diff --git a/bigchaindb/__init__.py b/bigchaindb/__init__.py
index 6a462ab7..3c94ca38 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/__init__.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/__init__.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ config = {
     'server': {
         # Note: this section supports all the Gunicorn settings:
         #       - http://docs.gunicorn.org/en/stable/settings.html
-        'bind': '0.0.0.0:9984',
+        'bind': 'localhost:9984',
         'workers': None, # if none, the value will be cpu_count * 2 + 1
         'threads': None, # if none, the value will be cpu_count * 2 + 1
     },
diff --git a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py
index 15092db5..1907c185 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
-"""Command line interface for the `bigchain` command."""
-
+"""Implementation of the `bigchaindb` command,
+which is one of the commands in the BigchainDB
+command-line interface.
+"""
 
 import os
 import sys
@@ -38,7 +40,7 @@ def run_configure(args, skip_if_exists=False):
     """Run a script to configure the current node.
 
     Args:
-        skip_if_exists (bool): skip the function if a conf file already exists
+        skip_if_exists (bool): skip the function if a config file already exists
     """
     config_path = args.config or bigchaindb.config_utils.CONFIG_DEFAULT_PATH
     config_file_exists = os.path.exists(config_path)
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ def run_configure(args, skip_if_exists=False):
 
     if config_file_exists and not args.yes:
         want = input('Config file `{}` exists, do you want to override it? '
-                     '(cannot be undone) [y/n]: '.format(config_path))
+                     '(cannot be undone) [y/N]: '.format(config_path))
         if want != 'y':
             return
 
@@ -56,25 +58,49 @@ def run_configure(args, skip_if_exists=False):
     conf = copy.deepcopy(bigchaindb._config)
 
     print('Generating keypair')
-    conf['keypair']['private'], conf['keypair']['public'] = crypto.generate_key_pair()
+    conf['keypair']['private'], conf['keypair']['public'] = \
+        crypto.generate_key_pair()
 
     if not args.yes:
         for key in ('bind', ):
             val = conf['server'][key]
-            conf['server'][key] = input('API Server {}? (default `{}`): '.format(key, val)) or val
+            conf['server'][key] = \
+                input('API Server {}? (default `{}`): '.format(key, val)) \
+                or val
 
         for key in ('host', 'port', 'name'):
             val = conf['database'][key]
-            conf['database'][key] = input('Database {}? (default `{}`): '.format(key, val)) or val
+            conf['database'][key] = \
+                input('Database {}? (default `{}`): '.format(key, val)) \
+                or val
 
         for key in ('host', 'port', 'rate'):
             val = conf['statsd'][key]
-            conf['statsd'][key] = input('Statsd {}? (default `{}`): '.format(key, val)) or val
+            conf['statsd'][key] = \
+                input('Statsd {}? (default `{}`): '.format(key, val)) \
+                or val
 
     bigchaindb.config_utils.write_config(conf, config_path)
+    print('Configuration written to {}'.format(config_path))
     print('Ready to go!')
 
 
+def run_export_my_pubkey(args):
+    """Export this node's public key to standard output
+    """
+    logger.debug('bigchaindb args = {}'.format(args))
+    bigchaindb.config_utils.autoconfigure(filename=args.config, force=True)
+    pubkey = bigchaindb.config['keypair']['public']
+    if pubkey is not None:
+        print(pubkey)
+    else:
+        sys.exit("This node's public key wasn't set anywhere "
+                 "so it can't be exported")
+        # raises SystemExit exception
+        # message is sent to stderr
+        # exits with exit code 1 (signals tha an error happened)
+
+
 def run_init(args):
     """Initialize the database"""
     bigchaindb.config_utils.autoconfigure(filename=args.config, force=True)
@@ -103,16 +129,18 @@ def run_start(args):
     except DatabaseAlreadyExists:
         pass
     except KeypairNotFoundException:
-        sys.exit('Cannot start BigchainDB, no keypair found. Did you run `bigchaindb configure`?')
+        sys.exit("Can't start BigchainDB, no keypair found. "
+                 'Did you run `bigchaindb configure`?')
 
     processes = Processes()
-    logger.info('Start bigchaindb main process')
+    logger.info('Starting BigchainDB main process')
     processes.start()
 
 
 def main():
-    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Control your bigchain node.',
-                                     parents=[base_parser])
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description='Control your BigchainDB node.',
+        parents=[base_parser])
 
     # all the commands are contained in the subparsers object,
     # the command selected by the user will be stored in `args.command`
@@ -121,22 +149,28 @@ def main():
     subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(title='Commands',
                                        dest='command')
 
+    # parser for writing a config file
     subparsers.add_parser('configure',
-                          help='Prepare the config file and create the node keypair')
+                          help='Prepare the config file '
+                               'and create the node keypair')
 
-    # parser for database level commands
+    # parsers for showing/exporting config values
+    subparsers.add_parser('show-config',
+                          help='Show the current configuration')
+
+    subparsers.add_parser('export-my-pubkey',
+                          help="Export this node's public key")
+
+    # parser for database-level commands
     subparsers.add_parser('init',
                           help='Init the database')
 
     subparsers.add_parser('drop',
                           help='Drop the database')
 
-    # TODO how about just config, or info?
-    subparsers.add_parser('show-config',
-                          help='Show the current configuration')
-
+    # parser for starting BigchainDB
     subparsers.add_parser('start',
-                          help='Start bigchain')
+                          help='Start BigchainDB')
 
     start(parser, globals())
 
diff --git a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain_benchmark.py b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain_benchmark.py
index 2bac4c08..177f0934 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain_benchmark.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain_benchmark.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-'''Command line interface for the `bigchain-benchmark` command.'''
+"""Command line interface for the `bigchaindb-benchmark` command."""
+
 import logging
 import argparse
 
diff --git a/bigchaindb/commands/utils.py b/bigchaindb/commands/utils.py
index 4714de5a..31d4a46d 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/commands/utils.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/commands/utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-"""Utility functions and basic common arguments for ``argparse.ArgumentParser``."""
+"""Utility functions and basic common arguments
+for ``argparse.ArgumentParser``.
+"""
 
 import argparse
 import multiprocessing as mp
@@ -7,7 +9,8 @@ import multiprocessing as mp
 def start(parser, scope):
     """Utility function to execute a subcommand.
 
-    The function will look up in the ``scope`` if there is a function called ``run_<parser.args.command>``
+    The function will look up in the ``scope``
+    if there is a function called ``run_<parser.args.command>``
     and will run it using ``parser.args`` as first positional argument.
 
     Args:
@@ -15,7 +18,8 @@ def start(parser, scope):
         scope (dict): map containing (eventually) the functions to be called.
 
     Raises:
-        NotImplementedError: if ``scope`` doesn't contain a function called ``run_<parser.args.command>``.
+        NotImplementedError: if ``scope`` doesn't contain a function called
+                             ``run_<parser.args.command>``.
     """
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
@@ -29,7 +33,8 @@ def start(parser, scope):
 
     # if no command has been found, raise a `NotImplementedError`
     if not func:
-        raise NotImplementedError('Command `{}` not yet implemented'.format(args.command))
+        raise NotImplementedError('Command `{}` not yet implemented'.
+                                  format(args.command))
 
     args.multiprocess = getattr(args, 'multiprocess', False)
 
diff --git a/bigchaindb/config_utils.py b/bigchaindb/config_utils.py
index 53eb7954..98be7fc9 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/config_utils.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/config_utils.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-"""Utils to configure Bigchain.
+"""Utils to configure BigchainDB.
 
 By calling `file_config`, the global configuration (stored in
-`bigchain.config`) will be updated with the values contained in the
-configuration file.
+`$HOME/.bigchaindb`) will be updated with the values contained
+in the configuration file.
 
 Note that there is a precedence in reading configuration values:
  - local config file;
@@ -54,7 +54,20 @@ def map_leafs(func, mapping):
 # Thanks Alex <3
 # http://stackoverflow.com/a/3233356/597097
 def update(d, u):
-    """Recursively update a mapping."""
+    """Recursively update a mapping (i.e. a dict, list, set, or tuple).
+
+    Conceptually, d and u are two sets trees (with nodes and edges).
+    This function goes through all the nodes of u. For each node in u,
+    if d doesn't have that node yet, then this function adds the node from u,
+    otherwise this function overwrites the node already in d with u's node.
+
+    Args:
+        d (mapping): The mapping to overwrite and add to.
+        u (mapping): The mapping to read for changes.
+
+    Returns:
+        mapping: An updated version of d (updated by u).
+    """
     for k, v in u.items():
         if isinstance(v, collections.Mapping):
             r = update(d.get(k, {}), v)
@@ -65,19 +78,21 @@ def update(d, u):
 
 
 def file_config(filename=None):
-    """Returns the values found in a configuration file.
+    """Returns the config values found in a configuration file.
 
     Args:
-        filename (str): the JSON file with the configuration. Defaults to ``None``.
-            If ``None``, the HOME of the current user and the string ``.bigchaindb`` will be used.
+        filename (str): the JSON file with the configuration values.
+            If ``None``, CONFIG_DEFAULT_PATH will be used.
 
