diff --git a/convex_decomposition/manifest.xml b/convex_decomposition/manifest.xml
index 4966ea7..b74c13a 100644
--- a/convex_decomposition/manifest.xml
+++ b/convex_decomposition/manifest.xml
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 Convex Mesh Generation Library
 
 This package is used to auto generate convex decomposed meshes for collision and visualization of robot links.
-We are using the latest and the only version available.  We plan on deprecating this package once we find a better
-alternative.
+We are using the latest and the only version available.  We plan on deprecating this package once we find a better alternative.
+This package is not provided by any of the major OS package managers, so it is downloaded as a zipped archive.
+There are local patches needed for this package to compile.  No plans for submitting the patches back to the author since there appears to be no revision control for the package.
+There are no local modifications to this package.
 
 </description>
 <author>John Ratcliff</author>
diff --git a/ivcon/manifest.xml b/ivcon/manifest.xml
index 2f770e0..6cb1109 100644
--- a/ivcon/manifest.xml
+++ b/ivcon/manifest.xml
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 
 Mesh Conversion Utility
 
+Used to generate '.iv' files from '.stl' files.  This package has not been changed since 2001 and appears to be very stable.  We plan on keeping this package in this revision for mesh conversions.
+This package is only available as a single source file for download.
+There are no local modifications to this package.
+
 </description>
 <author>John Burkardt</author>
 <license>GPL</license>