diff --git a/Taskfile.yml b/Taskfile.yml
index b61c7d4a4..49e1b9afc 100644
--- a/Taskfile.yml
+++ b/Taskfile.yml
@@ -35,13 +35,15 @@ tasks:
       - rm sena-3.zip
 
   # docker
-  up: # e.g. task up -- otel-collector --build
+  up:
+    desc: 'E.g.: task up -- otel-collector --build'
     cmds:
       - docker compose up --wait {{.CLI_ARGS}}
   down:
     cmds:
       - docker compose down
-  restart: # e.g. task restart -- lexbox-api
+  restart:
+    desc: E.g. task restart -- lexbox-api
     cmds:
       - docker compose restart {{.CLI_ARGS}}
 
@@ -69,7 +71,8 @@ tasks:
       - dotnet test --filter Category=Integration
 
       # dev
-  infra-up: # infrastructure for our ui and api
+  infra-up:
+    desc: Starts infrastructure for our ui and api
     vars:
       WAIT: '{{default true .WAIT}}'
     cmds:
@@ -90,17 +93,16 @@ tasks:
     interactive: true
 
   # ui
-  ui-dev: # The single command for ui development
-    aliases:
-      - ui
+  ui-dev:
+    aliases: [ ui ]
+    desc: The single command for local ui development
     dir: ./frontend
     deps: [ backend-up, ui-down ]
     interactive: true
     cmds:
       - task: ui-only
   ui-only:
-    aliases:
-      - uio
+    aliases: [ uio ]
     dir: ./frontend
     deps: [ ui-install ]
     interactive: true
@@ -123,9 +125,9 @@ tasks:
     cmds:
       - pnpm dlx playwright codegen staging.languagedepot.org
       # api
-  api-dev: # The single command for api development
-    aliases:
-      - api
+  api-dev:
+    aliases: [ api ]
+    desc: The single command for local api development
     dir: ./backend/LexBoxApi
     deps: [ infra-up, api-stop ]
     interactive: true
@@ -145,13 +147,40 @@ tasks:
     cmds:
       - dotnet run migrate --environment "Development"
 
-  # usage: task add-migration -- "migration name"
   add-migration:
+    desc: 'usage: task add-migration -- "migration name". Often followed by `task database-update`.\n'
     dir: ./backend/LexBoxApi
     cmds:
       - dotnet ef migrations add --project ../LexData/LexData.csproj --startup-project LexBoxApi.csproj --context LexData.LexBoxDbContext --output-dir Migrations {{.CLI_ARGS}}
-# this will remove the last migration, don't remove migrations that have been pushed to production, but you can remove ones you created locally.
+
   remove-last-migration:
+    desc: "This will remove the last migration, don't remove migrations that have been pushed to production, but you can remove ones you created locally.\n"
     dir: ./backend/LexBoxApi
     cmds:
       - dotnet ef migrations remove --project ../LexData/LexData.csproj --startup-project LexBoxApi.csproj --context LexData.LexBoxDbContext
+
+  db-update:
+    desc: "Runs any migrations that haven't yet been applied.\n"
+    dir: ./backend/LexBoxApi
+    cmds:
+      - dotnet ef database update --project ../LexData/LexData.csproj --startup-project LexBoxApi.csproj --context LexData.LexBoxDbContext
+
+  svelte-check:
+    desc: "Runs the frontend code checks done in CI. Note: the app must be built.\n"
+    aliases: [ sc ]
+    dir: ./frontend
+    cmds:
+      - pnpm run check
+      - pnpm run lint
+
+  svelte:
+    desc: "Directory independent access to pnpm. E.g. `task svelte -- install`\n"
+    aliases: [ s ]
+    dir: ./frontend
+    cmd: pnpm {{.CLI_ARGS}}
+
+  dotnet:
+    desc: "Directory independent access to api dotnet. E.g. `task dotnet -- restore`\n"
+    aliases: [ dn ]
+    dir: ./backend/LexBoxApi
+    cmd: dotnet {{.CLI_ARGS}}