diff --git a/.pylintrc b/.pylintrc
index 7eb5e2c..8ee7fa4 100644
--- a/.pylintrc
+++ b/.pylintrc
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
 # -*- mode: conf; -*-
 
 [MESSAGES CONTROL]
-disable=fixme
+disable=
+        attribute-defined-outside-init,
+        fixme,
+        import-outside-toplevel,
+        too-many-arguments,
+        too-many-branches,
+        too-many-locals,
+        too-many-positional-arguments,
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
index c10e6bc..bac0512 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
@@ -25,12 +25,11 @@ WuttJamaican - app handler
 """
 # pylint: disable=too-many-lines
 
+import importlib
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
 import warnings
-import importlib
-from importlib.metadata import version
 
 import humanize
 
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
             return self.get_enum()
 
         if name == "providers":
-            self.__dict__["providers"] = self.get_all_providers()
+            self.providers = self.get_all_providers()
             return self.providers
 
         for provider in self.providers.values():
@@ -283,13 +282,9 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         pkgname = modpath.split(".")[0]
 
         try:
-            from importlib.metadata import (  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
-                packages_distributions,
-            )
+            from importlib.metadata import packages_distributions
         except ImportError:  # python < 3.10
-            from importlib_metadata import (  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
-                packages_distributions,
-            )
+            from importlib_metadata import packages_distributions
 
         pkgmap = packages_distributions()
         if pkgname in pkgmap:
@@ -311,6 +306,8 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 
         :returns: Version as string.
         """
+        from importlib.metadata import version
+
         if not dist:
             dist = self.get_distribution(obj=obj)
         if dist:
@@ -340,7 +337,7 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
                 usedb=False,
                 default=self.default_model_spec,
             )
-            self.__dict__["model"] = importlib.import_module(spec)
+            self.model = importlib.import_module(spec)
         return self.model
 
     def get_enum(self):
@@ -364,7 +361,7 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
             spec = self.config.get(
                 f"{self.appname}.enum_spec", usedb=False, default=self.default_enum_spec
             )
-            self.__dict__["enum"] = importlib.import_module(spec)
+            self.enum = importlib.import_module(spec)
         return self.enum
 
     def load_object(self, spec):
@@ -499,7 +496,7 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 
         :returns: SQLAlchemy session for the app DB.
         """
-        from .db import Session  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        from .db import Session
 
         return Session(**kwargs)
 
@@ -585,7 +582,7 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         associated.  Simple convenience wrapper around
         :func:`sqlalchemy:sqlalchemy.orm.object_session()`.
         """
-        from sqlalchemy import orm  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        from sqlalchemy import orm
 
         return orm.object_session(obj)
 
@@ -600,7 +597,7 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         this method will provide a default factory in the form of
         :meth:`make_session`.
         """
-        from .db import short_session  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        from .db import short_session
 
         if "factory" not in kwargs and "config" not in kwargs:
             kwargs["factory"] = self.make_session
@@ -628,7 +625,7 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 
         :returns: Setting value as string, or ``None``.
         """
-        from .db import get_setting  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        from .db import get_setting
 
         return get_setting(session, name)
 
@@ -1117,6 +1114,7 @@ class AppProvider:  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     """
 
     def __init__(self, config):
+
         if isinstance(config, AppHandler):
             warnings.warn(
                 "passing app handler to app provider is deprecated; "
@@ -1154,7 +1152,6 @@ class GenericHandler:
         self.config = config
         self.app = self.config.get_app()
         self.modules = {}
-        self.classes = {}
 
     @property
     def appname(self):
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/auth.py b/src/wuttjamaican/auth.py
index ac6dbe6..26224cd 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/auth.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/auth.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         :returns: :class:`~wuttjamaican.db.model.auth.User` instance,
            or ``None``.
         """
-        from sqlalchemy import orm  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        from sqlalchemy import orm
 
         model = self.app.model
 
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
                 return role
 
         else:  # assuming it is a string
+
             # try to match on Role.uuid
             try:
                 role = session.get(model.Role, _uuid.UUID(key))
@@ -225,6 +226,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 
         # nb. these lookups require a db session
         if session:
+
             # or maybe it is a uuid
             if isinstance(obj, _uuid.UUID):
                 user = session.get(model.User, obj)
@@ -233,6 +235,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 
             # or maybe it is a string
             elif isinstance(obj, str):
+
                 # try to match on User.uuid
                 try:
                     user = session.get(model.User, _uuid.UUID(obj))
@@ -512,7 +515,7 @@ class AuthHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 
         return cache
 
-    def has_permission(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments
+    def has_permission(
         self,
         session,
         principal,
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py b/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py
index d30f90c..985ac77 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py
@@ -189,11 +189,10 @@ class WuttaConfig:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
        See also :ref:`where-config-settings-come-from`.
     """
 
-    _app = None
     default_app_handler_spec = "wuttjamaican.app:AppHandler"
     default_engine_maker_spec = "wuttjamaican.db.conf:make_engine_from_config"
 
-    def __init__(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments
+    def __init__(
         self,
         files=None,
         defaults=None,
@@ -241,10 +240,7 @@ class WuttaConfig:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
 
         # configure main app DB if applicable, or disable usedb flag
         try:
-            from wuttjamaican.db import (  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
-                Session,
-                get_engines,
-            )
+            from wuttjamaican.db import Session, get_engines
         except ImportError:
             if self.usedb:
                 log.warning(
@@ -276,8 +272,20 @@ class WuttaConfig:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
                 raise FileNotFoundError(f"could not read required config file: {path}")
             return
 
-        # write config to temp file
-        temp_path = self._write_temp_config_file(config)
+        # load all values into (yet another) temp config
+        temp_config = configparser.RawConfigParser()
+        for section in config.sections():
+            temp_config.add_section(section)
+            # nb. must interpolate most values but *not* for logging formatters
+            raw = section.startswith("formatter_")
+            for option in config.options(section):
+                temp_config.set(section, option, config.get(section, option, raw=raw))
+
+        # re-write as temp file with "final" values
+        fd, temp_path = tempfile.mkstemp(suffix=".ini")
+        os.close(fd)
+        with open(temp_path, "wt", encoding="utf_8") as f:
+            temp_config.write(f)
 
         # and finally, load that into our main config
         config = configuration.config_from_ini(temp_path, read_from_file=True)
@@ -297,24 +305,6 @@ class WuttaConfig:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
             for p in self.parse_list(includes):
                 self._load_ini_configs(p, configs, require=False)
 
-    def _write_temp_config_file(self, config):
-        # load all values into (yet another) temp config
-        temp_config = configparser.RawConfigParser()
-        for section in config.sections():
-            temp_config.add_section(section)
-            # nb. must interpolate most values but *not* for logging formatters
-            raw = section.startswith("formatter_")
-            for option in config.options(section):
-                temp_config.set(section, option, config.get(section, option, raw=raw))
-
-        # re-write as temp file with "final" values
-        fd, temp_path = tempfile.mkstemp(suffix=".ini")
-        os.close(fd)
-        with open(temp_path, "wt", encoding="utf_8") as f:
-            temp_config.write(f)
-
-        return temp_path
-
     def get_prioritized_files(self):
         """
         Returns list of config files in order of priority.
@@ -343,7 +333,7 @@ class WuttaConfig:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
         # get current value, sans db
         return self.get(key, usedb=False)
 
-    def get(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments
+    def get(
         self,
         key,
         default=UNSPECIFIED,
@@ -458,6 +448,7 @@ class WuttaConfig:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
         # read from defaults + INI files
         value = self.configuration.get(key)
         if value is not None:
+
             # nb. if the "value" corresponding to the given key is in
             # fact a subset/dict of more config values, then we must
             # "ignore" that.  so only return the value if it is *not*
@@ -620,6 +611,7 @@ class WuttaConfig:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
             os.remove(path)
 
     def _write_logging_config_file(self):
+
         # load all current values into configparser
         parser = configparser.RawConfigParser()
         for section, values in self.configuration.items():
@@ -641,7 +633,7 @@ class WuttaConfig:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
 
