diff --git a/benchmark/README b/benchmark/README
deleted file mode 100644
index 218c3329..00000000
--- a/benchmark/README
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-VIPS SMP benchmark
-------------------
-
-This is adapted from the system used to generate images for a Print On Demand project at The National Gallery.
-
-Images from a 10k by 10k studio digital camera are colour processed, resized,
-cropped and sharpened. 
-
-This thing was originally processing images off a remote server over a 100Mbit/s
-network. No attempt was made to make it quick (there was no point): you 
-could make it a lot faster very easily. But it still serves as a benchmark which 
-has been tested over many years. It is getting to < 1s per run now though!
-
-See
-
- https://github.com/libvips/libvips/wiki/Benchmarks
-
-for results. Feel free to contribute your own.
diff --git a/benchmark/benchmarkn-osx.sh b/benchmark/benchmarkn-osx.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 8642383a..00000000
--- a/benchmark/benchmarkn-osx.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-uname -a
-gcc --version
-vips --version
-
-# how large an image do you want to process? 
-# sample2.v is 290x442 pixels ... replicate this many times horizontally and 
-# vertically to get a highres image for the benchmark
-tile=13
-
-# how complex an operation do you want to run?
-# this sets the number of copies of the benchmark we chain together:
-# higher values run more slowly and are more likely to be CPU-bound
-chain=1
-
-echo building test image ...
-echo "tile=$tile"
-vips im_replicate sample2.v temp.v $tile $tile
-if [ $? != 0 ]; then
-  echo "build of test image failed -- out of disc space?"
-  exit 1
-fi
-echo -n "test image is" `vipsheader -f width temp.v` 
-echo " by" `vipsheader -f height temp.v` "pixels"
-max_cpus=`vips im_concurrency_get`
-
-echo "max cpus = $max_cpus"
-echo "starting benchmark ..."
-echo /usr/bin/time vips \
-  --vips-concurrency=xx \
-  im_benchmarkn temp.v temp2.v $chain
-
-for((cpus = 1; cpus <= max_cpus; cpus++)); do
-  echo cpus = $cpus 
-  /usr/bin/time vips \
-	  --vips-concurrency=$cpus \
-	  im_benchmarkn temp.v temp2.v $chain 2>&1
-  /usr/bin/time vips \
-	  --vips-concurrency=$cpus \
-	  im_benchmarkn temp.v temp2.v $chain 2>&1
-  /usr/bin/time vips \
-	  --vips-concurrency=$cpus \
-	  im_benchmarkn temp.v temp2.v $chain 2>&1
-done
diff --git a/benchmark/benchmarkn.sh b/benchmark/benchmarkn.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index c3b8cc21..00000000
--- a/benchmark/benchmarkn.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-uname -a
-gcc --version
-vips --version
-
-# how large an image do you want to process? 
-# sample2.v is 290x442 pixels ... replicate this many times horizontally and 
-# vertically to get a highres image for the benchmark
-tile=13
-
-# how complex an operation do you want to run?
-# this sets the number of copies of the benchmark we chain together:
-# higher values run more slowly and are more likely to be CPU-bound
-chain=1
-
-echo building test image ...
-echo "tile=$tile"
-vips im_replicate sample2.v temp.v $tile $tile
-if [ $? != 0 ]; then
-  echo "build of test image failed -- out of disc space?"
-  exit 1
-fi
-echo -n "test image is" `vipsheader -f width temp.v` 
-echo " by" `vipsheader -f height temp.v` "pixels"
-max_cpus=`vips im_concurrency_get`
-
-echo "max cpus = $max_cpus"
-echo "starting benchmark ..."