-    Note:
-        The function merges the values in ``filename`` with the **default configuration**,
-        so any update made to ``bigchaindb.config`` will be lost.
+    Returns:
+        dict: The config values in the specified config file (or the
+              file at CONFIG_DEFAULT_PATH, if filename == None)
     """
+    logger.debug('On entry into file_config(), filename = {}'.format(filename))
     if not filename:
         filename = CONFIG_DEFAULT_PATH
 
+    logger.debug('file_config() will try to open `{}`'.format(filename))
     with open(filename) as f:
         config = json.load(f)
 
@@ -145,17 +160,21 @@ def update_types(config, reference, list_sep=':'):
     return map_leafs(_update_type, config)
 
 
-def dict_config(config):
-    """Merge the provided configuration with the default one.
+def set_config(config):
+    """Set bigchaindb.config equal to the default config dict,
+    then update that with whatever is in the provided config dict,
+    and then set bigchaindb.config['CONFIGURED'] = True
 
     Args:
-        newconfig (dict): a dictionary with the configuration to load.
+        config (dict): the config dict to read for changes
+                       to the default config
 
     Note:
-        The function merges ``newconfig`` with the **default configuration**, so any
-        update made to ``bigchaindb.config`` will be lost.
+        Any previous changes made to ``bigchaindb.config`` will be lost.
     """
+    # Deep copy the default config into bigchaindb.config
     bigchaindb.config = copy.deepcopy(bigchaindb._config)
+    # Update the default config with whatever is in the passed config
     update(bigchaindb.config, update_types(config, bigchaindb.config))
     bigchaindb.config['CONFIGURED'] = True
 
@@ -193,8 +212,7 @@ def autoconfigure(filename=None, config=None, force=False):
     if config:
         newconfig = update(newconfig, config)
 
-    dict_config(newconfig)
-    return newconfig
+    set_config(newconfig)  # sets bigchaindb.config
 
 
 def load_consensus_plugin(name=None):
diff --git a/bigchaindb/util.py b/bigchaindb/util.py
index e43716bd..e17874ac 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/util.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/util.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import copy
 import json
 import time
+import contextlib
+import threading
+import queue
 import multiprocessing as mp
 from datetime import datetime
 
@@ -33,6 +36,61 @@ class ProcessGroup(object):
             self.processes.append(proc)
 
 
+# Inspired by:
+# - http://stackoverflow.com/a/24741694/597097
+def pool(builder, size, timeout=None):
+    """Create a pool that imposes a limit on the number of stored
+    instances.
+
+    Args:
+        builder: a function to build an instance.
+        size: the size of the pool.
+        timeout(Optional[float]): the seconds to wait before raising
+            a ``queue.Empty`` exception if no instances are available
+            within that time.
+    Raises:
+        If ``timeout`` is defined but the request is taking longer
+        than the specified time, the context manager will raise
+        a ``queue.Empty`` exception.
+
+    Returns:
+        A context manager that can be used with the ``with``
+        statement.
+
+    """
+
+    lock = threading.Lock()
+    local_pool = queue.Queue()
+    current_size = 0
+
+    @contextlib.contextmanager
+    def pooled():
+        nonlocal current_size
+        instance = None
+
+        # If we still have free slots, then we have room to create new
+        # instances.
+        if current_size < size:
+            with lock:
+                # We need to check again if we have slots available, since
+                # the situation might be different after acquiring the lock
+                if current_size < size:
+                    current_size += 1
+                    instance = builder()
+
+        # Watchout: current_size can be equal to size if the previous part of
+        # the function has been executed, that's why we need to check if the
+        # instance is None.
+        if instance is None:
+            instance = local_pool.get(timeout=timeout)
+
+        yield instance
+
+        local_pool.put(instance)
+
+    return pooled
+
+
 def serialize(data):
     """Serialize a dict into a JSON formatted string.
 
diff --git a/bigchaindb/web/server.py b/bigchaindb/web/server.py
index 021ceab4..3e26a007 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/web/server.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/web/server.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import multiprocessing
 
 from flask import Flask
 
+from bigchaindb import util
 from bigchaindb import Bigchain
 from bigchaindb.web import views
 import gunicorn.app.base
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ class StandaloneApplication(gunicorn.app.base.BaseApplication):
         return self.application
 
 
-def create_app(debug=False):
+def create_app(settings):
     """Return an instance of the Flask application.
 
     Args:
@@ -54,8 +55,8 @@ def create_app(debug=False):
     """
 
     app = Flask(__name__)
-    app.debug = debug
-    app.config['bigchain'] = Bigchain()
+    app.debug = settings.get('debug', False)
+    app.config['bigchain_pool'] = util.pool(Bigchain, size=settings.get('threads', 4))
     app.register_blueprint(views.basic_views, url_prefix='/api/v1')
     return app
 
@@ -79,8 +80,7 @@ def create_server(settings):
     if not settings.get('threads'):
         settings['threads'] = (multiprocessing.cpu_count() * 2) + 1
 
-    debug = settings.pop('debug', False)
-    app = create_app(debug)
+    app = create_app(settings)
     standalone = StandaloneApplication(app, settings)
     return standalone
 
diff --git a/bigchaindb/web/views.py b/bigchaindb/web/views.py
index 53db6f66..cf618fff 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/web/views.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/web/views.py
@@ -15,12 +15,11 @@ basic_views = Blueprint('basic_views', __name__)
 