         See also :doc:`/narr/handlers/app`.
         """
-        if not self._app:
+        if not hasattr(self, "_app"):
             spec = self.get(
                 f"{self.appname}.app.handler",
                 usedb=False,
@@ -718,10 +710,7 @@ def generic_default_files(appname):
     if sys.platform == "win32":
         # use pywin32 to fetch official defaults
         try:
-            from win32com.shell import (  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
-                shell,
-                shellcon,
-            )
+            from win32com.shell import shell, shellcon
         except ImportError:
             return []
 
@@ -760,7 +749,7 @@ def generic_default_files(appname):
     ]
 
 
-def get_config_paths(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments
+def get_config_paths(
     files=None,
     plus_files=None,
     appname="wutta",
@@ -884,7 +873,28 @@ def get_config_paths(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-
 
     # first identify any "primary" config files
     if files is None:
-        files = _get_primary_config_files(appname, env, env_files_name, default_files)
+        if not env_files_name:
+            env_files_name = f"{appname.upper()}_CONFIG_FILES"
+
+        files = env.get(env_files_name)
+        if files is not None:
+            files = files.split(os.pathsep)
+
+        elif default_files:
+            if callable(default_files):
+                files = default_files(appname) or []
+            elif isinstance(default_files, str):
+                files = [default_files]
+            else:
+                files = list(default_files)
+            files = [path for path in files if os.path.exists(path)]
+
+        else:
+            files = []
+            for path in generic_default_files(appname):
+                if os.path.exists(path):
+                    files.append(path)
+
     elif isinstance(files, str):
         files = [files]
     else:
@@ -916,48 +926,19 @@ def get_config_paths(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-
     # which config file as part of the actual service definition in
     # windows, so the service name is used for magic lookup here.
     if winsvc:
-        files = _get_winsvc_config_files(appname, winsvc, files)
+        config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+        config.read(files)
+        section = f"{appname}.config"
+        if config.has_section(section):
+            option = f"winsvc.{winsvc}"
+            if config.has_option(section, option):
+                # replace file paths with whatever config value says
+                files = parse_list(config.get(section, option))
 
     return files
 
 
-def _get_primary_config_files(appname, env, env_files_name, default_files):
-    if not env_files_name:
-        env_files_name = f"{appname.upper()}_CONFIG_FILES"
-
-    files = env.get(env_files_name)
-    if files is not None:
-        return files.split(os.pathsep)
-
-    if default_files:
-        if callable(default_files):
-            files = default_files(appname) or []
-        elif isinstance(default_files, str):
-            files = [default_files]
-        else:
-            files = list(default_files)
-        return [path for path in files if os.path.exists(path)]
-
-    files = []
-    for path in generic_default_files(appname):
-        if os.path.exists(path):
-            files.append(path)
-    return files
-
-
-def _get_winsvc_config_files(appname, winsvc, files):
-    config = configparser.ConfigParser()
-    config.read(files)
-    section = f"{appname}.config"
-    if config.has_section(section):
-        option = f"winsvc.{winsvc}"
-        if config.has_option(section, option):
-            # replace file paths with whatever config value says
-            files = parse_list(config.get(section, option))
-    return files
-
-
-def make_config(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments,too-many-locals
+def make_config(
     files=None,
     plus_files=None,
     appname="wutta",
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/email.py b/src/wuttjamaican/email.py
index ab4040c..2966f3c 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/email.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/email.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class Message:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
        List of file attachments for the message.
     """
 
