')
   finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_clang_tidy_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cpp/cppcheck.vim b/syntax_checkers/cpp/cppcheck.vim
index 97f30f0..c103d7d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cpp/cppcheck.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cpp/cppcheck.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_cppcheck_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_cppcheck_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_cppcheck_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cpp/cpplint.vim b/syntax_checkers/cpp/cpplint.vim
index d6012c6..54984bb 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cpp/cpplint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cpp/cpplint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_cpplint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_cpplint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_cpplint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cpp/oclint.vim b/syntax_checkers/cpp/oclint.vim
index f0a6fd0..127c5f0 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cpp/oclint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cpp/oclint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_oclint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_oclint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_oclint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cpp/pc_lint.vim b/syntax_checkers/cpp/pc_lint.vim
index c1fd1c1..d834684 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cpp/pc_lint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cpp/pc_lint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_pc_lint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_pc_lint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_pc_lint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cpp/verapp.vim b/syntax_checkers/cpp/verapp.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af1fd8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cpp/verapp.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        verapp.vim
+"Description: Syntax checking plugin for syntastic.vim
+"Maintainer:  Lucas Verney <phyks@phyks.me>
+"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
+"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
+"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
+"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
+"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+"
+" Tested with Vera++ 1.3.0
+"============================================================================
+
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_verapp_checker')
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_verapp_checker = 1
+
+if !exists('g:syntastic_verapp_config_file')
+    let g:syntastic_verapp_config_file = '.syntastic_verapp_config'
+endif
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_cpp_verapp_GetLocList() dict
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
+        \ 'args': syntastic#c#ReadConfig(g:syntastic_verapp_config_file),
+        \ 'args_after': '--show-rule --no-duplicate -S -c -' })
+
+    let errorformat = '%f:%t:%l:%c:%m'
+
+    return SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'preprocess': 'checkstyle',
+        \ 'subtype': 'Style' })
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'cpp',
+    \ 'name': 'verapp',
+    \ 'exec': 'vera++'})
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cs/mcs.vim b/syntax_checkers/cs/mcs.vim
index c99a269..4544a93 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cs/mcs.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cs/mcs.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_cs_mcs_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cs_mcs_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cs_mcs_checker = 1
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_cs_mcs_GetLocList() dict
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/css/csslint.vim b/syntax_checkers/css/csslint.vim
index 6c6b05c..2d3702b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/css/csslint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/css/csslint.vim
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_css_csslint_GetLocList() dict
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
 
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/css/phpcs.vim b/syntax_checkers/css/phpcs.vim
index e2a620b..bdf2665 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/css/phpcs.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/css/phpcs.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_css_phpcs_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_css_phpcs_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_css_phpcs_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/css/prettycss.vim b/syntax_checkers/css/prettycss.vim
index 334f4e0..b531f49 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/css/prettycss.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/css/prettycss.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_css_prettycss_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_css_prettycss_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_css_prettycss_checker = 1
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_css_prettycss_GetHighlightRegex(item)
-    let term = matchstr(a:item["text"], '\m (\zs[^)]\+\ze)$')
-    if term != ''
+    let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m (\zs[^)]\+\ze)$')
+    if term !=# ''
         let term = '\V' . escape(term, '\')
     endif
     return term
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_css_prettycss_GetLocList() dict
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
 
     for e in loclist
-        let e["text"] .= ')'
+        let e['text'] .= ')'
     endfor
 
     return loclist
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/css/recess.vim b/syntax_checkers/css/recess.vim
index f1467ae..92e84e0 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/css/recess.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/css/recess.vim
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_css_recess_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_css_recess_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_css_recess_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cucumber/cucumber.vim b/syntax_checkers/cucumber/cucumber.vim
index 4da2b97..8a48690 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cucumber/cucumber.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cucumber/cucumber.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_cucumber_cucumber_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cucumber_cucumber_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cucumber_cucumber_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cuda/nvcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/cuda/nvcc.vim
index edfd4f2..cbcdf20 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cuda/nvcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cuda/nvcc.vim
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_cuda_nvcc_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cuda_nvcc_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cuda_nvcc_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/dart/dartanalyzer.vim b/syntax_checkers/dart/dartanalyzer.vim
index 4305fdf..63b8267 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/dart/dartanalyzer.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/dart/dartanalyzer.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_dart_dartanalyzer_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_dart_dartanalyzer_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_dart_dartanalyzer_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/docbk/xmllint.vim b/syntax_checkers/docbk/xmllint.vim
index 722dfad..01fa416 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/docbk/xmllint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/docbk/xmllint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_docbk_xmllint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_docbk_xmllint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_docbk_xmllint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/dustjs/swiffer.vim b/syntax_checkers/dustjs/swiffer.vim
index 3e4d416..8edf1d5 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/dustjs/swiffer.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/dustjs/swiffer.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_dustjs_swiffer_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_dustjs_swiffer_checker')
     finish
 endif
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/elixir/elixir.vim b/syntax_checkers/elixir/elixir.vim
index c77e759..1c4f0a8 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/elixir/elixir.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/elixir/elixir.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_elixir_elixir_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_elixir_elixir_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_elixir_elixir_checker = 1
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_elixir_elixir_GetLocList() dict
 
     let make_options = {}
     let compile_command = 'elixir'
-    let mix_file = syntastic#util#findInParent('mix.exs', expand('%:p:h', 1))
+    let mix_file = findfile('mix.exs', escape(expand('%:p:h', 1), ' ') . ';')
 
     if filereadable(mix_file)
         let compile_command = 'mix compile'
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_elixir_elixir_GetLocList() dict
 
     let make_options['makeprg'] = self.makeprgBuild({ 'exe': compile_command })
 
-    let make_options['errorformat'] = '** %*[^\ ] %f:%l: %m'
+    let make_options['errorformat'] =
+        \ '%E** %*[^\ ] %f:%l: %m,' .
+        \ '%W%f:%l: warning: %m'
 
     return SyntasticMake(make_options)
 endfunction
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/erlang/erlang_check_file.erl b/syntax_checkers/erlang/erlang_check_file.erl
index 367c110..a7d0837 100755
--- a/syntax_checkers/erlang/erlang_check_file.erl
+++ b/syntax_checkers/erlang/erlang_check_file.erl
@@ -1,56 +1,66 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env escript
--export([main/1]).
 
-main([FileName]) ->
-    LibDirs = (["ebin", "include", "src", "test"] ++
-               filelib:wildcard("{apps,deps,lib}/*/{ebin,include}")),
-    compile(FileName, LibDirs);
+main([File]) ->
+    Dir = get_root(filename:dirname(File)),
+    Defs = [strong_validation,
+            warn_export_all,
+            warn_export_vars,
+            warn_shadow_vars,
+            warn_obsolete_guard,
+            warn_unused_import,
+            report,
+            {i, Dir ++ "/include"}],
+    RebarFile = rebar_file(Dir),
+    RebarOpts = rebar_opts(Dir ++ "/" ++ RebarFile),
+    code:add_patha(filename:absname("ebin")),
+    compile:file(File, Defs ++ RebarOpts);
 
-main([FileName, "-rebar", Path, LibDirs]) ->
-    {ok, L} = file:consult(Path),
-    P = dict:from_list(L),
-    Root = filename:dirname(Path),
+main(_) ->
+    io:format("Usage: ~s <file>~n", [escript:script_name()]),
+    halt(1).
 
-    Lib1 = case dict:find(lib_dirs, P) of
-             {ok, X} -> lists:map(fun(Sub) -> Root ++ "/" ++ Sub end, X);
-             _ -> []
-           end,
+rebar_file(Dir) ->
+    DirList = filename:split(Dir),
+    case lists:last(DirList) of
+        "test" ->
+            "rebar.test.config";
+        _ ->
+            "rebar.config"
+    end.
 
-    Lib2 = case dict:find(sub_dirs, P) of
-             {ok, Y} -> lists:foldl(
-                          fun(Sub,Sofar) ->
-                              Sofar ++ [
-                                        Root ++ "/" ++ Sub,
-                                        Root ++ "/" ++ Sub ++ "/include",
-                                        Root ++ "/" ++ Sub ++ "/deps",
-                                        Root ++ "/" ++ Sub ++ "/lib"
-                                       ] end, [], Y);
-             _ -> []
-           end,
+rebar_opts(RebarFile) ->
+    Dir = get_root(filename:dirname(RebarFile)),
+    case file:consult(RebarFile) of
+        {ok, Terms} ->
+            RebarLibDirs = proplists:get_value(lib_dirs, Terms, []),
+            lists:foreach(
+                fun(LibDir) ->
+                        code:add_pathsa(filelib:wildcard(LibDir ++ "/*/ebin"))
+                end, RebarLibDirs),
+            RebarDepsDir = proplists:get_value(deps_dir, Terms, "deps"),
+            code:add_pathsa(filelib:wildcard(RebarDepsDir ++ "/*/ebin")),
+            IncludeDeps = {i, filename:join(Dir, RebarDepsDir)},
+            proplists:get_value(erl_opts, Terms, []) ++ [IncludeDeps];
+        {error, _} when RebarFile == "rebar.config" ->
+          fallback_opts();
+        {error, _} ->
+            rebar_opts("rebar.config")
+    end.
 
-    LibDirs1 = LibDirs ++ Lib1 ++ Lib2,
-    %io:format("~p~n", [LibDirs1]),
-    compile(FileName, LibDirs1);
+fallback_opts() ->
+    code:add_pathsa(filelib:wildcard("deps/*/ebin")),
+    code:add_pathsa(nested_app_ebins()),
+    [
+     { i, filename:absname("apps") }, { i, filename:absname("deps") } | [ { i, filename:absname(Path) } || Path <- filelib:wildcard("deps/*/apps")]
+    ].
 
-main([FileName | LibDirs]) ->
-    compile(FileName, LibDirs).
+nested_app_ebins() ->
+    DetectedAppSrcFiles = filelib:wildcard("deps/*/apps/**/*.app.src"),
+    [apps_dir_from_src(AppSrcFile)||AppSrcFile<-DetectedAppSrcFiles].
 
-compile(FileName, LibDirs) ->
-    Root = get_root(filename:dirname(FileName)),
-    ok = code:add_pathsa(LibDirs),
-    compile:file(FileName,
-                 [warn_obsolete_guard,
-                  warn_unused_import,
-                  warn_shadow_vars,
-                  warn_export_vars,
-                  strong_validation,
-                  report] ++
-                 [{i, filename:join(Root, I)} || I <- LibDirs] ++
-                 case lists:member("deps/pmod_transform/include", LibDirs) of
-                     true -> [{parse_transform, pmod_pt}];
-                     _    -> []
-                 end
-                ).
+apps_dir_from_src(SrcFile) ->
+    SrcDir = filename:dirname(SrcFile),
+    filename:join(SrcDir, "../../ebin").
 
 get_root(Dir) ->
     Path = filename:split(filename:absname(Dir)),
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/erlang/syntaxerl.vim b/syntax_checkers/erlang/syntaxerl.vim
index 8396330..45f4735 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/erlang/syntaxerl.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/erlang/syntaxerl.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_erlang_syntaxerl_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_erlang_syntaxerl_checker')
     finish
 endif
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim b/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim
index 3ac00f1..16eed62 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_eruby_ruby_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_eruby_ruby_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_eruby_ruby_checker = 1
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_eruby_ruby_GetLocList() dict
 
     " TODO: encodings became useful in ruby 1.9 :)
     if s:ruby_new
-        let enc = &fileencoding != '' ? &fileencoding : &encoding
+        let enc = &fileencoding !=# '' ? &fileencoding : &encoding
         let encoding_spec = ', :encoding => "' . (enc ==? 'utf-8' ? 'UTF-8' : 'BINARY') . '"'
     else
         let encoding_spec = ''
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_eruby_ruby_GetLocList() dict
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
         \ 'env': env,
-        \ 'defaults': { 'bufnr': bufnr(""), 'vcol': 1 } })
+        \ 'defaults': { 'bufnr': bufnr(''), 'vcol': 1 } })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/fortran/gfortran.vim b/syntax_checkers/fortran/gfortran.vim
index 74a626c..2a7113a 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/fortran/gfortran.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/fortran/gfortran.vim
@@ -10,37 +10,84 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_fortran_gfortran_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_fortran_gfortran_checker')
     finish
 endif
-let g:loaded_syntastic_fortran_gfortran_checker=1
+let g:loaded_syntastic_fortran_gfortran_checker = 1
 
 if !exists('g:syntastic_fortran_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_fortran_compiler_options = ''
 endif
 
+let s:type_map = {}
+
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
-function! SyntaxCheckers_fortran_gfortran_IsAvailable() dict
+function! SyntaxCheckers_fortran_gfortran_IsAvailable() dict " {{{1
     if !exists('g:syntastic_fortran_compiler')
         let g:syntastic_fortran_compiler = self.getExec()
     endif
     call self.log('g:syntastic_fortran_compiler = ', g:syntastic_fortran_compiler)
     return executable(expand(g:syntastic_fortran_compiler, 1))
-endfunction
+endfunction " }}}1
+
+" @vimlint(EVL104, 1, l:errorformat)
+function! SyntaxCheckers_fortran_gfortran_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
+    call s:SetCompilerType(g:syntastic_fortran_compiler)
+    if !has_key(s:type_map, g:syntastic_fortran_compiler)
+        call syntastic#log#error("checker fortran/gfortran: can't parse version string (abnormal termination?)")
+        return []
+    endif
+
+    if s:type_map[g:syntastic_fortran_compiler] ==# 'gfortran'
+        let errorformat =
+            \ '%-C %#,'.
+            \ '%-C  %#%.%#,'.
+            \ '%A%f:%l.%c:,'.
+            \ '%Z%trror: %m,'.
+            \ '%Z%tarning: %m,'.
+            \ '%-G%.%#'
+        if !exists('g:syntastic_fortran_gfortran_sort')
+            let g:syntastic_fortran_gfortran_sort = 0
+        endif
+    elseif s:type_map[g:syntastic_fortran_compiler] ==# 'ifort'
+        let errorformat =
+            \ '%E%f(%l): error #%n: %m,'.
+            \ '%W%f(%l): warning #%n: %m,'.
+            \ '%W%f(%l): remark #%n: %m,'.
+            \ '%-Z%p^,'.
+            \ '%-G%.%#'
+        if !exists('g:syntastic_fortran_gfortran_sort')
+            let g:syntastic_fortran_gfortran_sort = 1
+        endif
+    endif
 
-function! SyntaxCheckers_fortran_gfortran_GetLocList() dict
     return syntastic#c#GetLocList('fortran', 'gfortran', {
-        \ 'errorformat':
-        \     '%-C %#,'.
-        \     '%-C  %#%.%#,'.
-        \     '%A%f:%l.%c:,'.
-        \     '%Z%trror: %m,'.
-        \     '%Z%tarning: %m,'.
-        \     '%-G%.%#',
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
         \ 'main_flags': '-fsyntax-only' })
-endfunction
+endfunction " }}}1
+" @vimlint(EVL104, 0, l:errorformat)
+
+" Utilities {{{1
+
+function! s:SetCompilerType(exe) " {{{2
+    if !has_key(s:type_map, a:exe)
+        try
+            let ver = filter( split(syntastic#util#system(syntastic#util#shescape(a:exe) . ' --version'), '\n'),
+                \ 'v:val =~# "\\v^%(GNU Fortran|ifort) "' )[0]
+            if ver =~# '\m^GNU Fortran '
+                let s:type_map[a:exe] = 'gfortran'
+            elseif ver =~# '\m^ifort '
+                let s:type_map[a:exe] = 'ifort'
+            endif
+        catch /\m^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E684/
+            " do nothing
+        endtry
+    endif
+endfunction " }}}2
+
+" }}}
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
     \ 'filetype': 'fortran',
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/glsl/cgc.vim b/syntax_checkers/glsl/cgc.vim
index 5faee03..602399d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/glsl/cgc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/glsl/cgc.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_glsl_cgc_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_glsl_cgc_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_glsl_cgc_checker = 1
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_glsl_cgc_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
         \ 'args': (exists('g:syntastic_glsl_options') ? ' ' . g:syntastic_glsl_options : '') })
 
     let errorformat =
-        \ "%E%f(%l) : error %m," .
-        \ "%W%f(%l) : warning %m"
+        \ '%E%f(%l) : error %m,' .
+        \ '%W%f(%l) : warning %m'
 
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/go/go.vim b/syntax_checkers/go/go.vim
index a7f6b10..3656b65 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/go/go.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/go/go.vim
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 " Use a BufWritePre autocommand to that end:
 "   autocmd FileType go autocmd BufWritePre <buffer> Fmt
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_go_go_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_go_go_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_go_go_checker = 1
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_go_go_GetLocList() dict
         let opts = syntastic#util#var('go_go_test_args')
         let cleanup = 1
     endif
-    let opt_str = (type(opts) != type('') || opts != '') ? join(syntastic#util#argsescape(opts)) : opts
-    let makeprg = self.getExec() . ' ' . cmd . ' ' . opt_str . ' ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput()
+    let opt_str = (type(opts) != type('') || opts !=# '') ? join(syntastic#util#argsescape(opts)) : opts
+    let makeprg = self.getExec() . ' ' . cmd . ' ' . opt_str
 
     " The first pattern is for warnings from C compilers.
     let errorformat =
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/go/gofmt.vim b/syntax_checkers/go/gofmt.vim
index 92838e8..bdb6218 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/go/gofmt.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/go/gofmt.vim
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 " Use a BufWritePre autocommand to that end:
 "   autocmd FileType go autocmd BufWritePre <buffer> Fmt
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_go_gofmt_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_go_gofmt_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_go_gofmt_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/go/golint.vim b/syntax_checkers/go/golint.vim
index 253a485..29eee0c 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/go/golint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/go/golint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_go_golint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_go_golint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_go_golint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/go/gotype.vim b/syntax_checkers/go/gotype.vim
index 70e3082..58dcc99 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/go/gotype.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/go/gotype.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_go_gotype_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_go_gotype_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_go_gotype_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/go/govet.vim b/syntax_checkers/go/govet.vim
index 9898578..c5d5d7b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/go/govet.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/go/govet.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_go_govet_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_go_govet_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_go_govet_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/haml/haml_lint.vim b/syntax_checkers/haml/haml_lint.vim
index 6db4940..60b3db3 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/haml/haml_lint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/haml/haml_lint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_haml_haml_lint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_haml_haml_lint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_haml_haml_lint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/handlebars/handlebars.vim b/syntax_checkers/handlebars/handlebars.vim
index 8ada4c7..f5ae742 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/handlebars/handlebars.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/handlebars/handlebars.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_handlebars_handlebars_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_handlebars_handlebars_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_handlebars_handlebars_checker = 1
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_handlebars_handlebars_GetLocList() dict
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '-f ' . syntastic#util#DevNull() })
 
     let errorformat =
-        \ '%EError: %m on line %l:,'.
-        \ "%EError: %m,".
+        \ '%EError: %m on line %l:,' .
+        \ '%EError: %m,' .
         \ '%Z%p^,' .
         \ '%-G%.%#'
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_handlebars_handlebars_GetLocList() dict
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
         \ 'postprocess': ['guards'],
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/haskell/ghc-mod.vim b/syntax_checkers/haskell/ghc-mod.vim
index 0184562..eed7ed8 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/haskell/ghc-mod.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/haskell/ghc-mod.vim
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_haskell_ghc_mod_IsAvailable() dict
     " know the version in order to know how to find out the version. :)
 
     " Try "ghc-mod version".
-    let ver = filter(split(system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' version'), '\n'), 'v:val =~# ''\m\sversion''')
+    let ver = filter(split(syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' version'), '\n'), 'v:val =~# ''\m\sversion''')
     if !len(ver)
         " That didn't work.  Try "ghc-mod" alone.
-        let ver = filter(split(system(self.getExecEscaped()), '\n'), 'v:val =~# ''\m\sversion''')
+        let ver = filter(split(syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped()), '\n'), 'v:val =~# ''\m\sversion''')
     endif
 
     if len(ver)
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_haskell_ghc_mod_GetLocList() dict
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'preprocess': 'iconv',
         \ 'postprocess': ['compressWhitespace'],
         \ 'returns': [0] })
 endfunction
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/haskell/hdevtools.vim b/syntax_checkers/haskell/hdevtools.vim
index b2c1781..4b0a80f 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/haskell/hdevtools.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/haskell/hdevtools.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_haskell_hdevtools_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_haskell_hdevtools_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_haskell_hdevtools_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/haxe/haxe.vim b/syntax_checkers/haxe/haxe.vim
index 2b990b8..0b689b5 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/haxe/haxe.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/haxe/haxe.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_haxe_haxe_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_haxe_haxe_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_haxe_haxe_checker = 1
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_haxe_haxe_GetLocList() dict
 
     call self.log('hxml =', hxml)
 
-    if hxml != ''
+    if hxml !=# ''
         let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
             \ 'fname': syntastic#util#shescape(fnamemodify(hxml, ':t')) })
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/hss/hss.vim b/syntax_checkers/hss/hss.vim
index 76b8b50..d988615 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/hss/hss.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/hss/hss.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_hss_hss_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_hss_hss_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_hss_hss_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/html/tidy.vim b/syntax_checkers/html/tidy.vim
index 71a1615..3075a7d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/html/tidy.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/html/tidy.vim
@@ -9,16 +9,8 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "
 "============================================================================
-"
-" Note: if you need to check HTML5 sources, you might consider installing a
-" fork of HTML Tidy, named "HTML Tidy for HTML5":
-"
-"   http://w3c.github.io/tidy-html5/
-"
-" HTML Tidy for HTML5 can be used without changes by this checker, just install
-" it and point g:syntastic_html_tidy_exec to the executable.
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_html_tidy_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_html_tidy_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_html_tidy_checker = 1
@@ -102,40 +94,40 @@ let s:IGNORE_ERRORS = [
 lockvar! s:IGNORE_ERRORS
 
 let s:BLOCKLEVEL_TAGS = [
-        \ "main",
-        \ "section",
-        \ "article",
-        \ "aside",
-        \ "header",
-        \ "footer",
-        \ "nav",
-        \ "figure",
-        \ "figcaption"
+        \ 'main',
+        \ 'section',
+        \ 'article',
+        \ 'aside',
+        \ 'header',
+        \ 'footer',
+        \ 'nav',
+        \ 'figure',
+        \ 'figcaption'
     \ ]
 lockvar! s:BLOCKLEVEL_TAGS
 
 let s:INLINE_TAGS = [
-        \ "video",
-        \ "audio",
-        \ "source",
-        \ "embed",
-        \ "mark",
-        \ "progress",
-        \ "meter",
-        \ "time",
-        \ "ruby",
-        \ "rt",
-        \ "rp",
-        \ "canvas",
-        \ "command",
-        \ "details",
-        \ "datalist"
+        \ 'video',
+        \ 'audio',
+        \ 'source',
+        \ 'embed',
+        \ 'mark',
+        \ 'progress',
+        \ 'meter',
+        \ 'time',
+        \ 'ruby',
+        \ 'rt',
+        \ 'rp',
+        \ 'canvas',
+        \ 'command',
+        \ 'details',
+        \ 'datalist'
     \ ]
 lockvar! s:INLINE_TAGS
 
 let s:EMPTY_TAGS = [
-        \ "wbr",
-        \ "keygen"
+        \ 'wbr',
+        \ 'keygen'
     \ ]
 lockvar! s:EMPTY_TAGS
 
