diff --git a/src/helper_search.py b/src/helper_search.py
index 2217974f..b3d4f923 100644
--- a/src/helper_search.py
+++ b/src/helper_search.py
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 from helper_sql import *
 
 try:
-    from PyQt4 import QtCore, QtGui
+    from PyQt4 import QtGui
     haveQt = True
-except:
+except Exception:
     haveQt = False
 
 def search_translate (context, text):
diff --git a/src/helper_sql.py b/src/helper_sql.py
index fec67bef..18e05e03 100644
--- a/src/helper_sql.py
+++ b/src/helper_sql.py
@@ -1,22 +1,27 @@
+"""Helper Sql performs sql operations."""
+
 import threading
 import Queue
 
-sqlSubmitQueue = Queue.Queue() #SQLITE3 is so thread-unsafe that they won't even let you call it from different threads using your own locks. SQL objects can only be called from one thread.
+sqlSubmitQueue = Queue.Queue()
+# SQLITE3 is so thread-unsafe that they won't even let you call it from different threads using your own locks.
+# SQL objects #can only be called from one thread.
 sqlReturnQueue = Queue.Queue()
 sqlLock = threading.Lock()
 
+
 def sqlQuery(sqlStatement, *args):
+    """SQLLITE execute statement and return query."""
     sqlLock.acquire()
     sqlSubmitQueue.put(sqlStatement)
 
     if args == ():
         sqlSubmitQueue.put('')
-    elif type(args[0]) in [list, tuple]:
+    elif isinstance(args[0], (list, tuple)):
         sqlSubmitQueue.put(args[0])
     else:
         sqlSubmitQueue.put(args)
-    
-    queryreturn, rowcount = sqlReturnQueue.get()
+    queryreturn, _ = sqlReturnQueue.get()
     sqlLock.release()
 
     return queryreturn
@@ -37,14 +42,14 @@ def sqlExecuteChunked(sqlStatement, idCount, *args):
             sqlExecuteChunked.chunkSize - (len(args) - idCount)
         ):
             chunk_slice = args[
-                i:i+sqlExecuteChunked.chunkSize - (len(args) - idCount)
+                i:i + sqlExecuteChunked.chunkSize - (len(args) - idCount)
             ]
             sqlSubmitQueue.put(
                 sqlStatement.format(','.join('?' * len(chunk_slice)))
             )
             # first static args, and then iterative chunk
             sqlSubmitQueue.put(
-                args[0:len(args)-idCount] + chunk_slice
+                args[0:len(args) - idCount] + chunk_slice
             )
             retVal = sqlReturnQueue.get()
             totalRowCount += retVal[1]
@@ -60,8 +65,7 @@ def sqlExecute(sqlStatement, *args):
         sqlSubmitQueue.put('')
     else:
         sqlSubmitQueue.put(args)
-    
-    queryreturn, rowcount = sqlReturnQueue.get()
+    _, rowcount = sqlReturnQueue.get()
     sqlSubmitQueue.put('commit')
     sqlLock.release()
     return rowcount
@@ -71,30 +75,24 @@ def sqlStoredProcedure(procName):
     sqlSubmitQueue.put(procName)
     sqlLock.release()
 
+
 class SqlBulkExecute:
+    """This is used when you have to execute the same statement in a cycle."""
+
     def __enter__(self):
         sqlLock.acquire()
         return self
 
-    def __exit__(self, type, value, traceback):
+    def __exit__(self, exc_type, value, traceback):
         sqlSubmitQueue.put('commit')
         sqlLock.release()
 
-    def execute(self, sqlStatement, *args):
+    @staticmethod
+    def execute(sqlStatement, *args):
+        """Used for statements that do not return results."""
         sqlSubmitQueue.put(sqlStatement)
-        
         if args == ():
             sqlSubmitQueue.put('')
         else:
             sqlSubmitQueue.put(args)
         sqlReturnQueue.get()
-
-    def query(self, sqlStatement, *args):
-        sqlSubmitQueue.put(sqlStatement)
-
-        if args == ():
-            sqlSubmitQueue.put('')
-        else:
-            sqlSubmitQueue.put(args)
-        return sqlReturnQueue.get()
-
diff --git a/src/helper_startup.py b/src/helper_startup.py
index c18c1a88..aaab59d9 100644
--- a/src/helper_startup.py
+++ b/src/helper_startup.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
+"""Helper Start performs all the startup operations."""
+
 import ConfigParser
 from bmconfigparser import BMConfigParser
 import defaults
 import sys
 import os
-import locale
-import random
-import string
 import platform
 from distutils.version import StrictVersion
 
@@ -14,7 +13,10 @@ import paths
 import state
 import helper_random
 
-storeConfigFilesInSameDirectoryAsProgramByDefault = False  # The user may de-select Portable Mode in the settings if they want the config files to stay in the application data folder.
+StoreConfigFilesInSameDirectoryAsProgramByDefault = False
+# The user may de-select Portable Mode in the settings if they want the config
+# files to stay in the application data folder.
+
 
 def _loadTrustedPeer():
     try:
@@ -27,15 +29,16 @@ def _loadTrustedPeer():
     host, port = trustedPeer.split(':')
     state.trustedPeer = state.Peer(host, int(port))
 
+
 def loadConfig():
     if state.appdata:
         BMConfigParser().read(state.appdata + 'keys.dat')
-        #state.appdata must have been specified as a startup option.
+        # state.appdata must have been specified as a startup option.
         try:
             BMConfigParser().get('bitmessagesettings', 'settingsversion')
             print 'Loading config files from directory specified on startup: ' + state.appdata
             needToCreateKeysFile = False
-        except:
+        except Exception:
             needToCreateKeysFile = True
 
     else:
@@ -45,16 +48,16 @@ def loadConfig():
             print 'Loading config files from same directory as program.'
             needToCreateKeysFile = False
             state.appdata = paths.lookupExeFolder()
-        except:
-            # Could not load the keys.dat file in the program directory. Perhaps it
-            # is in the appdata directory.
+        except Exception:
+            # Could not load the keys.dat file in the program directory.
+            # Perhaps it is in the appdata directory.
             state.appdata = paths.lookupAppdataFolder()
             BMConfigParser().read(state.appdata + 'keys.dat')
             try:
                 BMConfigParser().get('bitmessagesettings', 'settingsversion')
                 print 'Loading existing config files from', state.appdata
                 needToCreateKeysFile = False
-            except:
+            except Exception:
                 needToCreateKeysFile = True
 
     if needToCreateKeysFile:
@@ -110,7 +113,6 @@ def loadConfig():
         BMConfigParser().set('bitmessagesettings', 'maxuploadrate', '0')
         BMConfigParser().set('bitmessagesettings', 'maxoutboundconnections', '8')
         BMConfigParser().set('bitmessagesettings', 'ttl', '367200')
-        
          #start:UI setting to stop trying to send messages after X days/months
         BMConfigParser().set(
             'bitmessagesettings', 'stopresendingafterxdays', '')
@@ -128,7 +130,7 @@ def loadConfig():
 
         ensureNamecoinOptions()
 
-        if storeConfigFilesInSameDirectoryAsProgramByDefault:
+        if StoreConfigFilesInSameDirectoryAsProgramByDefault:
             # Just use the same directory as the program and forget about
             # the appdata folder
             state.appdata = ''
@@ -145,9 +147,9 @@ def loadConfig():
 
 def isOurOperatingSystemLimitedToHavingVeryFewHalfOpenConnections():
     try:
-        if sys.platform[0:3]=="win":
-            VER_THIS=StrictVersion(platform.version())
+        if sys.platform[0:3] == "win":
+            VER_THIS = StrictVersion(platform.version())
             return StrictVersion("5.1.2600")<=VER_THIS and StrictVersion("6.0.6000")>=VER_THIS
         return False
-    except Exception as err:
+    except Exception:
         return False