diff --git a/install.ps1 b/install.ps1
index 93d06c52..9223fe84 100644
--- a/install.ps1
+++ b/install.ps1
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ param(
 
 $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
 $defaultInstallUrl = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.py"
-$defaultInstallSha256 = "d35dc1707a5f5d65fb614f45ed71f47e20e9ffcb4b28470e757cc66533c91ef2"
+$defaultInstallSha256 = "4b5cd67a7077141c82a859231c3daba3dee11a62e022472191ea9f0a80e8fc61"
 $maximumInstallerBytes = 2MB
 $installerExit = 0
 $installer = if ($PSScriptRoot) { Join-Path $PSScriptRoot "install.py" } else { $null }
diff --git a/install.py b/install.py
index d98c32be..35508a12 100644
--- a/install.py
+++ b/install.py
@@ -3469,7 +3469,8 @@ def main() -> None:
         "--system",
         action="append",
         metavar="NAME",
-        help="install only these systems (repeat or comma-separate; see --list-systems)",
+        help="install only these systems (repeat or comma-separate; see "
+             "--list-systems)",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--core",
@@ -3518,6 +3519,7 @@ def main() -> None:
         "--version",
         action="version",
         version=f"retrobios installer {installer_id()} (ref {RELEASE_REF})",
+        help="print the installer version and exit",
     )
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 141ff853..98cd6de1 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ esac
 TEMP_INSTALLER=""
 TEMP_DIRECTORY=""
 DEFAULT_INSTALL_URL="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.py"
-DEFAULT_INSTALL_SHA256="d35dc1707a5f5d65fb614f45ed71f47e20e9ffcb4b28470e757cc66533c91ef2"
+DEFAULT_INSTALL_SHA256="4b5cd67a7077141c82a859231c3daba3dee11a62e022472191ea9f0a80e8fc61"
 MAX_INSTALLER_BYTES=2097152
 
 cleanup() {
diff --git a/scripts/auto_fetch.py b/scripts/auto_fetch.py
index 3704a5c4..9fd93b9e 100644
--- a/scripts/auto_fetch.py
+++ b/scripts/auto_fetch.py
@@ -424,9 +424,18 @@ def main() -> None:
     parser.add_argument(
         "--dry-run", action="store_true", help="Don't download, just report"
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--db", default=DEFAULT_DB)
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR)
-    parser.add_argument("--bios-dir", default=DEFAULT_BIOS_DIR)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--db", default=DEFAULT_DB,
+        help="database file to read (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR,
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--bios-dir", default=DEFAULT_BIOS_DIR,
+        help="BIOS collection directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--create-issues", action="store_true", help="Output GitHub Issue bodies"
     )
diff --git a/scripts/check_buildbot_system.py b/scripts/check_buildbot_system.py
index 61733317..bcd3b133 100644
--- a/scripts/check_buildbot_system.py
+++ b/scripts/check_buildbot_system.py
@@ -189,7 +189,10 @@ def main() -> None:
         dest="json_output",
         help="Machine-readable JSON output",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--registry", default=DEFAULT_REGISTRY)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--registry", default=DEFAULT_REGISTRY,
+        help="the data directory registry to check (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     report = check(args.registry)
diff --git a/scripts/check_freshness.py b/scripts/check_freshness.py
index 7f582294..cc2d059e 100644
--- a/scripts/check_freshness.py
+++ b/scripts/check_freshness.py
@@ -1166,14 +1166,36 @@ def main() -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description=__doc__.split("\n\n")[0])
     parser.add_argument("--only", help="comma-separated areas: " + ",".join(AREAS))
     parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="machine-readable output")
-    parser.add_argument("--profiles", action="store_true", help="also run profile_sync (slow)")
-    parser.add_argument("--offline", action="store_true", help="no network, local ages only")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--profiles", action="store_true",
+        help="also run profile_sync (slow)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--offline", action="store_true",
+        help="no network, local ages only",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--jobs", type=int, default=4, help="parallel scrapers")
-    parser.add_argument("--cache-dir", default=upstream.CACHE_DIR)
-    parser.add_argument("--native-cache-dir", default=export_native.DEFAULT_CACHE)
-    parser.add_argument("--truth-dir", default="dist/truth")
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default="platforms")
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--cache-dir", default=upstream.CACHE_DIR,
+        help="download cache directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--native-cache-dir", default=export_native.DEFAULT_CACHE,
+        help="where the platforms' own files are cached (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--truth-dir", default="dist/truth",
+        help="directory of the truth models generate_truth writes (default: "
+             "%(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default="platforms",
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     areas = tuple(a.strip() for a in args.only.split(",")) if args.only else AREAS
diff --git a/scripts/check_release.py b/scripts/check_release.py
index 8890e1a9..d43e2283 100644
--- a/scripts/check_release.py
+++ b/scripts/check_release.py
@@ -150,14 +150,20 @@ def fetch_sums(tag: str) -> str:
 
