diff --git a/.github/workflows/Makefile b/.github/workflows/Makefile
index 44f1f9df..73d65a5b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/Makefile
+++ b/.github/workflows/Makefile
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ test: force build
 	@git diff --exit-code $(TARGET_FILES) && \
 	  echo -e '\nPASS - No normative changes to .github/workflows/*.yml'
 
+
 DIFF_ORIG_COMMIT ?= HEAD
 diff:
 	@for s in $(SOURCE_FILES); do \
@@ -37,9 +38,11 @@ diff:
 	     ); \
 	  done
 
+
 force:
 	touch *.ys
 
+
 %.yml: %.ys $(YS) $(INPUT_FILES)
 	@if [ -f "$@" ] ; then chmod a+w $@ ; fi
 	@echo "# DO NOT EDIT - GENERATED FROM .github/workflows/$<" > $@
@@ -55,6 +58,7 @@ $(YS):
 	curl -s https://yamlscript.org/install | \
 	  BIN=1 VERSION=$(YS_VERSION) PREFIX=$(YS_PREFIX) bash
 
+
 stats:
-	@echo "ys : $$(wc -l *.ys)"
-	@echo "yml: $$(wc -l *.yml)"
+	@echo "ys : $$(wc -lm *.ys)"
+	@echo "yml: $$(wc -lm *.yml)"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/bash/benchmarks-install.bash b/.github/workflows/bash/benchmarks-install.bash
deleted file mode 100644
index 3e5f15fe..00000000
--- a/.github/workflows/bash/benchmarks-install.bash
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-which python
-which pip
-python --version
-pip --version
-pip install -v -r ext/c4core/cmake/bm-xp/requirements.txt
-python -c 'import munch ; print("ok!") ; exit(0)'
-echo $?
diff --git a/.github/workflows/bash/benchmarks-run.bash b/.github/workflows/bash/benchmarks-run.bash
deleted file mode 100644
index 1833b062..00000000
--- a/.github/workflows/bash/benchmarks-run.bash
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-set -x
-source vars.sh
-echo SRC_TAG=$SRC_TAG
-echo SRC_VERSION=$SRC_VERSION
-desc=$SRC_TAG
-for bl in ${{matrix.bitlinks}} ; do
-  dst=$(echo ryml-benchmark_results/$desc/x86_64/${{matrix.cxx}}-${{matrix.bt}}-c++${{matrix.std}}-$bl | sed 's:++-:xx:g' | sed 's:+:x:g')
-  mkdir -p $dst
-  find build -name bm-results
-  mv -vf build/$bl/bm/bm-results/* $dst/.
-done
diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmarks.yml b/.github/workflows/benchmarks.yml
index a47289d8..701568bd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/benchmarks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmarks.yml
@@ -83,49 +83,36 @@ jobs:
     - name: Verify vars.sh
       run: env | grep SRC
   benchmarks:
-    name: bm/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.cxx}}/${{matrix.bt}}
+    name: bm/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.comp}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     needs: gettag
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip benchmarks')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only benchmarks')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-10
-          bt: Release
-          os: ubuntu-20.04
-          bitlinks: static64 static32
         - std: 17
-          cxx: g++-10
-          bt: Release
-          os: ubuntu-20.04
-          bitlinks: static64 static32
-        - std: 20
-          cxx: g++-10
-          bt: Release
-          os: ubuntu-20.04
-          bitlinks: static64 static32
+          comp: gcc14
+          os: ubuntu-24.04
+          cmkflags: -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-14     -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-14
         - std: 17
-          cxx: vs2019
-          bt: Release
-          os: windows-2019
-          bitlinks: static64 static32
-        - std: 20
-          cxx: vs2019
-          bt: Release
+          comp: clang18
+          os: ubuntu-24.04
+          cmkflags: -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++-18 -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang-18
+        - std: 17
+          comp: vs2019
           os: windows-2019
-          bitlinks: static64 static32
+          cmkflags: -G 'Visual Studio 16 2019' -A x64
         - std: 17
-          cxx: xcode
-          xcver: 15
-          bt: Release
+          comp: vs2022
+          os: windows-2022
+          cmkflags: -G 'Visual Studio 17 2022' -A x64
+        - std: 17
+          comp: xcode15
           os: macos-13
-          bitlinks: static64
+          xcver: 15
+          cmkflags: -G Xcode -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES=x86_64
     env:
       BM: 'ON'
       STD: ${{matrix.std}}
@@ -182,47 +169,21 @@ jobs:
         pip install -v -r ext/c4core/cmake/bm-xp/requirements.txt
         python -c 'import munch ; print("ok!") ; exit(0)'
         echo $?