-echo /usr/bin/time -f %e vips \
-  --vips-concurrency=xx \
-  im_benchmarkn temp.v temp2.v $chain
-echo reported real-time is best of three runs
-echo cpus real-time
-
-for((cpus = 1; cpus <= max_cpus; cpus++)); do
-  t1=`/usr/bin/time -f %e vips \
-	  --vips-concurrency=$cpus \
-	  im_benchmarkn temp.v temp2.v $chain 2>&1`
-  if [ $? != 0 ]; then
-    echo "benchmark failed -- install problem?"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  t2=`/usr/bin/time -f %e vips \
-	  --vips-concurrency=$cpus \
-	  im_benchmarkn temp.v temp2.v $chain 2>&1`
-  t3=`/usr/bin/time -f %e vips \
-	  --vips-concurrency=$cpus \
-	  im_benchmarkn temp.v temp2.v $chain 2>&1`
-
-  # echo $t1 $t2 $t3
-
-  if [[ $t2 < $t1 ]]; then
-	  t1=$t2
-  fi
-  if [[ $t3 < $t1 ]]; then
-	  t1=$t3
-  fi
-  echo $cpus $t1
-done
diff --git a/benchmark/sample2.v b/benchmark/sample2.v
deleted file mode 100644
index 2f0749d0..00000000
Binary files a/benchmark/sample2.v and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/test/test_cli.sh b/test/test_cli.sh
index f8c6a0ea..6aa2636b 100755
--- a/test/test_cli.sh
+++ b/test/test_cli.sh
@@ -7,15 +7,6 @@
 
 . ./variables.sh
 
-# verify that the version number on the wrapper script is correct
-version=$($vips --version)
-major=$(echo $version | cut -b6- | cut -d. -f1)
-minor=$(echo $version | cut -b6- | cut -d. -f2)
-if ! test -f $top_srcdir/tools/vips-$major.$minor; then
-	echo version number in vips wrapper is not correct
-	exit 1
-fi
-
 # is a difference beyond a threshold? return 0 (meaning all ok) or 1 (meaning
 # error, or outside threshold)
 # 
diff --git a/tools/batch_crop.in b/tools/batch_crop.in
deleted file mode 100644
index 414b18b4..00000000
--- a/tools/batch_crop.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,46 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# Crop a set of image files
-#
-# usage:
-#
-#       example% batch_crop left top width height image1 image2 etc
-#
-# writes output images crop_image1, crop_image2
-
-# default prefix
-VIPSHOME=${VIPSHOME-@prefix@}
-
-name=`basename $0`
-
-# check args
-if [ $# -lt 5 ]; then
-	echo "usage: $name left top width height image1 image2 ..."
-	echo 
-	echo "$name writes a new set of images called crop_image1, "
-	echo "crop_image2, etc., each cropped to the specified size"
-
-	exit 1
-fi
-
-left=$1
-top=$2
-width=$3
-height=$4
-shift 4
-
-# convert each argument
-for i in $*; do
-	dir=`dirname $i`
-	file=`basename $i`
-	new=$dir/crop_$file
-	echo "Cropping $file as $new ..." 
-
-        if [ -f $new ]; then
-                echo "$new exists, skipping"
-        else
-                $VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_extract_area $i $new $left $top $width $height
-        fi
-done
-
-
diff --git a/tools/batch_image_convert.in b/tools/batch_image_convert.in
deleted file mode 100644
index b72865b1..00000000
--- a/tools/batch_image_convert.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# Convert a set of image files to new file format
-#
-# usage:
-#
-#       example% batch_image_convert <new image type> image1 image2 etc
-#
-# writes output images image1.* and image2.* where * is the new file type.
-
-# default prefix
-VIPSHOME=${VIPSHOME-@prefix@}
-
-name=`basename $0`
-
-# check args
-if [ $# -lt 2 ]; then
-	echo "usage: $name <new image type> image1 image2 ..."
-	echo 
-	echo "$name uses VIPS to convert a group of image files of"
-	echo "any image format into a new group of images all of the same"
-	echo "image format. VIPS can read almost any standard image format"
-	echo "but it can only write VIPS, JPEG, TIFF, PPM/PBM/PGM or PNG."
-
-	exit 1
-fi
-
-type=$1
-shift
-
-# convert each argument
-for i in $*; do
-	# drop the suffix on the filename
-	base=${i%*.*}
-	echo "Converting $i to $base.$type ..." 
-
-        if [ -f $base.$type ]; then
-                echo "$base.$type already exists skiping $i"
-        else
-                $VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_copy $i $base.$type
-        fi
-done
-
-
diff --git a/tools/batch_rubber_sheet.in b/tools/batch_rubber_sheet.in
deleted file mode 100644
index d12f1286..00000000
--- a/tools/batch_rubber_sheet.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# Corrects a set of image files for lens distortion using a preprepared
-# recombination matrix 
-
-# usage:
-#
-#       example% batch_rubber_sheet matrix_file image1 image2 ..