 def main() -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description=__doc__.split("\n")[0])
-    parser.add_argument("--record", default=str(RECORD), help="release record (release.json)")
-    parser.add_argument("--tag", help="release to check (default: the tag the record names)")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--record", default=str(RECORD),
+        help="release record (release.json)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--tag",
+        help="release to check (default: the tag the record names)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--sums", metavar="FILE",
         help=f"local {SUMS} the packs were listed in; its copy and signature on "
         f"the release must be these files (default: the list attached to the release)",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="JSON output")
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     record = load_record(args.record)
diff --git a/scripts/check_release_assets.py b/scripts/check_release_assets.py
index 71896e43..a99dd776 100644
--- a/scripts/check_release_assets.py
+++ b/scripts/check_release_assets.py
@@ -319,9 +319,15 @@ def fetch_assets() -> dict[str, int]:
 
 def main() -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description=__doc__.split("\n")[0])
-    parser.add_argument("--db", default="database.json")
-    parser.add_argument("--gitignore", default=".gitignore")
-    parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--db", default="database.json",
+        help="database file to read (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--gitignore", default=".gitignore",
+        help="the .gitignore listing release-asset files (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="JSON output")
     parser.add_argument(
         "--notes", metavar="FILE",
         help="write the release page rendered from the collection to FILE",
diff --git a/scripts/cross_reference.py b/scripts/cross_reference.py
index c3c1f067..24951b49 100644
--- a/scripts/cross_reference.py
+++ b/scripts/cross_reference.py
@@ -788,9 +788,18 @@ def print_report(
 
 def main() -> None:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description="Emulator vs platform gap analysis")
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default=DEFAULT_EMULATORS_DIR)
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR)
-    parser.add_argument("--db", default=DEFAULT_DB)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default=DEFAULT_EMULATORS_DIR,
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR,
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--db", default=DEFAULT_DB,
+        help="database file to read (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--emulator", "-e", help="Analyze single emulator")
     parser.add_argument(
         "--platform", "-p", type=platform_arg, help="Restrict analysis to one platform's cores"
diff --git a/scripts/dedup.py b/scripts/dedup.py
index 7005bdbb..78c2a903 100644
--- a/scripts/dedup.py
+++ b/scripts/dedup.py
@@ -317,7 +317,10 @@ def main() -> None:
     parser.add_argument(
         "--dry-run", action="store_true", help="Preview without deleting"
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--bios-dir", default=DEFAULT_BIOS_DIR)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--bios-dir", default=DEFAULT_BIOS_DIR,
+        help="BIOS collection directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
     require_directory(args.bios_dir)
 
