diff --git a/README.markdown b/README.markdown
index 0308bb1f..1c2766f3 100644
--- a/README.markdown
+++ b/README.markdown
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ CSS, Cucumber, CUDA, D, Dart, DocBook, Dust, Elixir, Erlang, eRuby, Fortran,
 Gentoo metadata, Go, Haml, Haskell, Haxe, HSS, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON,
 LESS, LISP, LLVM intermediate language, Lua, MATLAB, NASM, Objective-C,
 Objective-C++, OCaml, Perl, Perl POD, PHP, Puppet, Python, reStructuredText,
-Ruby, Rust, SASS/SCSS, Scala, Slim, Tcl, TeX, Twig, TypeScript, Vala, VHDL,
-xHtml, XML, XSLT, YAML, z80, Zope page templates, zsh.
+Ruby, Rust, SASS/SCSS, Scala, Slim, Tcl, TeX, Twig, TypeScript, Vala, Verilog,
+VHDL, xHtml, XML, XSLT, YAML, z80, Zope page templates, zsh.
 
 ## Screenshot
 
diff --git a/autoload/syntastic/c.vim b/autoload/syntastic/c.vim
index fb8e2198..0784a23b 100644
--- a/autoload/syntastic/c.vim
+++ b/autoload/syntastic/c.vim
@@ -6,68 +6,13 @@ let g:loaded_syntastic_c_autoload = 1
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
-" initialize c/cpp syntax checker handlers
-function! s:Init()
-    let s:handlers = []
-    let s:cflags = {}
-
-    call s:RegHandler('gtk', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['gtk', 'gtk+-2.0', 'gtk+', 'glib-2.0', 'glib'])
-    call s:RegHandler('glib', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['glib', 'glib-2.0', 'glib'])
-    call s:RegHandler('glade', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['glade', 'libglade-2.0', 'libglade'])
-    call s:RegHandler('libsoup', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['libsoup', 'libsoup-2.4', 'libsoup-2.2'])
-    call s:RegHandler('webkit', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['webkit', 'webkit-1.0'])
-    call s:RegHandler('cairo', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['cairo', 'cairo'])
-    call s:RegHandler('pango', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['pango', 'pango'])
-    call s:RegHandler('libxml', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['libxml', 'libxml-2.0', 'libxml'])
-    call s:RegHandler('freetype', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['freetype', 'freetype2', 'freetype'])
-    call s:RegHandler('SDL', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['sdl', 'sdl'])
-    call s:RegHandler('opengl', 'syntastic#c#CheckPKG',
-                \ ['opengl', 'gl'])
-    call s:RegHandler('ruby', 'syntastic#c#CheckRuby', [])
-    call s:RegHandler('Python\.h', 'syntastic#c#CheckPython', [])
-    call s:RegHandler('php\.h', 'syntastic#c#CheckPhp', [])
-endfunction
-
-" default include directories
-let s:default_includes = [ '.', '..', 'include', 'includes',
-            \ '../include', '../includes' ]
+" Public functions {{{1
 
 " convenience function to determine the 'null device' parameter
 " based on the current operating system
-function! syntastic#c#GetNullDevice()
-    if has('win32')
-        return '-o nul'
-    elseif has('unix') || has('mac')
-        return '-o /dev/null'
-    endif
-    return ''
-endfunction
-
-" get the gcc include directory argument depending on the default
-" includes and the optional user-defined 'g:syntastic_c_include_dirs'
-function! syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs(filetype)
-    let include_dirs = []
-
-    if !exists('g:syntastic_'.a:filetype.'_no_default_include_dirs') ||
-        \ !g:syntastic_{a:filetype}_no_default_include_dirs
-        let include_dirs = copy(s:default_includes)
-    endif
-
-    if exists('g:syntastic_'.a:filetype.'_include_dirs')
-        call extend(include_dirs, g:syntastic_{a:filetype}_include_dirs)
-    endif
-
-    return join(map(syntastic#util#unique(include_dirs), '"-I" . v:val'), ' ')
+function! syntastic#c#NullOutput()
+    let known_os = has('win32') || has('unix') || has('mac')
+    return known_os ? '-o ' . syntastic#util#DevNull() : ''
 endfunction
 
 " read additional compiler flags from the given configuration file
@@ -75,19 +20,27 @@ endfunction
 function! syntastic#c#ReadConfig(file)
     " search in the current file's directory upwards
     let config = findfile(a:file, '.;')
-    if config == '' || !filereadable(config) | return '' | endif
+    if config == '' || !filereadable(config)
+        return ''
+    endif
 
     " convert filename into absolute path
-    let filepath = substitute(fnamemodify(config, ':p:h'), '\', '/', 'g')
+    let filepath = fnamemodify(config, ':p:h')
 
     " try to read config file
     try
-        let lines = map(readfile(config),
-                    \ 'substitute(v:val, ''\'', ''/'', ''g'')')
-    catch /E484/
+        let lines = readfile(config)
+    catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E484/
         return ''
     endtry
 
+    " filter out empty lines and comments
+    call filter(lines, 'v:val !~ ''\v^(\s*#|$)''')
+
+    " remove leading and trailing spaces
+    call map(lines, 'substitute(v:val, ''^\s\+'', "", "")')
+    call map(lines, 'substitute(v:val, ''\s\+$'', "", "")')
+
     let parameters = []
     for line in lines
         let matches = matchlist(line, '\C^\s*-I\s*\(\S\+\)')
@@ -96,23 +49,145 @@ function! syntastic#c#ReadConfig(file)
             if match(matches[1], '^\%(/\|\a:\)') != -1
                 call add(parameters, '-I' . matches[1])
             else
-                call add(parameters, '-I' . filepath . '/' . matches[1])
+                call add(parameters, '-I' . filepath . syntastic#util#Slash() . matches[1])
             endif
         else
             call add(parameters, line)
         endif
     endfor
 
-    return join(parameters, ' ')
+    return join(map(parameters, 'syntastic#util#shescape(fnameescape(v:val))'), ' ')
+endfunction
+
+" GetLocList() for C-like compilers
+function! syntastic#c#GetLocList(filetype, subchecker, options)
+    try
+        let flags = s:GetCflags(a:filetype, a:subchecker, a:options)
+    catch /\m\C^Syntastic: skip checks$/
+        return []
+    endtry
+
+    let makeprg = g:syntastic_{a:filetype}_compiler . ' ' . flags . ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
+
+    let errorformat = s:GetCheckerVar('g', a:filetype, a:subchecker, 'errorformat', a:options['errorformat'])
+
+    let postprocess = s:GetCheckerVar('g', a:filetype, a:subchecker, 'remove_include_errors', 0) ?
+        \ ['filterForeignErrors'] : []
+
+    " process makeprg
+    return SyntasticMake({
+        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'postprocess': postprocess })
+endfunction
+
+" Private functions {{{1
+
+" initialize c/cpp syntax checker handlers
+function! s:Init()
+    let s:handlers = []
+    let s:cflags = {}
+
+    call s:RegHandler('cairo',     'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['cairo', 'cairo'])
+    call s:RegHandler('freetype',  'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['freetype', 'freetype2', 'freetype'])
+    call s:RegHandler('glade',     'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['glade', 'libglade-2.0', 'libglade'])
+    call s:RegHandler('glib',      'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['glib', 'glib-2.0', 'glib'])
+    call s:RegHandler('gtk',       'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['gtk', 'gtk+-2.0', 'gtk+', 'glib-2.0', 'glib'])
+    call s:RegHandler('libsoup',   'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['libsoup', 'libsoup-2.4', 'libsoup-2.2'])
+    call s:RegHandler('libxml',    'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['libxml', 'libxml-2.0', 'libxml'])
+    call s:RegHandler('pango',     'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['pango', 'pango'])
+    call s:RegHandler('SDL',       'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['sdl', 'sdl'])
+    call s:RegHandler('opengl',    'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['opengl', 'gl'])
+    call s:RegHandler('webkit',    'syntastic#c#CheckPKG', ['webkit', 'webkit-1.0'])
+
+    call s:RegHandler('php\.h',    'syntastic#c#CheckPhp',    [])
+    call s:RegHandler('Python\.h', 'syntastic#c#CheckPython', [])
+    call s:RegHandler('ruby',      'syntastic#c#CheckRuby',   [])
+endfunction
+
+" resolve checker-related user variables
+function! s:GetCheckerVar(scope, filetype, subchecker, name, default)
+    let prefix = a:scope . ':' . 'syntastic_'
+    if exists(prefix . a:filetype . '_' . a:subchecker . '_' . a:name)
+        return {a:scope}:syntastic_{a:filetype}_{a:subchecker}_{a:name}
+    elseif exists(prefix . a:filetype . '_' . a:name)
+        return {a:scope}:syntastic_{a:filetype}_{a:name}
+    else
+        return a:default
+    endif
+endfunction
+
+" resolve user CFLAGS
+function! s:GetCflags(ft, ck, opts)
+    " determine whether to parse header files as well
+    if has_key(a:opts, 'header_names') && expand('%') =~? a:opts['header_names']
+        if s:GetCheckerVar('g', a:ft, a:ck, 'check_header', 0)
+            let flags = get(a:opts, 'header_flags', '') . ' -c ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput()
+        else
+            " checking headers when check_header is unset: bail out
+            throw 'Syntastic: skip checks'
+        endif
+    else
+        let flags = get(a:opts, 'main_flags', '')
+    endif
+
+    let flags .= ' ' . s:GetCheckerVar('g', a:ft, a:ck, 'compiler_options', '') . ' ' . s:GetIncludeDirs(a:ft)
+
+    " check if the user manually set some cflags
+    let b_cflags = s:GetCheckerVar('b', a:ft, a:ck, 'cflags', '')
+    if b_cflags == ''
+        " check whether to search for include files at all
+        if !s:GetCheckerVar('g', a:ft, a:ck, 'no_include_search', 0)
+            if a:ft ==# 'c' || a:ft ==# 'cpp'
+                " refresh the include file search if desired
+                if s:GetCheckerVar('g', a:ft, a:ck, 'auto_refresh_includes', 0)
+                    let flags .= ' ' . s:SearchHeaders()
+                else
+                    " search for header includes if not cached already
+                    if !exists('b:syntastic_' . a:ft . '_includes')
+                        let b:syntastic_{a:ft}_includes = s:SearchHeaders()
+                    endif
+                    let flags .= ' ' . b:syntastic_{a:ft}_includes
+                endif
+            endif
+        endif
+    else
+        " user-defined cflags
+        let flags .= ' ' . b_cflags
+    endif
+
+    " add optional config file parameters
+    let config_file = s:GetCheckerVar('g', a:ft, a:ck, 'config_file', '.syntastic_' . a:ft . '_config')
+    let flags .= ' ' . syntastic#c#ReadConfig(config_file)
+
+    return flags
+endfunction
+
+" get the gcc include directory argument depending on the default
+" includes and the optional user-defined 'g:syntastic_c_include_dirs'
+function! s:GetIncludeDirs(filetype)
+    let include_dirs = []
+
+    if a:filetype =~# '\v^%(c|cpp|d|objc|objcpp)$' &&
+                \ (!exists('g:syntastic_'.a:filetype.'_no_default_include_dirs') ||
+                \ !g:syntastic_{a:filetype}_no_default_include_dirs)
+        let include_dirs = copy(s:default_includes)
+    endif
+
+    if exists('g:syntastic_'.a:filetype.'_include_dirs')
+        call extend(include_dirs, g:syntastic_{a:filetype}_include_dirs)
+    endif
+
+    return join(map(syntastic#util#unique(include_dirs), 'syntastic#util#shescape(fnameescape("-I" . v:val))'), ' ')
 endfunction
 
 " search the first 100 lines for include statements that are
 " given in the handlers dictionary
-function! syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
+function! s:SearchHeaders()
     let includes = ''
     let files = []
     let found = []
-    let lines = filter(getline(1, 100), 'v:val =~# "#\s*include"')
+    let lines = filter(getline(1, 100), 'v:val =~# "^\s*#\s*include"')
 
     " search current buffer
     for line in lines
@@ -121,6 +196,7 @@ function! syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
             call add(files, file)
             continue
         endif
+
         for handler in s:handlers
             if line =~# handler["regex"]
                 let includes .= call(handler["func"], handler["args"])
@@ -133,18 +209,21 @@ function! syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
     " search included headers
     for hfile in files
         if hfile != ''
-            let filename = expand('%:p:h') . (has('win32') ?
-                        \ '\' : '/') . hfile
+            let filename = expand('%:p:h') . syntastic#util#Slash() . hfile
+
             try
                 let lines = readfile(filename, '', 100)
-            catch /E484/
+            catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E484/
                 continue
             endtry
-            let lines = filter(lines, 'v:val =~# "#\s*include"')
+
+            let lines = filter(lines, 'v:val =~# "^\s*#\s*include"')
+
             for handler in s:handlers
                 if index(found, handler["regex"]) != -1
                     continue
                 endif
+
                 for line in lines
                     if line =~# handler["regex"]
                         let includes .= call(handler["func"], handler["args"])
@@ -165,14 +244,14 @@ endfunction
 function! syntastic#c#CheckPKG(name, ...)
     if executable('pkg-config')
         if !has_key(s:cflags, a:name)
-            for i in range(a:0)
-                let l:cflags = system('pkg-config --cflags '.a:000[i])
+            for pkg in a:000
+                let pkg_flags = system('pkg-config --cflags ' . pkg)
                 " since we cannot necessarily trust the pkg-config exit code
                 " we have to check for an error output as well
-                if v:shell_error == 0 && l:cflags !~? 'not found'
-                    let l:cflags = ' '.substitute(l:cflags, "\n", '', '')
-                    let s:cflags[a:name] = l:cflags
-                    return l:cflags
+                if v:shell_error == 0 && pkg_flags !~? 'not found'
+                    let pkg_flags = ' ' . substitute(pkg_flags, "\n", '', '')
+                    let s:cflags[a:name] = pkg_flags
+                    return pkg_flags
                 endif
             endfor
         else
@@ -185,11 +264,11 @@ endfunction
 " try to find PHP includes with 'php-config'
 function! syntastic#c#CheckPhp()
     if executable('php-config')
-        if !exists('s:php_flags')
-            let s:php_flags = system('php-config --includes')
-            let s:php_flags = ' ' . substitute(s:php_flags, "\n", '', '')
+        if !has_key(s:cflags, 'php')
+            let s:cflags['php'] = system('php-config --includes')
+            let s:cflags['php'] = ' ' . substitute(s:cflags['php'], "\n", '', '')
         endif
-        return s:php_flags
+        return s:cflags['php']
     endif
     return ''
 endfunction
@@ -197,13 +276,13 @@ endfunction
 " try to find the ruby headers with 'rbconfig'
 function! syntastic#c#CheckRuby()
     if executable('ruby')
-        if !exists('s:ruby_flags')
-            let s:ruby_flags = system('ruby -r rbconfig -e '
-                        \ . '''puts RbConfig::CONFIG["rubyhdrdir"] || RbConfig::CONFIG["archdir"]''')
-            let s:ruby_flags = substitute(s:ruby_flags, "\n", '', '')
-            let s:ruby_flags = ' -I' . s:ruby_flags
+        if !has_key(s:cflags, 'ruby')
+            let s:cflags['ruby'] = system('ruby -r rbconfig -e ' .
+                \ '''puts RbConfig::CONFIG["rubyhdrdir"] || RbConfig::CONFIG["archdir"]''')
+            let s:cflags['ruby'] = substitute(s:cflags['ruby'], "\n", '', '')
+            let s:cflags['ruby'] = ' -I' . s:cflags['ruby']
         endif
-        return s:ruby_flags
+        return s:cflags['ruby']
     endif
     return ''
 endfunction
@@ -211,13 +290,13 @@ endfunction
 " try to find the python headers with distutils
 function! syntastic#c#CheckPython()
     if executable('python')
-        if !exists('s:python_flags')
-            let s:python_flags = system('python -c ''from distutils import '
-                        \ . 'sysconfig; import sys; sys.stdout.write(sysconfig.get_python_inc())''')
-            let s:python_flags = substitute(s:python_flags, "\n", '', '')
-            let s:python_flags = ' -I' . s:python_flags
+        if !has_key(s:cflags, 'python')
+            let s:cflags['python'] = system('python -c ''from distutils import ' .
+                \ 'sysconfig; import sys; sys.stdout.write(sysconfig.get_python_inc())''')
+            let s:cflags['python'] = substitute(s:cflags['python'], "\n", '', '')
+            let s:cflags['python'] = ' -I' . s:cflags['python']
         endif
-        return s:python_flags
+        return s:cflags['python']
     endif
     return ''
 endfunction
@@ -231,9 +310,20 @@ function! s:RegHandler(regex, function, args)
     call add(s:handlers, handler)
 endfunction
 
