Added a few "docstrings" while trying to understand the thing. Can't hurt.

LDP/lampadas/bin/lampadasdb

@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ within setenv.sh. Read comments in that file for a description.
 }
 
 check_var()
+# check that environment variable is set
+#
+# $1 is the value of the environment variable
+# $2 is the name of the environment variable
+# $3 is the name of the option that overrides it
 {
   [ -n "$1" ] && return  
   echo "Environment variable $2 is not set."
@@ -62,6 +67,7 @@ find_table()
 #---------------------------------------------
 
 need_rebuild()
+# $1 target file
 {
   # return ok if target file does not exist
   [ -e "$1" ] || return 0
@@ -155,6 +161,8 @@ save()
 }
 
 m4call()
+# $1 is lang (ie: FR, DE)
+# $2-.. are options passed to m4
 {
   local lang=$1
   shift