diff --git a/scripts/diff_truth.py b/scripts/diff_truth.py
index a9a8cf20..ce765683 100644
--- a/scripts/diff_truth.py
+++ b/scripts/diff_truth.py
@@ -176,14 +176,22 @@ def main() -> None:
         "--json", action="store_true", dest="json_output", help="JSON output"
     )
     output.add_argument(
-        "--format", choices=["terminal", "markdown"], default="terminal"
+        "--format", choices=["terminal", "markdown"], default="terminal",
+        help="report format (default: %(default)s)",
     )
     output.add_argument(
         "--markdown", action="store_const", const="markdown", dest="format",
         help="same as --format markdown, the spelling validate_pr uses",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--truth-dir", default="dist/truth")
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default="platforms")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--truth-dir", default="dist/truth",
+        help="directory of the truth models generate_truth writes (default: "
+             "%(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default="platforms",
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--target",
         help="read the models generate_truth --target wrote, each under the "
diff --git a/scripts/export_native.py b/scripts/export_native.py
index 92604aed..93800bf8 100644
--- a/scripts/export_native.py
+++ b/scripts/export_native.py
@@ -574,9 +574,19 @@ def main() -> None:
     group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=True)
     group.add_argument("--all", action="store_true", help="every platform")
     group.add_argument("--platform", type=platform_arg, help="a single platform")
-    parser.add_argument("--output-dir", default="dist/upstream")
-    parser.add_argument("--truth-dir", default="dist/truth")
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default="platforms")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--output-dir", default="dist/upstream",
+        help="directory the corrected platform files go to (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--truth-dir", default="dist/truth",
+        help="directory of the truth models generate_truth writes (default: "
+             "%(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default="platforms",
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--upstream-dir",
         default=DEFAULT_CACHE,
diff --git a/scripts/fileless_audit.py b/scripts/fileless_audit.py
index 2c08bd44..8c181e42 100644
--- a/scripts/fileless_audit.py
+++ b/scripts/fileless_audit.py
@@ -107,9 +107,18 @@ def main() -> None:
         "--all", action="store_true",
         help="every profile that declares no files and has no answer yet",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
-    parser.add_argument("--cache-dir", default=".cache")
-    parser.add_argument("--offline", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--cache-dir", default=".cache",
+        help="download cache directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--offline", action="store_true",
+        help="read only what the cache holds; no network access",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
     if args.all == bool(args.emulators):
         parser.error("name profiles or pass --all, not both")
diff --git a/scripts/find_pinned_revision.py b/scripts/find_pinned_revision.py
index a7821311..42f1aa40 100644
--- a/scripts/find_pinned_revision.py
+++ b/scripts/find_pinned_revision.py
@@ -74,7 +74,10 @@ def main() -> int:
     parser.add_argument("--path", required=True, help="path of the file in the project")
     parser.add_argument("--md5", required=True, help="md5 the platform pins")
     parser.add_argument("--write", type=Path, help="save the matching bytes here")
-    parser.add_argument("--cache-dir", default=upstream.CACHE_DIR)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--cache-dir", default=upstream.CACHE_DIR,
+        help="download cache directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     repo = upstream.parse_repo(args.repo)
diff --git a/scripts/generate_pack.py b/scripts/generate_pack.py
index 86a0c878..e85d9efe 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_pack.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_pack.py
@@ -2952,7 +2952,10 @@ def main() -> None:
 
 def _main(held: contextlib.ExitStack) -> None:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description="Generate platform BIOS ZIP packs")
-    parser.add_argument("--platform", "-p", type=platform_arg, help="Platform name (e.g., retroarch)")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platform", "-p", type=platform_arg,
+        help="Platform name (e.g., retroarch)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--all", action="store_true", help="Generate packs for all active platforms"
     )
@@ -2970,11 +2973,23 @@ def _main(held: contextlib.ExitStack) -> None:
     parser.add_argument(
         "--include-archived", action="store_true", help="Include archived platforms"
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR,
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--db", default=DEFAULT_DB_FILE, help="Path to database.json")
-    parser.add_argument("--bios-dir", default=DEFAULT_BIOS_DIR)
-    parser.add_argument("--output-dir", "-o", default=DEFAULT_OUTPUT_DIR)
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--bios-dir", default=DEFAULT_BIOS_DIR,
+        help="BIOS collection directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--output-dir", "-o", default=DEFAULT_OUTPUT_DIR,
+        help="directory the packs and manifests go to (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--offline",
         action="store_true",
@@ -3002,7 +3017,8 @@ def _main(held: contextlib.ExitStack) -> None:
         "--source",
         choices=["platform", "truth", "full"],
         default="full",
-        help="File source: platform (YAML only), truth (emulator profiles), full (both)",
+        help="File source: platform (YAML only), truth (emulator profiles), full "
+             "(both)",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--all-variants",
diff --git a/scripts/generate_readme.py b/scripts/generate_readme.py
index 8f786d18..82aef685 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_readme.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_readme.py
@@ -756,8 +756,14 @@ def generate_contributing() -> str:
 