+" }}}1
+
+" default include directories
+let s:default_includes = [
+    \ '.',
+    \ '..',
+    \ 'include',
+    \ 'includes',
+    \ '..' . syntastic#util#Slash() . 'include',
+    \ '..' . syntastic#util#Slash() . 'includes' ]
+
 call s:Init()
 
 let &cpo = s:save_cpo
 unlet s:save_cpo
 
-" vim: set et sts=4 sw=4:
+" vim: set et sts=4 sw=4 fdm=marker:
diff --git a/autoload/syntastic/postprocess.vim b/autoload/syntastic/postprocess.vim
index 845b535e..65e98573 100644
--- a/autoload/syntastic/postprocess.vim
+++ b/autoload/syntastic/postprocess.vim
@@ -66,6 +66,11 @@ function! syntastic#postprocess#decodeXMLEntities(errors)
     return llist
 endfunction
 
+" filter out errors referencing other files
+function! syntastic#postprocess#filterForeignErrors(errors)
+    return filter(copy(a:errors), 'get(v:val, "bufnr") == ' . bufnr(''))
+endfunction
+
 let &cpo = s:save_cpo
 unlet s:save_cpo
 " vim: set et sts=4 sw=4:
diff --git a/autoload/syntastic/util.vim b/autoload/syntastic/util.vim
index 4511aac8..3ccf7d09 100644
--- a/autoload/syntastic/util.vim
+++ b/autoload/syntastic/util.vim
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ function! syntastic#util#DevNull()
     return '/dev/null'
 endfunction
 
+" Get directory separator
+function! syntastic#util#Slash() abort
+    return !exists("+shellslash") || &shellslash ? '/' : '\'
+endfunction
+
 "search the first 5 lines of the file for a magic number and return a map
 "containing the args and the executable
 "
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ada/gcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/ada/gcc.vim
index 7050c3d5..7562d609 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ada/gcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ada/gcc.vim
@@ -7,68 +7,6 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-" In order to also check header files add this to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_check_header = 1
-"
-" To disable the search of included header files after special
-" libraries like gtk and glib add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_no_include_search = 1
-"
-" To disable the include of the default include dirs (such as /usr/include)
-" add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_no_default_include_dirs = 1
-"
-" To enable header files being re-checked on every file write add the
-" following line to your .vimrc. Otherwise the header files are checked only
-" one time on initially loading the file.
-" In order to force syntastic to refresh the header includes simply
-" unlet b:syntastic_ada_includes. Then the header files are being re-checked
-" on the next file write.
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_auto_refresh_includes = 1
-"
-" Alternatively you can set the buffer local variable b:syntastic_ada_cflags.
-" If this variable is set for the current buffer no search for additional
-" libraries is done. I.e. set the variable like this:
-"
-"   let b:syntastic_ada_cflags = ' -I/usr/include/libsoup-2.4'
-"
-" In order to add some custom include directories that should be added to the
-" gcc command line you can add those to the global variable
-" g:syntastic_ada_include_dirs. This list can be used like this:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_include_dirs = [ 'includes', 'headers' ]
-"
-" Moreover it is possible to add additional compiler options to the syntax
-" checking execution via the variable 'g:syntastic_ada_compiler_options':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_compiler_options = ' -std=c++0x'
-"
-" Additionally the setting 'g:syntastic_ada_config_file' allows you to define
-" a file that contains additional compiler arguments like include directories
-" or CFLAGS. The file is expected to contain one option per line. If none is
-" given the filename defaults to '.syntastic_ada_config':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_config_file = '.config'
-"
-" Using the global variable 'g:syntastic_ada_remove_include_errors' you can
-" specify whether errors of files included via the
-" g:syntastic_ada_include_dirs' setting are removed from the result set:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_remove_include_errors = 1
-"
-" Use the variable 'g:syntastic_ada_errorformat' to override the default error
-" format:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_errorformat = '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m'
-"
-" Set your compiler executable with e.g. (defaults to gcc)
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_ada_compiler = 'gcc'
-
 if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_ada_gcc_checker')
     finish
 endif
@@ -89,73 +27,15 @@ if !exists('g:syntastic_ada_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_ada_compiler_options = ''
 endif
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_ada_config_file')
-    let g:syntastic_ada_config_file = '.syntastic_ada_config'
-endif
-
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ada_gcc_GetLocList()
-    let makeprg = g:syntastic_ada_compiler . ' -c -x ada -fsyntax-only '
-    let errorformat =  '%-G%f:%s:,%f:%l:%c: %m,%f:%l: %m'
-
-    if exists('g:syntastic_c_errorformat')
-        let errorformat = g:syntastic_c_errorformat
-    endif
-
-    " add optional user-defined compiler options
-    let makeprg .= g:syntastic_ada_compiler_options
-
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-                \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('ada')
-
-    " determine whether to parse header files as well
-    if expand('%') =~? '\.ads$'
-        if exists('g:syntastic_ada_check_header')
-            let makeprg = g:syntastic_ada_compiler .
-                        \ ' -c ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-                        \ ' ' . g:syntastic_ada_compiler_options .
-                        \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('ada')
-        else
-            return []
-        endif
-    endif
-
-    " check if the user manually set some cflags
-    if !exists('b:syntastic_ada_cflags')
-        " check whether to search for include files at all
-        if !exists('g:syntastic_ada_no_include_search') ||
-                    \ g:syntastic_ada_no_include_search != 1
-            " refresh the include file search if desired
-            if exists('g:syntastic_ada_auto_refresh_includes') &&
-                        \ g:syntastic_ada_auto_refresh_includes != 0
-                let makeprg .= syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-            else
-                " search for header includes if not cached already
-                if !exists('b:syntastic_ada_includes')
-                    let b:syntastic_ada_includes = syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-                endif
-                let makeprg .= b:syntastic_ada_includes
-            endif
-        endif
-    else
-        " use the user-defined cflags
-        let makeprg .= b:syntastic_ada_cflags
-    endif
-
-    " add optional config file parameters
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#c#ReadConfig(g:syntastic_ada_config_file)
-
-    " process makeprg
-    let errors = SyntasticMake({ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-                \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
-
-    " filter the processed errors if desired
-    if exists('g:syntastic_ada_remove_include_errors') &&
-                \ g:syntastic_ada_remove_include_errors != 0
-        return filter(errors,
-                    \ 'has_key(v:val, "bufnr") && v:val["bufnr"]=='.bufnr(''))
-    else
-        return errors
-    endif
+    return syntastic#c#GetLocList('ada', 'gcc', {
+        \ 'errorformat':
+        \     '%-G%f:%s:,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %m',
+        \ 'main_flags': '-c -x ada -fsyntax-only',
+        \ 'header_flags': '-x ada',
+        \ 'header_names': '\.ads$' })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/asciidoc/asciidoc.vim b/syntax_checkers/asciidoc/asciidoc.vim
index 0f0f955f..faa907cb 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/asciidoc/asciidoc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/asciidoc/asciidoc.vim
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ endfunction
 function! SyntaxCheckers_asciidoc_asciidoc_GetLocList()
     let makeprg = syntastic#makeprg#build({
         \ 'exe': 'asciidoc',
-        \ 'args': syntastic#c#GetNullDevice(),
+        \ 'args': syntastic#c#NullOutput(),
         \ 'filetype': 'asciidoc',
         \ 'subchecker': 'asciidoc' })
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/gcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/gcc.vim
index d5c05f99..f0c577b5 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/gcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/gcc.vim
@@ -10,67 +10,6 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-" In order to also check header files add this to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_check_header = 1
-"
-" To disable the search of included header files after special
-" libraries like gtk and glib add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_no_include_search = 1
-"
-" To disable the include of the default include dirs (such as /usr/include)
-" add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_no_default_include_dirs = 1
-"
-" To enable header files being re-checked on every file write add the
-" following line to your .vimrc. Otherwise the header files are checked only
-" one time on initially loading the file.
-" In order to force syntastic to refresh the header includes simply
-" unlet b:syntastic_c_includes. Then the header files are being re-checked on
-" the next file write.
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_auto_refresh_includes = 1
-"
-" Alternatively you can set the buffer local variable b:syntastic_c_cflags.
-" If this variable is set for the current buffer no search for additional
-" libraries is done. I.e. set the variable like this:
-"
-"   let b:syntastic_c_cflags = ' -I/usr/include/libsoup-2.4'
-"
-" In order to add some custom include directories that should be added to the
-" gcc command line you can add those to the global variable
-" g:syntastic_c_include_dirs. This list can be used like this:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_include_dirs = [ 'includes', 'headers' ]
-"
-" Moreover it is possible to add additional compiler options to the syntax
-" checking execution via the variable 'g:syntastic_c_compiler_options':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_compiler_options = ' -ansi'
-"
-" Additionally the setting 'g:syntastic_c_config_file' allows you to define a
-" file that contains additional compiler arguments like include directories or
-" CFLAGS. The file is expected to contain one option per line. If none is
-" given the filename defaults to '.syntastic_c_config':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_config_file = '.config'
-"
-" Using the global variable 'g:syntastic_c_remove_include_errors' you can
-" specify whether errors of files included via the g:syntastic_c_include_dirs'
-" setting are removed from the result set:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_remove_include_errors = 1
-"
-" Use the variable 'g:syntastic_c_errorformat' to override the default error
-" format:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_errorformat = '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m'
-"
-" Set your compiler executable with e.g. (defaults to gcc)
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_c_compiler = 'clang'
 
