diff --git a/.pylintrc b/.pylintrc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9f81ee15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.pylintrc
@@ -0,0 +1,301 @@
+# lint Python modules using external checkers.
+#
+# This is the main checker controling the other ones and the reports
+# generation. It is itself both a raw checker and an astng checker in order
+# to:
+# * handle message activation / deactivation at the module level
+# * handle some basic but necessary stats'data (number of classes, methods...)
+#
+[MASTER]
+
+# Specify a configuration file.
+#rcfile=
+
+# Python code to execute, usually for sys.path manipulation such as
+# pygtk.require().
+#init-hook=
+
+# Profiled execution.
+profile=no
+
+# Add <file or directory> to the black list. It should be a base name, not a
+# path. You may set this option multiple times.
+ignore=SVN
+
+# Pickle collected data for later comparisons.
+persistent=yes
+
+# Set the cache size for astng objects.
+cache-size=500
+
+# List of plugins (as comma separated values of python modules names) to load,
+# usually to register additional checkers.
+load-plugins=
+
+
+[MESSAGES CONTROL]
+
+# Enable only checker(s) with the given id(s). This option conflicts with the
+# disable-checker option
+#enable-checker=
+
+# Enable all checker(s) except those with the given id(s). This option
+# conflicts with the enable-checker option
+#disable-checker=
+
+# Enable all messages in the listed categories.
+#enable-msg-cat=
+
+# Disable all messages in the listed categories.
+#disable-msg-cat=
+
+# Enable the message(s) with the given id(s).
+enable=RP0004
+
+# Disable the message(s) with the given id(s).
+disable=R0903,R0912,R0913,R0914,R0915,W0141,C0111,C0103,C0323,C0322,C0324,W0603,W0703,R0911,C0301,C0302,R0902,R0904,W0142,W0212,E1101,E1103,R0201,W0201,W0122,W0232,W0311,RP0001,RP0003,RP0101,RP0002,RP0401,RP0701,RP0801
+
+[REPORTS]
+
+# set the output format. Available formats are text, parseable, colorized, msvs
+# (visual studio) and html
+output-format=text
+
+# Include message's id in output
+include-ids=yes
+
+# Put messages in a separate file for each module / package specified on the
+# command line instead of printing them on stdout. Reports (if any) will be
+# written in a file name "pylint_global.[txt|html]".
+files-output=no
+
+# Tells whether to display a full report or only the messages
+reports=yes
+
+# Python expression which should return a note less than 10 (10 is the highest
+# note).You have access to the variables errors warning, statement which
+# respectivly contain the number of errors / warnings messages and the total
+# number of statements analyzed. This is used by the global evaluation report
+# (R0004).
+evaluation=10.0 - ((float(5 * error + warning + refactor + convention) / statement) * 10)
+
+# Add a comment according to your evaluation note. This is used by the global
+# evaluation report (R0004).
+comment=no
+
+# checks for
+# * unused variables / imports
+# * undefined variables
+# * redefinition of variable from builtins or from an outer scope
+# * use of variable before assigment
+#
+[VARIABLES]
+
+# Tells whether we should check for unused import in __init__ files.
+init-import=no
+
+# A regular expression matching names used for dummy variables (i.e. not used).
+dummy-variables-rgx=_|dummy
+
+# List of additional names supposed to be defined in builtins. Remember that
+# you should avoid to define new builtins when possible.
+additional-builtins=
+
+
+# try to find bugs in the code using type inference
+#
+[TYPECHECK]
+
+# Tells whether missing members accessed in mixin class should be ignored. A
+# mixin class is detected if its name ends with "mixin" (case insensitive).
+ignore-mixin-members=yes
+
+# List of classes names for which member attributes should not be checked
+# (useful for classes with attributes dynamicaly set).
+ignored-classes=SQLObject
+
+# When zope mode is activated, consider the acquired-members option to ignore
+# access to some undefined attributes.
+zope=no
+
+# List of members which are usually get through zope's acquisition mecanism and
+# so shouldn't trigger E0201 when accessed (need zope=yes to be considered).
+acquired-members=REQUEST,acl_users,aq_parent
+
+
+# checks for :
+# * doc strings
+# * modules / classes / functions / methods / arguments / variables name
+# * number of arguments, local variables, branchs, returns and statements in
+# functions, methods
+# * required module attributes
+# * dangerous default values as arguments
+# * redefinition of function / method / class
+# * uses of the global statement
+#
+[BASIC]
+
+# Required attributes for module, separated by a comma
+required-attributes=
+
+# Regular expression which should only match functions or classes name which do
+# not require a docstring
+no-docstring-rgx=_main|__.*__
+
+# Regular expression which should only match correct module names
+module-rgx=(([a-z_][a-z0-9_]*)|([A-Z][a-zA-Z0-9]+))$
+
+# Regular expression which should only match correct module level names