 def main() -> None:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description="Generate slim README.md")
-    parser.add_argument("--db", default="database.json")
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default="platforms")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--db", default="database.json",
+        help="database file to read (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default="platforms",
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     db = load_database(args.db)
diff --git a/scripts/generate_site.py b/scripts/generate_site.py
index b151ec42..e19ee4b2 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_site.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_site.py
@@ -4244,10 +4244,22 @@ def main() -> None:
         allow_abbrev=False,
         description="Generate MkDocs site from project data"
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--db", default="database.json")
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default="platforms")
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
-    parser.add_argument("--docs-dir", default=DOCS_DIR)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--db", default="database.json",
+        help="database file to read (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default="platforms",
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--docs-dir", default=DOCS_DIR,
+        help="directory the site sources are written to (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
     try:
         # Two runs over one docs/ delete each other's pages and scratch
diff --git a/scripts/generate_truth.py b/scripts/generate_truth.py
index e83ad6b7..f7c4baa3 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_truth.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_truth.py
@@ -58,10 +58,12 @@ def parse_args(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> argparse.Namespace:
     parser.add_argument(
         "--platforms-dir",
         default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR,
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--emulators-dir",
         default=DEFAULT_EMULATORS_DIR,
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
     )
     parser.add_argument("--db", default=DEFAULT_DB_FILE, help="database.json path")
     return parser.parse_args(argv)
diff --git a/scripts/identity.py b/scripts/identity.py
index fd6572a5..1400c6ca 100644
--- a/scripts/identity.py
+++ b/scripts/identity.py
@@ -145,7 +145,10 @@ def main() -> int:
         allow_abbrev=False,
         description="Report one content stored under identities that disagree.",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--bios-dir", default="bios")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--bios-dir", default="bios",
+        help="BIOS collection directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="JSON output")
     parser.add_argument(
         "--strict", action="store_true", help="exit non-zero when any is found"
diff --git a/scripts/mame_ref_audit.py b/scripts/mame_ref_audit.py
index d612b22b..677148ee 100644
--- a/scripts/mame_ref_audit.py
+++ b/scripts/mame_ref_audit.py
@@ -115,11 +115,23 @@ def rewrite(name: str, emulators_dir: str, findings: list[Finding]) -> int:
 
 def main() -> None:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description=__doc__.splitlines()[0])
-    parser.add_argument("emulators", nargs="+")
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
-    parser.add_argument("--cache-dir", default=upstream.CACHE_DIR)
-    parser.add_argument("--offline", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--write", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument("emulators", nargs="+", help="MAME-family profiles to audit")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--cache-dir", default=upstream.CACHE_DIR,
+        help="download cache directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--offline", action="store_true",
+        help="read only what the cache holds; no network access",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--write", action="store_true",
+        help="rewrite the refs the audit can settle",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     total = 0
diff --git a/scripts/pipeline.py b/scripts/pipeline.py
index 3b9b1e67..dc532949 100644
--- a/scripts/pipeline.py
+++ b/scripts/pipeline.py
@@ -371,8 +371,16 @@ def main() -> None:
         "--output-dir", default="dist", help="Pack output directory (default: dist/)"
     )
     parser.add_argument("--target", "-t", help="Hardware target (e.g., switch, rpi4)")
-    parser.add_argument("--source", choices=["platform", "truth", "full"], default="full")
-    parser.add_argument("--all-variants", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--source", choices=["platform", "truth", "full"], default="full",
+        help="packs to build: the platform list, the profiles, or both (default: "
+             "%(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--all-variants", action="store_true",
+        help="Build the six source x required packs of each platform; "
+        "not with --source or --skip-packs",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--check-buildbot",
         action="store_true",
diff --git a/scripts/profile_sync.py b/scripts/profile_sync.py
index 0c981221..813f4ece 100644
--- a/scripts/profile_sync.py
+++ b/scripts/profile_sync.py
@@ -3193,34 +3193,73 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=True)
     group.add_argument("--emulator", help="a single profile")
     group.add_argument("--all", action="store_true", help="every profile")
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--system", help="keep profiles covering this system")
     parser.add_argument("--type", dest="type_", help="keep profiles of this type")
     parser.add_argument("--stale-before", help="keep profiles profiled before a date")
     parser.add_argument("--limit", type=int, help="stop after N profiles")
-    parser.add_argument("--changed-only", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--changed-only", action="store_true",
+        help="list only the profiles with refs to review",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--strict",
         action="store_true",
         help="exit 1 when a profile has refs to review, as for a new profile in CI",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", dest="as_json")
-    parser.add_argument("--markdown", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--json", action="store_true", dest="as_json",
+        help="JSON report",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--markdown", action="store_true",
+        help="write a markdown report to --report-dir",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--report-dir",
         default="reports",
         help="directory for the markdown report (default: reports)",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--fetch-plan", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--full-diff", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--fetch-plan", action="store_true",
+        help="print the upstream URLs a reader has to open",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--full-diff", action="store_true",
+        help="print the upstream diff of every cited file since the pin",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--ref", help="restrict --full-diff to one cited path")
-    parser.add_argument("--context", type=int, default=3)
-    parser.add_argument("--check-version", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--detect-new-files", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--watch-hashes", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--tree-diff", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--triage", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--backfill-commits", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--context", type=int, default=3,
+        help="lines of context around each diff hunk (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--check-version", action="store_true",
+        help="compare core_version with the latest tag and release",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--detect-new-files", action="store_true",
+        help="name files upstream loads that the profile does not list",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--watch-hashes", action="store_true",
+        help="report hash literals that changed in the cited files",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--tree-diff", action="store_true",
+        help="list files added, removed or renamed upstream since the pin",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--triage", action="store_true",
+        help="rank the profiles by how much there is to reread",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--backfill-commits", action="store_true",
+        help="write source_commit for profiles that only carry profiled_date",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--rebase-refs",
         action="store_true",
@@ -3242,10 +3281,22 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
         action="store_true",
         help="recale CHANGED refs too, after their diff has been read",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--force", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--offline", action="store_true")
-    parser.add_argument("--cache-dir", default=DEFAULT_CACHE)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--dry-run", action="store_true",
+        help="print the writes and leave the profiles untouched",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--force", action="store_true",
+        help="write even when emulators/ has uncommitted changes",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--offline", action="store_true",
+        help="read only what the cache holds; no network access",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--cache-dir", default=DEFAULT_CACHE,
+        help="download cache directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     return parser
 
 
diff --git a/scripts/region_audit.py b/scripts/region_audit.py
index a3ec6100..c3eef96f 100644
--- a/scripts/region_audit.py
+++ b/scripts/region_audit.py
@@ -195,7 +195,10 @@ def main() -> int:
         description="Cross-check profile region: values against No-Intro provenance"
     )
     parser.add_argument("--db", default="database.json", help="Path to database.json")
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="Machine-readable output")
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
diff --git a/scripts/release_record.py b/scripts/release_record.py
index 86e1844f..3c110e5f 100644
--- a/scripts/release_record.py
+++ b/scripts/release_record.py
@@ -127,8 +127,14 @@ def main() -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description="Record what a release's packs hold")
     parser.add_argument("dist", type=Path, help="directory of the packs to publish")
     parser.add_argument("--tag", required=True, help="release tag, e.g. v2026.10.04")
-    parser.add_argument("--install-dir", default="install", type=Path)
-    parser.add_argument("--output", default=RECORD, type=Path)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--install-dir", default="install", type=Path,
+        help="manifests the archives are compared with (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--output", default=RECORD, type=Path,
+        help="record to write (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     try:
diff --git a/scripts/restore_large_files.py b/scripts/restore_large_files.py
index eb878c9d..1c842229 100644
--- a/scripts/restore_large_files.py
+++ b/scripts/restore_large_files.py
@@ -93,9 +93,18 @@ def restore(
 