@@ -152,7 +144,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_html_tidy_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")},
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')},
         \ 'returns': [0, 1, 2] })
 
     " filter out valid HTML5 from the errors
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/html/validator.vim b/syntax_checkers/html/validator.vim
index 809c245..14a4c64 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/html/validator.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/html/validator.vim
@@ -10,13 +10,13 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_html_validator_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_html_validator_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_html_validator_checker=1
 
 if !exists('g:syntastic_html_validator_api')
-    let g:syntastic_html_validator_api = 'http://validator.nu/'
+    let g:syntastic_html_validator_api = 'https://validator.nu/'
 endif
 
 if !exists('g:syntastic_html_validator_parser')
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_html_validator_GetLocList() dict
     let fname = syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
-    let makeprg = self.getExecEscaped() . ' -q -s --compressed -F out=gnu -F asciiquotes=yes' .
-        \ (g:syntastic_html_validator_parser != '' ? ' -F parser=' . g:syntastic_html_validator_parser : '') .
-        \ (g:syntastic_html_validator_nsfilter != '' ? ' -F nsfilter=' . g:syntastic_html_validator_nsfilter : '') .
+    let makeprg = self.getExecEscaped() . ' -q -L -s --compressed -F out=gnu -F asciiquotes=yes' .
+        \ (g:syntastic_html_validator_parser !=# '' ? ' -F parser=' . g:syntastic_html_validator_parser : '') .
+        \ (g:syntastic_html_validator_nsfilter !=# '' ? ' -F nsfilter=' . g:syntastic_html_validator_nsfilter : '') .
         \ ' -F doc=@' . fname . '\;type=text/html\;filename=' . fname . ' ' . g:syntastic_html_validator_api
 
     let errorformat =
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/html/w3.vim b/syntax_checkers/html/w3.vim
index dd92102..37ff11a 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/html/w3.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/html/w3.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_html_w3_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_html_w3_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_html_w3_checker = 1
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_html_w3_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.getExecEscaped() . ' -q -s -F output=json ' .
+    let makeprg = self.getExecEscaped() . ' -q -L -s -F output=json ' .
         \ '-F uploaded_file=@' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%:p') . '\;type=text/html ' .
         \ g:syntastic_html_w3_api
 
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_html_w3_GetLocList() dict
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")},
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')},
         \ 'returns': [0] })
 
     for e in loclist
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/java/checkstyle.vim b/syntax_checkers/java/checkstyle.vim
index 8afa517..2f533be 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/java/checkstyle.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/java/checkstyle.vim
@@ -11,16 +11,16 @@
 " Tested with checkstyle 5.5
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_java_checkstyle_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_java_checkstyle_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_java_checkstyle_checker = 1
 
-if !exists("g:syntastic_java_checkstyle_classpath")
+if !exists('g:syntastic_java_checkstyle_classpath')
     let g:syntastic_java_checkstyle_classpath = 'checkstyle-5.5-all.jar'
 endif
 
-if !exists("g:syntastic_java_checkstyle_conf_file")
+if !exists('g:syntastic_java_checkstyle_conf_file')
     let g:syntastic_java_checkstyle_conf_file = 'sun_checks.xml'
 endif
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_java_checkstyle_GetLocList() dict
     let fname = syntastic#util#shescape( expand('%:p:h', 1) . syntastic#util#Slash() . expand('%:t', 1) )
 
     if has('win32unix')
-        let fname = substitute(system('cygpath -m ' . fname), '\m\%x00', '', 'g')
+        let fname = substitute(syntastic#util#system('cygpath -m ' . fname), '\m\%x00', '', 'g')
     endif
 
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim b/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim
index 1029fe0..a81801c 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_java_javac_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
     let javac_classpath = ''
 
     for path in split(g:syntastic_java_javac_classpath, s:ClassSep())
-        if path != ''
+        if path !=# ''
             try
                 let ps = glob(path, 1, 1)
             catch
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_java_javac_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
     " }}}2
 
     " load custom classpath {{{2
-    if g:syntastic_java_javac_custom_classpath_command != ''
-        let lines = system(g:syntastic_java_javac_custom_classpath_command)
+    if g:syntastic_java_javac_custom_classpath_command !=# ''
+        let lines = syntastic#util#system(g:syntastic_java_javac_custom_classpath_command)
         if syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() || has('win32unix')
             let lines = substitute(lines, "\r\n", "\n", 'g')
         endif
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_java_javac_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
         endfor
     endif
 
-    if javac_classpath != ''
+    if javac_classpath !=# ''
         let javac_opts .= ' -cp ' . syntastic#util#shexpand(javac_classpath)
     endif
     " }}}2
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_java_javac_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
     let fname = expand('%:p:h', 1) . syntastic#util#Slash() . expand ('%:t', 1)
 
     if has('win32unix')
-        let fname = s:CygwinPath(fname)
+        let fname = syntastic#util#CygwinPath(fname)
     endif
 
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
@@ -155,14 +155,14 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_java_javac_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
 
     " unashamedly stolen from *errorformat-javac* (quickfix.txt) and modified to include error types
     let errorformat =
-        \ '%E%f:%l:\ error:\ %m,'.
-        \ '%W%f:%l:\ warning:\ %m,'.
-        \ '%A%f:%l:\ %m,'.
+        \ '%E%f:%l: error: %m,'.
+        \ '%W%f:%l: warning: %m,'.
+        \ '%A%f:%l: %m,'.
         \ '%+Z%p^,'.
         \ '%+C%.%#,'.
         \ '%-G%.%#'
 
-    if output_dir != ''
+    if output_dir !=# ''
         silent! call mkdir(output_dir, 'p')
     endif
     let errors = SyntasticMake({
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_java_javac_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
         \ 'postprocess': ['cygwinRemoveCR'] })
 
-    if output_dir != ''
+    if output_dir !=# ''
         call syntastic#util#rmrf(output_dir)
     endif
     return errors
@@ -179,10 +179,6 @@ endfunction " }}}1
 
 " Utilities {{{1
 
-function! s:CygwinPath(path) " {{{2
-    return substitute(system('cygpath -m ' . syntastic#util#shescape(a:path)), "\n", '', 'g')
-endfunction " }}}2
-
 function! s:RemoveCarriageReturn(line) " {{{2
     return substitute(a:line, "\r", '', 'g')
 endfunction " }}}2
@@ -192,10 +188,10 @@ function! s:ClassSep() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:AddToClasspath(classpath, path) " {{{2
-    if a:path == ''
+    if a:path ==# ''
         return a:classpath
     endif
-    return (a:classpath != '') ? a:classpath . s:ClassSep() . a:path : a:path
+    return (a:classpath !=# '') ? a:classpath . s:ClassSep() . a:path : a:path
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:SplitClasspath(classpath) " {{{2
@@ -303,14 +299,14 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:GetMavenProperties() " {{{2
     let mvn_properties = {}
-    let pom = findfile('pom.xml', '.;')
+    let pom = findfile('pom.xml', escape(expand('%:p:h', 1), ' ') . ';')
     if s:has_maven && filereadable(pom)
         if !has_key(g:syntastic_java_javac_maven_pom_properties, pom)
             let mvn_cmd = syntastic#util#shexpand(g:syntastic_java_maven_executable) .
                 \ ' -f ' . syntastic#util#shescape(pom) .
                 \ ' ' . g:syntastic_java_maven_options
             let mvn_is_managed_tag = 1
-            let mvn_settings_output = split(system(mvn_cmd . ' help:effective-pom'), "\n")
+            let mvn_settings_output = split(syntastic#util#system(mvn_cmd . ' help:effective-pom'), "\n")
             let current_path = 'project'
             for line in mvn_settings_output
                 let matches = matchlist(line, '\m^\s*<\([a-zA-Z0-9\-\.]\+\)>\s*$')
@@ -338,13 +334,13 @@ function! s:GetMavenProperties() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:GetMavenClasspath() " {{{2
-    let pom = findfile('pom.xml', '.;')
+    let pom = findfile('pom.xml', escape(expand('%:p:h', 1), ' ') . ';')
     if s:has_maven && filereadable(pom)
         if !has_key(g:syntastic_java_javac_maven_pom_ftime, pom) || g:syntastic_java_javac_maven_pom_ftime[pom] != getftime(pom)
             let mvn_cmd = syntastic#util#shexpand(g:syntastic_java_maven_executable) .
                 \ ' -f ' . syntastic#util#shescape(pom) .
                 \ ' ' . g:syntastic_java_maven_options
-            let mvn_classpath_output = split(system(mvn_cmd . ' dependency:build-classpath'), "\n")
+            let mvn_classpath_output = split(syntastic#util#system(mvn_cmd . ' dependency:build-classpath'), "\n")
             let mvn_classpath = ''
             let class_path_next = 0
 
@@ -360,13 +356,14 @@ function! s:GetMavenClasspath() " {{{2
 
             let mvn_properties = s:GetMavenProperties()
 
-            let output_dir = 'target/classes'
+            let sep = syntastic#util#Slash()
+            let output_dir = join(['target', 'classes'], sep)
             if has_key(mvn_properties, 'project.build.outputDirectory')
                 let output_dir = mvn_properties['project.build.outputDirectory']
             endif
             let mvn_classpath = s:AddToClasspath(mvn_classpath, output_dir)
 
