diff --git a/build/main.sh b/build/main.sh
index e3af7e03..74d1566c 100755
--- a/build/main.sh
+++ b/build/main.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-
 echo "running format validation..."
-./validate.rb ../README.md
-
+./validate_format.rb ../README.md
 if [[ $? != 0 ]]; then
     echo "format validation failed!"
     exit $?
@@ -12,5 +10,11 @@ fi
 
 if [ "$TRAVIS_BRANCH" == "master" ]; then
     echo "running link validation..."
-    awesome_bot ../README.md --allow-ssl --allow 403,302
+    ./validate_links.rb ../README.md
+    if [[ $? != 0 ]]; then
+        echo "link validation failed!"
+        exit $?
+    else
+        echo "link validation passed!"
+    fi
 fi
diff --git a/build/validate_format.rb b/build/validate_format.rb
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..820ef7d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/validate_format.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env ruby
+auth_keys = ['apiKey', 'OAuth', 'X-Mashape-Key', 'No']
+https_keys = ['Yes', 'No']
+args = ARGV
+filename = args[0]
+fail_flag = false
+File.foreach(filename).with_index do |line, line_num|
+    line_num += 1
+    if line.start_with?('|')
+        # Skip table schema lines
+        if line.eql? "|---|---|---|---|---|\n"
+            next
+        end
+        values = line.split("|")
+        # Check Description to make sure first character is capitalized
+        desc_val = values[2].lstrip.chop
+        if !/[[:upper:]]/.match(desc_val[0])
+            puts "(#{line_num}) Invalid Description (first char not uppercase): #{desc_val}"
+            fail_flag = true
+        end
+        # Check Auth values to conform to valid options only
+        auth_val = values[3].lstrip.chop.tr('``', '')
+        if !auth_keys.include?(auth_val)
+            puts "(#{line_num}) Invalid Auth (not a valid option): #{auth_val}"
+            fail_flag = true
+        end
+        # Check HTTPS Support values to be either "Yes" or "No"
+        https_val = values[4].lstrip.chop
+        if !https_keys.include?(https_val)
+            puts "(#{line_num}) Invalid HTTPS: (must use \"Yes\" or \"No\"): #{https_val}"
+            fail_flag = true
+        end
+        # Check Link to ensure url is wrapped in "[Go!]" view
+        link_val = values[5].lstrip.chop
+        if !link_val.start_with?("[Go!](") || !link_val.end_with?(')')
+            puts "(#{line_num}) Invalid Link: (format should be \"[Go!](<LINK>)\"): #{link_val}"
+            fail_flag = true
+        end
+    end
+end
+if fail_flag
+    exit(1)
+else
+    exit(0)
+end
diff --git a/build/validate_links.rb b/build/validate_links.rb
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..813f1c16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/validate_links.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env ruby
+require 'faraday'
+require 'uri'
+allowed_codes = [200, 302, 403]
+args = ARGV
+filename = args[0]
+fail_flag = false
+contents = File.open(filename, 'rb') { |f| f.read }
+links = URI.extract(contents, ['http', 'https'])
+dup = links.select{|element| links.count(element) > 1 }
+if dup.uniq.length > 0
+    dup.uniq.each do |link|
+        if link.end_with?(')')
+            puts link[0...-1]
+        end
+    end
+    exit(1)
+end
+links.each do |link|
+    if link.end_with?(')')
+        link = link[0...-1]
+    end
+    res = Faraday.get(link)
+    if !allowed_codes.include?(res.status)
+        puts "(#{res.status}): #{link}"
+        fail_flag = true
+    end
+end
+if fail_flag
+    exit(1)
+else
+    exit(0)
+end