diff --git a/webapp_column_left.py b/webapp_column_left.py
index 4be31d8b7..61c26d5cc 100644
--- a/webapp_column_left.py
+++ b/webapp_column_left.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def _get_left_column_shares(base_dir: str,
     actor = local_actor_url(http_prefix, nickname, domain_full)
     # NOTE: this could potentially be slow if the number of federated
     # shared items is large
-    shares_json, last_page = \
+    shares_json, _ = \
         shares_timeline_json(actor, page_number, max_shares_in_left_column,
                              base_dir, domain, nickname,
                              max_shares_in_left_column,
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def _get_left_column_shares(base_dir: str,
 
     links_list = []
     ctr = 0
-    for published, item in shares_json.items():
+    for _, item in shares_json.items():
         sharedesc = item['displayName']
         if '<' in sharedesc or '?' in sharedesc:
             continue
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ def _get_left_column_shares(base_dir: str,
         share_link = actor + '?showshare=' + share_id
         if item.get('category'):
             share_link += '?category=' + item['category']
-            shareCategory = share_category_icon(item['category'])
+            share_category = share_category_icon(item['category'])
 
-        links_list.append(shareCategory + sharedesc + ' ' + share_link)
+        links_list.append(share_category + sharedesc + ' ' + share_link)
         ctr += 1
         if ctr >= max_shares_in_left_column:
             break
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def _get_left_column_wanted(base_dir: str,
     actor = local_actor_url(http_prefix, nickname, domain_full)
     # NOTE: this could potentially be slow if the number of federated
     # wanted items is large
-    shares_json, last_page = \
+    shares_json, _ = \
         shares_timeline_json(actor, page_number, max_shares_in_left_column,
                              base_dir, domain, nickname,
                              max_shares_in_left_column,
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def _get_left_column_wanted(base_dir: str,
 
     links_list = []
     ctr = 0
-    for published, item in shares_json.items():
+    for _, item in shares_json.items():
         sharedesc = item['displayName']
         if '<' in sharedesc or ';' in sharedesc:
             continue
@@ -117,9 +117,9 @@ def _get_left_column_wanted(base_dir: str,
 def get_left_column_content(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain_full: str,
                             http_prefix: str, translate: {},
                             editor: bool, artist: bool,
-                            showBackButton: bool, timelinePath: str,
-                            rss_icon_at_top: bool, showHeaderImage: bool,
-                            frontPage: bool, theme: str,
+                            show_back_button: bool, timelinePath: str,
+                            rss_icon_at_top: bool, show_header_image: bool,
+                            front_page: bool, theme: str,
                             access_keys: {},
                             shared_items_federated_domains: []) -> str:
     """Returns html content for the left column
@@ -129,31 +129,31 @@ def get_left_column_content(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain_full: str,
     separator_str = html_post_separator(base_dir, 'left')
     domain = remove_domain_port(domain_full)
 
-    editImageClass = ''
-    if showHeaderImage:
-        leftImageFile, leftColumnImageFilename = \
+    edit_image_class = ''
+    if show_header_image:
+        left_image_file, left_column_image_filename = \
             get_left_image_file(base_dir, nickname, domain, theme)
 
         # show the image at the top of the column
-        editImageClass = 'leftColEdit'
-        if os.path.isfile(leftColumnImageFilename):
-            editImageClass = 'leftColEditImage'
+        edit_image_class = 'leftColEdit'
+        if os.path.isfile(left_column_image_filename):
+            edit_image_class = 'leftColEditImage'
             html_str += \
                 '\n      <center>\n        <img class="leftColImg" ' + \
                 'alt="" loading="lazy" src="/users/' + \
-                nickname + '/' + leftImageFile + '" />\n' + \
+                nickname + '/' + left_image_file + '" />\n' + \
                 '      </center>\n'
 
-    if showBackButton:
+    if show_back_button:
         html_str += \
             '      <div>      <a href="' + timelinePath + '">' + \
             '<button class="cancelbtn">' + \
             translate['Go Back'] + '</button></a>\n'
 
-    if (editor or rss_icon_at_top) and not showHeaderImage:
+    if (editor or rss_icon_at_top) and not show_header_image:
         html_str += '<div class="columnIcons">'
 
-    if editImageClass == 'leftColEdit':
+    if edit_image_class == 'leftColEdit':
         html_str += '\n      <center>\n'
 
     html_str += '      <div class="leftColIcons">\n'
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ def get_left_column_content(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain_full: str,
         html_str += \
             '      <a href="/users/' + nickname + '/editlinks" ' + \
             'accesskey="' + access_keys['menuEdit'] + '">' + \
-            '<img class="' + editImageClass + '" loading="lazy" alt="' + \
+            '<img class="' + edit_image_class + '" loading="lazy" alt="' + \
             translate['Edit Links'] + ' | " title="' + \
             translate['Edit Links'] + '" src="/icons/edit.png" /></a>\n'
 
@@ -172,82 +172,82 @@ def get_left_column_content(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain_full: str,
         html_str += \
             '      <a href="/users/' + nickname + '/themedesigner" ' + \
             'accesskey="' + access_keys['menuThemeDesigner'] + '">' + \
-            '<img class="' + editImageClass + '" loading="lazy" alt="' + \
+            '<img class="' + edit_image_class + '" loading="lazy" alt="' + \
             translate['Theme Designer'] + ' | " title="' + \
             translate['Theme Designer'] + '" src="/icons/theme.png" /></a>\n'
 
     # RSS icon
     if nickname != 'news':
         # rss feed for this account
-        rssUrl = http_prefix + '://' + domain_full + \
+        rss_url = http_prefix + '://' + domain_full + \
             '/blog/' + nickname + '/rss.xml'
     else:
         # rss feed for all accounts on the instance
-        rssUrl = http_prefix + '://' + domain_full + '/blog/rss.xml'
-    if not frontPage:
-        rssTitle = translate['RSS feed for your blog']
+        rss_url = http_prefix + '://' + domain_full + '/blog/rss.xml'
+    if not front_page:
+        rss_title = translate['RSS feed for your blog']
     else:
-        rssTitle = translate['RSS feed for this site']
-    rssIconStr = \
-        '      <a href="' + rssUrl + '"><img class="' + editImageClass + \
-        '" loading="lazy" alt="' + rssTitle + '" title="' + rssTitle + \
+        rss_title = translate['RSS feed for this site']
+    rss_icon_str = \
+        '      <a href="' + rss_url + '"><img class="' + edit_image_class + \
+        '" loading="lazy" alt="' + rss_title + '" title="' + rss_title + \
         '" src="/icons/logorss.png" /></a>\n'
     if rss_icon_at_top:
-        html_str += rssIconStr
+        html_str += rss_icon_str
     html_str += '      </div>\n'
 
-    if editImageClass == 'leftColEdit':
+    if edit_image_class == 'leftColEdit':
         html_str += '      </center>\n'
 
-    if (editor or rss_icon_at_top) and not showHeaderImage:
+    if (editor or rss_icon_at_top) and not show_header_image:
         html_str += '</div><br>'
 
-    # if showHeaderImage:
+    # if show_header_image:
     #     html_str += '<br>'
 
     # flag used not to show the first separator
     first_separator_added = False
 
     links_filename = base_dir + '/accounts/links.txt'
-    linksFileContainsEntries = False
+    links_file_contains_entries = False
     links_list = None
     if os.path.isfile(links_filename):
-        with open(links_filename, 'r') as f:
-            links_list = f.readlines()
+        with open(links_filename, 'r') as fp_links:
+            links_list = fp_links.readlines()
 
-    if not frontPage:
+    if not front_page:
         # show a number of shares
         max_shares_in_left_column = 3
-        sharesList = \
+        shares_list = \
             _get_left_column_shares(base_dir,
                                     http_prefix, domain, domain_full, nickname,
                                     max_shares_in_left_column, translate,
                                     shared_items_federated_domains)
-        if links_list and sharesList:
-            links_list = sharesList + links_list
+        if links_list and shares_list:
+            links_list = shares_list + links_list
 
-        wantedList = \
+        wanted_list = \
             _get_left_column_wanted(base_dir,
                                     http_prefix, domain, domain_full, nickname,
                                     max_shares_in_left_column, translate,
                                     shared_items_federated_domains)
-        if links_list and wantedList:
-            links_list = wantedList + links_list
+        if links_list and wanted_list:
+            links_list = wanted_list + links_list
 
-    newTabStr = ' target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"'
+    new_tab_str = ' target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"'
     if links_list:
         html_str += '<nav>\n'
-        for lineStr in links_list:
-            if ' ' not in lineStr:
-                if '#' not in lineStr:
-                    if '*' not in lineStr:
-                        if not lineStr.startswith('['):
-                            if not lineStr.startswith('=> '):
+        for line_str in links_list:
+            if ' ' not in line_str:
+                if '#' not in line_str:
+                    if '*' not in line_str:
+                        if not line_str.startswith('['):
+                            if not line_str.startswith('=> '):
                                 continue
-            lineStr = lineStr.strip()
-            linkStr = None
-            if not lineStr.startswith('['):
-                words = lineStr.split(' ')
+            line_str = line_str.strip()
+            link_str = None
+            if not line_str.startswith('['):
+                words = line_str.split(' ')
                 # get the link
                 for word in words:
                     if word == '#':
@@ -257,74 +257,74 @@ def get_left_column_content(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain_full: str,
                     if word == '=>':
                         continue
                     if '://' in word:
-                        linkStr = word
+                        link_str = word
                         break
             else:
                 # markdown link
-                if ']' not in lineStr:
+                if ']' not in line_str:
                     continue
-                if '(' not in lineStr:
+                if '(' not in line_str:
                     continue
-                if ')' not in lineStr:
+                if ')' not in line_str:
                     continue
-                linkStr = lineStr.split('(')[1]
-                if ')' not in linkStr:
+                link_str = line_str.split('(')[1]
+                if ')' not in link_str:
                     continue
-                linkStr = linkStr.split(')')[0]
-                if '://' not in linkStr:
+                link_str = link_str.split(')')[0]
+                if '://' not in link_str:
                     continue
-                lineStr = lineStr.split('[')[1]
-                if ']' not in lineStr:
+                line_str = line_str.split('[')[1]
+                if ']' not in line_str:
                     continue
-                lineStr = lineStr.split(']')[0]
-            if linkStr:
-                lineStr = lineStr.replace(linkStr, '').strip()
+                line_str = line_str.split(']')[0]
+            if link_str:
+                line_str = line_str.replace(link_str, '').strip()
                 # avoid any dubious scripts being added
-                if '<' not in lineStr:
+                if '<' not in line_str:
                     # remove trailing comma if present
-                    if lineStr.endswith(','):
-                        lineStr = lineStr[:len(lineStr)-1]
+                    if line_str.endswith(','):
+                        line_str = line_str[:len(line_str)-1]
                     # add link to the returned html
-                    if '?showshare=' not in linkStr and \
-                       '?showwarning=' not in linkStr:
+                    if '?showshare=' not in link_str and \
+                       '?showwarning=' not in link_str:
                         html_str += \
-                            '      <p><a href="' + linkStr + \
-                            '"' + newTabStr + '>' + \
-                            lineStr + '</a></p>\n'
+                            '      <p><a href="' + link_str + \
+                            '"' + new_tab_str + '>' + \
+                            line_str + '</a></p>\n'
                     else:
                         html_str += \
-                            '      <p><a href="' + linkStr + \
-                            '">' + lineStr + '</a></p>\n'
-                    linksFileContainsEntries = True
-                elif lineStr.startswith('=> '):
+                            '      <p><a href="' + link_str + \
+                            '">' + line_str + '</a></p>\n'
+                    links_file_contains_entries = True
+                elif line_str.startswith('=> '):
                     # gemini style link
-                    lineStr = lineStr.replace('=> ', '')
-                    lineStr = lineStr.replace(linkStr, '')
+                    line_str = line_str.replace('=> ', '')
+                    line_str = line_str.replace(link_str, '')
                     # add link to the returned html
-                    if '?showshare=' not in linkStr and \
-                       '?showwarning=' not in linkStr:
+                    if '?showshare=' not in link_str and \
+                       '?showwarning=' not in link_str:
                         html_str += \
-                            '      <p><a href="' + linkStr + \
-                            '"' + newTabStr + '>' + \
-                            lineStr.strip() + '</a></p>\n'
+                            '      <p><a href="' + link_str + \
+                            '"' + new_tab_str + '>' + \
+                            line_str.strip() + '</a></p>\n'
                     else:
                         html_str += \
-                            '      <p><a href="' + linkStr + \
-                            '">' + lineStr.strip() + '</a></p>\n'
-                    linksFileContainsEntries = True
+                            '      <p><a href="' + link_str + \
+                            '">' + line_str.strip() + '</a></p>\n'
+                    links_file_contains_entries = True
             else:
-                if lineStr.startswith('#') or lineStr.startswith('*'):
-                    lineStr = lineStr[1:].strip()
+                if line_str.startswith('#') or line_str.startswith('*'):
+                    line_str = line_str[1:].strip()
                     if first_separator_added:
                         html_str += separator_str
                     first_separator_added = True
                     html_str += \
                         '      <h3 class="linksHeader">' + \
-                        lineStr + '</h3>\n'
+                        line_str + '</h3>\n'
                 else:
                     html_str += \
-                        '      <p>' + lineStr + '</p>\n'
-                linksFileContainsEntries = True
+                        '      <p>' + line_str + '</p>\n'
+                links_file_contains_entries = True
         html_str += '</nav>\n'
 
     if first_separator_added:
@@ -344,8 +344,8 @@ def get_left_column_content(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain_full: str,
         '<p class="login-text"><a href="/terms">' + \
         translate['Terms of Service'] + '</a></p>'
 
-    if linksFileContainsEntries and not rss_icon_at_top:
-        html_str += '<br><div class="columnIcons">' + rssIconStr + '</div>'
+    if links_file_contains_entries and not rss_icon_at_top:
+        html_str += '<br><div class="columnIcons">' + rss_icon_str + '</div>'
 
     return html_str
 
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ def html_links_mobile(css_cache: {}, base_dir: str,
         get_config_param(base_dir, 'instanceTitle')
     html_str = \
         html_header_with_external_style(css_filename, instance_title, None)
-    banner_file, banner_filename = \
+    banner_file, _ = \
         get_banner_file(base_dir, nickname, domain, theme)
     html_str += \
         '<a href="/users/' + nickname + '/' + default_timeline + '" ' + \
@@ -525,8 +525,8 @@ def html_edit_links(css_cache: {}, translate: {}, base_dir: str, path: str,
             tos_filename = base_dir + '/accounts/tos.md'
             tos_str = ''
             if os.path.isfile(tos_filename):
-                with open(tos_filename, 'r') as fp:
-                    tos_str = fp.read()
+                with open(tos_filename, 'r') as fp_tos:
+                    tos_str = fp_tos.read()
 
             edit_links_form += \
                 '<div class="container">'