-            let test_output_dir = 'target/test-classes'
+            let test_output_dir = join(['target', 'test-classes'], sep)
             if has_key(mvn_properties, 'project.build.testOutputDirectory')
                 let test_output_dir = mvn_properties['project.build.testOutputDirectory']
             endif
@@ -381,28 +378,30 @@ function! s:GetMavenClasspath() " {{{2
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:MavenOutputDirectory() " {{{2
-    let pom = findfile('pom.xml', '.;')
+    let pom = findfile('pom.xml', escape(expand('%:p:h', 1), ' ') . ';')
     if s:has_maven && filereadable(pom)
         let mvn_properties = s:GetMavenProperties()
         let output_dir = getcwd()
         if has_key(mvn_properties, 'project.properties.build.dir')
             let output_dir = mvn_properties['project.properties.build.dir']
         endif
-        if stridx(expand('%:p:h', 1), 'src.main.java') >= 0
-            let output_dir .= '/target/classes'
+
+        let sep = syntastic#util#Slash()
+        if stridx(expand('%:p:h', 1), join(['src', 'main', 'java'], sep)) >= 0
+            let output_dir = join ([output_dir, 'target', 'classes'], sep)
             if has_key(mvn_properties, 'project.build.outputDirectory')
                 let output_dir = mvn_properties['project.build.outputDirectory']
             endif
         endif
-        if stridx(expand('%:p:h', 1), 'src.test.java') >= 0
-            let output_dir .= '/target/test-classes'
+        if stridx(expand('%:p:h', 1), join(['src', 'test', 'java'], sep)) >= 0
+            let output_dir = join([output_dir, 'target', 'test-classes'], sep)
             if has_key(mvn_properties, 'project.build.testOutputDirectory')
                 let output_dir = mvn_properties['project.build.testOutputDirectory']
             endif
         endif
 
         if has('win32unix')
-            let output_dir = s:CygwinPath(output_dir)
+            let output_dir = syntastic#util#CygwinPath(output_dir)
         endif
         return output_dir
     endif
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/javascript/closurecompiler.vim b/syntax_checkers/javascript/closurecompiler.vim
index e8102b8..8c4190a 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/javascript/closurecompiler.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/javascript/closurecompiler.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_closurecompiler_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_closurecompiler_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_closurecompiler_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/javascript/flow.vim b/syntax_checkers/javascript/flow.vim
index 2fc2cc4..b928971 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/javascript/flow.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/javascript/flow.vim
@@ -21,9 +21,20 @@ endif
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
+function! SyntaxCheckers_javascript_flow_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !executable(self.getExec())
+        return 0
+    endif
+    return syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(self.getVersion(), [0, 6])
+endfunction
+
 function! SyntaxCheckers_javascript_flow_GetLocList() dict
+    if findfile('.flowconfig', escape(expand('%:p:h', 1), ' ') . ';') ==# ''
+        return []
+    endif
+
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_after': 'check',
+        \ 'exe': self.getExecEscaped() . ' status',
         \ 'args_after': '--show-all-errors --json' })
 
     let errorformat =
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/javascript/gjslint.vim b/syntax_checkers/javascript/gjslint.vim
index 5266b15..ec2a2ea 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/javascript/gjslint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/javascript/gjslint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_gjslint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_gjslint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_gjslint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jscs.vim b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jscs.vim
index a3db94e..bc1f564 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jscs.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jscs.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jscs_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jscs_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jscs_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jsl.vim b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jsl.vim
index c3db1cb..aa9862b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jsl.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jsl.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jsl_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jsl_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jsl_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jslint.vim b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jslint.vim
index 9ade0e8..e2ce76c 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jslint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jslint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jslint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jslint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_javascript_jslint_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\mExpected .* and instead saw ''\zs.*\ze''')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         let term = '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>'
     endif
     return term
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_javascript_jslint_GetLocList() dict
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jsxhint.vim b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jsxhint.vim
index 99c0d93..bd16858 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jsxhint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jsxhint.vim
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_javascript_jsxhint_IsAvailable() dict
-    let jsxhint_version = system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version')
+    let jsxhint_version = syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version')
     if v:shell_error || (jsxhint_version !~# '\m^JSXHint\>')
         return 0
     endif
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/javascript/standard.vim b/syntax_checkers/javascript/standard.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0469f65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/javascript/standard.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        standard.vim
+"Description: JavaScript syntax checker - using standard
+"Maintainer:  LCD 47 <lcd047@gmail.com>
+"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
+"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
+"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
+"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
+"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+"============================================================================
+
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_standard_checker')
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_standard_checker = 1
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_javascript_standard_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !executable(self.getExec())
+        return 0
+    endif
+    return syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(self.getVersion(), [2, 6, 1])
+endfunction
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_javascript_standard_GetLocList() dict
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args': '-v' })
+
+    let errorformat = '  %f:%l:%c: %m'
+
+    return SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'subtype': 'Style',
+        \ 'defaults': {'type': 'W'},
+        \ 'returns': [0, 1] })
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'javascript',
+    \ 'name': 'standard'})
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/json/jsonlint.vim b/syntax_checkers/json/jsonlint.vim
index 83f18dc..9a89c78 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/json/jsonlint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/json/jsonlint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_json_jsonlint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_json_jsonlint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_json_jsonlint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/json/jsonval.vim b/syntax_checkers/json/jsonval.vim
index 55858ca..2a756b6 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/json/jsonval.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/json/jsonval.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_json_jsonval_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_json_jsonval_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_json_jsonval_checker = 1
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_json_jsonval_GetLocList() dict
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({})
 
     let errorformat =
-        \ '%E%f:\ %m\ at\ line\ %l,' .
+        \ '%E%f: %m at line %l,' .
         \ '%-G%.%#'
 
     return SyntasticMake({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/less/lessc.vim b/syntax_checkers/less/lessc.vim
index fce21b7..0328770 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/less/lessc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/less/lessc.vim
@@ -10,16 +10,16 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_less_lessc_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_less_lessc_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_less_lessc_checker = 1
 
-if !exists("g:syntastic_less_options")
-    let g:syntastic_less_options = ""
+if !exists('g:syntastic_less_options')
+    let g:syntastic_less_options = ''
 endif
 
-if !exists("g:syntastic_less_use_less_lint")
+if !exists('g:syntastic_less_use_less_lint')
     let g:syntastic_less_use_less_lint = 0
 endif
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_less_lessc_GetLocList() dict
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
         \ 'postprocess': ['guards'],
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr(""), 'text': "Syntax error"} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr(''), 'text': 'Syntax error'} })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/lex/flex.vim b/syntax_checkers/lex/flex.vim
index 8070cc6..82cbf10 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/lex/flex.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/lex/flex.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_lex_flex_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_lex_flex_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_lex_flex_checker = 1
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ set cpo&vim
 function! SyntaxCheckers_lex_flex_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'],
         \ '\m^\(unrecognized %option\|bad <start condition>\|bad character\( class expression\)\=\): \zs.*')
-    if term == ''
+    if term ==# ''
         let term = matchstr(a:item['text'],
             \ '\m^\(Definition value for\|undefined definition\) \zs{[^}]\+}\ze')
     endif
 
-    return term != '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_lex_flex_GetLocList() dict
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/limbo/limbo.vim b/syntax_checkers/limbo/limbo.vim
index 9c88a2d..0dfe03c 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/limbo/limbo.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/limbo/limbo.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_limbo_limbo_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_limbo_limbo_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_limbo_limbo_checker = 1
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_limbo_limbo_GetLocList() dict
-    let include = $INFERNO_HOME != '' ? '-I$INFERNO_HOME ' : ''
+    let include = $INFERNO_HOME !=# '' ? '-I$INFERNO_HOME ' : ''
     " don't generate .dis in current dir while checking syntax,
     " .dis should be generated by `mk`
     let output = filereadable('mkfile') ? (' ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput()) : ''
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/lisp/clisp.vim b/syntax_checkers/lisp/clisp.vim
index 50530d8..26de435 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/lisp/clisp.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/lisp/clisp.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_lisp_clisp_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_lisp_clisp_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_lisp_clisp_checker = 1
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_lisp_clisp_GetLocList() dict
     let tmpdir = syntastic#util#tmpdir()
-    let out = tmpdir != '.' ? ('-o ' . syntastic#util#shescape(tmpdir . syntastic#util#Slash() . 'syntastic_' . getpid())) : ''
+    let out = tmpdir !=# '.' ? ('-o ' . syntastic#util#shescape(tmpdir . syntastic#util#Slash() . 'syntastic_' . getpid())) : ''
 
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
         \ 'args_after': '-q',
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/llvm/llvm.vim b/syntax_checkers/llvm/llvm.vim
index a6755b8..7e90314 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/llvm/llvm.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/llvm/llvm.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_llvm_llvm_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_llvm_llvm_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_llvm_llvm_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/lua/luac.vim b/syntax_checkers/lua/luac.vim
index bc05a34..178f76a 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/lua/luac.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/lua/luac.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_lua_luac_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_lua_luac_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_lua_luac_checker = 1
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 function! SyntaxCheckers_lua_luac_GetHighlightRegex(pos)
     let result = ''
     let near = matchstr(a:pos['text'], '\mnear ''\zs[^'']\+\ze''')
-    if near != ''
+    if near !=# ''
         if near ==# '<eof>'
             let p = getpos('$')
             let a:pos['lnum'] = p[1]
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/lua/luacheck.vim b/syntax_checkers/lua/luacheck.vim
index b9efa0d..5c8521d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/lua/luacheck.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/lua/luacheck.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_lua_luacheck_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_lua_luacheck_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_lua_luacheck_checker = 1
@@ -19,27 +19,27 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_lua_luacheck_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m''\zs\S\+\ze''')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>'
     endif
 
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m\(accessing undefined\|setting non-standard global\|' .
                 \ 'setting non-module global\|unused global\) variable \zs\S\+')
-    if term == ''
+    if term ==# ''
         let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\mvariable \zs\S\+\ze was previously defined')
     endif
-    if term == ''
+    if term ==# ''
         let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\munused \(variable\|argument\|loop variable\) \zs\S\+')
     endif
-    if term == ''
+    if term ==# ''
         let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m\(value assigned to variable\|value of argument\|' .
                 \ 'value of loop variable\) \zs\S\+')
     endif
-    if term == ''
+    if term ==# ''
         let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\mvariable \zs\S\+\ze is never set')
     endif
 
-    return term != '' ? '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>' : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>' : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_lua_luacheck_GetLocList() dict
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/markdown/mdl.vim b/syntax_checkers/markdown/mdl.vim
index db5c816..3b40a74 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/markdown/mdl.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/markdown/mdl.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_markdown_mdl_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_markdown_mdl_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_markdown_mdl_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/matlab/mlint.vim b/syntax_checkers/matlab/mlint.vim
index 1eedec6..6e0b8d1 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/matlab/mlint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/matlab/mlint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_matlab_mlint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_matlab_mlint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_matlab_mlint_checker = 1
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_matlab_mlint_GetLocList() dict
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/mercury/mmc.vim b/syntax_checkers/mercury/mmc.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75ee654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/mercury/mmc.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        mercury.vim
+"Description: Syntax checking plugin for syntastic.vim
+"Maintainer:  Joshua Rahm (joshuarahm@gmail.com)
+"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
+"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
+"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
+"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
+"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+"
+"============================================================================
+
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_mercury_mmc_checker')
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_mercury_mmc_checker = 1
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_mercury_mmc_GetLocList() dict
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_before': '-e' })
+
+    let errorformat =
+        \ '%C%f:%l:  %m,' .
+        \ '%E%f:%l: %m,' .
+        \ '%-G%.%#'
+
+    let loclist = SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
+
+    for e in loclist
+        if stridx(e['text'], ' warning:') >= 0
+            let e['type'] = 'W'
+        endif
+    endfor
+
+    return loclist
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'mercury',
+    \ 'name': 'mmc'})
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/nasm/nasm.vim b/syntax_checkers/nasm/nasm.vim
index 4262d28..e309c1f 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/nasm/nasm.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/nasm/nasm.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_nasm_nasm_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_nasm_nasm_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_nasm_nasm_checker = 1
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 function! SyntaxCheckers_nasm_nasm_GetLocList() dict
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
         \ 'args_after': '-X gnu -f elf' .
-        \       ' -I ' . syntastic#util#shescape(expand('%:p:h', 1) . '/') .
+        \       ' -I ' . syntastic#util#shescape(expand('%:p:h', 1) . syntastic#util#Slash()) .
         \       ' ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput() })
 
     let errorformat = '%f:%l: %t%*[^:]: %m'
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/nix/nix.vim b/syntax_checkers/nix/nix.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b8fd21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/nix/nix.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        nix.vim
+"Description: Check nix syntax using 'nix-instantiate --eval-only'
+"Maintainer:  Tim Cuthbertson <tim@gfxmonk.net>
+"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
+"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
+"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
+"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
+"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+"
+"============================================================================
+"
+"
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_nix_nix_checker')
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_nix_nix_checker = 1
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_nix_nix_GetLocList() dict
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '--parse-only' })
+
+    let errorformat =
+        \ '%m\, at %f:%l:%c,' .
+        \ '%m at %f\, line %l:,' .
+        \ 'error: %m\, in %f'
+
+    return SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'defaults': {'type': 'e'} })
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'nix',
+    \ 'name': 'nix',
+    \ 'exec': 'nix-instantiate' })
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/nroff/mandoc.vim b/syntax_checkers/nroff/mandoc.vim
index ac7a73f..8efc4ce 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/nroff/mandoc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/nroff/mandoc.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_nroff_mandoc_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_nroff_mandoc_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_nroff_mandoc_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/objc/oclint.vim b/syntax_checkers/objc/oclint.vim
index 21ac752..7adf5b8 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/objc/oclint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/objc/oclint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_objc_oclint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_objc_oclint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_objc_oclint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/objcpp/oclint.vim b/syntax_checkers/objcpp/oclint.vim
index 58a3d46..addec47 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/objcpp/oclint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/objcpp/oclint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_objcpp_oclint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_objcpp_oclint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_objcpp_oclint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ocaml/camlp4o.vim b/syntax_checkers/ocaml/camlp4o.vim
index 8a0ee2f..e464c5e 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ocaml/camlp4o.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ocaml/camlp4o.vim
@@ -10,15 +10,15 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_ocaml_camlp4o_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_ocaml_camlp4o_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_ocaml_camlp4o_checker = 1
 
 if exists('g:syntastic_ocaml_camlp4r') && g:syntastic_ocaml_camlp4r != 0
-    let s:ocamlpp="camlp4r"
+    let s:ocamlpp='camlp4r'
 else
-    let s:ocamlpp="camlp4o"
+    let s:ocamlpp='camlp4o'
 endif
 