+const-rgx=(([A-Z_][A-Z1-9_]*)|(__.*__))|(log)$
+
+# Regular expression which should only match correct class names
+class-rgx=[A-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9]+$
+
+# Regular expression which should only match correct function names
+function-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{2,30}$
+
+# Regular expression which should only match correct method names
+method-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{2,30}$
+
+# Regular expression which should only match correct instance attribute names
+attr-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{2,30}$
+
+# Regular expression which should only match correct argument names
+argument-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{2,30}$
+
+# Regular expression which should only match correct variable names
+variable-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{2,30}$
+
+# Regular expression which should only match correct list comprehension /
+# generator expression variable names
+inlinevar-rgx=[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*$
+
+# Good variable names which should always be accepted, separated by a comma
+good-names=i,j,k,ex,Run,_,e,d1,d2,v,f,l,d
+
+# Bad variable names which should always be refused, separated by a comma
+bad-names=foo,bar,baz,toto,tutu,tata
+
+# List of builtins function names that should not be used, separated by a comma
+bad-functions=map,filter,apply,input
+
+
+# checks for sign of poor/misdesign:
+# * number of methods, attributes, local variables...
+# * size, complexity of functions, methods
+#
+[DESIGN]
+
+# Maximum number of arguments for function / method
+max-args=5
+
+# Maximum number of locals for function / method body
+max-locals=15
+
+# Maximum number of return / yield for function / method body
+max-returns=6
+
+# Maximum number of branch for function / method body
+max-branchs=12
+
+# Maximum number of statements in function / method body
+max-statements=50
+
+# Maximum number of parents for a class (see R0901).
+max-parents=7
+
+# Maximum number of attributes for a class (see R0902).
+max-attributes=20
+
+# Minimum number of public methods for a class (see R0903).
+min-public-methods=2
+
+# Maximum number of public methods for a class (see R0904).
+max-public-methods=30
+
+
+# checks for
+# * external modules dependencies
+# * relative / wildcard imports
+# * cyclic imports
+# * uses of deprecated modules
+#
+[IMPORTS]
+
+# Deprecated modules which should not be used, separated by a comma
+deprecated-modules=regsub,string,TERMIOS,Bastion,rexec
+
+# Create a graph of every (i.e. internal and external) dependencies in the
+# given file (report R0402 must not be disabled)
+import-graph=
+
+# Create a graph of external dependencies in the given file (report R0402 must
+# not be disabled)
+ext-import-graph=
+
+# Create a graph of internal dependencies in the given file (report R0402 must
+# not be disabled)
+int-import-graph=
+
+
+# checks for :
+# * methods without self as first argument
+# * overridden methods signature
+# * access only to existant members via self
+# * attributes not defined in the __init__ method
+# * supported interfaces implementation
+# * unreachable code
+#
+[CLASSES]
+
+# List of interface methods to ignore, separated by a comma. This is used for
+# instance to not check methods defines in Zope's Interface base class.
+ignore-iface-methods=isImplementedBy,deferred,extends,names,namesAndDescriptions,queryDescriptionFor,getBases,getDescriptionFor,getDoc,getName,getTaggedValue,getTaggedValueTags,isEqualOrExtendedBy,setTaggedValue,isImplementedByInstancesOf,adaptWith,is_implemented_by
+
+# List of method names used to declare (i.e. assign) instance attributes.
+defining-attr-methods=__init__,__new__,setUp
+
+
+# checks for similarities and duplicated code. This computation may be
+# memory / CPU intensive, so you should disable it if you experiments some
+# problems.
+#
+[SIMILARITIES]
+
+# Minimum lines number of a similarity.
+min-similarity-lines=4
+
+# Ignore comments when computing similarities.
+ignore-comments=yes
+
+# Ignore docstrings when computing similarities.
+ignore-docstrings=yes
+
+
+# checks for:
+# * warning notes in the code like FIXME, XXX
+# * PEP 263: source code with non ascii character but no encoding declaration
+#
+[MISCELLANEOUS]
+
+# List of note tags to take in consideration, separated by a comma.
+notes=FIXME,XXX,TODO
+
+
+# checks for :
+# * unauthorized constructions
+# * strict indentation
+# * line length
+# * use of <> instead of !=
+#
+[FORMAT]
+
+# Maximum number of characters on a single line.
+max-line-length=80
+
+# Maximum number of lines in a module
+max-module-lines=1000
+
+# String used as indentation unit. This is usually "    " (4 spaces) or "\t" (1
+# tab).  In repo it is 2 spaces.
+indent-string='  '
diff --git a/SUBMITTING_PATCHES b/SUBMITTING_PATCHES
index cba67416..50e2cf77 100644
--- a/SUBMITTING_PATCHES
+++ b/SUBMITTING_PATCHES
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ Short Version:
 