-    - name: set build env vars
-      run: |
-        echo "NUM_JOBS_BUILD=1" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        echo "CMAKE_FLAGS=\"-DPython_EXECUTABLE=$(which python)\"" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-    - name: check build env vars
+    - name: configure-------------------------------------------------
       run: |
-        echo NUM_JOBS_BUILD=$NUM_JOBS_BUILD
-        echo "CMAKE_FLAGS=\"$CMAKE_FLAGS\""
-    - name: shared64-configure-------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test shared64
-    - name: shared64-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_target shared64 ryml-bm-build
-    - name: shared64-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target shared64 ryml-bm-run
-    - name: shared64-plot
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target shared64 ryml-bm-plot
-    - name: static64-configure-------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test static64
-    - name: static64-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_target static64 ryml-bm-build
-    - name: static64-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target static64 ryml-bm-run
-    - name: static64-plot
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target static64 ryml-bm-plot
-    - name: static32-configure-------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test static32
-    - name: static32-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_target static32 ryml-bm-build
-    - name: static32-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target static32 ryml-bm-run
-    - name: static32-plot
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target static32 ryml-bm-plot
-    - name: shared32-configure-------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test shared32
-    - name: shared32-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_target shared32 ryml-bm-build
-    - name: shared32-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target shared32 ryml-bm-run
-    - name: shared32-plot
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target shared32 ryml-bm-plot
-    - name: gather benchmark results
+        cmake -S . -B build \
+            ${{matrix.cmkflags}} \
+            -DPython_EXECUTABLE="$(which python)" \
+            -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+            -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+            -DRYML_BUILD_BENCHMARKS=ON
+    - name: build
+      run: cmake --build build --config Release --parallel --verbose --target ryml-bm-build
+    - name: run
+      run: cmake --build build --config Release --verbose --target ryml-bm-run
+    - name: plot
+      run: cmake --build build --config Release --verbose --target ryml-bm-plot
+    - name: gather benchmark results-------------------------------------------
       run: |
         set -x
         source vars.sh
diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmarks.ys b/.github/workflows/benchmarks.ys
index f6e9a525..a963782a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/benchmarks.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmarks.ys
@@ -11,23 +11,19 @@ jobs:
     - :: version-discover
 
   benchmarks:
-    name: bm/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.cxx}}/${{matrix.bt}}
+    name: bm/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.comp}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     needs: gettag
-    :: setup-job('benchmarks')
+    :: setup-job('benchmarks' 'benchmarks')
     runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        item =: \({:std %1, :cxx %2, :bt 'Release', :os %3, :bitlinks 'static64 static32'})
         include:
-        - ! item(11 'g++-10' 'ubuntu-20.04')
-        - ! item(17 'g++-10' 'ubuntu-20.04')
-        - ! item(20 'g++-10' 'ubuntu-20.04')
-        - ! item(17 'vs2019' 'windows-2019')
-        - ! item(20 'vs2019' 'windows-2019')
-       #- ! item(17 'vs2019' 'windows-2022')
-       #- ! item(20 'vs2019' 'windows-2022')
-        - {std: 17, cxx: xcode, xcver: 15, bt: Release, os: macos-13, bitlinks: static64}
+        - {std: 17, comp: gcc14  , os: ubuntu-24.04, cmkflags: -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-14     -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-14}
+        - {std: 17, comp: clang18, os: ubuntu-24.04, cmkflags: -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++-18 -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang-18}
+        - {std: 17, comp: vs2019 , os: windows-2019, cmkflags: -G 'Visual Studio 16 2019' -A x64}
+        - {std: 17, comp: vs2022 , os: windows-2022, cmkflags: -G 'Visual Studio 17 2022' -A x64}
+        - {std: 17, comp: xcode15, os: macos-13, xcver: 15, cmkflags: -G Xcode -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES=x86_64}
     env:: -{'BM' 'ON'} + load('share/env.yaml')
     steps:
     - :: checkout-action
@@ -40,49 +36,41 @@ jobs:
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with: { python-version: '3.10' }
     - name: install benchmark plotting dependencies
-      run:: bash('benchmarks-install')
-    - name: set build env vars
       run: |
-        echo "NUM_JOBS_BUILD=1" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        echo "CMAKE_FLAGS=\"-DPython_EXECUTABLE=$(which python)\"" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-    - name: check build env vars
+        which python
+        which pip
+        python --version
+        pip --version
+        pip install -v -r ext/c4core/cmake/bm-xp/requirements.txt
+        python -c 'import munch ; print("ok!") ; exit(0)'
+        echo $?
+    - name: configure-------------------------------------------------
       run: |
-        echo NUM_JOBS_BUILD=$NUM_JOBS_BUILD
-        echo "CMAKE_FLAGS=\"$CMAKE_FLAGS\""
-    - name: shared64-configure-------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test shared64
-    - name: shared64-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_target shared64 ryml-bm-build
-    - name: shared64-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target shared64 ryml-bm-run
-    - name: shared64-plot
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target shared64 ryml-bm-plot
-    - name: static64-configure-------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test static64
-    - name: static64-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_target static64 ryml-bm-build
-    - name: static64-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target static64 ryml-bm-run
-    - name: static64-plot
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target static64 ryml-bm-plot
-    - name: static32-configure-------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test static32
-    - name: static32-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_target static32 ryml-bm-build
-    - name: static32-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target static32 ryml-bm-run
-    - name: static32-plot
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target static32 ryml-bm-plot
-    - name: shared32-configure-------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test shared32
-    - name: shared32-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_target shared32 ryml-bm-build
-    - name: shared32-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target shared32 ryml-bm-run
-    - name: shared32-plot
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_target shared32 ryml-bm-plot
-    - name: gather benchmark results
-      run:: bash('benchmarks-run')
+        cmake -S . -B build \
+            ${{matrix.cmkflags}} \
+            -DPython_EXECUTABLE="$(which python)" \
+            -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+            -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+            -DRYML_BUILD_BENCHMARKS=ON
+    - name: build
+      run: cmake --build build --config Release --parallel --verbose --target ryml-bm-build
+    - name: run
+      run: cmake --build build --config Release --verbose --target ryml-bm-run
+    - name: plot
+      run: cmake --build build --config Release --verbose --target ryml-bm-plot
+    - name: gather benchmark results-------------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        set -x
+        source vars.sh
+        echo SRC_TAG=$SRC_TAG
+        echo SRC_VERSION=$SRC_VERSION
+        desc=$SRC_TAG
+        for bl in ${{matrix.bitlinks}} ; do
+          dst=$(echo ryml-benchmark_results/$desc/x86_64/${{matrix.cxx}}-${{matrix.bt}}-c++${{matrix.std}}-$bl | sed 's:++-:xx:g' | sed 's:+:x:g')
+          mkdir -p $dst
+          find build -name bm-results
+          mv -vf build/$bl/bm/bm-results/* $dst/.