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ if !exists('g:syntastic_ocaml_use_janestreet_core')
     let g:syntastic_ocaml_use_janestreet_core = 0
 endif
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_ocaml_use_ocamlbuild') || !executable("ocamlbuild")
+if !exists('g:syntastic_ocaml_use_ocamlbuild') || !executable('ocamlbuild')
     let g:syntastic_ocaml_use_ocamlbuild = 0
 endif
 
@@ -46,22 +46,36 @@ endfunction " }}}1
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ocaml_camlp4o_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
     let makeprg = s:GetMakeprg()
-    if makeprg == ""
+    if makeprg ==# ''
         return []
     endif
 
     let errorformat =
-        \ '%AFile "%f"\, line %l\, characters %c-%*\d:,'.
+        \ '%WWarning: File "%f"\, line %l\, chars %c-%n:,'.
+        \ '%WWarning: line %l\, chars %c-%n:,'.
+        \ '%AFile "%f"\, line %l\, characters %c-%n:,'.
         \ '%AFile "%f"\, line %l\, characters %c-%*\d (end at line %*\d\, character %*\d):,'.
         \ '%AFile "%f"\, line %l\, character %c:,'.
         \ '%AFile "%f"\, line %l\, character %c:%m,'.
         \ '%-GPreprocessing error %.%#,'.
         \ '%-GCommand exited %.%#,'.
-        \ '%C%tarning %n: %m,'.
+        \ '%C%tarning %*\d: %m,'.
         \ '%C%m,'.
         \ '%-G+%.%#'
 
-    return SyntasticMake({ 'makeprg': makeprg, 'errorformat': errorformat })
+    let loclist = SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
+
+    for e in loclist
+        if get(e, 'col', 0) && get(e, 'nr', 0)
+            let e['hl'] = '\%>' . (e['col'] - 1) . 'c\%<' . (e['nr'] + 1) . 'c'
+            let e['nr'] = 0
+        endif
+    endfor
+
+    return loclist
 endfunction " }}}1
 
 " Utilities {{{1
@@ -80,18 +94,18 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:GetOcamlcMakeprg() " {{{2
     if g:syntastic_ocaml_use_janestreet_core
-        let build_cmd = "ocamlc -I "
+        let build_cmd = 'ocamlc -I '
         let build_cmd .= expand(g:syntastic_ocaml_janestreet_core_dir, 1)
-        let build_cmd .= " -c " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
+        let build_cmd .= ' -c ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
         return build_cmd
     else
-        return "ocamlc -c " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
+        return 'ocamlc -c ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
     endif
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:GetOcamlBuildMakeprg() " {{{2
-    return "ocamlbuild -quiet -no-log -tag annot," . s:ocamlpp . " -no-links -no-hygiene -no-sanitize " .
-                \ syntastic#util#shexpand('%:r') . ".cmi"
+    return 'ocamlbuild -quiet -no-log -tag annot,' . s:ocamlpp . ' -no-links -no-hygiene -no-sanitize ' .
+                \ syntastic#util#shexpand('%:r') . '.cmi'
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:GetOtherMakeprg() " {{{2
@@ -100,15 +114,15 @@ function! s:GetOtherMakeprg() " {{{2
     "TODO: should use throw/catch instead of returning an empty makeprg
 
     let extension = expand('%:e', 1)
-    let makeprg = ""
+    let makeprg = ''
 
-    if stridx(extension, 'mly') >= 0 && executable("menhir")
+    if stridx(extension, 'mly') >= 0 && executable('menhir')
         " ocamlyacc output can't be redirected, so use menhir
-        let makeprg = "menhir --only-preprocess " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') . " >" . syntastic#util#DevNull()
-    elseif stridx(extension,'mll') >= 0 && executable("ocamllex")
-        let makeprg = "ocamllex -q " . syntastic#c#NullOutput() . " " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
+        let makeprg = 'menhir --only-preprocess ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') . ' >' . syntastic#util#DevNull()
+    elseif stridx(extension,'mll') >= 0 && executable('ocamllex')
+        let makeprg = 'ocamllex -q ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput() . ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
     else
-        let makeprg = "camlp4o " . syntastic#c#NullOutput() . " " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
+        let makeprg = 'camlp4o ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput() . ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
     endif
 
     return makeprg
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/perl/perl.vim b/syntax_checkers/perl/perl.vim
index e0d8f15..1501ce6 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/perl/perl.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/perl/perl.vim
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_perl_perl_IsAvailable() dict
 
     " don't call executable() here, to allow things like
     " let g:syntastic_perl_interpreter='/usr/bin/env perl'
-    silent! call system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' -e ' . syntastic#util#shescape('exit(0)'))
+    silent! call syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' -e ' . syntastic#util#shescape('exit(0)'))
     return v:shell_error == 0
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/perl/perlcritic.vim b/syntax_checkers/perl/perlcritic.vim
index 1d060d2..abe9f43 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/perl/perlcritic.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/perl/perlcritic.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_perl_perlcritic_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_perl_perlcritic_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_perl_perlcritic_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/perl/podchecker.vim b/syntax_checkers/perl/podchecker.vim
index a633fd8..7de61bb 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/perl/podchecker.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/perl/podchecker.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_perl_podchecker_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_perl_podchecker_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_perl_podchecker_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/php/php.vim b/syntax_checkers/php/php.vim
index 0b61c76..5b118f6 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/php/php.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/php/php.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_php_php_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_php_php_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_php_php_checker = 1
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_php_php_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], "\\munexpected '\\zs[^']\\+\\ze'")
-    return term != '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_php_php_GetLocList() dict
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/php/phpcs.vim b/syntax_checkers/php/phpcs.vim
index 90202be..1bd8f98 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/php/phpcs.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/php/phpcs.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_php_phpcs_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_php_phpcs_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_php_phpcs_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/php/phplint.vim b/syntax_checkers/php/phplint.vim
index c518249..d04f3ba 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/php/phplint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/php/phplint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_php_phplint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_php_phplint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_php_phplint_checker = 1
@@ -20,31 +20,31 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_php_phplint_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\munresolved function \zs\S\+\ze')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V' . escape(term, '\')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m\(class\|function\|method\) \zs\S\+\ze was declared as')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V' . escape(term, '\')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\maccess forbidden to \(private\|protected\) \(class\|constant\|method\|variable\|\(private\|protected\) property\) \zs\S\+\ze')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V' . escape(term, '\')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\musing deprecated \(class\|constant\|method\|property\|variable\) \zs\S\+\ze')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V' . escape(term, '\')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\munresolved function \zs\S\+\ze')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V' . escape(term, '\')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\munresolved function \zs\S\+\ze')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V' . escape(term, '\')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\munresolved function \zs\S\+\ze')
-    return term != '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_php_phplint_GetLocList() dict
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/php/phpmd.vim b/syntax_checkers/php/phpmd.vim
index c7a744d..5207d3d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/php/phpmd.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/php/phpmd.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_php_phpmd_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_php_phpmd_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_php_phpmd_checker = 1
@@ -20,35 +20,35 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_php_phpmd_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m\C^The \S\+ \w\+\(()\)\= \(has\|is not\|utilizes\)')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V'.substitute(term, '\m\C^The \S\+ \(\w\+\)\(()\)\= .*', '\1', '')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m\C^Avoid \(variables with short\|excessively long variable\) names like \S\+\.')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V'.substitute(term, '\m\C^Avoid \(variables with short\|excessively long variable\) names like \(\S\+\)\..*', '\2', '')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m\C^Avoid using short method names like \S\+::\S\+()\.')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V'.substitute(term, '\m\C^Avoid using short method names like \S\+::\(\S\+\)()\..*', '\1', '')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m\C^\S\+ accesses the super-global variable ')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V'.substitute(term, '\m\C accesses the super-global variable .*$', '', '')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m\C^Constant \S\+ should be defined in uppercase')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V'.substitute(term, '\m\C^Constant \(\S\+\) should be defined in uppercase', '\1', '')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], "\\m\\C^The '\\S\\+()' method which returns ")
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V'.substitute(term, "\\m\\C^The '\\(\\S\\+\\)()' method which returns.*", '\1', '')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m\C variable \S\+ should begin with ')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V'.substitute(term, '\m\C.* variable \(\S\+\) should begin with .*', '\1', '')
     endif
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], "\\m\\C^Avoid unused \\(private fields\\|local variables\\|private methods\\|parameters\\) such as '\\S\\+'")
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         return '\V'.substitute(term, "\\m\\C^Avoid unused \\(private fields\\|local variables\\|private methods\\|parameters\\) such as '\\(\\S\\+\\)'.*", '\2', '')
     endif
     return ''
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/po/msgfmt.vim b/syntax_checkers/po/msgfmt.vim
index 2115146..1d09733 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/po/msgfmt.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/po/msgfmt.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_po_msgfmt_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_po_msgfmt_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_po_msgfmt_checker = 1
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_po_msgfmt_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\mkeyword "\zs[^"]\+\ze" unknown')
-    return term != '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_po_msgfmt_GetLocList() dict
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/pod/podchecker.vim b/syntax_checkers/pod/podchecker.vim
index b79fe72..9ef5dca 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/pod/podchecker.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/pod/podchecker.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_pod_podchecker_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_pod_podchecker_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_pod_podchecker_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppet.vim b/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppet.vim
index 2c3cd43..83077c7 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppet.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppet.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_puppet_puppet_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_puppet_puppet_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_puppet_puppet_checker = 1
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_puppet_puppet_GetLocList() dict
     if !exists('s:puppet_new')
-        let ver = self.getVersion(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version 2>' . syntastic#util#DevNull())
-        let s:puppet_new = syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(ver, [2, 7, 0])
+        let s:puppet_new = syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(self.getVersion(), [2, 7, 0])
     endif
 
