diff --git a/EESSI-pilot-install-software.sh b/EESSI-pilot-install-software.sh
index 0c832fdee9..7312818a2c 100755
--- a/EESSI-pilot-install-software.sh
+++ b/EESSI-pilot-install-software.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,52 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 #
 # Script to install EESSI pilot software stack (version 2021.12)
-#
+
+# see example parsing of command line arguments at
+#   https://wiki.bash-hackers.org/scripting/posparams#using_a_while_loop
+#   https://stackoverflow.com/questions/192249/how-do-i-parse-command-line-arguments-in-bash
+
+display_help() {
+  echo "usage: $0 [OPTIONS]"
+  echo "  -g | --generic         -  instructs script to build for generic architecture target"
+  echo "  -h | --help            -  display this usage information"
+  echo "  -x | --http-proxy URL  -  provides URL for the environment variable http_proxy"
+  echo "  -y | --https-proxy URL -  provides URL for the environment variable https_proxy"
+}
+
+POSITIONAL_ARGS=()
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case $1 in
+    -g|--generic)
+      EASYBUILD_OPTARCH="GENERIC"
+      shift
+      ;;
+    -h|--help)
+      display_help  # Call your function
+      # no shifting needed here, we're done.
+      exit 0
+      ;;
+    -x|--http-proxy)
+      export http_proxy="$2"
+      shift 2
+      ;;
+    -y|--https-proxy)
+      export https_proxy="$2"
+      shift 2
+      ;;
+    -*|--*)
+      echo "Error: Unknown option: $1" >&2
+      exit 1
+      ;;
+    *)  # No more options
+      POSITIONAL_ARGS+=("$1") # save positional arg
+      shift
+      ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+set -- "${POSITIONAL_ARGS[@]}"
 
 TOPDIR=$(dirname $(realpath $0))
 
@@ -39,7 +84,7 @@ export PYTHONPYCACHEPREFIX=$TMPDIR/pycache
 DETECTION_PARAMETERS=''
 GENERIC=0
 EB='eb'
-if [[ "$1" == "--generic" || "$EASYBUILD_OPTARCH" == "GENERIC" ]]; then
+if [[ "$EASYBUILD_OPTARCH" == "GENERIC" ]]; then
     echo_yellow ">> GENERIC build requested, taking appropriate measures!"
     DETECTION_PARAMETERS="$DETECTION_PARAMETERS --generic"
     GENERIC=1
@@ -305,6 +350,8 @@ fail_msg="Installation of WRF failed, that's unexpected..."
 OMPI_MCA_pml=ucx UCX_TLS=tcp $EB WRF-3.9.1.1-foss-2020a-dmpar.eb -r --include-easyblocks-from-pr 2648
 check_exit_code $? "${ok_msg}" "${fail_msg}"
 
+### add packages here
+
 echo ">> Creating/updating Lmod cache..."
 export LMOD_RC="${EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH}/.lmod/lmodrc.lua"
 if [ ! -f $LMOD_RC ]; then
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 508763c090..4d463b1c5b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,21 +6,17 @@ See also https://eessi.github.io/docs/software_layer.
 
 ## Pilot software stack
 
-A script that sets up your environment to start using the 2020.08 version of the EESSI pilot software stack
-is available at `EESSI-pilot-2020.08_init.sh`.
-
-This script should be copied to `/cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/2020.08/init/bash` if it is not available there already,
-and sourced to set up your environment:
+You can set up your environment by sourcing the init script:
 
 ```
-$ source /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/2020.08/init/bash
-Found EESSI pilot repo @ /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/2020.08!
+$ source /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/versions/2021.12/init/bash
+Found EESSI pilot repo @ /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/versions/2021.12!
 Derived subdirectory for software layer: x86_64/intel/haswell
 Using x86_64/intel/haswell subdirectory for software layer (HARDCODED)
 Initializing Lmod...
-Prepending /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/2020.08/software/x86_64/intel/haswell/modules/all to $MODULEPATH...
+Prepending /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/versions/2021.12/software/x86_64/intel/haswell/modules/all to $MODULEPATH...
 Environment set up to use EESSI pilot software stack, have fun!
-[EESSI pilot 2020.08] $
+[EESSI pilot 2021.12] $
 ```
 
 # License
diff --git a/build_container.sh b/build_container.sh
index e9fe593d92..1fffde9c75 100755
--- a/build_container.sh
+++ b/build_container.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
     attr -s test -V test $testfile > /dev/null
     if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
         echo "ERROR: $EESSI_TMPDIR does not support extended attributes!" >&2
-       exit 2
+        #exit 2
     else
         rm $testfile
     fi
diff --git a/install_software_layer.sh b/install_software_layer.sh
index b045d75f90..e0b2f785d5 100755
--- a/install_software_layer.sh
+++ b/install_software_layer.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 export EESSI_PILOT_VERSION='2021.12'
-./run_in_compat_layer_env.sh ./EESSI-pilot-install-software.sh
+./run_in_compat_layer_env.sh ./EESSI-pilot-install-software.sh "$@"