 @basic_views.record
 def get_bigchain(state):
-    bigchain = state.app.config.get('bigchain')
+    bigchain_pool = state.app.config.get('bigchain_pool')
 
-    if bigchain is None:
+    if bigchain_pool is None:
         raise Exception('This blueprint expects you to provide '
-                        'database access through `bigchain`')
-
+                        'a pool of Bigchain instances called `bigchain_pool`')
 
 
 @basic_views.route('/transactions/<tx_id>')
@@ -34,9 +33,11 @@ def get_transaction(tx_id):
         A JSON string containing the data about the transaction.
     """
 
-    bigchain = current_app.config['bigchain']
+    pool = current_app.config['bigchain_pool']
+
+    with pool() as bigchain:
+        tx = bigchain.get_transaction(tx_id)
 
-    tx = bigchain.get_transaction(tx_id)
     return flask.jsonify(**tx)
 
 
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ def create_transaction():
     Return:
         A JSON string containing the data about the transaction.
     """
-    bigchain = current_app.config['bigchain']
+    pool = current_app.config['bigchain_pool']
 
     val = {}
 
@@ -55,15 +56,15 @@ def create_transaction():
     # set to `application/json`
     tx = request.get_json(force=True)
 
-    if tx['transaction']['operation'] == 'CREATE':
-        tx = util.transform_create(tx)
-        tx = bigchain.consensus.sign_transaction(
-            tx, private_key=bigchain.me_private)
+    with pool() as bigchain:
+        if tx['transaction']['operation'] == 'CREATE':
+            tx = util.transform_create(tx)
+            tx = bigchain.consensus.sign_transaction(tx, private_key=bigchain.me_private)
 
-    if not bigchain.consensus.verify_signature(tx):
-        val['error'] = 'Invalid transaction signature'
+        if not bigchain.consensus.verify_signature(tx):
+            val['error'] = 'Invalid transaction signature'
 
-    val = bigchain.write_transaction(tx)
+        val = bigchain.write_transaction(tx)
 
     return flask.jsonify(**tx)
 
diff --git a/codecov.yml b/codecov.yml
index 27507adb..d3956b6c 100644
--- a/codecov.yml
+++ b/codecov.yml
@@ -28,5 +28,7 @@ coverage:
     - "tests/*"
 
 comment:
-  layout: "header, diff, changes, sunburst, suggestions"
+  # @stevepeak (from codecov.io) suggested we change 'suggestions' to 'uncovered'
+  # in the following line. Thanks Steve!
+  layout: "header, diff, changes, sunburst, uncovered"
   behavior: default
diff --git a/deploy-cluster-aws/release_eips.py b/deploy-cluster-aws/release_eips.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a3e1f855
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy-cluster-aws/release_eips.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""Release all allocated but non-associated elastic IP addresses
+(EIPs). Why? From the AWS docs:
+
+``To ensure efficient use of Elastic IP addresses, we impose a small
+hourly charge if an Elastic IP address is not associated with a
+running instance, or if it is associated with a stopped instance or
+an unattached network interface. While your instance is running,
+you are not charged for one Elastic IP address associated with the
+instance, but you are charged for any additional Elastic IP
+addresses associated with the instance. For more information, see
+Amazon EC2 Pricing.''
+
+Source: http://tinyurl.com/ozhxatx
+"""
+
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+import boto3
+from awscommon import get_naeips
+
+# Get an AWS EC2 "resource"
+# See http://boto3.readthedocs.org/en/latest/guide/resources.html
+ec2 = boto3.resource(service_name='ec2')
+
+# Create a client from the EC2 resource
+# See http://boto3.readthedocs.org/en/latest/guide/clients.html
+client = ec2.meta.client
+
+non_associated_eips = get_naeips(client)
+
+print('You have {} allocated elactic IPs which are '
+      'not associated with instances'.
+      format(len(non_associated_eips)))
+
+for i, eip in enumerate(non_associated_eips):
+    public_ip = eip['PublicIp']
+    print('{}: Releasing {}'.format(i, public_ip))
+    domain = eip['Domain']
+    print('(It has Domain = {}.)'.format(domain))
+    if domain == 'vpc':
+        client.release_address(AllocationId=eip['AllocationId'])
+    else:
+        client.release_address(PublicIp=public_ip)
diff --git a/docs/source/bigchaindb-cli.md b/docs/source/bigchaindb-cli.md
index 4186426e..37822717 100644
--- a/docs/source/bigchaindb-cli.md
+++ b/docs/source/bigchaindb-cli.md
@@ -1,27 +1,46 @@
-# The BigchainDB Command Line Interfaces (CLIs)
+# The BigchainDB Command Line Interface (CLI)
 
-BigchainDB has some Command Line Interfaces (CLIs). One of them is the `bigchaindb` command which we already saw when we first started BigchainDB using:
-```text
-$ bigchaindb configure
-$ bigchaindb start
-```
+There are some command-line commands for working with BigchainDB: `bigchaindb` and `bigchaindb-benchmark`. This section provides an overview of those commands.
 
