diff --git a/.github/workflows/cifuzz.yml b/.github/workflows/cifuzz.yml
index ecb46bc308..50d6d546fa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cifuzz.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cifuzz.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
         fuzz-seconds: 600
         dry-run: false
     - name: Upload Crash
-      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
       if: failure() && steps.build.outcome == 'success'
       with:
         name: artifacts
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml
index 4a6bcb7137..1f8fc40e3b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ concurrency:
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: [0.27-maintenance, main]
+    branches: [0.28.x, main]
     paths-ignore:
       - "*.md"
   pull_request:
     # The branches below must be a subset of the branches above
-    branches: [0.27-maintenance, main]
+    branches: [0.28.x, main]
     paths-ignore:
       - "*.md"
   workflow_dispatch:
@@ -29,23 +29,22 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        language: [ 'cpp' ]
+        language: [ 'cpp', 'javascript' ]
         # CodeQL supports [ 'cpp', 'csharp', 'go', 'java', 'javascript', 'python' ]
         # Learn more...
         # https://docs.github.com/en/github/finding-security-vulnerabilities-and-errors-in-your-code/configuring-code-scanning#overriding-automatic-language-detection
 
     steps:
     - name: Checkout repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
       
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
-        sudo apt-get update
-        sudo apt-get install -y libexpat1-dev zlib1g-dev libbrotli-dev libinih-dev
+        sudo eatmydata apt-get -y install libexpat1-dev zlib1g-dev libbrotli-dev libinih-dev
 
     # Initializes the CodeQL tools for scanning.
     - name: Initialize CodeQL
-      uses: github/codeql-action/init@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/init@v3
       with:
         languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
         config-file: .github/codeql/codeql-config.yml
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ jobs:
     # Autobuild attempts to build any compiled languages  (C/C++, C#, or Java).
     # If this step fails, then you should remove it and run the build manually (see below)
     - name: Autobuild
-      uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v3
 
     # ℹ️ Command-line programs to run using the OS shell.
     # 📚 https://git.io/JvXDl
@@ -71,4 +70,4 @@ jobs:
     #   make release
 
     - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-      uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codesee-arch-diagram.yml b/.github/workflows/codesee-arch-diagram.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 38683ce4a4..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/codesee-arch-diagram.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-# This workflow was added by CodeSee. Learn more at https://codesee.io/
-# This is v2.0 of this workflow file
-on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - main
-  pull_request_target:
-    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
-
-name: CodeSee
-
-permissions: read-all
-
-jobs:
-  codesee:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
-    continue-on-error: true
-    name: Analyze the repo with CodeSee
-    steps:
-      - uses: Codesee-io/codesee-action@v2
-        with:
-          codesee-token: ${{ secrets.CODESEE_ARCH_DIAG_API_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nightly_Linux_distributions.yml b/.github/workflows/nightly_Linux_distributions.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 1875cd83a8..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/nightly_Linux_distributions.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    paths-ignore:
-      - "*.md"
-  workflow_dispatch:
-  schedule:
-  - cron: 0 4 * * *
-
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref || github.run_id }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-name: Nightly - Linux distributions
-
-jobs:
-  distros:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
-
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        # arch suffering this issue: https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/issues/709
-        container_image: ["fedora:latest", "debian:11", "archlinux:base", "ubuntu:22.04", "tgagor/centos:stream9", "alpine:3.17"]
-        compiler: [g++, clang++]
-        build_type: [Release, Debug]
-        shared_libraries: [ON, OFF]
-    container:
-      image: ${{ matrix.container_image }}
-      env:
-        CXX: ${{matrix.compiler}}
-        CMAKE_FLAGS: -DEXIV2_TEAM_EXTRA_WARNINGS=OFF -DEXIV2_ENABLE_WEBREADY=ON -DEXIV2_ENABLE_CURL=ON -DEXIV2_BUILD_UNIT_TESTS=OFF -DEXIV2_ENABLE_BMFF=ON -DEXIV2_TEAM_WARNINGS_AS_ERRORS=OFF -DEXIV2_ENABLE_PNG=ON -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=install
-
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-    - name: install dependencies
-      run: ./ci/install_dependencies.sh
-    - name: build and compile
-      run: |
-        mkdir build && cd build
-        cmake $CMAKE_FLAGS -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${{ matrix.build_type }} -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${{ matrix.shared_libraries }} ..
-        cmake --build . --parallel
-        cmake --install .
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_fuzz.yml b/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_fuzz.yml
index c2e14a32c3..9195ae1c0f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_fuzz.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_fuzz.yml
@@ -20,14 +20,14 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-    - name: install dependencies
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         sudo ./ci/install_dependencies.sh
-        sudo apt-get install ninja-build
 
-    - name: build and compile
+    - name: Build
       env:
+        CC: clang
         CXX: clang++
       run: |
         cmake --preset linux-sanitizers -S . -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DEXIV2_BUILD_FUZZ_TESTS=ON -DEXIV2_BUILD_UNIT_TESTS=OFF
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_matrix.yml b/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_matrix.yml
index f47e5457c3..1cffe14d59 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_matrix.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_matrix.yml
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ jobs:
         shared_libraries: [ON, OFF]
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          sudo apt install -y tree
-          python3 -m pip install conan==1.59.0 ninja
+          sudo apt install -y tree ninja-build
+          python3 -m pip install conan==1.*
 
       - name: Conan common config
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_special_builds.yml b/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_special_builds.yml
index fa146c52b2..be2db5bdd1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_special_builds.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_special_builds.yml
@@ -16,15 +16,15 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 2
           # Trying to deal with warning: ->  Issue detecting commit SHA. Please run actions/checkout with fetch-depth > 1 or set to 0
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          sudo apt-get install -y libxml2-dev libxslt-dev python3-dev
-          python3 -m pip install conan==1.59.0 gcovr ninja
+          sudo eatmydata apt-get -y install libxml2-dev libxslt-dev python3-dev ninja-build gcovr
+          python3 -m pip install conan==1.*
 
       - name: Conan common config
         run: |
@@ -64,12 +64,12 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          sudo apt install -y valgrind
-          python3 -m pip install conan==1.59.0 ninja
+          sudo apt install -y valgrind ninja-build
+          python3 -m pip install conan==1.*
 
       - name: Conan common config
         run: |
@@ -99,11 +99,12 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install conan==1.59.0 ninja
+          sudo apt install -y ninja-build
+          python3 -m pip install conan==1.*
 
       - name: Conan common config
         run: |
@@ -132,12 +133,12 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          sudo apt install -y valgrind doxygen graphviz gettext
-          python3 -m pip install conan==1.59.0 ninja
+          sudo apt install -y valgrind doxygen graphviz gettext ninja-build
+          python3 -m pip install conan==1.*
 
       - name: Conan common config
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_staticAnalysis.yml b/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_staticAnalysis.yml
index d4704ad254..fa77859c9a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_staticAnalysis.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_PR_linux_staticAnalysis.yml
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 2
           # Trying to deal with warning: ->  Issue detecting commit SHA. Please run actions/checkout with fetch-depth > 1 or set to 0
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install conan==1.59.0
+          python3 -m pip install conan==1.*
           sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-lxc/daily -y
           wget -q -O - https://files.pvs-studio.com/etc/pubkey.txt |sudo apt-key add -
           sudo wget -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/viva64.list https://files.pvs-studio.com/etc/viva64.list
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ jobs:
           pvs-studio-analyzer analyze -l PVS_license.lic -o pvsStudio.log -j4 --disableLicenseExpirationCheck
           plog-converter -a GA:1,2 -d V1042 -t fullhtml pvsStudio.log -o pvsReportHtml
 
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: static_analysis
           path: build/pvsReportHtml
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_PR_mac_matrix.yml b/.github/workflows/on_PR_mac_matrix.yml
index 664693d1ba..ef5d2286d7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_PR_mac_matrix.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_PR_mac_matrix.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   MacOS:
-    name: 'MacOS - clang, BuildType:${{matrix.build_type}}, SHARED:${{matrix.shared_libraries}}'
+    name: 'macOS - XCode - ${{matrix.build_type}} - SHARED:${{matrix.shared_libraries}}'
     runs-on: macos-latest
 
     strategy:
@@ -21,13 +21,11 @@ jobs:
         shared_libraries: [ON, OFF]
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          brew install ninja
-          brew install inih
-          brew install googletest
+          brew install ninja inih googletest
 