 def main() -> None:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description=__doc__)
-    parser.add_argument("--cache", default=".cache/large")
-    parser.add_argument("--db", default="database.json")
-    parser.add_argument("--gitignore", default=".gitignore")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--cache", default=".cache/large",
+        help="where release assets are cached (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--db", default="database.json",
+        help="database file to read (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--gitignore", default=".gitignore",
+        help="the .gitignore listing release-asset files (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
     _restored, unsatisfied = restore(args.cache, args.db, args.gitignore)
     if unsatisfied:
diff --git a/scripts/romset_recipes.py b/scripts/romset_recipes.py
index d4decde4..02d40d47 100644
--- a/scripts/romset_recipes.py
+++ b/scripts/romset_recipes.py
@@ -477,10 +477,22 @@ def main() -> int:
         help="write reconstructions to .variants/ (implies --missing)",
     )
     parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="machine-readable output")
-    parser.add_argument("--bios-dir", default="bios")
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default="platforms")
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
-    parser.add_argument("--db", default="database.json")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--bios-dir", default="bios",
+        help="BIOS collection directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default="platforms",
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--db", default="database.json",
+        help="database file to read (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--dat-recipes",
         default="recipes",
diff --git a/scripts/scraper/coreinfo_scraper.py b/scripts/scraper/coreinfo_scraper.py
index dce58bd8..40c35db7 100644
--- a/scripts/scraper/coreinfo_scraper.py
+++ b/scripts/scraper/coreinfo_scraper.py
@@ -311,7 +311,10 @@ def main() -> None:
         allow_abbrev=False,
         description="Scrape libretro-core-info firmware requirements"
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--dry-run", action="store_true",
+        help="print what would change and write nothing",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--compare-db", help="Compare against database.json")
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
diff --git a/scripts/scraper/dat_pack_importer.py b/scripts/scraper/dat_pack_importer.py
index 647ca781..33dc62bb 100644
--- a/scripts/scraper/dat_pack_importer.py
+++ b/scripts/scraper/dat_pack_importer.py
@@ -92,7 +92,10 @@ def import_pack(source: str, pack: Path) -> tuple[dict, list[dict], int]:
 
 def main() -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description="Import BIOS provenance from a DAT pack")
-    parser.add_argument("--source", required=True, choices=SOURCES)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--source", required=True, choices=SOURCES,
+        help="catalog the pack comes from",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--pack", required=True, help="DAT pack (ZIP or directory)")
     parser.add_argument("--output", "-o", help="Snapshot output path")
     parser.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true", help="Show imported entries")
diff --git a/scripts/scraper/romset_dat_importer.py b/scripts/scraper/romset_dat_importer.py
index 68b53ccb..584123aa 100644
--- a/scripts/scraper/romset_dat_importer.py
+++ b/scripts/scraper/romset_dat_importer.py
@@ -453,7 +453,10 @@ def _listxml_opener(pack: Path) -> Callable[[], io.BufferedIOBase]:
 
 def main() -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description=__doc__)
-    parser.add_argument("--source", choices=SOURCES, required=True)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--source", choices=SOURCES, required=True,
+        help="emulator whose DATs are imported",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--pack", help="DAT file, ZIP or directory")
     parser.add_argument(
         "--fetch",
@@ -462,14 +465,29 @@ def main() -> int:
         help="download upstream instead of using --pack "
         "(a MAME tag such as mame0289; bare, the newest release)",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--cache-dir", default=".cache/dats")
-    parser.add_argument("--output", default="")
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default="platforms")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--cache-dir", default=".cache/dats",
+        help="download cache directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--output", default="",
+        help="snapshot to write (default: recipes/<source>.json)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default="platforms",
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--all", action="store_true", help="keep every set, not only referenced ones"
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--dry-run", action="store_true",
+        help="print what would change and write nothing",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     blobs: dict[str, str] = {}
diff --git a/scripts/slots.py b/scripts/slots.py
index a3a9e3d8..eac475c6 100644
--- a/scripts/slots.py
+++ b/scripts/slots.py
@@ -862,10 +862,22 @@ def main() -> int:
         description="Report destinations where an emulator profile contradicts "
         "the file a platform baseline would ship.",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--platform", type=platform_arg, help="one platform instead of all")
-    parser.add_argument("--db", default="database.json")
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default="platforms")
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platform", type=platform_arg,
+        help="one platform instead of all",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--db", default="database.json",
+        help="database file to read (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default="platforms",
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default="emulators",
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="JSON output")
     parser.add_argument(
         "--include-archived", action="store_true",
diff --git a/scripts/validate_pr.py b/scripts/validate_pr.py
index 9e433e50..65976a17 100644
--- a/scripts/validate_pr.py
+++ b/scripts/validate_pr.py
@@ -423,8 +423,14 @@ def main() -> None:
         "--changed", action="store_true", help="Auto-detect changed BIOS files"
     )
     parser.add_argument("--db", default=DEFAULT_DB, help="Path to database.json")
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR)
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default=DEFAULT_EMULATORS_DIR)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR,
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default=DEFAULT_EMULATORS_DIR,
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     # One output format: --json beside --markdown printed JSON and dropped
     # the markdown without a word.
     output = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
diff --git a/scripts/validate_site.py b/scripts/validate_site.py
index d5bee228..72740561 100644
--- a/scripts/validate_site.py
+++ b/scripts/validate_site.py
@@ -265,9 +265,18 @@ def validate_site(site: Path, config_path: Path) -> list[str]:
 