-When you run `bigchaindb configure`, it creates a default configuration file in `$HOME/.bigchaindb`. You can check that configuration using:
-```text
-$ bigchaindb show-config
-```
+## bigchaindb
 
-To find out what else you can do with the `bigchain` command, use:
-```text
-$ bigchaindb -h
-```
+### bigchaindb --help
 
-There's another command named `bigchaindb-benchmark`. It's used to run benchmarking tests. You can learn more about it using:
+One can get basic help with the `bigchaindb` command using `bigchaindb --help` or `bigchaindb -h`.
+
+### bigchaindb configure
+
+This command generates a public/private keypair for the node, and writes a BigchainDB configuration file to the node's file system. It's documented in the section [Configuring a BigchainDB Node](configuration.html).
+
+If you want to force-generate a new configuration file regardless of whether one already exists (i.e. skipping the yes/no prompt), then use `bigchaindb -y configure`.
+
+### bigchaindb show-config
+
+This command shows the values of the configuration settings, which can come from a variety of sources. See [the section on configuring BigchainDB](configuration.html) for more details and examples.
+
+### bigchaindb export-my-pubkey
+
+This command writes the node's public key (i.e. one of its configuration values) to standard output (stdout).
+
+### bigchaindb init
+
+This command creates a RethinkDB database, two RethinkDB database tables (backlog and bigchain), various RethinkDB database indexes, and the genesis block.
+
+Note: The `bigchaindb start` command (see below) always starts by trying a `bigchaindb init` first. If it sees that the RethinkDB database already exists, then it doesn't re-initialize the database. One doesn't have to do `bigchaindb init` before `bigchaindb start`. `bigchaindb init` is useful if you only want to initialize (but not start).
+
+### bigchaindb drop
+
+This command drops (erases) the RethinkDB database. You will be prompted to make sure. If you want to force-drop the database (i.e. skipping the yes/no prompt), then use `bigchaindb -y drop`
+
+### bigchaindb start
+
+This command starts BigchainDB. It always begins by trying a `bigchaindb init` first. See the note in the documentation for `bigchaindb init`.
+
+
+## bigchaindb-benchmark
+
+The `bigchaindb-benchmark` command is used to run benchmarking tests. You can learn more about it using:
 ```text
 $ bigchaindb-benchmark -h
 $ bigchaindb-benchmark load -h
 ```
-
-Note that you can always start `bigchaindb` using a different config file using the `-c` option.
-For more information check the help with `bigchaindb -h`.
-
diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index 766278db..911c4673 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ author = 'BigchainDB Contributors'
 # The short X.Y version.
 version = '0.1'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = '0.1.4'
+release = '0.1.5'
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.
diff --git a/docs/source/configuration.md b/docs/source/configuration.md
index b5d538e1..2dda7ca0 100644
--- a/docs/source/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/source/configuration.md
@@ -65,13 +65,20 @@ environment variables available are:
 - `BIGCHAINDB_STATSD_RATE` is a float between `0` and `1` that defines the fraction of transaction operations sampled.
 - `BIGCHAINDB_API_ENDPOINT` defines the API endpoint to use (e.g. `http://localhost:9984/api/v1`).
 - `BIGCHAINDB_CONSENSUS_PLUGIN` defines the name of the [consensus plugin](consensus.html) to use.
-- `BIGCHAINDB_SERVER_BIND` defines where to bind the server socket, the format is `addr:port` (e.g. `0.0.0.0:9984`).
+- `BIGCHAINDB_SERVER_BIND` defines where to bind the server socket, the format is `addr:port` (e.g. `localhost:9984`).
 - `BIGCHAINDB_SERVER_WORKERS` defines the [number of workers](http://docs.gunicorn.org/en/stable/settings.html#workers)
   to start for the server API.
 - `BIGCHAINDB_SERVER_THREADS` defines the [number of threads](http://docs.gunicorn.org/en/stable/settings.html#threads)
   to start for the server API.
 
 
+## Configuring the API Server
+The API Server is powered by [Gunicorn](http://gunicorn.org/), a Python WSGI HTTP Server for UNIX.
+If you need to tweak some settings for the API server you can manually edit your `.bigchaindb` config file:
+the `server` section accepts all the options specified in the
+[Gunicorn settings](http://docs.gunicorn.org/en/stable/settings.html) documentation.
+
+
 ## Order of Precedence in Determining Configuration Values
 
 All configuration values start with their default values (defined in `bigchaindb.__init__`), but a default value can be overriden by an environment variable, and a value set by an environment variable can be overriden by a value in a local configuration file (`$HOME/.bigchaindb` or the location specified by the `-c` command-line option).
@@ -129,7 +136,7 @@ you will get the following values for all the configuration settings:
         "pubkey1"
     ],
     "server": {
-        "bind": "0.0.0.0:9984",
+        "bind": "localhost:9984",
         "threads": null,
         "workers": null
     },
@@ -164,7 +171,7 @@ WARNING:bigchaindb.config_utils:Cannot find config file `/home/vrde/.bigchaindb`
     },
     "keyring": [],
     "server": {
-        "bind": "0.0.0.0:9984",
+        "bind": "localhost:9984",
         "threads": null,
         "workers": null
     },
@@ -213,7 +220,7 @@ WARNING:bigchaindb.config_utils:Cannot find config file `/home/vrde/.bigchaindb`
     },
     "keyring": [],
     "server": {
-        "bind": "0.0.0.0:9984",
+        "bind": "localhost:9984",
         "threads": null,
         "workers": null
     },
diff --git a/docs/source/cryptography.md b/docs/source/cryptography.md
index 03fe22c3..0fde8371 100644
--- a/docs/source/cryptography.md
+++ b/docs/source/cryptography.md
@@ -17,11 +17,10 @@ data = "message"
 tx_hash = hashlib.sha3_256(data).hexdigest()
 ```
 
-## Signature algorithm and keys
+## Signature Algorithm and Keys
 
-The signature algorithm used by BigchainDB is [ED25519](https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-irtf-cfrg-eddsa-04)
-using the python [ed25519](https://github.com/warner/python-ed25519) module, overloaded by the [cryptoconditions library](https://github.com/bigchaindb/cryptoconditions).
+BigchainDB uses the [Ed25519](https://ed25519.cr.yp.to/) public-key signature system for generating its public/private key pairs (also called verifying/signing keys). Ed25519 is an instance of the [Edwards-curve Digital Signature Algorithm (EdDSA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EdDSA). As of April 2016, EdDSA was in ["Internet-Draft" status with the IETF](https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-irtf-cfrg-eddsa-05) but was [already widely used](https://ianix.com/pub/ed25519-deployment.html).
 
-The private key is the base58 encoded hexadecimal representation of private number.
-The public key is the base58 encoded hexadecimal representation of the
-compressed public numbers.
+BigchainDB uses the the [ed25519](https://github.com/warner/python-ed25519) Python package, overloaded by the [cryptoconditions library](https://github.com/bigchaindb/cryptoconditions).
+
+All keys are represented with the base58 encoding by default.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/source/deploy-on-aws.md b/docs/source/deploy-on-aws.md
index 2e4a18e2..ebd73b4f 100644
--- a/docs/source/deploy-on-aws.md
+++ b/docs/source/deploy-on-aws.md
@@ -122,9 +122,17 @@ bigchaindb --help
 bigchaindb show-config
 ```
 
-There are fees associated with running instances on EC2, so if you're not using them, you should terminate them. You can do that from the AWS EC2 Console.
+There are fees associated with running instances on EC2, so if you're not using them, you should terminate them. You can do that using the AWS EC2 Console.
 
-The same is true of your allocated elastic IP addresses. There's a small fee to keep them allocated if they're not associated with a running instance. You can release them from the AWS EC2 Console.
+The same is true of your allocated elastic IP addresses. There's a small fee to keep them allocated if they're not associated with a running instance. You can release them using the AWS EC2 Console, or by using a handy little script named `release_eips.py`. For example:
+```text
+$ python release_eips.py
+You have 2 allocated elactic IPs which are not associated with instances
+0: Releasing 52.58.110.110
+(It has Domain = vpc.)
+1: Releasing 52.58.107.211
+(It has Domain = vpc.)
+```
 
 ## Known Deployment Issues
 
diff --git a/docs/source/http-client-server-api.md b/docs/source/http-client-server-api.md
index da045fa3..9160082e 100644
--- a/docs/source/http-client-server-api.md
+++ b/docs/source/http-client-server-api.md
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@ When you start Bigchaindb using `bigchaindb start`, an HTTP API is exposed at:
 - [http://localhost:9984/api/v1/](http://localhost:9984/api/v1/)
 
 
-Please note that by default the server binds to `0.0.0.0:9984`, hence the API
-is exposed to the world.
+Please note that for security reasons the server binds to `localhost:9984`.
+If you want to bind the server to `0.0.0.0` we recommend you to read
+[Deploying Gunicorn](http://docs.gunicorn.org/en/stable/deploy.html) and
+follow the instructions to deploy it in production.
 
 The HTTP API currently exposes two endpoints, one to get information about a
 specific transaction id, and one to push a transaction to the BigchainDB
diff --git a/docs/source/installing-server.md b/docs/source/installing-server.md
index 0d12a875..f591ff5c 100644
--- a/docs/source/installing-server.md
+++ b/docs/source/installing-server.md
@@ -95,16 +95,17 @@ $ rethinkdb
 Then open a different terminal and run:
 ```text
 $ bigchaindb -y configure
-$ bigchaindb init
 ```
 
-That creates a configuration file in `$HOME/.bigchaindb` (documented in [the section on configuration](configuration.html)), initializes the database, creates the tables, creates the indexes, and generates the genesis block.
+That creates a configuration file in `$HOME/.bigchaindb` (documented in [the section on configuration](configuration.html)). More documentation about the `bigchaindb` command is in the section on [the BigchainDB Command Line Interface (CLI)](bigchaindb-cli.html).
 
 You can start BigchainDB Server using:
 ```text
 $ bigchaindb start
 ```
 
+If it's the first time you've run `bigchaindb start`, then it creates the database (a RethinkDB database), the tables, the indexes, and the genesis block. It then starts BigchainDB. If you're run `bigchaindb start` or `bigchaindb init` before (and you haven't dropped the database), then `bigchaindb start` just starts BigchainDB.
+
 
 ## Run BigchainDB with Docker
 
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ stored on your host machine under ` ~/.bigchaindb_docker/config`:
 $ docker-compose run --rm bigchaindb bigchaindb configure
 Starting bigchaindb_rethinkdb-data_1
 Generating keypair
-API Server bind? (default `0.0.0.0:9984`): 
+API Server bind? (default `localhost:9984`): 
 Database host? (default `localhost`): rethinkdb
 Database port? (default `28015`): 
 Database name? (default `bigchain`): 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a9387f56..f7b1466b 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ docs_require = [
 
 setup(
     name='BigchainDB',
-    version='0.1.4',
+    version='0.1.5',
     description='BigchainDB: A Scalable Blockchain Database',
     long_description=__doc__,
     url='https://github.com/BigchainDB/bigchaindb/',
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 69cf968f..7e3f5c56 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def ignore_local_config_file(monkeypatch):
 @pytest.fixture(scope='function', autouse=True)
 def restore_config(request, node_config):
     from bigchaindb import config_utils
-    config_utils.dict_config(node_config)
+    config_utils.set_config(node_config)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='module')
diff --git a/tests/db/conftest.py b/tests/db/conftest.py
index 9f352ed1..d8f165f5 100644
--- a/tests/db/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/db/conftest.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from bigchaindb.db import get_conn
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def restore_config(request, node_config):
     from bigchaindb import config_utils
-    config_utils.dict_config(node_config)
+    config_utils.set_config(node_config)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='module', autouse=True)
diff --git a/tests/test_commands.py b/tests/test_commands.py
index c289f279..b7814206 100644
--- a/tests/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_commands.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def test_bigchain_run_start_assume_yes_create_default_config(monkeypatch, mock_p
         value['return'] = newconfig
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(config_utils, 'write_config', mock_write_config)
-    monkeypatch.setattr(config_utils, 'file_config', lambda x: config_utils.dict_config(expected_config))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_utils, 'file_config', lambda x: config_utils.set_config(expected_config))
     monkeypatch.setattr('os.path.exists', lambda path: False)
 
     args = Namespace(config=None, yes=True)
@@ -108,6 +108,42 @@ def test_bigchain_show_config(capsys):
     assert output_config == config
 
 
+def test_bigchain_export_my_pubkey_when_pubkey_set(capsys, monkeypatch):
+    from bigchaindb import config
+    from bigchaindb.commands.bigchain import run_export_my_pubkey
+
+    args = Namespace(config='dummy')
+    # so in run_export_my_pubkey(args) below,
+    # filename=args.config='dummy' is passed to autoconfigure().
+    # We just assume autoconfigure() works and sets
+    # config['keypair']['public'] correctly (tested elsewhere).
+    # We force-set config['keypair']['public'] using monkeypatch.
+    monkeypatch.setitem(config['keypair'], 'public', 'Charlie_Bucket')
+    _, _ = capsys.readouterr()  # has the effect of clearing capsys
+    run_export_my_pubkey(args)
+    out, err = capsys.readouterr()
+    assert out == config['keypair']['public'] + '\n'
+    assert out == 'Charlie_Bucket\n'
+
+
+def test_bigchain_export_my_pubkey_when_pubkey_not_set(monkeypatch):
+    from bigchaindb import config
+    from bigchaindb.commands.bigchain import run_export_my_pubkey
+
+    args = Namespace(config='dummy')
+    monkeypatch.setitem(config['keypair'], 'public', None)
+    # assert that run_export_my_pubkey(args) raises SystemExit:
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as exc_info:
+        run_export_my_pubkey(args)
+    # exc_info is an object of class ExceptionInfo
+    # https://pytest.org/latest/builtin.html#_pytest._code.ExceptionInfo
+    assert exc_info.type == SystemExit
+    # exc_info.value is an object of class SystemExit
+    # https://docs.python.org/3/library/exceptions.html#SystemExit
+    assert exc_info.value.code == \
+        "This node's public key wasn't set anywhere so it can't be exported"
+
+
 def test_bigchain_run_init_when_db_exists(mock_db_init_with_existing_db):
     from bigchaindb.commands.bigchain import run_init
     args = Namespace(config=None)
@@ -159,4 +195,3 @@ def test_run_configure_when_config_does_exist(monkeypatch,
     args = Namespace(config='foo', yes=None)
     run_configure(args)
     assert value == {}
-
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index 55993938..d2b5ed5f 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -1,7 +1,32 @@
-from bigchaindb import util
+import pytest
+import queue
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_queue(monkeypatch):
+
+    class MockQueue:
+        items = []
+
+        def get(self, timeout=None):
+            try:
+                return self.items.pop()
+            except IndexError:
+                if timeout:
+                    raise queue.Empty()
+                raise
+
+        def put(self, item):
+            self.items.append(item)
+
+    mockqueue = MockQueue()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr('queue.Queue', lambda: mockqueue)
+    return mockqueue
 