       - name: Build
         run: |
@@ -41,5 +39,4 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Test
         run: |
-          cd build
-          ctest --output-on-failure
+          ctest --test-dir build --output-on-failure
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_PR_mac_special_builds.yml b/.github/workflows/on_PR_mac_special_builds.yml
index f15a97bfb1..f03bf0b02c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_PR_mac_special_builds.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_PR_mac_special_builds.yml
@@ -12,24 +12,21 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   MacOS_releaseSanitizers:
-    name: 'MacOS - Clang - Release+Sanitizers'
+    name: 'macOS - XCode - Release+Sanitizers'
     runs-on: macos-latest
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          brew install ninja
-          brew install inih
-          brew install googletest
+          brew install ninja inih googletest
 
       - name: Build
         run: |
           cmake --preset base_mac -S . -B build -DEXIV2_TEAM_USE_SANITIZERS=ON
           cmake --build build --parallel
 
-      - name: Tests
+      - name: Test
         run: |
-          cd build
-          ctest --output-on-failure
+          ctest --test-dir build --output-on-failure
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_PR_meson.yaml b/.github/workflows/on_PR_meson.yaml
index 8ce8654ddc..e5f26adda2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_PR_meson.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_PR_meson.yaml
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
         deps: ['forcefallback', 'default']
         platform: ['x64', 'x86']
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install packages
         run: |
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         deps: ['forcefallback', 'default']
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install packages
         run: |
@@ -101,12 +101,12 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         deps: ['enabled', 'disabled']
-        platform: ['UCRT64', 'CLANG32', 'CLANG64']
+        platform: ['UCRT64', 'CLANG64']
     defaults:
       run:
         shell: msys2 {0}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - uses: msys2/setup-msys2@v2
         with:
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         deps: ['enabled', 'disabled']
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install packages
         run: |
@@ -146,12 +146,12 @@ jobs:
           meson compile -C "${{github.workspace}}/build"
           meson test -C "${{github.workspace}}/build"
   FreeBSD:
-    runs-on: macos-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     name: FreeBSD
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: FreeBSD
-        uses: vmactions/freebsd-vm@v0
+        uses: vmactions/freebsd-vm@v1
         with:
           prepare: |
             pkg install -y cmake curl ninja meson gettext pkgconf googletest expat inih brotli
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           python3 -m pip install meson ninja
       - name: Emscripten
-        uses: mymindstorm/setup-emsdk@v12
+        uses: mymindstorm/setup-emsdk@v14
       - name: Compile
         run: |
           meson setup "${{github.workspace}}/build" --cross-file="${{github.workspace}}/em.txt" --wrap-mode=forcefallback -Ddefault_library=static -Dwarning_level=3 -Dcpp_std=c++20 -DunitTests=disabled -Dcurl=disabled
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_PR_windows_matrix.yml b/.github/workflows/on_PR_windows_matrix.yml
index 5426cca2f6..ebdee20809 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_PR_windows_matrix.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_PR_windows_matrix.yml
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@ on:
       - "*.md"
   workflow_dispatch:
   push:
-    branches:
-    - main
+    branches: [0.28.x, main]
     tags:
     - '!*'
     paths-ignore:
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ jobs:
         platform: [ x64, x86 ]
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Set up Visual Studio shell
         uses: ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@v1
@@ -38,14 +37,14 @@ jobs:
           arch: ${{matrix.platform}}
 
       - name: Restore Conan cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v3
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
             path: ${{github.workspace}}/conanCache
             key: ${{runner.os}}-${{matrix.platform}}-${{matrix.build_type}}-Shared${{matrix.shared_libraries}}-${{ hashFiles('conanfile.py') }}
 
       - name: Install Conan & Common config
         run: |
-          python -m pip install conan==1.59.0
+          python -m pip install conan==1.*
           conan config install https://github.com/conan-io/conanclientcert.git
           conan profile new --detect default
           conan profile update settings.build_type=${{matrix.build_type}} default
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: msys2 {0}
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Set up MSYS2
         uses: msys2/setup-msys2@v2
@@ -150,7 +149,7 @@ jobs:
       # Make sure we don't check out scripts using Windows CRLF line endings
       - run: git config --global core.autocrlf input
         shell: pwsh
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Set up Cygwin
         uses: cygwin/cygwin-install-action@v4
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_push_BasicWinLinMac.yml b/.github/workflows/on_push_BasicWinLinMac.yml
index 0db9dea315..533cb614de 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_push_BasicWinLinMac.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_push_BasicWinLinMac.yml
@@ -16,26 +16,26 @@ name: On PUSH - Basic CI for main platforms
 
 jobs:
   windows:
-    name: 'Win10 Arch:x64 BuildType:Release - SHARED'
+    name: 'Windows 10 - MSVC - Arch:X64 BuildType:Release - SHARED'
     runs-on: windows-2022
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Set up Visual Studio shell
         uses: ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@v1
         with:
           arch: x64
 
-      - name: Restore conan cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v3
+      - name: Restore Conan cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
-            path: ${{github.workspace}}/conanCache
-            key: ${{runner.os}}-push-win-${{ hashFiles('conanfile.py') }}
+          path: ${{github.workspace}}/conanCache
+          key: ${{runner.os}}-push-win-${{ hashFiles('conanfile.py') }}
 
       - name: Install Conan & Common config
         run: |
-          python -m pip install conan==1.59.0
+          python -m pip install conan==1.*
           conan profile new --detect default
           conan profile show default
           conan profile update settings.compiler="Visual Studio" default
@@ -47,22 +47,21 @@ jobs:
           cmake --preset win-release -S . -B build
           cmake --build build --parallel
 
-
       - name: Test
         run: |
-          cd build
-          ctest --output-on-failure
+          ctest --test-dir build --output-on-failure
 
   Linux:
-    name: 'Ubuntu 22.04 - GCC - Arch:x64 BuildType:Release - SHARED'
+    name: 'Ubuntu 22.04 - GCC - Arch:X64 BuildType:Release - SHARED'
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install conan==1.59.0 ninja
+          sudo eatmydata apt-get -y install ninja-build
+          python3 -m pip install conan==1.*
 
       - name: Conan
         run: |
@@ -72,35 +71,36 @@ jobs:
           conan profile show default
           conan install .. -o webready=True --build missing
 
-      - name: build and compile
+      - name: Build
         run: |
           cmake --preset linux-release -S . -B build
           cmake --build build --parallel
 
       - name: Test
         run: |
-          cd build
-          ctest --output-on-failure
+          ctest --test-dir build --output-on-failure
 
   MacOS:
-    name: 'MacOS - clang - Arch:x64 BuildType:Release - SHARED'
-    runs-on: macos-latest
+    name: 'macOS - XCode - Arch:${{ matrix.runner.arch }} BuildType:Release - SHARED'
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.runner.os }}
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        runner:
+          - { os: macos-12, arch: X64   }
+          - { os: macos-14, arch: ARM64 }
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          brew install ninja
-          brew install inih
-          brew install googletest
+          brew install ninja inih googletest
 
-      - name: build and compile
+      - name: Build
         run: |
           cmake --preset base_mac -S . -B build
           cmake --build build --parallel
 
       - name: Test
         run: |
-          cd build
-          ctest --output-on-failure
+          ctest --test-dir build --output-on-failure
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_push_ExtraJobsForMain.yml b/.github/workflows/on_push_ExtraJobsForMain.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 454a202167..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/on_push_ExtraJobsForMain.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-name: On PUSH - Linux Special Builds for main branch
-
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref || github.run_id }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-    - main
-    tags:
-    - '!*'
-    paths-ignore:
-      - "*.md"
-  workflow_dispatch:
-
-jobs:
-  special_debugRelease:
-    name: 'Ubuntu 22.04 - GCC - Debug+Coverage'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-
-      - name: install dependencies
-        run: |
-          python3 -m pip install conan==1.59.0 gcovr ninja
-
-      - name: Conan common config
-        run: |
-          conan profile new --detect default
-          conan profile update settings.compiler.libcxx=libstdc++11 default
-
-      - name: Run Conan
-        run: |
-          mkdir build && cd build
-          conan profile list
-          conan profile show default
-          conan install .. -o webready=True --build missing
-
-      - name: Build
-        run: |
-          cmake --preset linux-coverage -S . -B build
-          cmake --build build
-
-      - name: Tests + Upload coverage
-        run: |
-          cd build
-          ctest --output-on-failure
-          # this needs to match th ecommand in on_PR_linux_secial_builds.yml!
-          gcovr --root .. --object-dir . --exclude-unreachable-branches --exclude-throw-branches --xml -o coverage.xml .
-          curl https://keybase.io/codecovsecurity/pgp_keys.asc | gpg --import
-          curl -Os https://uploader.codecov.io/latest/linux/codecov
-          curl -Os https://uploader.codecov.io/latest/linux/codecov.SHA256SUM
-          curl -Os https://uploader.codecov.io/latest/linux/codecov.SHA256SUM.sig
-          gpg --verify codecov.SHA256SUM.sig codecov.SHA256SUM
-          shasum -a 256 -c codecov.SHA256SUM
-          chmod +x codecov
-          ./codecov -f build/coverage.xml
diff --git a/.github/workflows/on_push_clang_format.yml b/.github/workflows/on_push_clang_format.yml
index 17b2f8e9ee..8cb952826f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/on_push_clang_format.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/on_push_clang_format.yml
@@ -7,11 +7,10 @@ jobs:
   clang-format-checking:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-      - uses: DoozyX/clang-format-lint-action@v0.16
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: DoozyX/clang-format-lint-action@v0.17
         with:
           source: '.'
           exclude: './xmpsdk ./contrib'
           extensions: 'c,h,cpp,hpp'
-          clangFormatVersion: 12
           style: file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index ac25a4ccd7..a1c56ba94e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ jobs:
     name: 'Build Linux Release'
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          sudo apt install -y gettext doxygen graphviz
-          python -m pip install conan==1.59.0 ninja
+          sudo apt install -y gettext doxygen graphviz ninja-build
+          python -m pip install conan==1.*
 
       - name: Conan common config
         run: |
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build packaged release
         run: |
-          cmake --preset linux-all -S . -B build -DEXIV2_TEAM_PACKAGING=ON -DCMAKE_INTERPROCEDURAL_OPTIMIZATION=ON -DEXIV2_ENABLE_WEBREADY=OFF -DEXIV2_ENABLE_CURL=OFF
+          cmake --preset linux-all -S . -B build -DEXIV2_TEAM_PACKAGING=ON -DCMAKE_INTERPROCEDURAL_OPTIMIZATION=ON -DEXIV2_ENABLE_WEBREADY=OFF -DEXIV2_ENABLE_CURL=OFF -DEXIV2_BUILD_SAMPLES=OFF
           cmake --build build -t doc
           cmake --build build -t package
 
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: exiv2-linux64
           path: ./build/exiv2-*.tar.gz
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
     name: 'Build macOS Release'
     runs-on: macos-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ jobs:
           cmake --build build -t doc
           cmake --build build -t package
 
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: exiv2-macos
           path: ./build/exiv2-*.tar.gz
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ jobs:
     name: 'Build Windows Release'
     runs-on: windows-2022
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Set up Visual Studio shell
         uses: ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@v1
@@ -106,14 +106,14 @@ jobs:
           choco install graphviz
 
       - name: Restore conan cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v3
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
             path: ${{github.workspace}}/conanCache
             key: ${{runner.os}}-release-win-${{ hashFiles('conanfile.py') }}
 
       - name: Install Conan & Common config
         run: |
-          python -m pip install conan==1.59.0
+          python -m pip install conan==1.*
           conan profile new --detect default
           conan profile show default
           conan profile update settings.build_type=Release default
@@ -129,11 +129,11 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build packaged release
         run: |
-          cmake --preset win-release -S . -B build -DEXIV2_TEAM_PACKAGING=ON -DEXIV2_BUILD_DOC=ON -DEXIV2_ENABLE_WEBREADY=OFF -DEXIV2_ENABLE_CURL=OFF
+          cmake --preset win-release -S . -B build -DEXIV2_TEAM_PACKAGING=ON -DEXIV2_BUILD_DOC=ON -DEXIV2_ENABLE_WEBREADY=OFF -DEXIV2_ENABLE_CURL=OFF -DEXIV2_BUILD_SAMPLES=OFF
           cmake --build build --parallel -t doc
           cmake --build build --parallel -t package
 
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: exiv2-win
           path: ./build/exiv2-*.zip
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Cleanup old nightly
         if: env.TAG_NAME == 'nightly'
-        uses: actions/github-script@v6
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
         with:
           script: |
             try{
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ jobs:
               console.log( "Failed with error\n", error);
             }
 
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v3
+      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
       - name: List downloaded files
         run: tree -L 3
 
diff --git a/ci/install_dependencies.sh b/ci/install_dependencies.sh
index 7a127af891..aa98275b60 100755
--- a/ci/install_dependencies.sh
+++ b/ci/install_dependencies.sh
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 debian_build_gtest() {
     [ -d gtest_build ] || mkdir gtest_build
     cd gtest_build
-    cmake -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=1 /usr/src/googletest/googletest
-    make
+    cmake -GNinja -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=1 /usr/src/googletest/googletest
+    cmake --build .
     if [ -f "lib/libgtest.so" ]; then
         # Ubuntu 20.04 with gtest 1.10
         cp lib/libgtest* /usr/lib/
@@ -41,46 +41,46 @@ distro_id=$(grep '^ID=' /etc/os-release|awk -F = '{print $2}'|sed 's/\"//g')
 
 case "$distro_id" in
     'fedora')
-        dnf -y --refresh install gcc-c++ clang cmake make expat-devel zlib-devel brotli-devel libssh-devel libcurl-devel gmock-devel which dos2unix glibc-langpack-en diffutils inih-devel
+        dnf -y --refresh install gcc-c++ clang cmake ninja-build expat-devel zlib-devel brotli-devel libssh-devel libcurl-devel gmock-devel glibc-langpack-en inih-devel
         ;;
 
     'debian')
         apt-get update
-        apt-get install -y cmake g++ clang make libexpat1-dev zlib1g-dev libbrotli-dev libssh-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libgmock-dev libxml2-utils libinih-dev
+        apt-get install -y cmake ninja-build g++ clang libexpat1-dev zlib1g-dev libbrotli-dev libssh-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libgmock-dev libxml2-utils libinih-dev
         # debian_build_gtest
         ;;
 
     'arch')
         pacman --noconfirm -Syu
-        pacman --noconfirm --needed -S gcc clang cmake make expat zlib brotli libssh curl gtest dos2unix which diffutils libinih
+        pacman --noconfirm --needed -S gcc clang cmake ninja expat zlib brotli libssh curl gtest libinih
         ;;
 
     'ubuntu')
         apt-get update
-        apt-get install -y cmake g++ clang make libexpat1-dev zlib1g-dev libbrotli-dev libssh-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libgmock-dev libxml2-utils libinih-dev
+        apt-get install -y cmake ninja-build g++ clang libexpat1-dev zlib1g-dev libbrotli-dev libssh-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libgmock-dev libxml2-utils libinih-dev
         # debian_build_gtest
         ;;
 
     'alpine')
         apk update
-        apk add gcc g++ clang cmake make expat-dev zlib-dev brotli-dev libssh-dev curl-dev gtest gtest-dev gmock libintl gettext-dev which dos2unix bash libxml2-utils diffutils inih-dev inih-inireader-dev
+        apk add gcc g++ clang cmake samurai expat-dev zlib-dev brotli-dev libssh-dev curl-dev gtest gtest-dev gmock libintl gettext-dev libxml2-utils inih-dev inih-inireader-dev
         ;;
 
     'rhel')
         dnf clean all
-        dnf -y install gcc-c++ clang cmake make expat-devel zlib-devel brotli-devel libssh-devel libcurl-devel which dos2unix inih-devel
+        dnf -y install gcc-c++ clang cmake ninja-build expat-devel zlib-devel brotli-devel libssh-devel libcurl-devel inih-devel
         ;;
 
     'centos')
         dnf clean all
-        dnf -y install gcc-c++ clang cmake make expat-devel zlib-devel brotli-devel libssh-devel libcurl-devel which dos2unix git
-        dnf -y --enablerepo=crb install meson
+        dnf -y install gcc-c++ clang cmake expat-devel zlib-devel brotli-devel libssh-devel libcurl-devel git
+        dnf -y --enablerepo=crb install ninja-build meson
         centos_build_inih
         ;;
 
     'opensuse-tumbleweed')
         zypper --non-interactive refresh
-        zypper --non-interactive install gcc-c++ clang cmake make libexpat-devel zlib-devel libbrotli-devel libssh-devel libcurl-devel gmock which dos2unix libxml2-tools libinih-devel
+        zypper --non-interactive install gcc-c++ clang cmake ninja libexpat-devel zlib-devel libbrotli-devel libssh-devel libcurl-devel gmock libxml2-tools libinih-devel
         ;;
     *)
         echo "Sorry, no predefined dependencies for your distribution $distro_id exist yet"