 def main() -> None:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description=__doc__)
-    parser.add_argument("--site-dir", default="site")
-    parser.add_argument("--config", default="mkdocs.yml")
-    parser.add_argument("--max-errors", type=int, default=100)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--site-dir", default="site",
+        help="the built site (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--config", default="mkdocs.yml",
+        help="the MkDocs configuration (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--max-errors", type=int, default=100,
+        help="stop listing after this many errors (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     try:
diff --git a/scripts/verify.py b/scripts/verify.py
index 19580291..d5968e96 100644
--- a/scripts/verify.py
+++ b/scripts/verify.py
@@ -2202,7 +2202,10 @@ def _main(held: contextlib.ExitStack) -> None:
     parser.add_argument(
         "--list-systems", action="store_true", help="List available systems"
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--include-archived", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--include-archived", action="store_true",
+        help="With --all, also verify the archived platforms (RetroPie)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--target", "-t", help="Hardware target (e.g., switch, rpi4)")
     parser.add_argument(
         "--region", help="Region priority list, best first (e.g. us,eu,jp)"
@@ -2212,9 +2215,18 @@ def _main(held: contextlib.ExitStack) -> None:
         action="store_true",
         help="List available targets for the platform",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("--db", default=DEFAULT_DB)
-    parser.add_argument("--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR)
-    parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default=DEFAULT_EMULATORS_DIR)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--db", default=DEFAULT_DB,
+        help="database file to read (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--platforms-dir", default=DEFAULT_PLATFORMS_DIR,
+        help="platform YAML directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--emulators-dir", default=DEFAULT_EMULATORS_DIR,
+        help="emulator profile directory (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--verbose",
         "-v",
diff --git a/tests/test_workflow_paths.py b/tests/test_workflow_paths.py
index f7106629..d0661884 100644
--- a/tests/test_workflow_paths.py
+++ b/tests/test_workflow_paths.py
@@ -122,6 +122,23 @@ class DocumentedSteps(unittest.TestCase):
         fields = [*schema["properties"], *item.get("properties", {})]
         self.assertEqual(sorted(f for f in fields if f"`{f}`" not in page), [])
 
+    def test_every_option_says_what_it_does(self):
+        """--include-archived and --all-variants, and 94 others, showed in
+        --help with no text: their constraints surfaced only as errors."""
+        sources = [*SCRIPTS.rglob("*.py"), REPO_ROOT / "install.py"]
+        silent = []
+        for path in sources:
+            tree = ast.parse(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+            for node in ast.walk(tree):
+                if (
+                    isinstance(node, ast.Call)
+                    and getattr(node.func, "attr", None) == "add_argument"
+                    and not any(k.arg == "help" for k in node.keywords)
+                ):
+                    first = next((a.value for a in node.args if isinstance(a, ast.Constant)), "?")
+                    silent.append(f"{path.relative_to(REPO_ROOT)}: {first}")
+        self.assertEqual(silent, [])
+
     def test_the_scraper_recipe_names_every_abstract_method(self):
         """tools.md said implement fetch_requirements(); validate_format() is
         abstract too, and a scraper written from the page could not be built."""