diff --git a/scripts/local.py b/scripts/local.py
index 5abe761..6f6447e 100644
--- a/scripts/local.py
+++ b/scripts/local.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 import os
+
 from ancillary import list_recursive
 
 
 def local_1(args):
-
+    """local_1
+    args is the COINSTAC argument dictionary
+    """
     input_list = args["input"]
     myFile = input_list["covariates"]
 
@@ -12,16 +15,16 @@ def local_1(args):
 
     myval = list(map(int, myval))
     computation_output = {
-        "output": {
-            "output_val": myval,
-            "computation_phase": 'local_1'
-        }
+        "output": {"output_val": myval, "computation_phase": "local_1"}
     }
 
     return computation_output
 
 
 def start(PARAM_DICT):
+    """start
+    entry point and control flow for remote computations
+    """
     PHASE_KEY = list(list_recursive(PARAM_DICT, "computation_phase"))
 
     if not PHASE_KEY:
diff --git a/scripts/remote.py b/scripts/remote.py
index 895dd80..896f69f 100644
--- a/scripts/remote.py
+++ b/scripts/remote.py
@@ -3,15 +3,17 @@
 
 
 def remote_1(args):
-
+    """remote_1 aggregates the numeric input from local sites
+    args is the dictionary received from local sites
+    """
     input_list = args["input"]
     myval = np.mean([input_list[site]["output_val"] for site in input_list])
-
     computation_output = {"output": {"output_list": myval}, "success": True}
     return computation_output
 
 
 def start(PARAM_DICT):
+    """start controls the work flow for the local nodes"""
     PHASE_KEY = list(list_recursive(PARAM_DICT, "computation_phase"))
 
     if "local_1" in PHASE_KEY: