diff --git a/code/python/src/algorithms/hirschberg/algorithms.py b/code/python/src/algorithms/hirschberg/algorithms.py
index 06fd1b4..618b2da 100644
--- a/code/python/src/algorithms/hirschberg/algorithms.py
+++ b/code/python/src/algorithms/hirschberg/algorithms.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ def simple_algorithm(
     X:    str,
     Y:    str,
     verbose: List[EnumHirschbergVerbosity] = [],
-    show: List[EnumHirschbergShow] = [],
 ) -> Tuple[str, str]:
     '''
     Dieser Algorithmus berechnet die Edit-Distanzen + optimale Richtungen ein Mal.
@@ -50,7 +49,6 @@ def simple_algorithm(
 def hirschberg_algorithm(
     X:    str,
     Y:    str,
-    once: bool = False,
     verbose: List[EnumHirschbergVerbosity] = [],
     show: List[EnumHirschbergShow] = [],
 ) -> Tuple[str, str]:
@@ -64,10 +62,6 @@ def hirschberg_algorithm(
     Daraus wird unmittelbar ein optimales Alignment bestimmt.
     Des Weiteren werden Zeitkosten durch Divide-and-Conquer klein gehalten.
     '''
-    # ggf. nur den simplen Algorithmus ausführen:
-    if once:
-        return simple_algorithm(X=X, Y=Y, verbose=verbose, show=show);
-
     align = hirschberg_algorithm_step(X=X, Y=Y, depth=1, verbose=verbose, show=show);
     word_x = align.as_string1();
     word_y = align.as_string2();
diff --git a/code/python/src/setup/config.py b/code/python/src/setup/config.py
index 7cee18f..b424f11 100644
--- a/code/python/src/setup/config.py
+++ b/code/python/src/setup/config.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def create_commands(path: str) -> List[Command]: # pragma: no cover
         assets = yaml_load(fp, Loader=yaml_FullLoader);
         return [
             interpret_command(Command(**instruction))
-            for instruction in assets
+            for instruction in assets or []
         ];
 
 # use lazy loaing to ensure that values only loaded (once) when used