 if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_gcc_checker')
     finish
@@ -92,85 +31,23 @@ if !exists('g:syntastic_c_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_c_compiler_options = '-std=gnu99'
 endif
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_c_config_file')
-    let g:syntastic_c_config_file = '.syntastic_c_config'
-endif
-
 function! SyntaxCheckers_c_gcc_GetLocList()
-    let makeprg = g:syntastic_c_compiler . ' -x c -fsyntax-only '
-    let errorformat =
-        \ '%-G%f:%s:,' .
-        \ '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#(Each undeclared identifier is reported only%.%#,' .
-        \ '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#for each function it appears%.%#,' .
-        \ '%-GIn file included%.%#,' .
-        \ '%-G %#from %f:%l\,,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %tarning: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l: %trror: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l: %tarning: %m,'.
-        \ '%f:%l: %m'
-
-    if exists('g:syntastic_c_errorformat')
-        let errorformat = g:syntastic_c_errorformat
-    endif
-
-    " add optional user-defined compiler options
-    let makeprg .= g:syntastic_c_compiler_options
-
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-               \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('c')
-
-    " determine whether to parse header files as well
-    if expand('%') =~? '\.h$'
-        if exists('g:syntastic_c_check_header')
-            let makeprg = g:syntastic_c_compiler .
-                        \ ' -c ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-                        \ ' ' . g:syntastic_c_compiler_options .
-                        \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetNullDevice() .
-                        \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('c')
-        else
-            return []
-        endif
-    endif
-
-    " check if the user manually set some cflags
-    if !exists('b:syntastic_c_cflags')
-        " check whether to search for include files at all
-        if !exists('g:syntastic_c_no_include_search') ||
-                    \ g:syntastic_c_no_include_search != 1
-            " refresh the include file search if desired
-            if exists('g:syntastic_c_auto_refresh_includes') &&
-                        \ g:syntastic_c_auto_refresh_includes != 0
-                let makeprg .= syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-            else
-                " search for header includes if not cached already
-                if !exists('b:syntastic_c_includes')
-                    let b:syntastic_c_includes = syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-                endif
-                let makeprg .= b:syntastic_c_includes
-            endif
-        endif
-    else
-        " use the user-defined cflags
-        let makeprg .= b:syntastic_c_cflags
-    endif
-
-    " add optional config file parameters
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#c#ReadConfig(g:syntastic_c_config_file)
-
-    " process makeprg
-    let errors = SyntasticMake({ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-                \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
-
-    " filter the processed errors if desired
-    if exists('g:syntastic_c_remove_include_errors') &&
-                \ g:syntastic_c_remove_include_errors != 0
-        return filter(errors,
-                    \ 'has_key(v:val, "bufnr") && v:val["bufnr"]=='.bufnr(''))
-    else
-        return errors
-    endif
+    return syntastic#c#GetLocList('c', 'gcc', {
+        \ 'errorformat':
+        \     '%-G%f:%s:,' .
+        \     '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#(Each undeclared identifier is reported only%.%#,' .
+        \     '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#for each function it appears%.%#,' .
+        \     '%-GIn file included%.%#,' .
+        \     '%-G %#from %f:%l\,,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %tarning: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %trror: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %tarning: %m,'.
+        \     '%f:%l: %m',
+        \ 'main_flags': '-x c -fsyntax-only',
+        \ 'header_flags': '-x c',
+        \ 'header_names': '\.h$' })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cobol/cobc.vim b/syntax_checkers/cobol/cobc.vim
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9399d432
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cobol/cobc.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        cobc.vim
+"Description: Syntax checking plugin for syntastic.vim
+"Maintainer:  LCD 47 <lcd047 at gmail dot com>
+"License:     This program is free software. It comes without any warranty,
+"             to the extent permitted by applicable law. You can redistribute
+"             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
+"             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
+"             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+"
+"============================================================================
+
+
+if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cobol_cobc_checker')
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_cobol_cobc_checker = 1
+
+if !exists('g:syntastic_cobol_compiler')
+    let g:syntastic_cobol_compiler = 'cobc'
+endif
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_cobol_cobc_IsAvailable()
+    return executable(g:syntastic_cobol_compiler)
+endfunction
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+if !exists('g:syntastic_cobol_compiler_options')
+    let g:syntastic_cobol_compiler_options = ''
+endif
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_cobol_cobc_GetLocList()
+    return syntastic#c#GetLocList('cobol', 'cobc', {
+        \ 'errorformat': '%f:%l: %trror: %m',
+        \ 'main_flags': '-fsyntax-only' })
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'cobol',
+    \ 'name': 'cobc'})
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set et sts=4 sw=4:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cpp/gcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/cpp/gcc.vim
index 40b2a105..64337927 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cpp/gcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cpp/gcc.vim
@@ -10,68 +10,6 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-" In order to also check header files add this to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_check_header = 1
-"
-" To disable the search of included header files after special
-" libraries like gtk and glib add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_no_include_search = 1
-"
-" To disable the include of the default include dirs (such as /usr/include)
-" add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_no_default_include_dirs = 1
-"
-" To enable header files being re-checked on every file write add the
-" following line to your .vimrc. Otherwise the header files are checked only
-" one time on initially loading the file.
-" In order to force syntastic to refresh the header includes simply
-" unlet b:syntastic_cpp_includes. Then the header files are being re-checked
-" on the next file write.
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_auto_refresh_includes = 1
-"
-" Alternatively you can set the buffer local variable b:syntastic_cpp_cflags.
-" If this variable is set for the current buffer no search for additional
-" libraries is done. I.e. set the variable like this:
-"
-"   let b:syntastic_cpp_cflags = ' -I/usr/include/libsoup-2.4'
-"
-" In order to add some custom include directories that should be added to the
-" gcc command line you can add those to the global variable
-" g:syntastic_cpp_include_dirs. This list can be used like this:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_include_dirs = [ 'includes', 'headers' ]
-"
-" Moreover it is possible to add additional compiler options to the syntax
-" checking execution via the variable 'g:syntastic_cpp_compiler_options':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_compiler_options = ' -std=c++0x'
-"
-" Additionally the setting 'g:syntastic_cpp_config_file' allows you to define
-" a file that contains additional compiler arguments like include directories
-" or CFLAGS. The file is expected to contain one option per line. If none is
-" given the filename defaults to '.syntastic_cpp_config':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_config_file = '.config'
-"
-" Using the global variable 'g:syntastic_cpp_remove_include_errors' you can
-" specify whether errors of files included via the
-" g:syntastic_cpp_include_dirs' setting are removed from the result set:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_remove_include_errors = 1
-"
-" Use the variable 'g:syntastic_cpp_errorformat' to override the default error
-" format:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_errorformat = '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m'
-"
-" Set your compiler executable with e.g. (defaults to g++)
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_cpp_compiler = 'clang++'
-
 if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_gcc_checker')
     finish
 endif
@@ -92,81 +30,19 @@ if !exists('g:syntastic_cpp_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_cpp_compiler_options = ''
 endif
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_cpp_config_file')
-    let g:syntastic_cpp_config_file = '.syntastic_cpp_config'
-endif
-
 function! SyntaxCheckers_cpp_gcc_GetLocList()
-    let makeprg = g:syntastic_cpp_compiler . ' -x c++ -fsyntax-only '
-    let errorformat =
-        \ '%-G%f:%s:,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %tarning: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %m,'.
-        \ '%f:%l: %trror: %m,'.
-        \ '%f:%l: %tarning: %m,'.
-        \ '%f:%l: %m'
-
-    if exists('g:syntastic_cpp_errorformat')
-        let errorformat = g:syntastic_cpp_errorformat
-    endif
-
-    " add optional user-defined compiler options
-    let makeprg .= g:syntastic_cpp_compiler_options
-
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-                \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('cpp')
-
-    " determine whether to parse header files as well
-    if expand('%') =~? '\.\(h\|hpp\|hh\)$'
-        if exists('g:syntastic_cpp_check_header')
-            let makeprg = g:syntastic_cpp_compiler .
-                        \ ' -c ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-                        \ ' ' . g:syntastic_cpp_compiler_options .
-                        \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetNullDevice() .
-                        \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('cpp')
-        else
-            return []
-        endif