-    def __init__(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments
+    def __init__(
         self,
         key=None,
         sender=None,
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         # prefer configured list of template lookup paths, if set
         templates = self.config.get_list(f"{self.config.appname}.email.templates")
         if not templates:
+
             # otherwise use all available paths, from app providers
             available = []
             for provider in self.app.providers.values():
@@ -323,8 +324,8 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         This calls :meth:`get_email_modules()` and for each module, it
         discovers all the email settings it contains.
         """
-        if "email_settings" not in self.classes:
-            self.classes["email_settings"] = {}
+        if not hasattr(self, "_email_settings"):
+            self._email_settings = {}
             for module in self.get_email_modules():
                 for name in dir(module):
                     obj = getattr(module, name)
@@ -333,9 +334,9 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
                         and obj is not EmailSetting
                         and issubclass(obj, EmailSetting)
                     ):
-                        self.classes["email_settings"][obj.__name__] = obj
+                        self._email_settings[obj.__name__] = obj
 
-        return self.classes["email_settings"]
+        return self._email_settings
 
     def get_email_setting(self, key, instance=True):
         """
@@ -454,7 +455,7 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         # fall back to global default, if present
         return self.config.get(f"{self.config.appname}.email.default.replyto")
 
-    def get_auto_subject(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments
+    def get_auto_subject(
         self, key, context=None, rendered=True, setting=None, default=None
     ):
         """
@@ -755,7 +756,7 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
             f"{self.config.appname}.mail.send_emails", default=False
         )
 
-    def send_email(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments
+    def send_email(
         self, key=None, context=None, message=None, sender=None, recips=None, **kwargs
     ):
         """
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/install.py b/src/wuttjamaican/install.py
index 5077644..d0af8b1 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/install.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/install.py
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
     app_title = None
     pypi_name = None
     egg_name = None
-    schema_installed = False
 
     def __init__(self, config, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(config)
@@ -101,6 +100,24 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
         if not self.egg_name:
             self.egg_name = self.pypi_name.replace("-", "_")
 
+    def run(self):
+        """
+        Run the interactive command-line installer.
+
+        This does the following:
+
+        * check for ``prompt_toolkit`` and maybe ask to install it
+        * define the template lookup paths, for making config files
+        * call :meth:`show_welcome()`
+        * call :meth:`sanity_check()`
+        * call :meth:`do_install_steps()`
+        * call :meth:`show_goodbye()`
+
+        Although if a problem is encountered then not all calls may
+        happen.
+        """
+        self.require_prompt_toolkit()
+
         paths = [
             self.app.resource_path("wuttjamaican:templates/install"),
         ]
@@ -114,22 +131,6 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
 
         self.templates = TemplateLookup(directories=paths)
 
-    def run(self):
-        """
-        Run the interactive command-line installer.
-
-        This does the following:
-
-        * check for ``prompt_toolkit`` and maybe ask to install it
-        * call :meth:`show_welcome()`
-        * call :meth:`sanity_check()`
-        * call :meth:`do_install_steps()`
-        * call :meth:`show_goodbye()`
-
-        Although if a problem is encountered then not all calls may
-        happen.
-        """
-        self.require_prompt_toolkit()
         self.show_welcome()
         self.sanity_check()
         self.schema_installed = False
@@ -237,9 +238,9 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
 
     def make_db_url(
         self, dbtype, dbhost, dbport, dbname, dbuser, dbpass
-    ):  # pylint: disable=empty-docstring,too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments
+    ):  # pylint: disable=empty-docstring
         """ """
-        from sqlalchemy.engine import URL  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        from sqlalchemy.engine import URL
 
         if dbtype == "mysql":
             drivername = "mysql+mysqlconnector"
@@ -257,7 +258,7 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
 
     def test_db_connection(self, url):  # pylint: disable=empty-docstring
         """ """
-        import sqlalchemy as sa  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        import sqlalchemy as sa
 
         engine = sa.create_engine(url)
 
@@ -441,9 +442,7 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
         :param db_url: :class:`sqlalchemy:sqlalchemy.engine.URL`
            instance.
         """
-        from alembic.util.messaging import (  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
-            obfuscate_url_pw,
-        )
+        from alembic.util.messaging import obfuscate_url_pw
 
         if not self.prompt_bool("install db schema?", True):
             return False
@@ -489,7 +488,7 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
     def require_prompt_toolkit(self, answer=None):  # pylint: disable=empty-docstring
         """ """
         try:
-            import prompt_toolkit  # pylint: disable=unused-import,import-outside-toplevel
+            import prompt_toolkit  # pylint: disable=unused-import
         except ImportError:
             value = answer or input(
                 "\nprompt_toolkit is not installed.  shall i install it? [Yn] "
@@ -504,7 +503,7 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
             )
 
             # nb. this should now succeed
-            import prompt_toolkit  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+            import prompt_toolkit
 
     def rprint(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -514,9 +513,7 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
 
     def get_prompt_style(self):  # pylint: disable=empty-docstring
         """ """
-        from prompt_toolkit.styles import (  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
-            Style,
-        )
+        from prompt_toolkit.styles import Style
 
         # message formatting styles
         return Style.from_dict(
@@ -526,7 +523,7 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
             }
         )
 
-    def prompt_generic(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-positional-arguments
+    def prompt_generic(
         self,
         info,
         default=None,
@@ -557,7 +554,7 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):
            unless ``is_bool`` was requested in which case ``True`` or
            ``False``.
         """
-        from prompt_toolkit import prompt  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        from prompt_toolkit import prompt
 
         # build prompt message
         message = [
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/reports.py b/src/wuttjamaican/reports.py
index 92b5705..136ffa0 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/reports.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/reports.py
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ class ReportHandler(GenericHandler):
         This calls :meth:`get_report_modules()` and for each module,
         it discovers all the reports it contains.
         """
-        if "reports" not in self.classes:
-            self.classes["reports"] = {}
+        if not hasattr(self, "_reports"):
+            self._reports = {}
             for module in self.get_report_modules():
                 for name in dir(module):
                     obj = getattr(module, name)
@@ -167,9 +167,9 @@ class ReportHandler(GenericHandler):
                         and obj is not Report
                         and issubclass(obj, Report)
                     ):
-                        self.classes["reports"][obj.report_key] = obj
+                        self._reports[obj.report_key] = obj
 
-        return self.classes["reports"]
+        return self._reports
 
     def get_report(self, key, instance=True):
         """
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/util.py b/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
index 6c03e2b..76c517b 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ def load_entry_points(group, ignore_errors=False):
 
     try:
         # nb. this package was added in python 3.8
-        import importlib.metadata as importlib_metadata  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        import importlib.metadata as importlib_metadata
     except ImportError:
-        import importlib_metadata  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        import importlib_metadata
 
     eps = importlib_metadata.entry_points()
     if not hasattr(eps, "select"):
@@ -306,7 +306,9 @@ def progress_loop(func, items, factory, message=None):
         progress = factory(message, count)
 
     for i, item in enumerate(items, 1):
+
         func(item, i)
+
         if progress:
             progress.update(i)
 
@@ -341,17 +343,12 @@ def resource_path(path):
     :returns: Absolute file path to the resource.
     """
     if not os.path.isabs(path) and ":" in path:
+
         try:
             # nb. these were added in python 3.9
-            from importlib.resources import (  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
-                files,
-                as_file,
-            )
+            from importlib.resources import files, as_file
         except ImportError:  # python < 3.9
-            from importlib_resources import (  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
-                files,
-                as_file,
-            )
+            from importlib_resources import files, as_file
 
         package, filename = path.split(":")
         ref = files(package) / filename
diff --git a/tests/test_conf.py b/tests/test_conf.py
index 18953b3..4ec5d97 100644
--- a/tests/test_conf.py
+++ b/tests/test_conf.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from wuttjamaican.testing import FileTestCase, ConfigTestCase
 
 
 class TestWuttaConfig(FileTestCase):
+
     def make_config(self, **kwargs):
         return mod.WuttaConfig(**kwargs)
 