 
 def test_transform_create(b, user_sk, user_vk):
+    from bigchaindb import util
     tx = util.create_tx(user_vk, user_vk, None, 'CREATE')
     tx = util.transform_create(tx)
     tx = util.sign_tx(tx, b.me_private)
@@ -10,3 +35,88 @@ def test_transform_create(b, user_sk, user_vk):
     assert tx['transaction']['conditions'][0]['new_owners'][0] == user_vk
     assert util.verify_signature(tx)
 
+
+def test_empty_pool_is_populated_with_instances(mock_queue):
+    from bigchaindb import util
+
+    pool = util.pool(lambda: 'hello', 4)
+
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 0
+
+    with pool() as instance:
+        assert instance == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 1
+
+    with pool() as instance:
+        assert instance == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 2
+
+    with pool() as instance:
+        assert instance == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 3
+
+    with pool() as instance:
+        assert instance == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 4
+
+    with pool() as instance:
+        assert instance == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 4
+
+
+def test_pool_blocks_if_no_instances_available(mock_queue):
+    from bigchaindb import util
+
+    pool = util.pool(lambda: 'hello', 4)
+
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 0
+
+    # We need to manually trigger the `__enter__` method so the context
+    # manager will "hang" and not return the resource to the pool
+    assert pool().__enter__() == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 0
+
+    assert pool().__enter__() == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 0
+
+    assert pool().__enter__() == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 0
+
+    # We need to keep a reference of the last context manager so we can
+    # manually release the resource
+    last = pool()
+    assert last.__enter__() == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 0
+
+    # This would block using `queue.Queue` but since we mocked it it will
+    # just raise a IndexError because it's trying to pop from an empty list.
+    with pytest.raises(IndexError):
+        assert pool().__enter__() == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 0
+
+    # Release the last resource
+    last.__exit__(None, None, None)
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 1
+
+    assert pool().__enter__() == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 0
+
+
+def test_pool_raises_empty_exception_when_timeout(mock_queue):
+    from bigchaindb import util
+
+    pool = util.pool(lambda: 'hello', 1, timeout=1)
+
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 0
+
+    with pool() as instance:
+        assert instance == 'hello'
+    assert len(mock_queue.items) == 1
+
+    # take the only resource available
+    assert pool().__enter__() == 'hello'
+
+    with pytest.raises(queue.Empty):
+        with pool() as instance:
+            assert instance == 'hello'
+
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_config_utils.py b/tests/utils/test_config_utils.py
index cec7743f..0a365102 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_config_utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_config_utils.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def test_bigchain_instance_is_initialized_when_conf_provided():
     from bigchaindb import config_utils
     assert 'CONFIGURED' not in bigchaindb.config
 
-    config_utils.dict_config({'keypair': {'public': 'a', 'private': 'b'}})
+    config_utils.set_config({'keypair': {'public': 'a', 'private': 'b'}})
 
     assert bigchaindb.config['CONFIGURED'] is True
     b = bigchaindb.Bigchain()
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def test_autoconfigure_read_both_from_file_and_env(monkeypatch):
     assert bigchaindb.config == {
         'CONFIGURED': True,
         'server': {
-            'bind': '0.0.0.0:9984',
+            'bind': 'localhost:9984',
             'workers': None,
             'threads': None,
         },
diff --git a/tests/web/conftest.py b/tests/web/conftest.py
index de12fa71..d0455798 100644
--- a/tests/web/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/web/conftest.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from ..db import conftest
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def restore_config(request, node_config):
     from bigchaindb import config_utils
-    config_utils.dict_config(node_config)
+    config_utils.set_config(node_config)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='module', autouse=True)
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def app(request, node_config):
     restore_config(request, node_config)
 
     from bigchaindb.web import server
-    app = server.create_app(debug=True)
+    app = server.create_app({'debug': True})
     return app