* make_url(path, [query_name, query_value]+). This is the easiest to use. * make_url_extended(...). This gives the user more control over constructing the URL, including user-built query strings. * query_string([query_name, query_value, how_to_encode]+). Constructs a query string, giving more control over how the values are encoded. * encode_for_url(value, use_plus). URL-encodes a single value. As you said earlier, most people will use make_url(). However, I have seen cases where query values must be inserted into the path, and make_url_extended() helps with that. I have also seen cases where query args must not be encoded. And so on. These 4 functions plus other text functions like re() let the user do whatever is necessary. Note that 'item_value' is no longer encoded. There are two more values available: 'item_value_quoted' and 'item_value_no_plus'. I'm not convinced these are particularly useful but it doesn't hurt anything to have them.
calibre

calibre is an e-book manager. It can view, convert, edit and catalog e-books in all of the major e-book formats. It can also talk to e-book reader devices. It can go out to the internet and fetch metadata for your books. It can download newspapers and convert them into e-books for convenient reading. It is cross platform, running on Linux, Windows and macOS.
For more information, see the calibre About page.
Screenshots
Usage
See the User Manual.
Development
Setting up a development environment for calibre.
A tarball of the source code for the current calibre release.
Bugs
Bug reports and feature requests should be made in the calibre bug tracker at Launchpad. GitHub is only used for code hosting and pull requests.
Support calibre
calibre is a result of the efforts of many volunteers from all over the world. If you find it useful, please consider contributing to support its development. Donate to support calibre development.
Building calibre binaries
See Build instructions for instructions on how to build the calibre binaries and installers for all the platforms calibre supports.