-    endif
-
-    " check if the user manually set some cflags
-    if !exists('b:syntastic_cpp_cflags')
-        " check whether to search for include files at all
-        if !exists('g:syntastic_cpp_no_include_search') ||
-                    \ g:syntastic_cpp_no_include_search != 1
-            " refresh the include file search if desired
-            if exists('g:syntastic_cpp_auto_refresh_includes') &&
-                        \ g:syntastic_cpp_auto_refresh_includes != 0
-                let makeprg .= syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-            else
-                " search for header includes if not cached already
-                if !exists('b:syntastic_cpp_includes')
-                    let b:syntastic_cpp_includes = syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-                endif
-                let makeprg .= b:syntastic_cpp_includes
-            endif
-        endif
-    else
-        " use the user-defined cflags
-        let makeprg .= b:syntastic_cpp_cflags
-    endif
-
-    " add optional config file parameters
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#c#ReadConfig(g:syntastic_cpp_config_file)
-
-    " process makeprg
-    let errors = SyntasticMake({ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-                \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
-
-    " filter the processed errors if desired
-    if exists('g:syntastic_cpp_remove_include_errors') &&
-                \ g:syntastic_cpp_remove_include_errors != 0
-        return filter(errors,
-                    \ 'has_key(v:val, "bufnr") && v:val["bufnr"]=='.bufnr(''))
-    else
-        return errors
-    endif
+    return syntastic#c#GetLocList('cpp', 'gcc', {
+        \ 'errorformat':
+        \     '%-G%f:%s:,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %tarning: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %m,'.
+        \     '%f:%l: %trror: %m,'.
+        \     '%f:%l: %tarning: %m,'.
+        \     '%f:%l: %m',
+        \ 'main_flags': '-x c++ -fsyntax-only',
+        \ 'header_flags': '-x c++',
+        \ 'header_names': '\.\(h\|hpp\|hh\)$' })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cuda/nvcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/cuda/nvcc.vim
index 7bc6c4bb..8303d2e0 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cuda/nvcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cuda/nvcc.vim
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_cuda_nvcc_GetLocList()
     endif
     let makeprg =
         \ 'nvcc ' . arch_flag . ' --cuda -O0 -I . -Xcompiler -fsyntax-only ' .
-        \ syntastic#util#shexpand('%') . ' ' . syntastic#c#GetNullDevice()
+        \ syntastic#util#shexpand('%') . ' ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput()
     let errorformat =
         \ '%*[^"]"%f"%*\D%l: %m,'.
         \ '"%f"%*\D%l: %m,'.
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_cuda_nvcc_GetLocList()
             let makeprg =
                 \ 'echo > .syntastic_dummy.cu ; ' .
                 \ 'nvcc ' . arch_flag . ' --cuda -O0 -I . .syntastic_dummy.cu -Xcompiler -fsyntax-only -include ' .
-                \ syntastic#util#shexpand('%') . ' ' . syntastic#c#GetNullDevice()
+                \ syntastic#util#shexpand('%') . ' ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput()
         else
             return []
         endif
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/d/dmd.vim b/syntax_checkers/d/dmd.vim
index 17228e41..1544caf7 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/d/dmd.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/d/dmd.vim
@@ -15,68 +15,6 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-" In order to also check header files add this to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_check_header = 1
-"
-" To disable the search of included header files after special
-" libraries like gtk and glib add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_no_include_search = 1
-"
-" To disable the include of the default include dirs (such as /usr/include)
-" add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_no_default_include_dirs = 1
-"
-" To enable header files being re-checked on every file write add the
-" following line to your .vimrc. Otherwise the header files are checked only
-" one time on initially loading the file.
-" In order to force syntastic to refresh the header includes simply
-" unlet b:syntastic_d_includes. Then the header files are being re-checked
-" on the next file write.
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_auto_refresh_includes = 1
-"
-" Alternatively you can set the buffer local variable b:syntastic_d_cflags.
-" If this variable is set for the current buffer no search for additional
-" libraries is done. I.e. set the variable like this:
-"
-"   let b:syntastic_d_cflags = ' -I/usr/include/libsoup-2.4'
-"
-" In order to add some custom include directories that should be added to the
-" dmd command line you can add those to the global variable
-" g:syntastic_d_include_dirs. This list can be used like this:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_include_dirs = [ 'includes', 'headers' ]
-"
-" Moreover it is possible to add additional compiler options to the syntax
-" checking execution via the variable 'g:syntastic_d_compiler_options':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_compiler_options = ' -std=c++0x'
-"
-" Additionally the setting 'g:syntastic_d_config_file' allows you to define
-" a file that contains additional compiler arguments like include directories
-" or CFLAGS. The file is expected to contain one option per line. If none is
-" given the filename defaults to '.syntastic_d_config':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_config_file = '.config'
-"
-" Using the global variable 'g:syntastic_d_remove_include_errors' you can
-" specify whether errors of files included via the
-" g:syntastic_d_include_dirs' setting are removed from the result set:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_remove_include_errors = 1
-"
-" Use the variable 'g:syntastic_d_errorformat' to override the default error
-" format:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_errorformat = '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m'
-"
-" Set your compiler executable with e.g. (defaults to dmd)
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_d_compiler = 'clang++'
-
 if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_d_dmd_checker')
     finish
 endif
@@ -97,74 +35,13 @@ if !exists('g:syntastic_d_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_d_compiler_options = ''
 endif
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_d_config_file')
-    let g:syntastic_d_config_file = '.syntastic_d_config'
-endif
-
 function! SyntaxCheckers_d_dmd_GetLocList()
-    let makeprg = g:syntastic_d_compiler . ' -c -of' . syntastic#util#DevNull() . ' '
-    let errorformat =  '%-G%f:%s:,%f(%l): %m,%f:%l: %m'
-
-    if exists('g:syntastic_d_errorformat')
-        let errorformat = g:syntastic_d_errorformat
-    endif
-
-    " add optional user-defined compiler options
-    let makeprg .= g:syntastic_d_compiler_options
-
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-                \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('d')
-
-    " determine whether to parse header files as well
-    if expand('%') =~? '\.di$'
-        if exists('g:syntastic_d_check_header')
-            let makeprg = g:syntastic_d_compiler .
-                        \ ' -c ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-                        \ ' -of' . syntastic#util#DevNull() .
-                        \ ' ' . g:syntastic_d_compiler_options .
-                        \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('d')
-        else
-            return []
-        endif
-    endif
-
-    " check if the user manually set some cflags
-    if !exists('b:syntastic_d_cflags')
-        " check whether to search for include files at all
-        if !exists('g:syntastic_d_no_include_search') ||
-                    \ g:syntastic_d_no_include_search != 1
-            " refresh the include file search if desired
-            if exists('g:syntastic_d_auto_refresh_includes') &&
-                        \ g:syntastic_d_auto_refresh_includes != 0
-                let makeprg .= syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-            else
-                " search for header includes if not cached already
-                if !exists('b:syntastic_d_includes')
-                    let b:syntastic_d_includes = syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-                endif
-                let makeprg .= b:syntastic_d_includes
-            endif
-        endif
-    else
-        " use the user-defined cflags
-        let makeprg .= b:syntastic_d_cflags
-    endif
-
-    " add optional config file parameters
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#c#ReadConfig(g:syntastic_d_config_file)
-
-    " process makeprg
-    let errors = SyntasticMake({ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-                \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
-
-    " filter the processed errors if desired
-    if exists('g:syntastic_d_remove_include_errors') &&
-                \ g:syntastic_d_remove_include_errors != 0
-        return filter(errors,
-                    \ 'has_key(v:val, "bufnr") && v:val["bufnr"]=='.bufnr(''))
-    else
-        return errors
-    endif
+    return syntastic#c#GetLocList('d', 'dmd', {
+        \ 'errorformat':
+        \     '%-G%f:%s:,%f(%l): %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %m',
+        \ 'main_flags': '-c -of' . syntastic#util#DevNull(),
+        \ 'header_names': '\.di$' })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/fortran/gfortran.vim b/syntax_checkers/fortran/gfortran.vim
index 0df45d3a..002ad9c3 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/fortran/gfortran.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/fortran/gfortran.vim
@@ -7,14 +7,6 @@
 "             it and/or modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You
 "             Want To Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar.
 "             See http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
-"Note:        This syntax checker uses gfortran with the option -fsyntax-only
-"             to check for errors and warnings. Additional flags may be
-"             supplied through both local and global variables,
-"               b:syntastic_fortran_flags,
-"               g:syntastic_fortran_flags.
-"             This is particularly useful when the source requires module files
-"             in order to compile (that is when it needs modules defined in
-"             separate files).
 "
 "============================================================================
 
