diff --git a/prospector-more.yml b/prospector-more.yml
index d5280bf0e5a..308cdbef678 100644
--- a/prospector-more.yml
+++ b/prospector-more.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ ignore-paths:
   - api/
   - cdn/
   - comments/
-  - core/
   - doc_builder/
   - donate/
   - notifications/
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/__init__.py b/readthedocs/core/__init__.py
index 081e5c19f4d..ed1c53debf0 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/__init__.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
+"""App initialization."""
+
 default_app_config = 'readthedocs.core.apps.CoreAppConfig'
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/adapters.py b/readthedocs/core/adapters.py
index c54990ad2e8..76f00a9fea7 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/adapters.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/adapters.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def send_mail(self, template_prefix, email, context):
         removed_keys = []
         for key in context.keys():
             try:
-                _ = pickle.dumps(context[key])
+                _ = pickle.dumps(context[key])  # noqa for F841
             except (pickle.PickleError, TypeError):
                 removed_keys.append(key)
                 del context[key]
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/admin.py b/readthedocs/core/admin.py
index 29feb2dd661..9ec5edcd36f 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/admin.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/admin.py
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ def queryset(self, request, queryset):
 
 
 class UserAdminExtra(UserAdmin):
+
+    """Admin configuration for User."""
+
     list_display = ('username', 'email', 'first_name',
                     'last_name', 'is_staff', 'is_banned')
     list_filter = (UserProjectFilter,) + UserAdmin.list_filter
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/apps.py b/readthedocs/core/apps.py
index d5c7c6b0e5b..d422684ba03 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/apps.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/apps.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""App configurations for core app."""
+
 from django.apps import AppConfig
 
 
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/backends.py b/readthedocs/core/backends.py
index f896fb8281f..72babeba1a9 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/backends.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/backends.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Email backends for core app."""
+
 import smtplib
 
 from django.core.mail.utils import DNS_NAME
@@ -15,6 +17,6 @@ def open(self):
             if self.username and self.password:
                 self.connection.login(self.username, self.password)
             return True
-        except:
+        except Exception as e:
             if not self.fail_silently:
-                raise
+                raise e
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/context_processors.py b/readthedocs/core/context_processors.py
index 2494edb784c..d08fe652e18 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/context_processors.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/context_processors.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Template context processors for core app."""
+
 from django.conf import settings
 
 
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/forms.py b/readthedocs/core/forms.py
index 70acdcfc086..43868a2b6f9 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/forms.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/forms.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Forms for core app."""
+
 import logging
 
 from haystack.forms import SearchForm
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/clean_builds.py b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/clean_builds.py
index 89164c2a225..3b4dc223e4a 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/clean_builds.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/clean_builds.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 import logging
 from optparse import make_option
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/import_github_language.py b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/import_github_language.py
index d1540f008db..3af954d62ab 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/import_github_language.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/import_github_language.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     """
 
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
+        # pylint: disable=too-many-locals
         token = os.environ.get('GITHUB_AUTH_TOKEN')
         if not token:
             print 'Invalid GitHub token, exiting'
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/pull.py b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/pull.py
index cc563e406e1..2cb54350be9 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/pull.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/pull.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
-from django.conf import settings
 
 from readthedocs.builds.constants import LATEST
 from readthedocs.projects import tasks, utils
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/reindex_elasticsearch.py b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/reindex_elasticsearch.py
index d7b8176e376..6fe868ccc64 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/reindex_elasticsearch.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/reindex_elasticsearch.py
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ def handle(self, *args, **options):
             if not queryset.exists():
                 raise CommandError(
                     'No project with slug: {slug}'.format(slug=project))
-            log.info("Building all versions for %s" % project)
+            log.info("Building all versions for %s", project)
         elif getattr(settings, 'INDEX_ONLY_LATEST', True):
             queryset = queryset.filter(slug=LATEST)
 
         for version in queryset:
-            log.info("Reindexing %s" % version)
+            log.info("Reindexing %s", version)
             try:
                 commit = version.project.vcs_repo(version.slug).commit
             except:
@@ -48,4 +48,4 @@ def handle(self, *args, **options):
                 update_search(version.pk, commit,
                               delete_non_commit_files=False)
             except Exception:
-                log.error('Reindex failed for %s' % version, exc_info=True)
+                log.error('Reindex failed for %s', version, exc_info=True)
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/set_metadata.py b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/set_metadata.py
index 3bd6f0e9033..a9e322b3d21 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/set_metadata.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/set_metadata.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import logging
-from optparse import make_option
 