+        done
     - name: upload benchmark result artifacts
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
       with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/clang.yml b/.github/workflows/clang.yml
index ba41a32d..b74f6326 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/clang.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/clang.yml
@@ -18,12 +18,9 @@ env:
   CMAKE_FLAGS: -DRYML_TEST_SUITE=ON
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
-  clang_canary:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip clang')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only clang')
-    continue-on-error: true
+  canary:
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: canary/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu22.04:latest
@@ -32,19 +29,11 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         include:
         - std: 20
-          cxx: clang++-17
+          cxx: clang++-18
           bt: Debug
           bitlinks: shared64 static32
         - std: 20
-          cxx: clang++-17
-          bt: Release
-          bitlinks: shared64 static32
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-9
-          bt: Debug
-          bitlinks: shared64 static32
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-9
+          cxx: clang++-18
           bt: Release
           bitlinks: shared64 static32
     env:
@@ -98,12 +87,9 @@ jobs:
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared32
     - name: shared32-pack
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
-  clang_tabtokens:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip clang')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only clang')
-    continue-on-error: true
+  tabtokens:
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: tabtokens/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu22.04:latest
@@ -112,19 +98,11 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         include:
         - std: 20
-          cxx: clang++-17
+          cxx: clang++-18
           bt: Debug
           bitlinks: shared64 static32
         - std: 20
-          cxx: clang++-17
-          bt: Release
-          bitlinks: shared64 static32
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-9
-          bt: Debug
-          bitlinks: shared64 static32
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-9
+          cxx: clang++-18
           bt: Release
           bitlinks: shared64 static32
     env:
@@ -179,12 +157,9 @@ jobs:
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared32
     - name: shared32-pack
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
-  clang_noexceptions:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip clang')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only clang')
-    continue-on-error: true
+  noexceptions:
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: noexceptions/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu22.04:latest
@@ -193,19 +168,11 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         include:
         - std: 20
-          cxx: clang++-17
+          cxx: clang++-18
           bt: Debug
           bitlinks: shared64 static32
         - std: 20
-          cxx: clang++-17
-          bt: Release
-          bitlinks: shared64 static32
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-9
-          bt: Debug
-          bitlinks: shared64 static32
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-9
+          cxx: clang++-18
           bt: Release
           bitlinks: shared64 static32
     env:
@@ -260,169 +227,92 @@ jobs:
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared32
     - name: shared32-pack
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
-  clang_extended:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip clang')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only clang')
-    continue-on-error: true
-    name: extended/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}/vg${{matrix.vg}}
+  extended:
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
+    name: extended/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/vg${{matrix.vg}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu${{matrix.img}}:latest
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
+        - std: 20
+          cxx: 18
+          vg: 'ON'
+          img: 22.04
+        - std: 17
+          cxx: 18
+          vg: 'ON'
+          img: 22.04
+        - std: 14
+          cxx: 18
+          vg: 'ON'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-17
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-17
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-16
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-16
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 18
+          vg: 'ON'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-15
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 17
+          vg: 'ON'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-15
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 16
+          vg: 'ON'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-14
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 15
+          vg: 'ON'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-14
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 14
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-13
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 13
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-13
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 12
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-12
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 11
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-12
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 10
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-11
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 9
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-11
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 8
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-10
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 7
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-10
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-9
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-9
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-8
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: '6.0'
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-8
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: '5.0'
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-7
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-7
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-6.0
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-6.0
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: '4.0'
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-5.0
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-5.0
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-4.0
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-4.0
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-3.9
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: clang++-3.9
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'on'
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: '3.9'
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
     env:
       STD: ${{matrix.std}}
       CXX_: ${{matrix.cxx}}
@@ -481,47 +371,106 @@ jobs:
             || echo -n
         # show the last commit
         git log --name-status HEAD^..HEAD
-    - run: c4core-install ${{matrix.cxx}}
-    - name: show info
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_show_info
-    - name: shared64-configure---------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test shared64
-    - name: shared64-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_test shared64
-    - name: shared64-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared64
-    - name: shared64-pack
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared64
-    - name: static64-configure---------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test static64
-    - name: static64-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_test static64
-    - name: static64-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test static64
-    - name: static64-pack
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package static64
-    - name: static32-configure---------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test static32
-    - name: static32-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_test static32
-    - name: static32-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test static32
-    - name: static32-pack
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package static32
-    - name: shared32-configure---------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test shared32
-    - name: shared32-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_test shared32
-    - name: shared32-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared32
-    - name: shared32-pack
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
+    - name: install
+      run: c4core-install clang++-${{matrix.cxx}}
+    - name: Debug  ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Debug
+        cmake -S . -B build/Debug \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG="" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: 'build Debug '
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Debug --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: 'run Debug '
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Debug --target ryml-test-run
+    - name: Release -O3 -DNDEBUG ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Release
+        cmake -S . -B build/Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="-O3 -DNDEBUG" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build Release -O3 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run Release -O3 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-run
+    - name: Release -O2 -DNDEBUG ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Release
+        cmake -S . -B build/Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="-O2 -DNDEBUG" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build Release -O2 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run Release -O2 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-run
+    - name: Release -O1 -DNDEBUG ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Release
+        cmake -S . -B build/Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="-O1 -DNDEBUG" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build Release -O1 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run Release -O1 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-run
+    - name: Release -Os -DNDEBUG ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Release
+        cmake -S . -B build/Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="-Os -DNDEBUG" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build Release -Os -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run Release -Os -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-run
   clangsan:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip clang')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only clang')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: san/${{matrix.bt}}/c++${{matrix.std}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu22.04:latest
diff --git a/.github/workflows/clang.ys b/.github/workflows/clang.ys
index c479b8bf..1cc74bfb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/clang.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/clang.ys
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 jobs:
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  clang_canary:
-    :: setup-job('clang')
+  canary:
+    :: setup-job('clang' 'canary')
     name: canary/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('22.04')
     strategy:
@@ -14,16 +14,14 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         item =: \({:std %1, :cxx %2, :bt %3, :bitlinks 'shared64 static32'})
         include:: &include1 -[
-          item(20 'clang++-17' 'Debug')
-          item(20 'clang++-17' 'Release')
-          item(11 'clang++-9'  'Debug')
-          item(11 'clang++-9'  'Release') ]
+          item(20 'clang++-18' 'Debug'  )
+          item(20 'clang++-18' 'Release') ]
     env:: load('share/env.yaml')
     steps:: checkout-action-docker + install-cxx + run-steps
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  clang_tabtokens:
-    :: setup-job('clang')
+  tabtokens:
+    :: setup-job('clang' 'tabtokens')
     name: tabtokens/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('22.04')
     strategy:
@@ -35,8 +33,8 @@ jobs:
     steps:: checkout-action-docker + install-cxx + run-steps
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  clang_noexceptions:
-    :: setup-job('clang')
+  noexceptions:
+    :: setup-job('clang' 'noexceptions')
     name: noexceptions/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('22.04')
     strategy:
@@ -48,53 +46,49 @@ jobs:
     steps:: checkout-action-docker + install-cxx + run-steps
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  clang_extended:
-    :: setup-job('clang')
-    name: extended/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}/vg${{matrix.vg}}
+  extended:
+    :: setup-job('clang' 'extended')
+    name: extended/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/vg${{matrix.vg}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('${{matrix.img}}')
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        item =: \({:std 11, :cxx "clang++-$a(%1)", :bt %2, :vg 'on', :img "$a(%3)"})
         include:
-        - ! item(17 'Debug' '22.04')
-        - ! item(17 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item(16 'Debug' '22.04')
-        - ! item(16 'Release' '22.04')
-        # install of clang15 fails on ubuntu18.04
-        - ! item(15 'Debug' '22.04')
-        - ! item(15 'Release' '22.04')
-        # install of clang14 fails on ubuntu18.04
-        - ! item(14 'Debug' '22.04')
-        - ! item(14 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item(13 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item(13 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item(12 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item(12 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item(11 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item(11 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item(10 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item(10 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item( 9 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item( 9 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item( 8 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item( 8 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item( 7 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item( 7 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item(6.0 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item(6.0 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item(5.0 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item(5.0 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item(4.0 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item(4.0 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item(3.9 'Debug' '18.04')
-        - ! item(3.9 'Release' '18.04')
+        # with valgrind: only latest clang
+        - {std: 20, cxx: 18   , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 17, cxx: 18   , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 14, cxx: 18   , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 18   , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        # without valgrind
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 17   , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 16   , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 15   , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 14   , vg: OFF, img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 13   , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 12   , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 11   , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 10   , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  9   , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  8   , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  7   , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: '6.0', vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: '5.0', vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: '4.0', vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: '3.9', vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
     env:: load('share/env.yaml')
-    steps:: checkout-manual + install-cxx + run-steps
+    steps:
+      - :: checkout-manual
+      - name: install
+        run: c4core-install clang++-${{matrix.cxx}}
+      - :: run-clang-manual-with-flags('Debug'   '')
+      - :: run-clang-manual-with-flags('Release' '-O3 -DNDEBUG')
+      - :: run-clang-manual-with-flags('Release' '-O2 -DNDEBUG')
+      - :: run-clang-manual-with-flags('Release' '-O1 -DNDEBUG')
+      - :: run-clang-manual-with-flags('Release' '-Os -DNDEBUG')
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   clangsan:
-    :: setup-job('clang')
+    :: setup-job('clang' 'clangsan')
     name: san/${{matrix.bt}}/c++${{matrix.std}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('22.04')
     strategy:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/clang_tidy.yml b/.github/workflows/clang_tidy.yml
index 02a75aae..c7fd4bfe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/clang_tidy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/clang_tidy.yml
@@ -19,11 +19,8 @@ env:
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
   clang_tidy:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip clang_tidy')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only clang_tidy')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: clang_tidy/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu22.04:latest
diff --git a/.github/workflows/clang_tidy.ys b/.github/workflows/clang_tidy.ys
index f1353e3f..8a027143 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/clang_tidy.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/clang_tidy.ys
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 jobs:
   clang_tidy:
-    :: setup-job('clang_tidy')
+    :: setup-job('clang_tidy' 'clang_tidy')
     name: clang_tidy/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('22.04')
     strategy:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/coverage.yml b/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
index c0b07820..47f65a88 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
@@ -19,11 +19,8 @@ env:
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
   coverage:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip coverage')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only coverage')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: coverage/c++${{matrix.std}}${{matrix.namesfx}}
     runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
     strategy:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/coverage.ys b/.github/workflows/coverage.ys
index 8568d62b..3cb2f9f0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/coverage.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/coverage.ys
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 jobs:
   coverage:
-    :: setup-job('coverage')
+    :: setup-job('coverage' 'coverage')
     name: coverage/c++${{matrix.std}}${{matrix.namesfx}}
     runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
     strategy:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/emscripten.yml b/.github/workflows/emscripten.yml
index 24afabf6..a92ee20a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/emscripten.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/emscripten.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
   emscripten:
     name: emscripten/${{matrix.emver}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     if: ${{ false }}
-    continue-on-error: true
+    continue-on-error: false
     runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
diff --git a/.github/workflows/emscripten.ys b/.github/workflows/emscripten.ys
index 6bc00d93..8d60d884 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/emscripten.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/emscripten.ys
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 jobs:
   emscripten:
     name: emscripten/${{matrix.emver}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
-    :: setup-job('emscripten')
+    :: setup-job('emscripten' 'emscripten')
     # this job is always causing trouble, with failures showing unreadable code
     # dumps. eg https://github.com/biojppm/rapidyaml/actions/runs/10368522906
     # Disabling until we can find a proper way to investigate these failures:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gcc.yml b/.github/workflows/gcc.yml
index 84fe306c..04b6ac1a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gcc.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gcc.yml
@@ -18,12 +18,9 @@ env:
   CMAKE_FLAGS: -DRYML_TEST_SUITE=ON
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
-  gcc_canary:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip gcc')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only gcc')
-    continue-on-error: true
+  canary:
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: canary/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu${{matrix.img}}:latest
@@ -164,59 +161,9 @@ jobs:
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared32
     - name: shared32-pack
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
-  gcc_O2:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip gcc')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only gcc')
-    continue-on-error: true
-    name: gcc_O2/${{matrix.gcc}}/c++${{matrix.std}}
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu22.04:latest
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        include:
-        - std: 11
-          gcc: 12
-          bt: Release
-    env:
-      STD: ${{matrix.std}}
-      CXX_: ${{matrix.gcc}}
-      BT: ${{matrix.bt}}
-      BITLINKS: ${{matrix.bitlinks}}
-      VG: ${{matrix.vg}}
-      SAN: ${{matrix.san}}
-      LINT: ${{matrix.lint}}
-      OS: ${{matrix.os}}
-    steps:
-    - name: checkout (action + docker)
-      uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - run: git config --system --add safe.directory '*'
-    - run: c4core-install g++-${{matrix.gcc}}
-    - name: show info
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_show_info
-    - name: configure
-      run: |
-        cmake -S . -B build_o2 \
-          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-${{matrix.gcc}} \
-          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-${{matrix.gcc}} \
-          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE:STRING="-O2 -g -DNDEBUG" \
-          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS:BOOL=ON \
-          -DRYML_DBG:BOOL=OFF
-    - name: build
-      run: cmake --build build_o2 --target ryml-test-build -j --verbose
-    - name: run
-      run: cmake --build build_o2 --target ryml-test-run
-  gcc_tabtokens:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip gcc')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only gcc')
-    continue-on-error: true
+  tabtokens:
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: tabtokens/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu${{matrix.img}}:latest
@@ -358,12 +305,63 @@ jobs:
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared32
     - name: shared32-pack
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
-  gcc_noexceptions:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip gcc')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only gcc')
-    continue-on-error: true
+  misbuild:
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
+    name: misbuild#${{matrix.issue}}/gcc${{matrix.gcc}}/c++${{matrix.std}}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu${{matrix.img}}:latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        include:
+        - issue: 440
+          std: 11
+          gcc: 12
+          bt: Release
+          img: 22.04
+          cxxflags: -O2 -DNDEBUG -g
+        - issue: 486
+          std: 11
+          gcc: 11
+          bt: Release
+          img: 22.04
+          cxxflags: -O3 -DNDEBUG
+    env:
+      STD: ${{matrix.std}}
+      CXX_: ${{matrix.gcc}}
+      BT: ${{matrix.bt}}
+      BITLINKS: ${{matrix.bitlinks}}
+      VG: ${{matrix.vg}}
+      SAN: ${{matrix.san}}
+      LINT: ${{matrix.lint}}
+      OS: ${{matrix.os}}
+    steps:
+    - name: checkout (action + docker)
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - run: git config --system --add safe.directory '*'
+    - run: c4core-install g++-${{matrix.gcc}}
+    - name: show info
+      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_show_info
+    - name: configure (issue \#${{matrix.issue}})
+      run: |
+        cmake -S . -B build \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-${{matrix.gcc}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-${{matrix.gcc}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="${{matrix.cxxflags}}" \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build (issue \#${{matrix.issue}})
+      run: cmake --build build --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run (issue \#${{matrix.issue}})
+      run: cmake --build build --target ryml-test-run
+  noexceptions:
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: noexceptions/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu${{matrix.img}}:latest
@@ -485,13 +483,10 @@ jobs:
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared32
     - name: shared32-pack
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
-  gcc_extended:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip gcc')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only gcc')
-    continue-on-error: true
-    name: extended/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}/vg${{matrix.vg}}
+  extended:
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
+    name: extended/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/vg${{matrix.vg}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu${{matrix.img}}:latest
     strategy:
@@ -499,133 +494,65 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         include:
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-14
-          bt: Debug
-          vg: 'ON'
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-14
-          bt: Release
+          cxx: 14
           vg: 'ON'
-          img: '22.04'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 14
-          cxx: g++-14
-          bt: Debug
+          cxx: 14
           vg: 'ON'
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 14
-          cxx: g++-14
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'ON'
-          img: '22.04'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 17
-          cxx: g++-14
-          bt: Debug
+          cxx: 14
           vg: 'ON'
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 17
-          cxx: g++-14
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'ON'
-          img: '22.04'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 20
-          cxx: g++-14
-          bt: Debug
+          cxx: 14
           vg: 'ON'
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 20
-          cxx: g++-14
-          bt: Release
-          vg: 'ON'
-          img: '22.04'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-13
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 13
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-13
-          bt: Release
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 12
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-12
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 11
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-12
-          bt: Release
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-11
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-11
-          bt: Release
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-10
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '22.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-10
-          bt: Release
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 10
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-9
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 9
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 22.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-9
-          bt: Release
-          img: '22.04'
+          cxx: 8
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-8
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 7
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-8
-          bt: Release
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 6
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-7
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 5
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-7
-          bt: Release
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 4.9
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
         - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-6
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-6
-          bt: Release
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-5
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-5
-          bt: Release
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-4.9
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-4.9
-          bt: Release
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-4.8
-          bt: Debug
-          img: '18.04'
-        - std: 11
-          cxx: g++-4.8
-          bt: Release
-          img: '18.04'
+          cxx: 4.8
+          vg: 'OFF'
+          img: 18.04
     env:
       STD: ${{matrix.std}}
       CXX_: ${{matrix.cxx}}
@@ -684,47 +611,106 @@ jobs:
             || echo -n
         # show the last commit
         git log --name-status HEAD^..HEAD
-    - run: c4core-install ${{matrix.cxx}}
-    - name: show info
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_show_info
-    - name: shared64-configure---------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test shared64
-    - name: shared64-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_test shared64
-    - name: shared64-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared64
-    - name: shared64-pack
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared64
-    - name: static64-configure---------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test static64
-    - name: static64-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_test static64
-    - name: static64-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test static64
-    - name: static64-pack
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package static64
-    - name: static32-configure---------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test static32
-    - name: static32-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_test static32
-    - name: static32-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test static32
-    - name: static32-pack
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package static32
-    - name: shared32-configure---------------------------------------------------
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_cfg_test shared32
-    - name: shared32-build
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_build_test shared32
-    - name: shared32-run
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared32
-    - name: shared32-pack
-      run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
+    - name: install
+      run: c4core-install g++-${{matrix.cxx}}
+    - name: Debug  ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Debug
+        cmake -S . -B build/Debug \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG="" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: 'build Debug '
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Debug --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: 'run Debug '
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Debug --target ryml-test-run
+    - name: Release -O3 -DNDEBUG ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Release
+        cmake -S . -B build/Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="-O3 -DNDEBUG" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build Release -O3 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run Release -O3 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-run
+    - name: Release -O2 -DNDEBUG ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Release
+        cmake -S . -B build/Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="-O2 -DNDEBUG" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build Release -O2 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run Release -O2 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-run
+    - name: Release -O1 -DNDEBUG ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Release