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppetlint.vim b/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppetlint.vim
index e06a1a4..a492db6 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppetlint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppetlint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_puppet_puppetlint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_puppet_puppetlint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_puppet_puppetlint_checker = 1
@@ -19,20 +19,20 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_puppet_puppetlint_IsAvailable() dict
-    call self.log("executable('puppet') = " . executable('puppet') . ', ' .
-        \ "executable(" . string(self.getExec()) . ") = " . executable(self.getExec()))
-    if !executable('puppet') || !executable(self.getExec())
+    if !executable(self.getExec())
         return 0
     endif
-    let ver = self.getVersion(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version 2>' . syntastic#util#DevNull())
-    return syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(ver, [0, 1, 10])
+    let s:puppetlint_new = syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(self.getVersion(), [1])
+    return syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(self.getVersion(), [0, 2])
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_puppet_puppetlint_GetLocList() dict
     call syntastic#log#deprecationWarn('puppet_lint_arguments', 'puppet_puppetlint_args')
 
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'args_after': '--log-format "%{KIND} [%{check}] %{message} at %{fullpath}:%{linenumber}"' })
+        \ 'args_after':
+        \       '--log-format "%{KIND} [%{check}] %{message} at %{fullpath}:' .
+        \       (s:puppetlint_new ? '%{line}' : '%{linenumber}') . '"' })
 
     let errorformat = '%t%*[a-zA-Z] %m at %f:%l'
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/flake8.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/flake8.vim
index fc7c8e5..257b69d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/flake8.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/flake8.vim
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_python_flake8_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_python_flake8_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_python_flake8_checker = 1
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_flake8_GetLocList() dict
             let e['text'] .= printf(' [%s%03d]', e['type'], e['nr'])
             " E901 are syntax errors
             " E902 are I/O errors
-            if e['type'] ==? 'E' && e['nr'] !~ '\m^9'
+            if e['type'] ==? 'E' && e['nr'] !~# '\m^9'
                 let e['subtype'] = 'Style'
             endif
             call remove(e, 'nr')
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/frosted.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/frosted.vim
index 2fea0fe..d642795 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/frosted.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/frosted.vim
@@ -36,17 +36,17 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_frosted_GetLocList() dict
         \ 'returns': [0, 1] })
 
     for e in loclist
-        let e["col"] += 1
+        let e['col'] += 1
 
         let parts = matchlist(e.text, '\v^([EW]\d+):([^:]*):(.+)')
         if len(parts) >= 4
-            let e["type"] = parts[1][0]
-            let e["text"] = parts[3] . ' [' . parts[1] . ']'
-            let e["hl"] = '\V\<' . escape(parts[2], '\') . '\>'
-        elseif e["text"] =~? '\v^I\d+:'
-            let e["valid"] = 0
+            let e['type'] = parts[1][0]
+            let e['text'] = parts[3] . ' [' . parts[1] . ']'
+            let e['hl'] = '\V\<' . escape(parts[2], '\') . '\>'
+        elseif e['text'] =~? '\v^I\d+:'
+            let e['valid'] = 0
         else
-            let e["vcol"] = 0
+            let e['vcol'] = 0
         endif
     endfor
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/mypy.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/mypy.vim
index 068ab00..8e8ded1 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/mypy.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/mypy.vim
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_python_mypy_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_python_mypy_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_python_mypy_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/pep8.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/pep8.vim
index 961f0de..4ce3966 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/pep8.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/pep8.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_python_pep8_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_python_pep8_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_python_pep8_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/prospector.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/prospector.vim
index 4f45101..c5e4735 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/prospector.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/prospector.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_python_prospector_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_python_prospector_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_python_prospector_checker = 1
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_prospector_GetLocList() dict
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'args': '--external-config merge',
         \ 'args_after': '--messages-only --absolute-paths --die-on-tool-error --zero-exit --output-format json' })
 
     let errorformat = '%f:%l:%c: %m'
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/py3kwarn.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/py3kwarn.vim
index 159964d..b0e7771 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/py3kwarn.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/py3kwarn.vim
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_python_py3kwarn_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_python_py3kwarn_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_python_py3kwarn_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/pyflakes.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/pyflakes.vim
index b0db97a..d403135 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/pyflakes.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/pyflakes.vim
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_python_pyflakes_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_python_pyflakes_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_python_pyflakes_checker = 1
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pyflakes_GetHighlightRegex(i)
 
         " fun with Python's %r: try "..." first, then '...'
         let term = matchstr(a:i['text'], '\m^.\{-}"\zs.\{-1,}\ze"')
-        if term != ''
+        if term !=# ''
             return '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>'
         endif
 
         let term = matchstr(a:i['text'], '\m^.\{-}''\zs.\{-1,}\ze''')
-        if term != ''
+        if term !=# ''
             return '\V\<' . escape(term, '\') . '\>'
         endif
     endif
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pyflakes_GetLocList() dict
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
         \ 'env': env,
-        \ 'defaults': {'text': "Syntax error"} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'text': 'Syntax error'} })
 
     for e in loclist
         let e['vcol'] = 0
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/pylama.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/pylama.vim
index ab49e32..12c3ed1 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/pylama.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/pylama.vim
@@ -27,7 +27,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pylama_GetHighlightRegex(item)
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pylama_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '-f pep8' })
+    if !exists('s:pylama_new')
+        let s:pylama_new = syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(self.getVersion(), [4])
+    endif
+
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
+        \ 'args_after': '-f pep8' . (s:pylama_new ? ' --force' : '') })
 
     " TODO: "WARNING:pylama:..." messages are probably a logging bug
     let errorformat =
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/pylint.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/pylint.vim
index 4e489b7..8905b83 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/pylint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/pylint.vim
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_python_pylint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_python_pylint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_python_pylint_checker = 1
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pylint_IsAvailable() dict
         " On new-ish Fedora it's "python3-pylint 1.2.0".
         " Have you guys considered switching to creative writing yet? ;)
 
-        let pylint_version = filter( split(system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version'), '\m, \=\|\n'),
+        let pylint_version = filter( split(syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version'), '\m, \=\|\n'),
             \ 'v:val =~# ''\m^\(python[-0-9]*-\|\.\)\=pylint[-0-9]*\>''' )[0]
         let ver = syntastic#util#parseVersion(substitute(pylint_version, '\v^\S+\s+', '', ''))
         call self.setVersion(ver)
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/python.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/python.vim
index a58957a..17ad2c9 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/python.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/python.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_python_python_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_python_python_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_python_python_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/r/lint.vim b/syntax_checkers/r/lint.vim
index 5e8eec5..ca086b1 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/r/lint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/r/lint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_r_lint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_r_lint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_r_lint_checker = 1
@@ -28,17 +28,17 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_r_lint_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m`\zs[^`]\+\ze`')
-    if term == ''
+    if term ==# ''
         let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], "\\m'\\zs[^']\\+\\ze'")
     endif
-    return term != '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_r_lint_IsAvailable() dict
     if !executable(self.getExec())
         return 0
     endif
-    call system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --slave --restore --no-save -e ' . syntastic#util#shescape('library(lint)'))
+    call syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --slave --restore --no-save -e ' . syntastic#util#shescape('library(lint)'))
     return v:shell_error == 0
 endfunction
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_r_lint_GetLocList() dict
         \ 'returns': [0] })
 
     for e in loclist
-        if e['type'] == 'F'
+        if e['type'] ==? 'F'
             " parse error
             let e['type'] = 'E'
             call remove(e, 'subtype')
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/r/svtools.vim b/syntax_checkers/r/svtools.vim
index 388cbbf..6e61b38 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/r/svtools.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/r/svtools.vim
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 "
 "   let g:syntastic_enable_r_svtools_checker = 1
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_r_svtools_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_r_svtools_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_r_svtools_checker = 1
@@ -34,14 +34,14 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_r_svtools_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], "\\m'\\zs[^']\\+\\ze'")
-    return term != '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_r_svtools_IsAvailable() dict
     if !executable(self.getExec())
         return 0
     endif
-    call system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --slave --restore --no-save -e ' . syntastic#util#shescape('library(svTools)'))
+    call syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --slave --restore --no-save -e ' . syntastic#util#shescape('library(svTools)'))
     return v:shell_error == 0
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/racket/code-ayatollah.vim b/syntax_checkers/racket/code-ayatollah.vim
index 34159e7..14463c4 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/racket/code-ayatollah.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/racket/code-ayatollah.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_racket_code_ayatollah_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_racket_code_ayatollah_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_racket_code_ayatollah_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/racket/racket.vim b/syntax_checkers/racket/racket.vim
index a6c84c1..59327c9 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/racket/racket.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/racket/racket.vim
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_racket_racket_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_racket_racket_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_racket_racket_checker=1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/rnc/rnv.vim b/syntax_checkers/rnc/rnv.vim
index 1653d21..848d60c 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/rnc/rnv.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/rnc/rnv.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_rnc_rnv_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_rnc_rnv_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_rnc_rnv_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/rst/rst2pseudoxml.vim b/syntax_checkers/rst/rst2pseudoxml.vim
index fb851fd..1c3ca09 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/rst/rst2pseudoxml.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/rst/rst2pseudoxml.vim
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 " We use rst2pseudoxml.py, as it is ever so marginally faster than the other
 " rst2${x} tools in docutils.
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_rst_rst2pseudoxml_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_rst_rst2pseudoxml_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_rst_rst2pseudoxml_checker = 1
 
-let s:rst2pseudoxml = executable('rst2pseudoxml.py') ? 'rst2pseudoxml.py' : 'rst2pseudoxml'
+let s:rst2pseudoxml = (executable('rst2pseudoxml.py') && !syntastic#util#isRunningWindows()) ? 'rst2pseudoxml.py' : 'rst2pseudoxml'
 