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
-from django.conf import settings
 
 from readthedocs.projects import tasks
 from readthedocs.projects.models import Project
@@ -14,8 +12,8 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
         queryset = Project.objects.all()
         for p in queryset:
-            log.info("Generating metadata for %s" % p)
+            log.info("Generating metadata for %s", p)
             try:
                 tasks.update_static_metadata(p.pk)
             except Exception:
-                log.error('Build failed for %s' % p, exc_info=True)
+                log.error('Build failed for %s', p, exc_info=True)
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/update_api.py b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/update_api.py
index 8a3100b2389..7735510acec 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/update_api.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/update_api.py
@@ -27,5 +27,5 @@ def handle(self, *args, **options):
         for slug in options['projects']:
             project_data = api.project(slug).get()
             p = tasks.make_api_project(project_data)
-            log.info("Building %s" % p)
+            log.info("Building %s", p)
             tasks.update_docs.run(pk=p.pk, docker=docker)
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/update_repos.py b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/update_repos.py
index 394958a59af..44ca6438674 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/management/commands/update_repos.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/management/commands/update_repos.py
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@ def handle(self, *args, **options):
         if len(args):
             for slug in args:
                 if version and version != "all":
-                    log.info("Updating version %s for %s" % (version, slug))
+                    log.info("Updating version %s for %s", version, slug)
                     for version in Version.objects.filter(project__slug=slug, slug=version):
                         trigger_build(project=version.project, version=version)
                 elif version == "all":
-                    log.info("Updating all versions for %s" % slug)
+                    log.info("Updating all versions for %s", slug)
                     for version in Version.objects.filter(project__slug=slug,
                                                           active=True,
                                                           uploaded=False):
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def handle(self, *args, **options):
                                               version_pk=version.pk)
                 else:
                     p = Project.all_objects.get(slug=slug)
-                    log.info("Building %s" % p)
+                    log.info("Building %s", p)
                     trigger_build(project=p, force=force, record=record)
         else:
             if version == "all":
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/middleware.py b/readthedocs/core/middleware.py
index 7cf32bfdaf4..a737e1f94be 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/middleware.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/middleware.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Middleware for core app."""
+
 import logging
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/models.py b/readthedocs/core/models.py
index 5ef8aefb8b6..d633823a89e 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/models.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/models.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Models for the core app."""
+
 import logging
 
 from django.db import models
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/signals.py b/readthedocs/core/signals.py
index 5ff5a472deb..aab87d50dba 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/signals.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/signals.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Signal handling for core app."""
+
 import logging
 from urlparse import urlparse
 
@@ -16,7 +18,7 @@
 webhook_bitbucket = Signal(providing_args=['project', 'data', 'event'])
 
 
-def decide_if_cors(sender, request, **kwargs):
+def decide_if_cors(sender, request, **kwargs):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     """
     Decide whether a request should be given CORS access.
 
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/templatetags/core_tags.py b/readthedocs/core/templatetags/core_tags.py
index 57de3d3d4fa..94309b60805 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/templatetags/core_tags.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/templatetags/core_tags.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Template tags for core app."""
+
 import urllib
 import hashlib
 
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ def restructuredtext(value, short=False):
 def get_project(slug):
     try:
         return Project.objects.get(slug=slug)
-    except:
+    except Project.DoesNotExist:
         return None
 
 
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@ def get_project(slug):
 def get_version(slug):
     try:
         return Project.objects.get(slug=slug)
-    except:
+    except Project.DoesNotExist:
         return None
 
 
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/urls/__init__.py b/readthedocs/core/urls/__init__.py
index c3ef48e2a1d..1bda8c5cab6 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/urls/__init__.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/urls/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""URL configuration for core app."""
+
 from django.conf.urls import url
 
 from django_filters import views as django_filters_views
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/urls/single_version.py b/readthedocs/core/urls/single_version.py
index d904db91de5..136a3461bd4 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/urls/single_version.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/urls/single_version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""URL configuration for a single version."""
+
 from operator import add
 
 from django.conf.urls import url
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/urls/subdomain.py b/readthedocs/core/urls/subdomain.py
index f3532c6d01a..eb27a471042 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/urls/subdomain.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/urls/subdomain.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""URL configurations for subdomains."""
+
 from operator import add
 
 from django.conf.urls import url, patterns
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/utils/__init__.py b/readthedocs/core/utils/__init__.py
index 3f4a3d17ce1..b9dbd30cd2a 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/utils/__init__.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 def run_on_app_servers(command):
     """A helper to copy a single file across app servers"""
-    log.info("Running %s on app servers" % command)
+    log.info("Running %s on app servers", command)
     ret_val = 0
     if getattr(settings, "MULTIPLE_APP_SERVERS", None):
         for server in settings.MULTIPLE_APP_SERVERS:
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def run_on_app_servers(command):
         return ret
 
 
-def broadcast(type, task, args):
+def broadcast(type, task, args):  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
     assert type in ['web', 'app', 'build']
     default_queue = getattr(settings, 'CELERY_DEFAULT_QUEUE', 'celery')
     if type in ['web', 'app']:
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ def broadcast(type, task, args):
 def clean_url(url):
     parsed = urlparse(url)
     if parsed.scheme:
-        scheme, netloc = parsed.scheme, parsed.netloc
+        _, netloc = parsed.scheme, parsed.netloc  # noqa for F841
     elif parsed.netloc:
-        scheme, netloc = "http", parsed.netloc
+        _, netloc = "http", parsed.netloc  # noqa for F841
     else:
-        scheme, netloc = "http", parsed.path
+        _, netloc = "http", parsed.path  # noqa for F841
     return netloc
 
 
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def trigger_build(project, version=None, record=True, force=False, basic=False):
 
 
 def send_email(recipient, subject, template, template_html, context=None,
-               request=None):
+               request=None):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     """Alter context passed in and call email send task
 
     .. seealso::
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/utils/extend.py b/readthedocs/core/utils/extend.py
index 9e25d0ce180..5707f5aed5b 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/utils/extend.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/utils/extend.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ def get_override_class(proxy_class, default_class=None):
         proxy_class.__name__
     ])
     class_path = getattr(settings, 'CLASS_OVERRIDES', {}).get(class_id)
+    # pylint: disable=protected-access
     if class_path is None and proxy_class._override_setting is not None:
         class_path = getattr(settings, proxy_class._override_setting, None)
     if class_path is not None:
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/__init__.py b/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/__init__.py
index 766f899f1cc..419f0780eba 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/__init__.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-from .permission_checks import user_id_matches
-from .public import PublicTask
-from .public import TaskNoPermission
-from .public import permission_check
-from .public import get_public_task_data
-from .retrieve import TaskNotFound
-from .retrieve import get_task_data
+from .permission_checks import user_id_matches  # noqa
+from .public import PublicTask  # noqa
+from .public import TaskNoPermission  # noqa
+from .public import permission_check  # noqa
+from .public import get_public_task_data  # noqa
+from .retrieve import TaskNotFound  # noqa
+from .retrieve import get_task_data  # noqa
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/permission_checks.py b/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/permission_checks.py
index 91ac5d1372c..b9fb0674050 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/permission_checks.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/permission_checks.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 __all__ = ('user_id_matches',)
 
 
-def user_id_matches(request, state, context):
+def user_id_matches(request, state, context):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     user_id = context.get('user_id', None)
     if user_id is not None and request.user.is_authenticated():
         if request.user.id == user_id:
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/public.py b/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/public.py
index f9fcd0e5e21..a82a199e020 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/public.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/public.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def run(self, *args, **kwargs):
         result = self.run_public(*args, **kwargs)
         if result is not None:
             self.set_public_data(result)
-        state, info = self.get_task_data()
+        _, info = self.get_task_data()
         return info
 
     def after_return(self, status, retval, task_id, args, kwargs, einfo):
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/retrieve.py b/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/retrieve.py
index ee1fb362abc..9fdb33efdfc 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/retrieve.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/utils/tasks/retrieve.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Utilities for retrieving task data."""
+
 from djcelery import celery as celery_app
 from celery.result import AsyncResult
 
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/validators.py b/readthedocs/core/validators.py
index 70d5c84b001..7b4c904f39c 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/validators.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/validators.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Validators for core app."""
+
 # From https://github.com/django/django/pull/3477/files
 import re
 
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/views/__init__.py b/readthedocs/core/views/__init__.py
index 60664549d7c..8cf4ea3d7ff 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/views/__init__.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/views/__init__.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
         return context
 
 
-def random_page(request, project_slug=None):
+def random_page(request, project_slug=None):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     imported_file = ImportedFile.objects.order_by('?')
     if project_slug:
         imported_file = imported_file.filter(project__slug=project_slug)
@@ -100,11 +100,11 @@ def wipe_version(request, project_slug, version_slug):
                                   context_instance=RequestContext(request))
 
 
-def divide_by_zero(request):
+def divide_by_zero(request):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     return 1 / 0
 
 
-def server_error_500(request, exception, template_name='500.html'):
+def server_error_500(request, exception, template_name='500.html'):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument  # noqa
     """A simple 500 handler so we get media"""
     r = render_to_response(template_name,
                            context_instance=RequestContext(request))
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def server_error_500(request, exception, template_name='500.html'):
     return r
 
 
-def server_error_404(request, exception, template_name='404.html'):
+def server_error_404(request, exception, template_name='404.html'):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument  # noqa
     """A simple 404 handler so we get media"""
     response = get_redirect_response(request, path=request.get_full_path())
     if response:
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/views/hooks.py b/readthedocs/core/views/hooks.py
index af4613953ca..e4e0b10725a 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/views/hooks.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/views/hooks.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Views pertaining to builds."""
+
 import json
 import re
 
@@ -36,26 +38,26 @@ def _build_version(project, slug, already_built=()):
         # active
         latest_version = project.versions.get(slug=LATEST)
         trigger_build(project=project, version=latest_version, force=True)
-        log.info(("(Version build) Building %s:%s"
-                  % (project.slug, latest_version.slug)))
+        log.info("(Version build) Building %s:%s",
+                 project.slug, latest_version.slug)
         if project.versions.exclude(active=False).filter(slug=slug).exists():
             # Handle the case where we want to build the custom branch too
             slug_version = project.versions.get(slug=slug)
             trigger_build(project=project, version=slug_version, force=True)
-            log.info(("(Version build) Building %s:%s"
-                      % (project.slug, slug_version.slug)))
+            log.info("(Version build) Building %s:%s",
+                     project.slug, slug_version.slug)
         return LATEST
     elif project.versions.exclude(active=True).filter(slug=slug).exists():
-        log.info(("(Version build) Not Building %s" % slug))
+        log.info("(Version build) Not Building %s", slug)
         return None
     elif slug not in already_built:
         version = project.versions.get(slug=slug)
         trigger_build(project=project, version=version, force=True)
-        log.info(("(Version build) Building %s:%s"
-                  % (project.slug, version.slug)))
+        log.info("(Version build) Building %s:%s",
+                 project.slug, version.slug)
         return slug
     else:
-        log.info(("(Version build) Not Building %s" % slug))
+        log.info("(Version build) Not Building %s", slug)
         return None
 
 
@@ -72,8 +74,8 @@ def build_branches(project, branch_list):
         to_build = set()
         not_building = set()
         for version in versions:
-            log.info(("(Branch Build) Processing %s:%s"
-                      % (project.slug, version.slug)))
+            log.info("(Branch Build) Processing %s:%s",
+                     project.slug, version.slug)
             ret = _build_version(project, version.slug, already_built=to_build)
             if ret:
                 to_build.add(ret)
@@ -304,14 +306,14 @@ def generic_build(request, project_id_or_slug=None):
             project = Project.objects.get(slug=project_id_or_slug)
         except (Project.DoesNotExist, ValueError):
             log.error(
-                "(Incoming Generic Build) Repo not found:  %s" % (
-                    project_id_or_slug))
+                "(Incoming Generic Build) Repo not found:  %s",
+                project_id_or_slug)
             return HttpResponseNotFound(
                 'Repo not found: %s' % project_id_or_slug)
     if request.method == 'POST':
         slug = request.POST.get('version_slug', project.default_version)
         log.info(
-            "(Incoming Generic Build) %s [%s]" % (project.slug, slug))
+            "(Incoming Generic Build) %s [%s]", project.slug, slug)
         _build_version(project, slug)
     else:
         return HttpResponse("You must POST to this resource.")
diff --git a/readthedocs/core/views/serve.py b/readthedocs/core/views/serve.py
index 09f663015c7..6f0663c25f8 100644
--- a/readthedocs/core/views/serve.py
+++ b/readthedocs/core/views/serve.py
@@ -95,14 +95,14 @@ def inner_view(request, project=None, project_slug=None, *args, **kwargs):
 
 @map_project_slug
 @map_subproject_slug
-def redirect_project_slug(request, project, subproject):
+def redirect_project_slug(request, project, subproject):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     """Handle / -> /en/latest/ directs on subdomains"""
     return HttpResponseRedirect(resolve(subproject or project))
 
 
 @map_project_slug
 @map_subproject_slug
-def redirect_page_with_filename(request, project, subproject, filename):
+def redirect_page_with_filename(request, project, subproject, filename):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument  # noqa
     """Redirect /page/file.html to /en/latest/file.html."""
     return HttpResponseRedirect(resolve(subproject or project, filename=filename))
 
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def serve_docs(request, project, subproject,
 
 @map_project_slug
 def _serve_symlink_docs(request, project, privacy_level, filename=''):
-
+    """Serve a file by symlink, or a 404 if not found."""
     # Handle indexes
     if filename == '' or filename[-1] == '/':
         filename += 'index.html'
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def _serve_symlink_docs(request, project, privacy_level, filename=''):
     if filename[0] == '/':
         filename = filename[1:]
 
-    log.info('Serving %s for %s' % (filename, project))
+    log.info('Serving %s for %s', filename, project)
 
     files_tried = []