+        cmake -S . -B build/Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="-O1 -DNDEBUG" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build Release -O1 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run Release -O1 -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-run
+    - name: Release -Os -DNDEBUG ---------------------------------------
+      run: |
+        rm -rf build/Release
+        cmake -S . -B build/Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="-Os -DNDEBUG" \
+          -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build Release -Os -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run Release -Os -DNDEBUG
+      run: |
+        cmake --build build/Release --target ryml-test-run
   gccsan:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip gcc')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only gcc')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: gccsan/${{matrix.bt}}/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu22.04:latest
@@ -848,11 +834,8 @@ jobs:
     - name: shared32-pack
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
   arm:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip gcc')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only gcc')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: ghcr.io/biojppm/c4core/ubuntu18.04:latest
     name: arm/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gcc.ys b/.github/workflows/gcc.ys
index a838cd39..181a7d80 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gcc.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/gcc.ys
@@ -6,15 +6,14 @@
 jobs:
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  gcc_canary:
-    :: setup-job('gcc')
+  canary:
+    :: setup-job('gcc' 'canary')
     name: canary/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('${{matrix.img}}')
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        item =: \({:std %1, :cxx "g++-$a(%2)", :bt %3
-                   :bitlinks 'shared64 static32', :img "$a(%4)"})
+        item =: \({:std %1, :cxx "g++-$a(%2)", :bt %3, :bitlinks 'shared64 static32', :img "$a(%4)"})
         include: &include1
         - ! item(11  14 'Debug'   '22.04')
         - ! item(11  14 'Release' '22.04')
@@ -28,56 +27,57 @@ jobs:
     steps:: checkout-manual + install-cxx + run-steps
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  gcc_O2: # see https://github.com/biojppm/rapidyaml/issues/440
-    :: setup-job('gcc')
-    name: gcc_O2/${{matrix.gcc}}/c++${{matrix.std}}
-    :: runs-on-docker-c4core('22.04')
+  tabtokens:
+    :: setup-job('gcc' 'tabtokens')
+    name: tabtokens/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
+    :: runs-on-docker-c4core('${{matrix.img}}')
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        include: *include1
+    env:: load('share/env.yaml') + {'CMAKE_FLAGS' '-DRYML_WITH_TAB_TOKENS=ON'}
+    steps:: checkout-manual + install-cxx + run-steps
+
+  #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  misbuild:
+    :: setup-job('gcc' 'misbuild')
+    name: misbuild#${{matrix.issue}}/gcc${{matrix.gcc}}/c++${{matrix.std}}
+    :: runs-on-docker-c4core('${{matrix.img}}')
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
-        - {std: 11, gcc: 12 , bt: Release}
+        - {issue: 440, std: 11, gcc: 12 , bt: Release, img: 22.04, cxxflags: -O2 -DNDEBUG -g}
+        - {issue: 486, std: 11, gcc: 11 , bt: Release, img: 22.04, cxxflags: -O3 -DNDEBUG}
     env:: load('share/env.yaml') + {'CXX_' '${{matrix.gcc}}'}
     steps:
     - :: checkout-action-docker
     - run: c4core-install g++-${{matrix.gcc}}
     - name: show info
       run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_show_info
-    - name: configure
+    - name: configure (issue \#${{matrix.issue}})
       run: |
-        cmake -S . -B build_o2 \
+        cmake -S . -B build \
           -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-${{matrix.gcc}} \
           -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc-${{matrix.gcc}} \
-          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE:STRING="-O2 -g -DNDEBUG" \
-          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS:BOOL=ON \
-          -DRYML_DBG:BOOL=OFF
-    - name: build
-      run: cmake --build build_o2 --target ryml-test-build -j --verbose
-    - name: run
-      run: cmake --build build_o2 --target ryml-test-run
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE="${{matrix.cxxflags}}" \
+          -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+          -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+    - name: build (issue \#${{matrix.issue}})
+      run: cmake --build build --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+    - name: run (issue \#${{matrix.issue}})
+      run: cmake --build build --target ryml-test-run
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  gcc_tabtokens:
-    :: setup-job('gcc')
-    name: tabtokens/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
-    :: runs-on-docker-c4core('${{matrix.img}}')
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        include: *include1
-    env:: load('share/env.yaml') + {'CMAKE_FLAGS' '-DRYML_WITH_TAB_TOKENS=ON'}
-    steps:: checkout-manual + install-cxx + run-steps
-
-  #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  gcc_noexceptions:
-    :: setup-job('gcc')
+  noexceptions:
+    :: setup-job('gcc' 'noexceptions')
     name: noexceptions/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('${{matrix.img}}')
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        item =: \({:std %1, :cxx "g++-$a(%2)", :bt %3
-                   :bitlinks 'shared64 static32', :img "$a(%4)"})
+        item =: \({:std %1, :cxx "g++-$a(%2)", :bt %3, :bitlinks 'shared64 static32', :img "$a(%4)"})
         include:
         - ! item(11 5  'Debug'   '18.04')
         - ! item(11 5  'Release' '18.04')
@@ -87,53 +87,45 @@ jobs:
     steps:: checkout-manual + install-cxx + run-steps
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  gcc_extended:
-    :: setup-job('gcc')
-    name: extended/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}/vg${{matrix.vg}}
+  extended:
+    :: setup-job('gcc' 'extended')
+    name: extended/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/vg${{matrix.vg}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('${{matrix.img}}')
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        item-vg =: \({:std %1, :cxx "g++-$a(%2)", :bt %3, :vg 'ON', :img %4})
-        item =: \({:std 11, :cxx "g++-$a(%1)", :bt %2 :img %3})
         include:
-        # VALGRIND
-        - ! item-vg(11 14 'Debug'   '22.04')
-        - ! item-vg(11 14 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item-vg(14 14 'Debug'   '22.04')
-        - ! item-vg(14 14 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item-vg(17 14 'Debug'   '22.04')
-        - ! item-vg(17 14 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item-vg(20 14 'Debug'   '22.04')
-        - ! item-vg(20 14 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item(13 'Debug'   '22.04')
-        - ! item(13 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item(12 'Debug'   '22.04')
-        - ! item(12 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item(11 'Debug'   '22.04')
-        - ! item(11 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item(10 'Debug'   '22.04')
-        - ! item(10 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item( 9 'Debug'   '22.04')
-        - ! item( 9 'Release' '22.04')
-        - ! item( 8 'Debug'   '18.04')
-        - ! item( 8 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item( 7 'Debug'   '18.04')
-        - ! item( 7 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item( 6 'Debug'   '18.04')
-        - ! item( 6 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item( 5 'Debug'   '18.04')
-        - ! item( 5 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item(4.9 'Debug'   '18.04')
-        - ! item(4.9 'Release' '18.04')
-        - ! item(4.8 'Debug'   '18.04')
-        - ! item(4.8 'Release' '18.04')
+        # with valgrind: only latest gcc
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 14  , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 14, cxx: 14  , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 17, cxx: 14  , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 20, cxx: 14  , vg: ON , img: 22.04}
+        # without valgrind
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 13  , vg: OFF, img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 12  , vg: OFF, img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 11  , vg: OFF, img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx: 10  , vg: OFF, img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  9  , vg: OFF, img: 22.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  8  , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  7  , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  6  , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  5  , vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  4.9, vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
+        - {std: 11, cxx:  4.8, vg: OFF, img: 18.04}
     env:: load('share/env.yaml')
-    steps:: checkout-manual + install-cxx + run-steps
+    steps:
+    - :: checkout-manual
+    - name: install
+      run: c4core-install g++-${{matrix.cxx}}
+    - :: run-gcc-manual-with-flags('Debug'   '')
+    - :: run-gcc-manual-with-flags('Release' '-O3 -DNDEBUG')
+    - :: run-gcc-manual-with-flags('Release' '-O2 -DNDEBUG')
+    - :: run-gcc-manual-with-flags('Release' '-O1 -DNDEBUG')
+    - :: run-gcc-manual-with-flags('Release' '-Os -DNDEBUG')
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   gccsan:
-    :: setup-job('gcc')
+    :: setup-job('gcc' 'gccsan')
     name: gccsan/${{matrix.bt}}/${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}
     :: runs-on-docker-c4core('22.04')
     strategy:
@@ -149,7 +141,7 @@ jobs:
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   arm:
-    :: setup-job('gcc') + runs-on-docker-c4core('18.04')
+    :: setup-job('gcc' 'arm') + runs-on-docker-c4core('18.04')
     name: arm/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
diff --git a/.github/workflows/infra.yml b/.github/workflows/infra.yml
index 1715f8ef..7a4f1d09 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/infra.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/infra.yml
@@ -18,13 +18,16 @@ env:
   CMAKE_FLAGS: -DRYML_TEST_SUITE=ON
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
+  log-github-event:
+    name: log github event
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    steps:
+    - name: log github event
+      run: echo "${{toJSON(github.event)}}"
   check_workflows:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip infra')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only infra')
-    continue-on-error: true
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
     - name: checkout (action)
       uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -37,6 +40,8 @@ jobs:
       run: make -C .github/workflows build
     - name: test workflows
       run: |
+        wc --version
+        wc --help
         make -C .github/workflows test
         status=$?
         if [ $status != 0 ] ; then
diff --git a/.github/workflows/infra.ys b/.github/workflows/infra.ys
index 06d94862..73904c03 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/infra.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/infra.ys
@@ -4,11 +4,16 @@
 :: workflow-setup()
 
 jobs:
+  log-github-event:
+    name: log github event
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    steps:
+      - name: log github event
+        run: echo "${{toJSON(github.event)}}"
 
-  #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   check_workflows:
-    :: setup-job('infra')
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    :: setup-job('infra' 'check_workflows')
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
       - :: checkout-action
       - name: install ys
@@ -17,6 +22,8 @@ jobs:
         run: make -C .github/workflows build
       - name: test workflows
         run: |
+          wc --version
+          wc --help
           make -C .github/workflows test
           status=$?
           if [ $status != 0 ] ; then
diff --git a/.github/workflows/macosx.yml b/.github/workflows/macosx.yml
index bb69113a..a4273ae7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macosx.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macosx.yml
@@ -19,11 +19,8 @@ env:
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
   macosx:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip macosx')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only macosx')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     runs-on: macos-13
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
diff --git a/.github/workflows/macosx.ys b/.github/workflows/macosx.ys
index 595cb805..08efbbbe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macosx.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/macosx.ys
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 jobs:
   macosx:
-    :: setup-job('macosx')
+    :: setup-job('macosx' 'macosx')
     runs-on: macos-13
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
diff --git a/.github/workflows/rarearchs.yml b/.github/workflows/rarearchs.yml
index b4350c89..d8e043b3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rarearchs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rarearchs.yml
@@ -19,11 +19,8 @@ env:
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
   rarearchs:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip rarearchs')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only rarearchs')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: ${{matrix.arch}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     strategy:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/rarearchs.ys b/.github/workflows/rarearchs.ys
index e67e8251..901a3093 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rarearchs.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/rarearchs.ys
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 jobs:
   rarearchs:
-    :: setup-job('rarearchs')
+    :: setup-job('rarearchs' 'rarearchs')
     name: ${{matrix.arch}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     strategy:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index b33726c4..600e2aa5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -24,10 +24,7 @@ env:
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
   gettag:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip release')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only release')
+    if: always()
     continue-on-error: false
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
@@ -93,10 +90,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Verify vars.sh
       run: env | grep SRC
   src:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip release')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only release')
+    if: always()
     continue-on-error: false
     needs: gettag
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -155,10 +149,7 @@ jobs:
         name: assets
         path: assets
   cpp:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip release')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only release')
+    if: always()
     continue-on-error: false
     name: cpp/${{matrix.config.os}}/${{matrix.config.gen}}
     needs: gettag
@@ -253,10 +244,7 @@ jobs:
         name: assets
         path: assets
   python_src:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip release')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only release')
+    if: always()
     continue-on-error: false
     name: python/src
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -287,10 +275,7 @@ jobs:
         name: dist
         path: dist
   python_wheels:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip release')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only release')
+    if: always()
     continue-on-error: false
     name: python/${{matrix.config.cibw_pyv}}/${{matrix.config.osname}}/${{matrix.config.cibw_arch}}
     runs-on: ${{matrix.config.os}}
@@ -428,10 +413,7 @@ jobs:
           pip uninstall -y -v rapidyaml
         done
   release:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip release')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only release')
+    if: always()
     continue-on-error: false
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.ys b/.github/workflows/release.ys
index 23ebc2a6..85756144 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.ys
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ env:
 
 jobs:
   gettag:
-    :: setup-job('release')
+    :: setup-job('release' 'gettag')
     continue-on-error: false
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # create source packages
   src:
-    :: setup-job('release')
+    :: setup-job('release' 'src')
     continue-on-error: false
     needs: gettag
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ jobs:
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # create c++ packages
   cpp:
-    :: setup-job('release')
+    :: setup-job('release' 'cpp')
     continue-on-error: false
     name: cpp/${{matrix.config.os}}/${{matrix.config.gen}}
     needs: gettag
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ jobs:
   # github.com/pikepdf/pikepdf/blob/master/.github/workflows/build_wheels.yml
 
   python_src:
-    :: setup-job('release')
+    :: setup-job('release' 'python_src')
     continue-on-error: false
     name: python/src
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ jobs:
         with: {name: dist, path: dist}
 
   python_wheels:
-    :: setup-job('release')
+    :: setup-job('release' 'python_wheels')
     continue-on-error: false
     name::
      -'python/${{matrix.config.cibw_pyv}}/' +
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ jobs:
 
   #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   release:
-    :: setup-job('release')
+    :: setup-job('release' 'release')
     continue-on-error: false
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/samples.yml b/.github/workflows/samples.yml
index 9db79466..6b7300f6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/samples.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/samples.yml
@@ -19,11 +19,8 @@ env:
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
   samples:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip samples')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only samples')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
diff --git a/.github/workflows/samples.ys b/.github/workflows/samples.ys
index 89b44c7a..ebe8f5ea 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/samples.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/samples.ys
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 jobs:
   samples:
-    :: setup-job('samples')
+    :: setup-job('samples' 'samples')
     runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
index 236240ed..69822dee 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -19,11 +19,8 @@ env:
   NUM_JOBS_BUILD: null
 jobs:
   vs:
-    if: |
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-      (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip windows')) ||
-      contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only windows')
-    continue-on-error: true
+    if: always()
+    continue-on-error: false
     name: ${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
     strategy:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.ys b/.github/workflows/windows.ys
index 34f9de5d..063195c0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.ys
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 jobs:
   vs:
-    :: setup-job('windows')
+    :: setup-job('windows' 'vs')
     name: ${{matrix.cxx}}/c++${{matrix.std}}/${{matrix.bt}}
     runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
     strategy:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ys/common.ys b/.github/workflows/ys/common.ys
index 31ca8bc4..ca6ac63a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ys/common.ys
+++ b/.github/workflows/ys/common.ys
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ defn workflow-setup(name=nil overrides={})::
   name:: name
   defaults:
     run:
-      # Use a bash shell so we can use the same syntax for environment variable
-      # access regardless of the host operating system
+      # Use a bash shell so we can use the same syntax for environment
+      # variable access regardless of the host operating system
       shell: bash -e -x {0}
   on::
     merge _ overrides::
@@ -31,13 +31,23 @@ defn bash(name):
 
 
 #----------------------------------------------------------
-defn setup-job(name)::
-  # if: always()  # https://stackoverflow.com/a/62112985/721703
-  if:: |
-    (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip all')) ||
-    (!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip $name')) ||
-    contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'only $name')
-  continue-on-error: true
+defn setup-job(workflowname jobname)::
+  if: always()  # https://stackoverflow.com/a/62112985/721703
+  #if:: |
+  #  ${{
+  #  (
+  #    !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip all]')
+  #    &&
+  #    !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip $workflowname]')
+  #    &&
+  #    !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip $workflowname.$jobname]')
+  #  )
+  #  ||
+  #  contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[only $workflowname]')
+  #  ||
+  #  contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[only $workflowname.$jobname]')
+  #  }}
+  continue-on-error: false
 
 
 #----------------------------------------------------------
@@ -237,3 +247,38 @@ run-steps =::
   run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_run_test shared32
 - name: shared32-pack
   run: source .github/setenv.sh && c4_package shared32
+
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------
+
+defn run-manual-with-flags(cxx cc buildtype flags="")::
+# $(buildtype:uc)
+# also in that case you could $uc(buildtype)
+# $(<expr>) is the more general syntax for any expr
+# $name and ${name} for simple var expansion
+# those are the 4 interpolation forms
+- name:: "$buildtype $flags ---------------------------------------"
+  run:: |
+    rm -rf build/$buildtype
+    cmake -S . -B build/$buildtype \
+      -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$cxx-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+      -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$cc-${{matrix.cxx}} \
+      -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=$buildtype \
+      -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_$(buildtype:uc)="$flags" \
+      -DC4_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+      -DRYML_CXX_STANDARD=${{matrix.std}} \
+      -DRYML_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+      -DRYML_VALGRIND=${{matrix.vg}} \
+      -DRYML_DBG=OFF
+- name:: "build $buildtype $flags"
+  run:: |
+    cmake --build build/$buildtype --target ryml-test-build --parallel --verbose
+- name:: "run $buildtype $flags"
+  run:: |
+    cmake --build build/$buildtype --target ryml-test-run
+
+defn run-gcc-manual-with-flags(buildtype flags=""):
+  run-manual-with-flags('g++' 'gcc' buildtype flags)
+
+defn run-clang-manual-with-flags(buildtype flags=""):
+  run-manual-with-flags('clang++' 'clang' buildtype flags)
diff --git a/bm/CMakeLists.txt b/bm/CMakeLists.txt
index 0f08d042..93a370b1 100644
--- a/bm/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/bm/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -95,6 +95,12 @@ c4_download_remote_proj(rapidjson rapidjson_dir
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/Tencent/rapidjson
     GIT_TAG version1.1.0)
 set(RYML_RAPIDJSON_INC_DIR ${rapidjson_dir}/include)
+if(NOT EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/rapidjson.was.patched)
+    execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E echo "cd ${rapidjson_dir} ; git --git-dir= apply ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/rapidjson.fix.diff"
+        COMMAND git --git-dir= apply ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/rapidjson.fix.diff
+        COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E touch ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/rapidjson.was.patched
+        WORKING_DIRECTORY ${rapidjson_dir})
+endif()
 
 # sajson is header only
 set(sajson_dir ${_ed}/sajson)
diff --git a/bm/rapidjson.fix.diff b/bm/rapidjson.fix.diff
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4a86ac6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bm/rapidjson.fix.diff
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+diff --git a/include/rapidjson/document.h b/include/rapidjson/document.h
+index e3e20dfb..2b6ccad9 100644
+--- a/include/rapidjson/document.h
++++ b/include/rapidjson/document.h
+@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ struct GenericStringRef {
+ 
+     GenericStringRef(const GenericStringRef& rhs) : s(rhs.s), length(rhs.length) {}
+ 
+-    GenericStringRef& operator=(const GenericStringRef& rhs) { s = rhs.s; length = rhs.length; }
++    //GenericStringRef& operator=(const GenericStringRef& rhs) { s = rhs.s; length = rhs.length; }
+ 
+     //! implicit conversion to plain CharType pointer
+     operator const Ch *() const { return s; }
diff --git a/ext/c4core b/ext/c4core
index 28d2b807..f480f051 160000
--- a/ext/c4core
+++ b/ext/c4core
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 28d2b807b9b58ec7754e00d6a13057fb708b78cd
+Subproject commit f480f0512f5ce8fe774fdfa87464d91c0c9a1398
diff --git a/test/CMakeLists.txt b/test/CMakeLists.txt
index e5cad7ef..7a7e8749 100644
--- a/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -299,10 +299,10 @@ if(RYML_TEST_FUZZ)
     function(ryml_add_fuzz_test name)
         c4_add_executable(ryml-test-fuzz-${name}
             SOURCES
-            test_fuzz/test_fuzz_common.hpp
-            test_fuzz/test_fuzz_${name}.cpp
-            test_fuzz/test_fuzz_main.cpp
-            ${ARGN}
+                test_fuzz/test_fuzz_common.hpp
+                test_fuzz/test_fuzz_${name}.cpp
+                test_fuzz/test_fuzz_main.cpp
+                ${ARGN}
             INC_DIRS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}
             LIBS ryml c4fs
             FOLDER test/fuzz)
@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ if(RYML_TEST_FUZZ)
             string(REPLACE "/" "_" fuzz_name "${file}")
             add_test(NAME ryml-test-fuzz-${name_}-${fuzz_name}
                 COMMAND ${tgtexe} ${dir}/${file})
+            set_tests_properties(ryml-test-fuzz-${name_}-${fuzz_name} PROPERTIES TIMEOUT 10)
         endfunction()
         foreach(fuzz_file ${fuzz_files})
             ryml_add_fuzz_test_file(${name} ${corpus_artifacts_dir} ${fuzz_file})