@@ -290,6 +291,7 @@ configure_logging = true
         )
 
         with patch.object(conf.WuttaConfig, "_configure_logging") as method:
+
             # no logging config by default
             config = conf.WuttaConfig()
             method.assert_not_called()
@@ -317,6 +319,7 @@ configure_logging = true
         )
 
         with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.logging") as logging:
+
             # basic constructor attempts logging config
             config = conf.WuttaConfig(configure_logging=True)
             logging.config.fileConfig.assert_called_once()
@@ -335,14 +338,14 @@ configure_logging = true
             logging.config.fileConfig.assert_called_once()
 
     def test_config_has_no_app_after_init(self):
+
         # initial config should *not* have an app yet, otherwise
         # extensions cannot specify a default app handler
         config = conf.WuttaConfig()
-        self.assertIsNone(config._app)
+        self.assertFalse(hasattr(config, "_app"))
 
         # but after that we can get an app okay
         app = config.get_app()
-        self.assertIsNotNone(app)
         self.assertIs(app, config._app)
 
     def test_setdefault(self):
@@ -625,6 +628,7 @@ configure_logging = true
         self.assertEqual(value[2], "baz")
 
     def test_get_app(self):
+
         # default handler
         config = conf.WuttaConfig()
         self.assertEqual(config.default_app_handler_spec, "wuttjamaican.app:AppHandler")
@@ -682,6 +686,7 @@ def custom_make_engine_from_config():
 
 
 class TestWuttaConfigExtension(TestCase):
+
     def test_basic(self):
         config = conf.WuttaConfig()
         ext = conf.WuttaConfigExtension()
@@ -690,6 +695,7 @@ class TestWuttaConfigExtension(TestCase):
 
 
 class TestGenericDefaultFiles(TestCase):
+
     def test_linux(self):
         files = conf.generic_default_files("wuttatest")
         self.assertIsInstance(files, list)
@@ -701,6 +707,7 @@ class TestGenericDefaultFiles(TestCase):
         win32com.shell.SHGetSpecialFolderPath.return_value = r"C:" + os.sep
         with patch.dict("sys.modules", **{"win32com.shell": win32com}):
             with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.sys", platform="win32"):
+
                 files = conf.generic_default_files("wuttatest")
                 self.assertIsInstance(files, list)
                 self.assertTrue(len(files) > 1)
@@ -716,12 +723,14 @@ class TestGenericDefaultFiles(TestCase):
 
         with patch("builtins.__import__", side_effect=mock_import):
             with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.sys", platform="win32"):
+
                 files = conf.generic_default_files("wuttatest")
                 self.assertIsInstance(files, list)
                 self.assertEqual(len(files), 0)
 
 
 class TestGetConfigPaths(FileTestCase):
+
     def test_winsvc(self):
         myconf = self.write_file(
             "my.conf",
@@ -744,6 +753,7 @@ winsvc.RattailFileMonitor = /path/to/other/file
 
 
 class TestMakeConfig(FileTestCase):
+
     # nb. we use appname='wuttatest' in this suite to avoid any
     # "valid" default config files, env vars etc. which may be present
     # on the dev machine
@@ -753,6 +763,7 @@ class TestMakeConfig(FileTestCase):
 
         with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.generic_default_files") as generic_default_files:
             with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.WuttaConfig") as WuttaConfig:
+
                 # generic files are used if nothing is specified
                 generic_default_files.return_value = [generic]
                 config = conf.make_config(appname="wuttatest")
@@ -777,6 +788,7 @@ class TestMakeConfig(FileTestCase):
 
         with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.generic_default_files") as generic_default_files:
             with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.WuttaConfig") as WuttaConfig:
+
                 # generic defaults are used if nothing specified
                 generic_default_files.return_value = [generic]
                 config = conf.make_config(appname="wuttatest")
@@ -820,6 +832,7 @@ class TestMakeConfig(FileTestCase):
 
         with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.generic_default_files") as generic_default_files:
             with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.WuttaConfig") as WuttaConfig:
+
                 generic_default_files.return_value = [generic]
 