@@ -23,41 +15,38 @@ if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_fortran_gfortran_checker")
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_fortran_gfortran_checker=1
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_fortran_flags')
-    let g:syntastic_fortran_flags = ''
+if !exists('g:syntastic_fortran_compiler')
+    let g:syntastic_fortran_compiler = 'gfortran'
 endif
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_fortran_gfortran_IsAvailable()
-    return executable('gfortran')
+    return executable(g:syntastic_fortran_compiler)
 endfunction
 
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+if !exists('g:syntastic_fortran_compiler_options')
+    let g:syntastic_fortran_compiler_options = ''
+endif
+
 function! SyntaxCheckers_fortran_gfortran_GetLocList()
-    let makeprg = syntastic#makeprg#build({
-        \ 'exe': 'gfortran',
-        \ 'args': s:args(),
-        \ 'filetype': 'fortran',
-        \ 'subchecker': 'gfortran' })
-
-    let errorformat =
-        \ '%-C %#,'.
-        \ '%-C  %#%.%#,'.
-        \ '%A%f:%l.%c:,'.
-        \ '%Z%m,'.
-        \ '%G%.%#'
-
-    return SyntasticMake({
-        \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-        \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
-endfunction
-
-function s:args()
-    let rv  = '-fsyntax-only ' . g:syntastic_fortran_flags
-    if exists('b:syntastic_fortran_flags')
-        let rv .= " " . b:syntastic_fortran_flags
-    endif
-    return rv
+    return syntastic#c#GetLocList('fortran', 'gfortran', {
+        \ 'errorformat':
+        \     '%-C %#,'.
+        \     '%-C  %#%.%#,'.
+        \     '%A%f:%l.%c:,'.
+        \     '%Z%trror: %m,'.
+        \     '%Z%tarning: %m,'.
+        \     '%-G%.%#',
+        \ 'main_flags': '-fsyntax-only' })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
     \ 'filetype': 'fortran',
     \ 'name': 'gfortran'})
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set et sts=4 sw=4:
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/go/go.vim b/syntax_checkers/go/go.vim
index e389012a..427e3e0b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/go/go.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/go/go.vim
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_go_go_GetLocList()
     " Test files, i.e. files with a name ending in `_test.go`, are not
     " compiled by `go build`, therefore `go test` must be called for those.
     if match(expand('%'), '_test.go$') == -1
-        let makeprg = 'go build ' . syntastic#c#GetNullDevice()
+        let makeprg = 'go build ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput()
     else
-        let makeprg = 'go test -c ' . syntastic#c#GetNullDevice()
+        let makeprg = 'go test -c ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput()
     endif
 