-#
-# writes output images rsc_image1.v, rsc_image2.v ..
-
-# default prefix
-VIPSHOME=${VIPSHOME-@prefix@}
-
-# get name we were run as
-name=`basename $0`
-
-# check args
-if [ $# -lt 2 ]; then
-	echo "usage: $name matrix image1 image2 ..."
-	echo "writes rsc_image1, rsc_image2, ..."
-	echo
-	echo "$name uses VIPS to correct a set of images for lens distortion"
-	echo "using a matrix calculated by the 'resample' function."
-
-        exit 1
-fi
-
-rec=$1
-shift
-
-# transform each argument
-for i in $*; do
-	echo "Transforming $i to rsc_$i ..."
-
-	# bilinear interp., don't wrap edges
-	$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_transform $i rsc_$i $rec 1 0
-done
-
diff --git a/tools/light_correct.in b/tools/light_correct.in
deleted file mode 100644
index a96f400e..00000000
--- a/tools/light_correct.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,57 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-# correct a set of files for illumination errors
-# usage: 
-#
-#	example% light_correct grey.v im1.v im2.v 
-#
-# writes output images ic_im1.v and ic_im2.v 
-
-# default prefix
-VIPSHOME=${VIPSHOME-@prefix@}
-
-# get name we were run as
-name=$0
-bname=`basename $name`
-
-# names of our temp files
-t1=light_correct_temp1
-t2=light_correct_temp2
-
-# check args
-if [ $# -lt 2 ]; then
-	echo "${bname}: usage: $bname <grey> <image1> <image2> ..."
-	exit 1
-fi
-
-echo "Preparing grey ..."
-grey=$1
-shift
-
-# find image size
-width=`$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_header_int Xsize $grey`
-height=`$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_header_int Ysize $grey`
-
-# smooth the grey out
-$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_shrink $grey $t1.v 20 20
-$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_resize_linear $t1.v $t2.v $width $height
-
-# and make the correction image
-mean=`$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_avg $t2.v`
-$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_powtra $t2.v $t1.v -1
-$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_lintra $mean $t1.v 0 $t2.v 
-
-# grey correct images in order
-for i in "$@"; do
-	echo "Correcting $i as ic_$i ..."
-	$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_multiply $t2.v "$i" $t1.v
-	$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_clip $t1.v "ic_$i"
-
-	# remove the .desc as well
-        name=`echo $name | sed -e 's/\.[^\.]*//'`
-        /bin/rm -f "ic_$name.desc"
-done
-
-# more cleanup
-echo "Cleaning up ..."
-/bin/rm -f $t1.v $t1.desc
-/bin/rm -f $t2.v $t2.desc
diff --git a/tools/meson.build b/tools/meson.build
index 27782106..7dca18fe 100644
--- a/tools/meson.build
+++ b/tools/meson.build
@@ -13,30 +13,8 @@ foreach tool : tools
     )
 endforeach
 
-scripts = [
-    'light_correct.in',
-    'shrink_width.in',
-    'batch_image_convert.in',
-    'batch_rubber_sheet.in',
-    'batch_crop.in',
-]
-
-script_data = configuration_data()
-script_data.set('prefix', get_option('prefix'))
-foreach script : scripts
-    configure_file(
-        input: script,
-        output: '@BASENAME@',
-        install: true,
-        install_dir: get_option('prefix') / get_option('bindir'),
-        install_mode: 'rwxr-xr-x',
-        configuration: script_data
-    )
-endforeach
-
 install_data(
     'vipsprofile',
-    'vips-8.13',
     install_dir: get_option('prefix') / get_option('bindir'),
     install_mode: 'rwxr-xr-x',
 )
diff --git a/tools/shrink_width.in b/tools/shrink_width.in
deleted file mode 100644
index c9ba5764..00000000
--- a/tools/shrink_width.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-# shrink to a target width
-
-# default prefix
-VIPSHOME=${VIPSHOME-@prefix@}
-
-name=$0
-bname=`basename $0`
-
-if [ $# != 3 ]; then
-	echo "${bname}: usage: $bname <in> <out> <target width>"
-	exit 1
-fi
-
-inwidth=`$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_header_int Xsize $1`
-factor=`(echo scale=10; echo $inwidth / $3) | bc`
-
-$VIPSHOME/bin/vips im_shrink $1 $2 $factor $factor
diff --git a/tools/vips-8.13 b/tools/vips-8.13
deleted file mode 100755
index 3fa1f31e..00000000
--- a/tools/vips-8.13
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,129 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-#
-# Start script for VIPS
-
-# need extended regexps, hence we insist on bash above
-shopt -s extglob 
-# set -x
-
-# name we were invoked as
-bname=`basename $0`
-
-# check args
-if [[ $# < 1 ]]; then
-	echo "usage: $bname [command ...]"
-	echo "examples:"
-	echo "    $bname man vipsthumbnail"
-	echo "    $bname vips invert /pics/tmp/fred.jpg /pics/tmp/fred2.tif"
-	exit 1
-fi
-
-# prepend a path component to an environment variable
-# be careful to avoid trailing : characters if the var is not defined, they
-# can cause security problems
-function prepend_var () {
-	# we have to use eval to do double indirection, I think
-	eval value="\$$1"
-	if [ "x$value" = x ]; then
-		export $1=$2
-	else 
-		export $1=$2:$value
-	fi
-}
-
-# try to extract the prefix from a path to an executable
-# eg. "/home/john/vips/bin/fred" -> "/home/john/vips"
-function find_prefix () {
-	# try to canonicalise the path
-	ep_canon=$1
-
-	# relative path? prefix with pwd
-	if [ ${ep_canon:0:1} != "/" ]; then
-		ep_canon=`pwd`/$ep_canon
-	fi
-
-	# replace any "/./" with "/"
-	ep_canon=${ep_canon//\/.\//\/}
-
-	# any "xxx/../" can go 
-	ep_canon=${ep_canon//+([^\/])\/..\//}
-
-	# trailing "xxx/.." can go 
-	ep_canon=${ep_canon/%+([^\/])\/../}
-
-	# remove trailing "/bin/xxx" to get the prefix
-	ep_prefix=${ep_canon/%\/bin\/+([^\/])/}
-
-	# was there anything to remove in that final step? if not, the path 
-	# must be wrong
-	if [ x$ep_prefix == x$ep_canon ]; then
-		return 1
-	fi
-
-	echo $ep_prefix;
-
-	return 0
-}
-
-# try to guess the install prefix from $0
-function guess_prefix () {
-	# $0 is a file? must be us
-	if [ -f $0 ]; then
-		find_prefix $0
-		return 
-	fi
-
-	# nope, extract program name from $0 and try looking along the
-	# searchpath for it
-	name=`basename $0`
-
-	fred=$PATH
-	while [ x$fred != x"" ]; do
-		path=${fred/:*/}/$name
-		fred=${fred/*([^:])?(:)/}
-
-		if [ -f $path ]; then
-			find_prefix $path
-			return 
-		fi
-	done
-
-	# not found on path either ... give up!
-	return 1
-}
-
-prefix=`guess_prefix`;
-
-if [ $? != 0 ]; then
-	echo "unable to find $0 from the file name, or from your PATH"
-	echo "either run directly, or add the install bin area to "
-	echo "your PATH"
-	exit 1
-fi
-
-export VIPSHOME=$prefix
-
-# add VIPSHOME to various paths
-prepend_var MANPATH $VIPSHOME/share/man
-
-case `uname` in
-HPUX)
-	libvar=SHLIB_PATH 
-	;;
-
-Darwin)
-	libvar=DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH
-	;;
-
-*)
-	libvar=LD_LIBRARY_PATH
-	;;
-esac
-prepend_var $libvar $VIPSHOME/lib
-
-prepend_var PATH $VIPSHOME/bin
-prepend_var PKG_CONFIG_PATH $VIPSHOME/lib/pkgconfig
-prepend_var GI_TYPELIB_PATH $VIPSHOME/lib/girepository-1.0
-
-# run, passing in args we were passed
-exec $*