  - Make small logical changes.
  - Provide a meaningful commit message.
+ - Check for coding errors with pylint
  - Make sure all code is under the Apache License, 2.0.
  - Publish your changes for review:
 
@@ -33,7 +34,14 @@ If your description starts to get too long, that's a sign that you
 probably need to split up your commit to finer grained pieces.
 
 
-(2) Check the license
+(2) Check for coding errors with pylint
+
+Run pylint on changed modules using the provided configuration:
+
+  pylint --rcfile=.pylintrc file.py
+
+
+(3) Check the license
 
 repo is licensed under the Apache License, 2.0.
 
@@ -49,7 +57,7 @@ your patch.  It is virtually impossible to remove a patch once it
 has been applied and pushed out.
 
 
-(3) Sending your patches.
+(4) Sending your patches.
 
 Do not email your patches to anyone.
 
diff --git a/command.py b/command.py
index 51c0cb48..d543e3a8 100644
--- a/command.py
+++ b/command.py
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class Command(object):
     result.sort(key=_getpath)
     return result
 
-# pylint: disable-msg=W0223
+# pylint: disable=W0223
 # Pylint warns that the `InteractiveCommand` and `PagedCommand` classes do not
 # override method `Execute` which is abstract in `Command`.  Since that method
 # is always implemented in classes derived from `InteractiveCommand` and
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class PagedCommand(Command):
   def WantPager(self, opt):
     return True
 
-# pylint: enable-msg=W0223
+# pylint: enable=W0223
 
 class MirrorSafeCommand(object):
   """Command permits itself to run within a mirror,
diff --git a/manifest_xml.py b/manifest_xml.py
index a2a56e92..71dbdc7d 100644
--- a/manifest_xml.py
+++ b/manifest_xml.py
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ class XmlManifest(object):
       raise ManifestParseError("no <manifest> in %s" % (path,))
 
     nodes = []
-    for node in manifest.childNodes:  # pylint:disable-msg=W0631
+    for node in manifest.childNodes:  # pylint:disable=W0631
                                       # We only get here if manifest is initialised
         if node.nodeName == 'include':
             name = self._reqatt(node, 'name')
diff --git a/subcmds/forall.py b/subcmds/forall.py
index 2ece95ed..b633b7d4 100644
--- a/subcmds/forall.py
+++ b/subcmds/forall.py
@@ -143,14 +143,14 @@ terminal and are not redirected.
           break
       else:
         cn = None
-      # pylint: disable-msg=W0631
+      # pylint: disable=W0631
       if cn and cn in _CAN_COLOR:
         class ColorCmd(Coloring):
           def __init__(self, config, cmd):
             Coloring.__init__(self, config, cmd)
         if ColorCmd(self.manifest.manifestProject.config, cn).is_on:
           cmd.insert(cmd.index(cn) + 1, '--color')
-      # pylint: enable-msg=W0631
+      # pylint: enable=W0631
 
     mirror = self.manifest.IsMirror
     out = ForallColoring(self.manifest.manifestProject.config)