                 # no plus files by default
@@ -864,6 +877,7 @@ class TestMakeConfig(FileTestCase):
 
         with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.generic_default_files") as generic_default_files:
             with patch("wuttjamaican.conf.WuttaConfig") as WuttaConfig:
+
                 generic_default_files.return_value = [generic]
 
                 # generic files by default
@@ -908,6 +922,7 @@ class TestMakeConfig(FileTestCase):
 
         with patch.object(mod, "WuttaConfig") as WuttaConfig:
             with patch.object(mod, "load_entry_points") as load_entry_points:
+
                 # no entry points loaded if extend=False
                 config = mod.make_config(appname="wuttatest", extend=False)
                 WuttaConfig.assert_called_once_with(
@@ -952,6 +967,7 @@ class TestMakeConfig(FileTestCase):
 
 
 class TestWuttaConfigProfile(ConfigTestCase):
+
     def make_profile(self, key):
         return mod.WuttaConfigProfile(self.config, key)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_install.py b/tests/test_install.py
index a58725f..f05ffea 100644
--- a/tests/test_install.py
+++ b/tests/test_install.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from wuttjamaican.testing import ConfigTestCase
 
 
 class TestInstallHandler(ConfigTestCase):
+
     def make_handler(self, **kwargs):
         return mod.InstallHandler(self.config, **kwargs)
 
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ class TestInstallHandler(ConfigTestCase):
         with patch.object(mod, "sys") as sys:
             with patch.object(handler, "rprint") as rprint:
                 with patch.object(handler, "prompt_bool") as prompt_bool:
+
                     # user continues
                     prompt_bool.return_value = True
                     handler.show_welcome()
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ class TestInstallHandler(ConfigTestCase):
         with patch.object(mod, "sys") as sys:
             with patch.object(mod, "os") as os:
                 with patch.object(handler, "rprint") as rprint:
+
                     # pretend appdir does not exist
                     os.path.exists.return_value = False
                     handler.sanity_check()
@@ -76,9 +79,10 @@ class TestInstallHandler(ConfigTestCase):
         with patch.object(handler, "get_dbinfo", return_value=dbinfo):
             with patch.object(handler, "make_appdir") as make_appdir:
                 with patch.object(handler, "install_db_schema") as install_db_schema:
+
                     # nb. just for sanity/coverage
                     install_db_schema.return_value = True
-                    self.assertFalse(handler.schema_installed)
+                    self.assertFalse(hasattr(handler, "schema_installed"))
                     handler.do_install_steps()
                     self.assertTrue(make_appdir.called)
                     self.assertTrue(handler.schema_installed)
@@ -105,6 +109,7 @@ class TestInstallHandler(ConfigTestCase):
             with patch.object(handler, "prompt_generic", side_effect=prompt_generic):
                 with patch.object(handler, "test_db_connection") as test_db_connection:
                     with patch.object(handler, "rprint") as rprint:
+
                         # bad dbinfo
                         test_db_connection.return_value = "bad dbinfo"
                         sys.exit.side_effect = RuntimeError
@@ -215,6 +220,7 @@ default.url = {db_url}
         db_url = sa.create_engine(db_url).url
 
         with patch.object(mod, "subprocess") as subprocess:
+
             # user declines offer to install schema
             with patch.object(handler, "prompt_bool", return_value=False):
                 self.assertFalse(handler.install_db_schema(db_url, appdir=self.tempdir))
@@ -315,6 +321,7 @@ default.url = {db_url}
         with patch("builtins.__import__", side_effect=mock_import):
             with patch.object(handler, "get_prompt_style", return_value=style):
                 with patch.object(handler, "rprint") as rprint:
+
                     # no input or default value
                     mock_prompt.return_value = ""
                     result = handler.prompt_generic("foo")
@@ -445,6 +452,7 @@ default.url = {db_url}
 
         with patch("builtins.__import__", side_effect=mock_import):
             with patch.object(handler, "rprint") as rprint:
+
                 # no default; true input
                 mock_prompt.reset_mock()
                 mock_prompt.return_value = "Y"