     let errorformat =
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/llvm/llvm.vim b/syntax_checkers/llvm/llvm.vim
index ea4fa04b..61d16fc1 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/llvm/llvm.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/llvm/llvm.vim
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ endfunction
 function! SyntaxCheckers_llvm_llvm_GetLocList()
     let makeprg = syntastic#makeprg#build({
         \ 'exe': 'llc',
-        \ 'args': syntastic#c#GetNullDevice(),
+        \ 'args': syntastic#c#NullOutput(),
         \ 'filetype': 'llvm',
         \ 'subchecker': 'llvm' })
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/nasm/nasm.vim b/syntax_checkers/nasm/nasm.vim
index 9c6195cf..8476b515 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/nasm/nasm.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/nasm/nasm.vim
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_nasm_nasm_GetLocList()
     let wd = syntastic#util#shescape(expand("%:p:h") . "/")
     let makeprg = syntastic#makeprg#build({
         \ 'exe': 'nasm',
-        \ 'args': '-X gnu -f elf -I ' . wd . ' ' . syntastic#c#GetNullDevice()
+        \ 'args': '-X gnu -f elf -I ' . wd . ' ' . syntastic#c#NullOutput(),
         \ 'filetype': 'nasm',
         \ 'subchecker': 'nasm' })
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/objc/gcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/objc/gcc.vim
index e16822f3..52965e5d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/objc/gcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/objc/gcc.vim
@@ -10,69 +10,6 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-" In order to also check header files add this to your .vimrc:
-" (this usually creates a .gch file in your source directory)
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_check_header = 1
-"
-" To disable the search of included header files after special
-" libraries like gtk and glib add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_no_include_search = 1
-"
-" To disable the include of the default include dirs (such as /usr/include)
-" add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_no_default_include_dirs = 1
-"
-" To enable header files being re-checked on every file write add the
-" following line to your .vimrc. Otherwise the header files are checked only
-" one time on initially loading the file.
-" In order to force syntastic to refresh the header includes simply
-" unlet b:syntastic_objc_includes. Then the header files are being re-checked on
-" the next file write.
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_auto_refresh_includes = 1
-"
-" Alternatively you can set the buffer local variable b:syntastic_objc_cflags.
-" If this variable is set for the current buffer no search for additional
-" libraries is done. I.e. set the variable like this:
-"
-"   let b:syntastic_objc_cflags = ' -I/usr/include/libsoup-2.4'
-"
-" In order to add some custom include directories that should be added to the
-" gcc command line you can add those to the global variable
-" g:syntastic_objc_include_dirs. This list can be used like this:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_include_dirs = [ 'includes', 'headers' ]
-"
-" Moreover it is possible to add additional compiler options to the syntax
-" checking execution via the variable 'g:syntastic_objc_compiler_options':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_compiler_options = ' -ansi'
-"
-" Additionally the setting 'g:syntastic_objc_config_file' allows you to define a
-" file that contains additional compiler arguments like include directories or
-" CFLAGS. The file is expected to contain one option per line. If none is
-" given the filename defaults to '.syntastic_objc_config':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_config_file = '.config'
-"
-" Using the global variable 'g:syntastic_objc_remove_include_errors' you can
-" specify whether errors of files included via the g:syntastic_objc_include_dirs'
-" setting are removed from the result set:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_remove_include_errors = 1
-"
-" Use the variable 'g:syntastic_objc_errorformat' to override the default error
-" format:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_errorformat = '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m'
-"
-" Set your compiler executable with e.g. (defaults to gcc)
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objc_compiler = 'clang'
-
 if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_objc_gcc_checker')
     finish
 endif
@@ -93,85 +30,23 @@ if !exists('g:syntastic_objc_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_objc_compiler_options = '-std=gnu99'
 endif
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_objc_config_file')
-    let g:syntastic_objc_config_file = '.syntastic_objc_config'
-endif
-
 function! SyntaxCheckers_objc_gcc_GetLocList()
-    let makeprg = g:syntastic_objc_compiler . ' -x objective-c -fsyntax-only -lobjc'
-    let errorformat =
-        \ '%-G%f:%s:,' .
-        \ '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#(Each undeclared identifier is reported only%.%#,' .
-        \ '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#for each function it appears%.%#,' .
-        \ '%-GIn file included%.%#,'.
-        \ '%-G %#from %f:%l\,,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %tarning: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l: %trror: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l: %tarning: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l: %m'
-
-    if exists('g:syntastic_objc_errorformat')
-        let errorformat = g:syntastic_objc_errorformat
-    endif
-
-    " add optional user-defined compiler options
-    let makeprg .= g:syntastic_objc_compiler_options
-
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-               \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('objc')
-
-    " determine whether to parse header files as well
-    if expand('%') =~? '\.h$'
-        if exists('g:syntastic_objc_check_header')
-            let makeprg = g:syntastic_objc_compiler .
-                        \ ' -x objective-c-header ' .
-                        \ ' -c ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-                        \ ' ' . g:syntastic_objc_compiler_options .
-                        \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('objc')
-        else
-            return []
-        endif
-    endif
-
-    " check if the user manually set some cflags
-    if !exists('b:syntastic_objc_cflags')
-        " check whether to search for include files at all
-        if !exists('g:syntastic_objc_no_include_search') ||
-                    \ g:syntastic_objc_no_include_search != 1
-            " refresh the include file search if desired
-            if exists('g:syntastic_objc_auto_refresh_includes') &&
-                        \ g:syntastic_objc_auto_refresh_includes != 0
-                let makeprg .= syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-            else
-                " search for header includes if not cached already
-                if !exists('b:syntastic_objc_includes')
-                    let b:syntastic_objc_includes = syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-                endif
-                let makeprg .= b:syntastic_objc_includes
-            endif
-        endif
-    else
-        " use the user-defined cflags
-        let makeprg .= b:syntastic_objc_cflags
-    endif
-
-    " add optional config file parameters
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#c#ReadConfig(g:syntastic_objc_config_file)
-
-    " process makeprg
-    let errors = SyntasticMake({ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-                \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
-
-    " filter the processed errors if desired
-    if exists('g:syntastic_objc_remove_include_errors') &&
-                \ g:syntastic_objc_remove_include_errors != 0
-        return filter(errors,
-                    \ 'has_key(v:val, "bufnr") && v:val["bufnr"]=='.bufnr(''))
-    else
-        return errors
-    endif
+    return syntastic#c#GetLocList('objc', 'gcc', {
+        \ 'errorformat':
+        \     '%-G%f:%s:,' .
+        \     '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#(Each undeclared identifier is reported only%.%#,' .
+        \     '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#for each function it appears%.%#,' .
+        \     '%-GIn file included%.%#,'.
+        \     '%-G %#from %f:%l\,,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %tarning: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %trror: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %tarning: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %m',
+        \ 'main_flags': '-x objective-c -fsyntax-only',
+        \ 'header_flags': '-x objective-c-header -lobjc',
+        \ 'header_names': '\.h$' })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/objcpp/gcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/objcpp/gcc.vim
index 889a5973..c05166c9 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/objcpp/gcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/objcpp/gcc.vim
@@ -10,69 +10,6 @@
 "
 "============================================================================
 