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/rst/rstcheck.vim b/syntax_checkers/rst/rstcheck.vim
index fc331b3..3c3b8c4 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/rst/rstcheck.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/rst/rstcheck.vim
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_rst_rstcheck_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_rst_rstcheck_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_rst_rstcheck_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/rst/sphinx.vim b/syntax_checkers/rst/sphinx.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d42821
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/rst/sphinx.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        sphinx.vim
+"Description: Syntax checking plugin for Sphinx reStructuredText files
+"Maintainer:  Buck Evan <buck dot 2019 at gmail dot com>
+"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
+"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
+"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
+"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
+"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+"
+"============================================================================
+
+if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_rst_sphinx_checker")
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_rst_sphinx_checker = 1
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+let s:sphinx_cache_location = syntastic#util#tmpdir()
+lockvar s:sphinx_cache_location
+
+augroup syntastic
+    autocmd VimLeave * call syntastic#util#rmrf(s:sphinx_cache_location)
+augroup END
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_rst_sphinx_GetLocList() dict
+
+    let srcdir = syntastic#util#var('rst_sphinx_source_dir')
+    call self.log('g:syntastic_rst_sphinx_source_dir =', srcdir)
+    if srcdir == ''
+        let config = findfile('conf.py',  escape(expand('%:p:h', 1), ' ') . ';')
+        if config == '' || !filereadable(config)
+            call self.log('conf.py file not found')
+            return []
+        endif
+        let srcdir = fnamemodify(config, ':p:h')
+    endif
+
+    let confdir = syntastic#util#var('rst_sphinx_config_dir')
+    call self.log('g:syntastic_rst_sphinx_config_dir =', confdir)
+    if confdir == ''
+        let config = findfile('conf.py',  escape(expand('%:p:h', 1), ' ') . ';')
+        let confdir = (config != '' && filereadable(config)) ? fnamemodify(config, ':p:h') : srcdir
+    endif
+
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
+        \ 'args': '-n -E',
+        \ 'args_after': '-q -N -b pseudoxml -c ' . syntastic#util#shescape(confdir),
+        \ 'fname': syntastic#util#shescape(srcdir),
+        \ 'fname_after': syntastic#util#shescape(s:sphinx_cache_location) })
+
+    let errorformat =
+        \ '%E%f:%l: SEVER%t: %m,' .
+        \ '%f:%l: %tRROR: %m,' .
+        \ '%f:%l: %tARNING: %m,' .
+        \ '%E%f:: SEVER%t: %m,' .
+        \ '%f:: %tRROR: %m,' .
+        \ '%f:: %tARNING: %m,' .
+        \ '%trror: %m,' .
+        \ '%+C%.%#'
+
+    let loclist = SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'returns': [0] })
+
+    return loclist
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'rst',
+    \ 'name': 'sphinx',
+    \ 'exec': 'sphinx-build' })
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/jruby.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/jruby.vim
index fbf5b7f..d9d2aee 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/jruby.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/jruby.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_jruby_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_jruby_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_jruby_checker = 1
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_jruby_GetLocList() dict
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'args': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '-T1' : ''),
-        \ 'args_after': '-W1 -c' })
+        \ 'args': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '-T1 -W1' : '-W1'),
+        \ 'args_after': '-c' })
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%-GSyntax OK for %f,'.
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/macruby.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/macruby.vim
index f357e37..c51188f 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/macruby.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/macruby.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_macruby_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_macruby_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_macruby_checker = 1
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_macruby_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '-W1 -c' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
+        \ 'args': '-W1',
+        \ 'args_after': '-c' })
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%-GSyntax OK,'.
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim
index 8945ea3..563ed4f 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_mri_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_mri_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_mri_checker = 1
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_mri_GetHighlightRegex(i)
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_mri_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '-w -T1 -c' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
+        \ 'args': '-w -T1',
+        \ 'args_after': '-c' })
 
     "this is a hack to filter out a repeated useless warning in rspec files
     "containing lines like
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/reek.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/reek.vim
index 5f289af..d9a564a 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/reek.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/reek.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_reek_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_reek_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_reek_checker = 1
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_reek_IsAvailable() dict
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_reek_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_before': '--no-color --quiet --line-number --single-line' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_before': '--no-color --line-number --single-line' })
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%E%.%#: Racc::ParseError: %f:%l :: %m,' .
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_reek_GetLocList() dict
 
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-        \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'returns': [0, 2] })
 
     for e in loclist
         if e['type'] ==? 'W'
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/rubocop.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/rubocop.vim
index 28d7157..56f54bf 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/rubocop.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/rubocop.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_rubocop_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_rubocop_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_rubocop_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/rubylint.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/rubylint.vim
index 093571d..2e74f87 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/rubylint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/rubylint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_rubylint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_rubylint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_rubylint_GetLocList() dict
     if !exists('s:rubylint_new')
         let s:rubylint_new = syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(self.getVersion(), [2])
     endif
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args': (s:rubylint_new ? '' : 'analyze ') . '--presenter=syntastic' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
+        \ 'args': (s:rubylint_new ? '' : 'analyze '),
+        \ 'args_after': '--presenter=syntastic' })
 
     let errorformat = '%f:%t:%l:%c: %m'
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/sass/sass.vim b/syntax_checkers/sass/sass.vim
index da24112..5f6194f 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/sass/sass.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/sass/sass.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_sass_sass_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_sass_sass_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_sass_sass_checker = 1
@@ -25,21 +25,21 @@ augroup syntastic
 augroup END
 
 "By default do not check partials as unknown variables are a syntax error
-if !exists("g:syntastic_sass_check_partials")
+if !exists('g:syntastic_sass_check_partials')
     let g:syntastic_sass_check_partials = 0
 endif
 
 "use compass imports if available
-let s:imports = ""
-if executable("compass")
-    let s:imports = "--compass"
+let s:imports = ''
+if executable('compass')
+    let s:imports = '--compass'
 endif
 
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_sass_sass_GetLocList() dict
-    if !g:syntastic_sass_check_partials && expand('%:t', 1)[0] == '_'
+    if !g:syntastic_sass_check_partials && expand('%:t', 1)[0] ==# '_'
         return []
     endif
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/sass/sassc.vim b/syntax_checkers/sass/sassc.vim
index 2c1332a..699e04e 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/sass/sassc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/sass/sassc.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_sass_sassc_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_sass_sassc_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_sass_sassc_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/scala/scalac.vim b/syntax_checkers/scala/scalac.vim
index 918c0f6..854876b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/scala/scalac.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/scala/scalac.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_scala_scalac_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_scala_scalac_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_scala_scalac_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/scss/sass.vim b/syntax_checkers/scss/sass.vim
index 86a3021..426bf2d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/scss/sass.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/scss/sass.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_scss_sass_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_scss_sass_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_scss_sass_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/scss/sassc.vim b/syntax_checkers/scss/sassc.vim
index c5638d3..98f7829 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/scss/sassc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/scss/sassc.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_scss_sassc_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_scss_sassc_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_scss_sassc_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/scss/scss_lint.vim b/syntax_checkers/scss/scss_lint.vim
index 3988119..f292554 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/scss/scss_lint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/scss/scss_lint.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_scss_scss_lint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_scss_scss_lint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_scss_scss_lint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/sh/bashate.vim b/syntax_checkers/sh/bashate.vim
index 63b7a48..c7888ad 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/sh/bashate.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/sh/bashate.vim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_sh_bashate_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_sh_bashate_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_sh_bashate_checker = 1
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_sh_bashate_GetLocList() dict
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%EE%n: %m,' .
-        \ '%Z - %f: L%l,' .
+        \ '%Z - %f%\s%\+: L%l,' .
         \ '%-G%.%#'
 
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/sh/checkbashisms.vim b/syntax_checkers/sh/checkbashisms.vim
index eb68113..2ed0717 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/sh/checkbashisms.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/sh/checkbashisms.vim
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 "             as part of the devscripts package.
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_sh_checkbashisms_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_sh_checkbashisms_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_sh_checkbashisms_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/sh/sh.vim b/syntax_checkers/sh/sh.vim
index 6989fba..395b81b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/sh/sh.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/sh/sh.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_sh_sh_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_sh_sh_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_sh_sh_checker = 1
@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ endfunction " }}}1
 " Utilities {{{1
 
 function! s:GetShell() " {{{2
-    if !exists('b:shell') || b:shell == ''
+    if !exists('b:shell') || b:shell ==# ''
         let b:shell = ''
         let shebang = syntastic#util#parseShebang()['exe']
-        if shebang != ''
+        if shebang !=# ''
             if shebang[-strlen('bash'):-1] ==# 'bash'
                 let b:shell = 'bash'
             elseif shebang[-strlen('zsh'):-1] ==# 'zsh'
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function! s:GetShell() " {{{2
             endif
         endif
         " try to use env variable in case no shebang could be found
-        if b:shell == ''
+        if b:shell ==# ''
             let b:shell = fnamemodify($SHELL, ':t')
         endif
     endif
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:IsShellValid() " {{{2
     let shell = s:GetShell()
-    return shell != '' && executable(shell)
+    return shell !=# '' && executable(shell)
 endfunction " }}}2
 
 function! s:ForwardToZshChecker() " {{{2
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/sh/shellcheck.vim b/syntax_checkers/sh/shellcheck.vim
index 0e76606..c2761d2 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/sh/shellcheck.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/sh/shellcheck.vim
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 "Description: Shell script syntax/style checking plugin for syntastic.vim
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_sh_shellcheck_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_sh_shellcheck_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_sh_shellcheck_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/slim/slimrb.vim b/syntax_checkers/slim/slimrb.vim
index 685efa5..80bac05 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/slim/slimrb.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/slim/slimrb.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_slim_slimrb_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_slim_slimrb_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_slim_slimrb_checker = 1
@@ -28,14 +28,14 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_slim_slimrb_GetLocList() dict
 
     if s:slimrb_new
         let errorformat =
-            \ '%C\ %#%f\, Line %l\, Column %c,'.
-            \ '%-G\ %.%#,'.
+            \ '%C %#%f\, Line %l\, Column %c,'.
+            \ '%-G %.%#,'.
             \ '%ESlim::Parser::SyntaxError: %m,'.
             \ '%+C%.%#'
     else
         let errorformat =
-            \ '%C\ %#%f\, Line %l,'.
-            \ '%-G\ %.%#,'.
+            \ '%C %#%f\, Line %l,'.
+            \ '%-G %.%#,'.
             \ '%ESlim::Parser::SyntaxError: %m,'.
             \ '%+C%.%#'
     endif
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/sml/smlnj.vim b/syntax_checkers/sml/smlnj.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b29db4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/sml/smlnj.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        smlnj.vim
+"Description: Syntax checking plugin for syntastic.vim
+"Maintainer:  LCD 47 <lcd047 at gmail dot com>
+"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
+"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
+"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
+"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
+"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+"
+"============================================================================
+
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_sml_smlnj_checker')
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_sml_smlnj_checker = 1
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_sml_smlnj_GetLocList() dict
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({})
+
+    let errorformat =
+        \ '%E%f:%l%\%.%c %trror: %m,' .
+        \ '%E%f:%l%\%.%c-%\d%\+%\%.%\d%\+ %trror: %m,' .
+        \ '%W%f:%l%\%.%c %tarning: %m,' .
+        \ '%W%f:%l%\%.%c-%\d%\+%\%.%\d%\+ %tarning: %m,' .
+        \ '%C%\s%\+%m,' .
+        \ '%-G%.%#'
+
+    return SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'postprocess': ['compressWhitespace'],
+        \ 'returns': [0, 1] })
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'sml',
+    \ 'name': 'smlnj',
+    \ 'exec': 'sml'})
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/tcl/nagelfar.vim b/syntax_checkers/tcl/nagelfar.vim
index 95ab990..adbce63 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/tcl/nagelfar.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/tcl/nagelfar.vim
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 "Notes:       Requires nagelfar v1.1.12 or later with support for -H option.
 "             See nagelfar homepage http://nagelfar.berlios.de/.
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_tcl_nagelfar_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_tcl_nagelfar_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_tcl_nagelfar_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/texinfo/makeinfo.vim b/syntax_checkers/texinfo/makeinfo.vim
index 6eca27d..a66e787 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/texinfo/makeinfo.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/texinfo/makeinfo.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_texinfo_makeinfo_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_texinfo_makeinfo_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_texinfo_makeinfo_checker = 1
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_texinfo_makeinfo_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], "\\m`\\zs[^']\\+\\ze'")
-    return term != '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_texinfo_makeinfo_GetLocList() dict
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/text/atdtool.vim b/syntax_checkers/text/atdtool.vim
index d45ba3f..e43d9dc 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/text/atdtool.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/text/atdtool.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_text_atdtool_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_text_atdtool_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_text_atdtool_checker = 1
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_text_atdtool_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m "\zs[^"]\+\ze"\($\| | suggestions:\)')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         let col = get(a:item, 'col', 0)
         let term = (col != 0 ? '\%' . col . 'c' : '') . '\V' . escape(term, '\')
     endif
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/text/language_check.vim b/syntax_checkers/text/language_check.vim
index 26835e4..e1aa69f 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/text/language_check.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/text/language_check.vim
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_text_language_check_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_text_language_check_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_text_language_check_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/twig/twiglint.vim b/syntax_checkers/twig/twiglint.vim
index b4f9be1..547648f 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/twig/twiglint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/twig/twiglint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_twig_twiglint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_twig_twiglint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_twig_twiglint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/typescript/tsc.vim b/syntax_checkers/typescript/tsc.vim
index d707367..8ad2409 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/typescript/tsc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/typescript/tsc.vim
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 "============================================================================
-"File:        typescript.vim
+"File:        tsc.vim
 "Description: TypeScript syntax checker
 "Maintainer:  Bill Casarin <bill@casarin.ca>
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_typescript_tsc_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_typescript_tsc_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_typescript_tsc_checker = 1
@@ -17,9 +17,26 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_typescript_tsc_GetLocList() dict
+    if !exists('s:tsc_new')
+        let s:tsc_new = -1
+        try
+            let tsc_version = filter(split(syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version'), '\n'), 'v:val =~# ''\m\<Version ''')[0]
+            let ver = syntastic#util#parseVersion(tsc_version, '\v<Version \zs\d+(\.\d+)\ze')
+            call self.setVersion(ver)
+
+            let s:tsc_new = syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(ver, [1, 5])
+        catch /\m^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E684/
+            call syntastic#log#error("checker typescript/tsc: can't parse version string (abnormal termination?)")
+        endtry
+    endif
+
+    if s:tsc_new < 0
+        return []
+    endif
+
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
         \ 'args': '--module commonjs',
-        \ 'args_after': '--out ' . syntastic#util#DevNull() })
+        \ 'args_after': (s:tsc_new ? '--noEmit' : '--out ' . syntastic#util#DevNull()) })
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%E%f %#(%l\,%c): error %m,' .
@@ -30,7 +47,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_typescript_tsc_GetLocList() dict
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/typescript/tslint.vim b/syntax_checkers/typescript/tslint.vim
index 4c62299..9a92785 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/typescript/tslint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/typescript/tslint.vim
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 "Maintainer:  Seon-Wook Park <seon.wook@swook.net>
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_typescript_tslint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_typescript_tslint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_typescript_tslint_checker = 1
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_typescript_tslint_GetHighlightRegex(item)
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], "\\m\\s'\\zs.\\{-}\\ze'\\s")
-    return term != '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
+    return term !=# '' ? '\V' . escape(term, '\') : ''
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_typescript_tslint_GetLocList() dict
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_typescript_tslint_GetLocList() dict
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
         \ 'preprocess': 'tslint',
+        \ 'subtype': 'Style',
         \ 'returns': [0, 2] })
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/vala/valac.vim b/syntax_checkers/vala/valac.vim
index 0b9fe41..f75f7d4 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/vala/valac.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/vala/valac.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_vala_valac_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_vala_valac_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_vala_valac_checker = 1
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ endfunction " }}}1
 function! SyntaxCheckers_vala_valac_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
     let vala_pkg_args = join(map(s:GetValaModules(), '"--pkg ".v:val'), ' ')
     let vala_vapi_args = join(map(s:GetValaVapiDirs(), '"--vapidir ".v:val'), ' ')
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args': '-C ' . vala_pkg_args . " " . vala_vapi_args })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args': '-C ' . vala_pkg_args . ' ' . vala_vapi_args })
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%A%f:%l.%c-%\d%\+.%\d%\+: %t%[a-z]%\+: %m,'.
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/verilog/verilator.vim b/syntax_checkers/verilog/verilator.vim
index 72a46be..e5cfddc 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/verilog/verilator.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/verilog/verilator.vim
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 "Maintainer:  Kocha <kocha dot lsifrontend at gmail dot com>
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_verilog_verilator_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_verilog_verilator_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_verilog_verilator_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/vhdl/ghdl.vim b/syntax_checkers/vhdl/ghdl.vim
index 7ec856b..497152b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/vhdl/ghdl.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/vhdl/ghdl.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_vhdl_ghdl_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_vhdl_ghdl_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_vhdl_ghdl_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/vim/vimlint.vim b/syntax_checkers/vim/vimlint.vim
index 58037e8..8569a82 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/vim/vimlint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/vim/vimlint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_vim_vimlint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_vim_vimlint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_vim_vimlint_checker = 1
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_vim_vimlint_GetHighlightRegex(item) " {{{1
     let term = matchstr(a:item['text'], '\m `\zs[^`]\+\ze`')
-    if term != ''
+    if term !=# ''
         let col = get(a:item, 'col', 0)
 
         if col && term[0:1] ==# 'l:'
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_vim_vimlint_IsAvailable() dict " {{{1
     let vimlint    = globpath(&runtimepath, 'autoload/vimlint.vim', 1)
     call self.log("globpath(&runtimepath, 'autoload/vimlparser.vim', 1) = " . string(vimlparser) . ', ' .
                 \ "globpath(&runtimepath, 'autoload/vimlint.vim', 1) = " .    string(vimlint))
-    return vimlparser != '' && vimlint != ''
+    return vimlparser !=# '' && vimlint !=# ''
 endfunction " }}}1
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_vim_vimlint_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
     \ 'filetype': 'vim',
     \ 'name': 'vimlint',
-    \ 'exec': 'vim' })
+    \ 'exec': '' })
 
 let &cpo = s:save_cpo
 unlet s:save_cpo
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/vim/vint.vim b/syntax_checkers/vim/vint.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..23a041e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/vim/vint.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        vint.vim
+"Description: Syntax checking plugin for syntastic.vim
+"Maintainer:  LCD 47 <lcd047 at gmail dot com>
+"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
+"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
+"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
+"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
+"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+"
+"============================================================================
+
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_vim_vint_checker')
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_vim_vint_checker = 1
+
+if !exists('g:syntastic_vim_vint_sort')
+    let g:syntastic_vim_vint_sort = 1
+endif
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_vim_vint_GetLocList() dict
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'post_args': '--json' })
+
+    let errorformat = '%f:%l:%c:%t: %m'
+
+    let loclist = SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'preprocess': 'vint',
+        \ 'returns': [0, 1] })
+
+    for e in loclist
+        if e['type'] ==? 's'
+            let e['type'] = 'w'
+            let e['subtype'] = 'Style'
+        elseif e['type'] !=? 'e' && e['type'] !=? 'w'
+            let e['type'] = 'e'
+        endif
+    endfor
+
+    return loclist
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'vim',
+    \ 'name': 'vint'})
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/xhtml/jshint.vim b/syntax_checkers/xhtml/jshint.vim
index 6a1069c..413d112 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/xhtml/jshint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/xhtml/jshint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_xhtml_jshint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_xhtml_jshint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_xhtml_jshint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/xhtml/tidy.vim b/syntax_checkers/xhtml/tidy.vim
index 12e8b15..7f76d8b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/xhtml/tidy.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/xhtml/tidy.vim
@@ -9,13 +9,8 @@
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
 "
 "============================================================================
-"
-" Checker option:
-"
-" - g:syntastic_xhtml_tidy_ignore_errors (list; default: [])
-"   list of errors to ignore
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_xhtml_tidy_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_xhtml_tidy_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_xhtml_tidy_checker = 1
@@ -62,7 +57,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_xhtml_tidy_GetLocList() dict " {{{1
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")},
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')},
         \ 'returns': [0, 1, 2] })
 
     for e in loclist
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/xml/plutil.vim b/syntax_checkers/xml/plutil.vim
index 6a6c3db..8e80dde 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/xml/plutil.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/xml/plutil.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_xml_plutil_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_xml_plutil_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_xml_plutil_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/xml/xmllint.vim b/syntax_checkers/xml/xmllint.vim
index 108abed..1300437 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/xml/xmllint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/xml/xmllint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_xml_xmllint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_xml_xmllint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_xml_xmllint_checker = 1
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ set cpo&vim
 " and http://www.xmlsoft.org/catalog.html for more information.
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_xml_xmllint_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '--xinclude --noout --postvalid' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
+        \ 'args': '--xinclude --postvalid',
+        \ 'args_after': '--noout' })
 
     let errorformat=
         \ '%E%f:%l: error : %m,' .
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/xslt/xmllint.vim b/syntax_checkers/xslt/xmllint.vim
index d84a4ee..1f16a46 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/xslt/xmllint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/xslt/xmllint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_xslt_xmllint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_xslt_xmllint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_xslt_xmllint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/yacc/bison.vim b/syntax_checkers/yacc/bison.vim
index 0a948b2..af8ac91 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/yacc/bison.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/yacc/bison.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_yacc_bison_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_yacc_bison_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_yacc_bison_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/yaml/jsyaml.vim b/syntax_checkers/yaml/jsyaml.vim
index 4a6cdd4..020fad4 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/yaml/jsyaml.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/yaml/jsyaml.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_yaml_jsyaml_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_yaml_jsyaml_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_yaml_jsyaml_checker = 1
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_yaml_jsyaml_GetLocList() dict
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/yaml/yamlxs.vim b/syntax_checkers/yaml/yamlxs.vim
index d5582db..ace118a 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/yaml/yamlxs.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/yaml/yamlxs.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_yaml_yamlxs_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_yaml_yamlxs_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_yaml_yamlxs_checker = 1
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_yaml_yamlxs_IsAvailable() dict
 
     " don't call executable() here, to allow things like
     " let g:syntastic_perl_interpreter='/usr/bin/env perl'
-    silent! call system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' ' . s:Modules() . ' -e ' . syntastic#util#shescape('exit(0)'))
+    silent! call syntastic#util#system(self.getExecEscaped() . ' ' . s:Modules() . ' -e ' . syntastic#util#shescape('exit(0)'))
     return v:shell_error == 0
 endfunction
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_yaml_yamlxs_GetLocList() dict
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
         \ 'postprocess': ['compressWhitespace'],
-        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr("")} })
+        \ 'defaults': {'bufnr': bufnr('')} })
 endfunction
 
 function s:Modules()
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/z80/z80syntaxchecker.vim b/syntax_checkers/z80/z80syntaxchecker.vim
index 38c65cc..af61a8b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/z80/z80syntaxchecker.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/z80/z80syntaxchecker.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_z80_z80syntaxchecker_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_z80_z80syntaxchecker_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_z80_z80syntaxchecker_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/zpt/zptlint.vim b/syntax_checkers/zpt/zptlint.vim
index f1749f3..31a6093 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/zpt/zptlint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/zpt/zptlint.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_zpt_zptlint_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_zpt_zptlint_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_zpt_zptlint_checker = 1
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/zsh/shellcheck.vim b/syntax_checkers/zsh/shellcheck.vim
deleted file mode 100644
index a0f9e7e..0000000
--- a/syntax_checkers/zsh/shellcheck.vim
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-"============================================================================
-"File:        shellcheck.vim
-"Description: Syntax checking plugin for syntastic.vim
-"Maintainer:  LCD 47 <lcd047 at gmail dot com>
-"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
-"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
-"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
-"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
-"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
-"
-"============================================================================
-
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_zsh_shellcheck_checker")
-    finish
-endif
-let g:loaded_syntastic_zsh_shellcheck_checker = 1
-
-runtime! syntax_checkers/sh/*.vim
-
-call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
-    \ 'filetype': 'zsh',
-    \ 'name': 'shellcheck',
-    \ 'redirect': 'sh/shellcheck'})
-
-" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/zsh/zsh.vim b/syntax_checkers/zsh/zsh.vim
index 92a2f13..4d458de 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/zsh/zsh.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/zsh/zsh.vim
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_zsh_zsh_checker")
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_zsh_zsh_checker')
     finish
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_zsh_zsh_checker = 1