-" In order to also check header files add this to your .vimrc:
-" (this usually creates a .gch file in your source directory)
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_check_header = 1
-"
-" To disable the search of included header files after special
-" libraries like gtk and glib add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_no_include_search = 1
-"
-" To disable the include of the default include dirs (such as /usr/include)
-" add this line to your .vimrc:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_no_default_include_dirs = 1
-"
-" To enable header files being re-checked on every file write add the
-" following line to your .vimrc. Otherwise the header files are checked only
-" one time on initially loading the file.
-" In order to force syntastic to refresh the header includes simply
-" unlet b:syntastic_objcpp_includes. Then the header files are being re-checked on
-" the next file write.
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_auto_refresh_includes = 1
-"
-" Alternatively you can set the buffer local variable b:syntastic_objcpp_cflags.
-" If this variable is set for the current buffer no search for additional
-" libraries is done. I.e. set the variable like this:
-"
-"   let b:syntastic_objcpp_cflags = ' -I/usr/include/libsoup-2.4'
-"
-" In order to add some custom include directories that should be added to the
-" gcc command line you can add those to the global variable
-" g:syntastic_objcpp_include_dirs. This list can be used like this:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_include_dirs = [ 'includes', 'headers' ]
-"
-" Moreover it is possible to add additional compiler options to the syntax
-" checking execution via the variable 'g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler_options':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler_options = ' -ansi'
-"
-" Additionally the setting 'g:syntastic_objcpp_config_file' allows you to define a
-" file that contains additional compiler arguments like include directories or
-" CFLAGS. The file is expected to contain one option per line. If none is
-" given the filename defaults to '.syntastic_objcpp_config':
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_config_file = '.config'
-"
-" Using the global variable 'g:syntastic_objcpp_remove_include_errors' you can
-" specify whether errors of files included via the g:syntastic_objcpp_include_dirs'
-" setting are removed from the result set:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_remove_include_errors = 1
-"
-" Use the variable 'g:syntastic_objcpp_errorformat' to override the default error
-" format:
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_errorformat = '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m'
-"
-" Set your compiler executable with e.g. (defaults to gcc)
-"
-"   let g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler = 'clang'
-
 if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_objcpp_gcc_checker')
     finish
 endif
@@ -93,85 +30,23 @@ if !exists('g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler_options = '-std=gnu99'
 endif
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_objcpp_config_file')
-    let g:syntastic_objcpp_config_file = '.syntastic_objcpp_config'
-endif
-
 function! SyntaxCheckers_objcpp_gcc_GetLocList()
-    let makeprg = g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler . ' -x objective-c++ -fsyntax-only -lobjc'
-    let errorformat =
-        \ '%-G%f:%s:,' .
-        \ '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#(Each undeclared identifier is reported only%.%#,' .
-        \ '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#for each function it appears%.%#,' .
-        \ '%-GIn file included%.%#,'.
-        \ '%-G %#from %f:%l\,,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %tarning: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l:%c: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l: %trror: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l: %tarning: %m,' .
-        \ '%f:%l: %m'
-
-    if exists('g:syntastic_objcpp_errorformat')
-        let errorformat = g:syntastic_objcpp_errorformat
-    endif
-
-    " add optional user-defined compiler options
-    let makeprg .= g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler_options
-
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-               \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('objcpp')
-
-    " determine whether to parse header files as well
-    if expand('%') =~? '\.h$'
-        if exists('g:syntastic_objcpp_check_header')
-            let makeprg = g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler .
-                        \ ' -x objective-c++-header ' .
-                        \ ' -c ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') .
-                        \ ' ' . g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler_options .
-                        \ ' ' . syntastic#c#GetIncludeDirs('objcpp')
-        else
-            return []
-        endif
-    endif
-
-    " check if the user manually set some cflags
-    if !exists('b:syntastic_objcpp_cflags')
-        " check whether to search for include files at all
-        if !exists('g:syntastic_objcpp_no_include_search') ||
-                    \ g:syntastic_objcpp_no_include_search != 1
-            " refresh the include file search if desired
-            if exists('g:syntastic_objcpp_auto_refresh_includes') &&
-                        \ g:syntastic_objcpp_auto_refresh_includes != 0
-                let makeprg .= syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-            else
-                " search for header includes if not cached already
-                if !exists('b:syntastic_objcpp_includes')
-                    let b:syntastic_objcpp_includes = syntastic#c#SearchHeaders()
-                endif
-                let makeprg .= b:syntastic_objcpp_includes
-            endif
-        endif
-    else
-        " use the user-defined cflags
-        let makeprg .= b:syntastic_objcpp_cflags
-    endif
-
-    " add optional config file parameters
-    let makeprg .= ' ' . syntastic#c#ReadConfig(g:syntastic_objcpp_config_file)
-
-    " process makeprg
-    let errors = SyntasticMake({ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-                \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
-
-    " filter the processed errors if desired
-    if exists('g:syntastic_objcpp_remove_include_errors') &&
-                \ g:syntastic_objcpp_remove_include_errors != 0
-        return filter(errors,
-                    \ 'has_key(v:val, "bufnr") && v:val["bufnr"]=='.bufnr(''))
-    else
-        return errors
-    endif
+    return syntastic#c#GetLocList('objcpp', 'gcc', {
+        \ 'errorformat':
+        \     '%-G%f:%s:,' .
+        \     '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#(Each undeclared identifier is reported only%.%#,' .
+        \     '%-G%f:%l: %#error: %#for each function it appears%.%#,' .
+        \     '%-GIn file included%.%#,'.
+        \     '%-G %#from %f:%l\,,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %trror: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %tarning: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l:%c: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %trror: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %tarning: %m,' .
+        \     '%f:%l: %m',
+        \ 'main_flags': '-x objective-c++ -fsyntax-only',
+        \ 'header_flags': '-x objective-c++-header -lobjc',
+        \ 'header_names': '\.h$' })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ocaml/camlp4o.vim b/syntax_checkers/ocaml/camlp4o.vim
index ebec5cb7..66f21d81 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ocaml/camlp4o.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ocaml/camlp4o.vim
@@ -136,9 +136,9 @@ function s:GetOtherMakeprg()
         " ocamlyacc output can't be redirected, so use menhir
         let makeprg = "menhir --only-preprocess " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%') . " >" . syntastic#util#DevNull()
     elseif match(extension,'mll') >= 0 && executable("ocamllex")
-        let makeprg = "ocamllex -q " . syntastic#c#GetNullDevice() . " " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
+        let makeprg = "ocamllex -q " . syntastic#c#NullOutput() . " " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
     else
-        let makeprg = "camlp4o " . syntastic#c#GetNullDevice() . " " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
+        let makeprg = "camlp4o " . syntastic#c#NullOutput() . " " . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
     endif
 
     return makeprg
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/verilog/verilator.vim b/syntax_checkers/verilog/verilator.vim
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0bad01b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syntax_checkers/verilog/verilator.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+"============================================================================
+"File:        verilator.vim
+"Description: Syntax checking plugin for syntastic.vim
+"Maintainer:  Kocha <kocha dot lsifrontend at gmail dot com>
+"============================================================================
+
+if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_verilog_verilator_checker")
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_verilog_verilator_checker = 1
+
+if !exists('g:syntastic_verilog_compiler')
+    let g:syntastic_verilog_compiler = 'verilator'
+endif
+
+let s:save_cpo = &cpo
+set cpo&vim
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_verilog_verilator_IsAvailable()
+    return executable(g:syntastic_verilog_compiler)
+endfunction
+
+if !exists('g:syntastic_verilog_compiler_options')
+    let g:syntastic_verilog_compiler_options = '-Wall'
+endif
+
+function! SyntaxCheckers_verilog_verilator_GetLocList()
+    return syntastic#c#GetLocList('verilog', 'verilator', {
+        \ 'errorformat':
+        \     '%%%trror-%\=%\w%#: %f:%l: %m,' .
+        \     '%%%tarning-%\=%\w%#: %f:%l: %m',
+        \ 'main_flags': '--lint-only' })
+endfunction
+
+call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
+    \ 'filetype': 'verilog',
+    \ 'name': 'verilator'})
+
+let &cpo = s:save_cpo
+unlet s:save_cpo
+
+" vim: set et sts=4 sw=4: