diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 038d7b70b1d2..0c7ee08f86ae 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -685,9 +685,9 @@ info-registry: ## info on local registry (if any)
 
 ## INFO -------------------------------
 
-.PHONY: info info-images info-swarm  info-tools
+.PHONY: info info-images info-swarm
 info: ## displays setup information
-	# setup info:
+	@echo setup info  --------------------------------
 	@echo ' Detected OS          : $(IS_LINUX)$(IS_OSX)$(IS_WSL)$(IS_WSL2)$(IS_WIN)'
 	@echo ' SWARM_STACK_NAME     : ${SWARM_STACK_NAME}'
 	@echo ' DOCKER_REGISTRY      : $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)'
@@ -697,19 +697,23 @@ info: ## displays setup information
 	@echo '  - ULR                : ${VCS_URL}'
 	@echo '  - REF                : ${VCS_REF}'
 	@echo '  - (STATUS)REF_CLIENT : (${VCS_STATUS_CLIENT}) ${VCS_REF_CLIENT}'
-	@echo ' DIRECTOR_API_VERSION  : ${DIRECTOR_API_VERSION}'
-	@echo ' STORAGE_API_VERSION   : ${STORAGE_API_VERSION}'
-	@echo ' DATCORE_ADAPTER_API_VERSION   : ${DATCORE_ADAPTER_API_VERSION}'
-	@echo ' WEBSERVER_API_VERSION : ${WEBSERVER_API_VERSION}'
-	# dev tools version
-	@echo ' make          : $(shell make --version 2>&1 | head -n 1)'
-	@echo ' jq            : $(shell jq --version)'
+	@make --silent info-tools
+
+
+.PHONY: show-tools
+info-tools: ## displays tools versions
+	@echo dev-tools versions -------------------------
 	@echo ' awk           : $(shell awk -W version 2>&1 | head -n 1)'
-	@echo ' python        : $(shell python3 --version)'
-	@echo ' node          : $(shell node --version 2> /dev/null || echo ERROR nodejs missing)'
 	@echo ' docker        : $(shell docker --version)'
 	@echo ' docker buildx : $(shell docker buildx version)'
 	@echo ' docker compose: $(shell docker compose version)'
+	@echo ' jq            : $(shell jq --version)'
+	@echo ' make          : $(shell make --version 2>&1 | head -n 1)'
+	@echo ' node          : $(shell node --version 2> /dev/null || echo ERROR nodejs missing)'
+	@echo ' python        : $(shell python3 --version)'
+	@echo ' uv            : $(shell uv --version 2> /dev/null || echo ERROR uv missing)'
+	@echo ' ubuntu        : $(shell lsb_release --description --short 2> /dev/null | tail || echo ERROR Not an Ubuntu OS )'
+
 
 
 define show-meta
diff --git a/packages/aws-library/requirements/_base.txt b/packages/aws-library/requirements/_base.txt
index e3ba613b1afa..01e0157d9346 100644
--- a/packages/aws-library/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/packages/aws-library/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ pyyaml==6.0.2
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/settings-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
-redis==5.0.8
+redis==5.0.4
     # via
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
diff --git a/packages/postgres-database/docker/Dockerfile b/packages/postgres-database/docker/Dockerfile
index c310ad5c53f9..7c3e74870b2d 100644
--- a/packages/postgres-database/docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/packages/postgres-database/docker/Dockerfile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
-FROM python:3.6-slim as base
+FROM python:3.6-slim AS base
 
 LABEL maintainer=sanderegg
 
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ ENV PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1 \
 ENV PATH="${VIRTUAL_ENV}/bin:$PATH"
 
 
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 RUN apt-get update \
   && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ ARG GIT_REPOSITORY
 RUN git clone --single-branch --branch ${GIT_BRANCH} ${GIT_REPOSITORY} osparc-simcore\
   && uv pip install osparc-simcore/packages/postgres-database[migration]
 
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
 
diff --git a/packages/postgres-database/scripts/erd/Dockerfile b/packages/postgres-database/scripts/erd/Dockerfile
index fae33a3af005..e18bec73e164 100644
--- a/packages/postgres-database/scripts/erd/Dockerfile
+++ b/packages/postgres-database/scripts/erd/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 RUN apt-get update \
   && apt-get -y install --no-install-recommends\
diff --git a/packages/service-integration/Dockerfile b/packages/service-integration/Dockerfile
index 25069fdebbe2..15c1de6cc24e 100644
--- a/packages/service-integration/Dockerfile
+++ b/packages/service-integration/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 LABEL maintainer=pcrespov
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ ENV PATH="${VIRTUAL_ENV}/bin:$PATH"
 
 # -------------------------- Build stage -------------------
 
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,mode=0755,sharing=private \
   --mount=type=cache,target=/var/lib/apt,mode=0755,sharing=private \
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ RUN \
 
 # -------------------------- Build stage -------------------
 
-FROM base as development
+FROM base AS development
 # NOTE: this is necessary to allow to build development images but is the same as production here
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
 
diff --git a/packages/service-library/requirements/_base.txt b/packages/service-library/requirements/_base.txt
index 1ca02bd5938f..bee8270701bd 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/packages/service-library/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ pyyaml==6.0.2
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/settings-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -r requirements/_base.in
-redis==5.0.8
+redis==5.0.4
     # via
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/settings-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
diff --git a/packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/_base.txt b/packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/_base.txt
index b57f881bbc4d..26a197a8fa9b 100644
--- a/packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ pyyaml==6.0.2
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/settings-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
-redis==5.0.8
+redis==5.0.4
     # via
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/postgres-database/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
diff --git a/requirements/tools/Dockerfile b/requirements/tools/Dockerfile
index 65d6faa3cad0..e6af4395ed65 100644
--- a/requirements/tools/Dockerfile
+++ b/requirements/tools/Dockerfile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #
 #
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 ENV VIRTUAL_ENV=/home/scu/.venv
 
diff --git a/scripts/apt-packages-versions/Dockerfile b/scripts/apt-packages-versions/Dockerfile
index 5992008917c5..02708317fe10 100644
--- a/scripts/apt-packages-versions/Dockerfile
+++ b/scripts/apt-packages-versions/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 RUN \
   apt-get update && \
diff --git a/scripts/common.Makefile b/scripts/common.Makefile
index 539eb1bf22f1..abbe2a1d6cf6 100644
--- a/scripts/common.Makefile
+++ b/scripts/common.Makefile
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ clean: ## cleans all unversioned files in project and temp files create by this
 	@git clean $(_GIT_CLEAN_ARGS)
 
 
+
+
 .PHONY: info
 inf%: ## displays basic info
 	# system
@@ -106,12 +108,6 @@ inf%: ## displays basic info
 	@echo ' NOW_TIMESTAMP    : ${NOW_TIMESTAMP}'
 	@echo ' VCS_URL          : ${VCS_URL}'
 	@echo ' VCS_REF          : ${VCS_REF}'
-	# dev tools version
-	@echo ' make   : $(shell make --version 2>&1 | head -n 1)'
-	@echo ' jq     : $(shell jq --version)'
-	@echo ' awk    : $(shell awk -W version 2>&1 | head -n 1)'
-	@echo ' node   : $(shell node --version 2> /dev/null || echo ERROR nodejs missing)'
-	@echo ' python : $(shell python3 --version)'
 	# installed in .venv
 	@uv pip list
 	# package setup
diff --git a/scripts/erd/Dockerfile b/scripts/erd/Dockerfile
index ce98f367944d..9294fa23e1d7 100644
--- a/scripts/erd/Dockerfile
+++ b/scripts/erd/Dockerfile
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #
 
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 RUN apt-get update \
   && apt-get -y install --no-install-recommends\
diff --git a/scripts/pydeps-docker/Dockerfile b/scripts/pydeps-docker/Dockerfile
index ed6474279132..610fe9aa6f06 100644
--- a/scripts/pydeps-docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/scripts/pydeps-docker/Dockerfile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #
 #
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 
 RUN apt-get update \
diff --git a/services/agent/Dockerfile b/services/agent/Dockerfile
index fdff90cc5f3b..fe6fef17c35f 100644
--- a/services/agent/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/agent/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ RUN \
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/agent [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/agent [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/agent/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/agent
diff --git a/services/agent/requirements/_base.txt b/services/agent/requirements/_base.txt
index 2da1d9c2e70e..9fbcc0838aba 100644
--- a/services/agent/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/services/agent/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ pyyaml==6.0.2
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/settings-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
-redis==5.0.8
+redis==5.0.4
     # via
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
diff --git a/services/api-server/Dockerfile b/services/api-server/Dockerfile
index 597f421ab4d8..ced7167fe5c7 100644
--- a/services/api-server/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/api-server/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 #
 #  USAGE:
 #     cd sercices/api-server
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ EXPOSE 3000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/api-server [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/api-server [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/api-server/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development
 
diff --git a/services/api-server/requirements/_base.txt b/services/api-server/requirements/_base.txt
index 76bdd46ba363..85f9e349ade0 100644
--- a/services/api-server/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/services/api-server/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ anyio==4.3.0
     #   httpx
     #   starlette
     #   watchfiles
+appdirs==1.4.4
+    # via pint
 arrow==1.3.0
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/_base.in
@@ -164,6 +166,10 @@ faststream==0.5.10
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
+flexcache==0.3
+    # via pint
+flexparser==0.3.1
+    # via pint
 frozenlist==1.4.1
     # via
     #   aiohttp
@@ -356,7 +362,7 @@ pamqp==3.3.0
     # via aiormq
 parse==1.20.2
     # via -r requirements/_base.in
-pint==0.23
+pint==0.24.3
     # via -r requirements/../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/_base.in
 prometheus-client==0.20.0
     # via
@@ -564,6 +570,8 @@ typing-extensions==4.10.0
     #   fastapi
     #   fastapi-pagination
     #   faststream
+    #   flexcache
+    #   flexparser
     #   opentelemetry-sdk
     #   pint
     #   pydantic
diff --git a/services/autoscaling/Dockerfile b/services/autoscaling/Dockerfile
index a4d50b497c96..1821d873057a 100644
--- a/services/autoscaling/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/autoscaling/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ EXPOSE 3000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/autoscaling [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/autoscaling [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/autoscaling/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/autoscaling
diff --git a/services/catalog/Dockerfile b/services/catalog/Dockerfile
index b87d90b12243..c4f48d2ec08f 100644
--- a/services/catalog/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/catalog/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 #
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ EXPOSE 3000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/catalog [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/catalog [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/catalog/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development
 
diff --git a/services/clusters-keeper/Dockerfile b/services/clusters-keeper/Dockerfile
index cd29d763adfa..2dd08b4b44b4 100644
--- a/services/clusters-keeper/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/clusters-keeper/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ EXPOSE 3000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/clusters-keeper [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/clusters-keeper [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/clusters-keeper/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/clusters-keeper
diff --git a/services/dask-sidecar/Dockerfile b/services/dask-sidecar/Dockerfile
index b91cefa9e88d..a85f653f5ccd 100644
--- a/services/dask-sidecar/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/dask-sidecar/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM --platform=${TARGETPLATFORM} python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM --platform=${TARGETPLATFORM} python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 ARG TARGETPLATFORM
 ARG BUILDPLATFORM
 RUN echo "I am running on $BUILDPLATFORM, building for $TARGETPLATFORM" > /log
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ RUN mkdir --parents /home/scu/.config/dask \
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/dask-sidecar [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/dask-sidecar [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/dask-sidecar/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development
 
diff --git a/services/datcore-adapter/Dockerfile b/services/datcore-adapter/Dockerfile
index af3143270541..bdd52d81841f 100644
--- a/services/datcore-adapter/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/datcore-adapter/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ EXPOSE 3000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/datcore-adapter [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/datcore-adapter [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/datcore-adapter/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/datcore-adapter
diff --git a/services/director-v2/Dockerfile b/services/director-v2/Dockerfile
index 4e29e4a3d2ff..4780eb62e333 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/director-v2/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ EXPOSE 3000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/director-v2 [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/director-v2 [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/director-v2/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/director-v2
diff --git a/services/director-v2/requirements/_base.txt b/services/director-v2/requirements/_base.txt
index a151f9fb0ab2..7a524e686196 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/services/director-v2/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ anyio==4.3.0
     #   httpx
     #   starlette
     #   watchfiles
+appdirs==1.4.4
+    # via pint
 arrow==1.3.0
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/dask-task-models-library/requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/_base.in
@@ -180,6 +182,10 @@ faststream==0.5.10
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
+flexcache==0.3
+    # via pint
+flexparser==0.3.1
+    # via pint
 frozenlist==1.4.1
     # via
     #   aiohttp
@@ -420,7 +426,7 @@ partd==1.4.2
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../services/dask-sidecar/requirements/_dask-distributed.txt
     #   dask
-pint==0.23
+pint==0.24.3
     # via -r requirements/../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/_base.in
 prometheus-client==0.20.0
     # via
@@ -678,6 +684,8 @@ typing-extensions==4.11.0
     #   alembic
     #   fastapi
     #   faststream
+    #   flexcache
+    #   flexparser
     #   opentelemetry-sdk
     #   pint
     #   pydantic
diff --git a/services/director/Dockerfile b/services/director/Dockerfile
index fbd6bf4b0c69..3449ba3db80a 100644
--- a/services/director/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/director/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.6.10"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-buster as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-buster AS base
 #
 #  USAGE:
 #     cd sercices/director
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ EXPOSE 8080
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
 
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ COPY --chown=scu:scu api/specs/director/schemas/node-meta-v0.0.1.json \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/director [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/director
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/director [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ CMD ["services/director/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development
 ENV NODE_SCHEMA_LOCATION=../../../api/specs/director/schemas/node-meta-v0.0.1.json
diff --git a/services/director/requirements/_base.txt b/services/director/requirements/_base.txt
index d8280bd46738..2c6e016526fd 100644
--- a/services/director/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/services/director/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,3 @@
-#
-# This file is autogenerated by pip-compile with python 3.6
-# To update, run:
-#
-#    pip-compile --output-file=requirements/_base.txt --strip-extras requirements/_base.in
-#
 aiodebug==1.1.2
     # via
     #   -r requirements/_base.in
@@ -54,9 +48,7 @@ chardet==3.0.4
 charset-normalizer==2.0.12
     # via requests
 dataclasses==0.7
-    # via
-    #   -r requirements/_base.in
-    #   pydantic
+    # via -r requirements/_base.in
 idna==2.8
     # via
     #   -r requirements/_base.in
@@ -116,7 +108,7 @@ pyyaml==5.4
     #   simcore-service-library
 requests==2.27.1
     # via -r requirements/_base.in
-simcore-service-library @ git+https://github.com/ITISFoundation/osparc-simcore.git@c8669fb52659b684514fefa4f3b4599f57f276a0#subdirectory=packages/service-library
+simcore-service-library @ git+https://github.com/ITISFoundation/osparc-simcore.git@c8669fb52659b684514fefa4f3b4599f57f276a0#egg=simcore-service-library&subdirectory=packages/service-library
     # via -r requirements/_base.in
 six==1.12.0
     # via
diff --git a/services/director/requirements/_tools.txt b/services/director/requirements/_tools.txt
index 38ed7220aed8..4c0c50f666dd 100644
--- a/services/director/requirements/_tools.txt
+++ b/services/director/requirements/_tools.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,3 @@
-#
-# This file is autogenerated by pip-compile with python 3.6
-# To update, run:
-#
-#    pip-compile --output-file=requirements/_tools.txt --strip-extras requirements/_tools.in
-#
 appdirs==1.4.4
     # via black
 black==20.8b1
@@ -14,22 +8,14 @@ click==8.0.3
     # via
     #   black
     #   pip-tools
-dataclasses==0.7
-    # via
-    #   -c requirements/_base.txt
-    #   -c requirements/_test.txt
-    #   black
-importlib-metadata==2.0.0
-    # via
-    #   -c requirements/_test.txt
-    #   click
-    #   pep517
 mypy-extensions==0.4.3
     # via black
 pathspec==0.9.0
     # via black
 pep517==0.12.0
     # via pip-tools
+pip==24.2
+    # via pip-tools
 pip-tools==6.4.0
     # via -r requirements/_tools.in
 pyyaml==5.4
@@ -39,6 +25,8 @@ pyyaml==5.4
     #   watchdog
 regex==2022.1.18
     # via black
+setuptools==75.1.0
+    # via pip-tools
 toml==0.10.2
     # via
     #   -c requirements/_test.txt
@@ -55,12 +43,3 @@ watchdog==2.1.6
     # via -r requirements/_tools.in
 wheel==0.37.1
     # via pip-tools
-zipp==3.4.0
-    # via
-    #   -c requirements/_test.txt
-    #   importlib-metadata
-    #   pep517
-
-# The following packages are considered to be unsafe in a requirements file:
-# pip
-# setuptools
diff --git a/services/director/requirements/ci.txt b/services/director/requirements/ci.txt
index 4774c2e23027..8edcd5f2bfe6 100644
--- a/services/director/requirements/ci.txt
+++ b/services/director/requirements/ci.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 
 # installs base + tests requirements
 --requirement _test.txt
---requirement _tools.txt
 
 # installs current package
 .
diff --git a/services/dynamic-scheduler/Dockerfile b/services/dynamic-scheduler/Dockerfile
index fb2db946f757..bc94b83125a1 100644
--- a/services/dynamic-scheduler/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/dynamic-scheduler/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ EXPOSE 8000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/dynamic-scheduler [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/dynamic-scheduler [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/dynamic-scheduler/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/dynamic-scheduler
diff --git a/services/dynamic-sidecar/Dockerfile b/services/dynamic-sidecar/Dockerfile
index c02ba67c9de1..3be8bae74d09 100644
--- a/services/dynamic-sidecar/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/dynamic-sidecar/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 #
 #  USAGE:
 #     cd sercices/dynamic-sidecar
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ RUN mkdir -p "${DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_SHARED_STORE_DIR}" && \
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ COPY --chown=root:root services/dynamic-sidecar/scripts/Makefile /root
 #  + /build
 #    + services/dynamic-sidecar [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/dynamic-sidecar [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/dynamic-sidecar/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=development
diff --git a/services/dynamic-sidecar/requirements/_base.txt b/services/dynamic-sidecar/requirements/_base.txt
index 35cd6843f2b3..49082d6f5085 100644
--- a/services/dynamic-sidecar/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/services/dynamic-sidecar/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ anyio==4.3.0
     #   faststream
     #   httpx
     #   starlette
+appdirs==1.4.4
+    # via pint
 arrow==1.3.0
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/_base.in
@@ -143,6 +145,10 @@ faststream==0.5.10
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
+flexcache==0.3
+    # via pint
+flexparser==0.3.1
+    # via pint
 frozenlist==1.4.1
     # via
     #   aiohttp
@@ -307,7 +313,7 @@ packaging==24.0
     # via -r requirements/../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/_base.in
 pamqp==3.3.0
     # via aiormq
-pint==0.23
+pint==0.24.3
     # via -r requirements/../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/_base.in
 prometheus-client==0.20.0
     # via
@@ -514,6 +520,8 @@ typing-extensions==4.11.0
     #   alembic
     #   fastapi
     #   faststream
+    #   flexcache
+    #   flexparser
     #   opentelemetry-sdk
     #   pint
     #   pydantic
diff --git a/services/efs-guardian/Dockerfile b/services/efs-guardian/Dockerfile
index 5d470ee4af40..229e43563c44 100644
--- a/services/efs-guardian/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/efs-guardian/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ EXPOSE 3000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/efs-guardian [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/efs-guardian [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/efs-guardian/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/efs-guardian
diff --git a/services/invitations/Dockerfile b/services/invitations/Dockerfile
index b7635329edc8..5d935426c484 100644
--- a/services/invitations/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/invitations/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ EXPOSE 8000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/invitations [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/invitations [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/invitations/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/invitations
diff --git a/services/migration/Dockerfile b/services/migration/Dockerfile
index 9cd1988399bb..d70eec97f93a 100644
--- a/services/migration/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/migration/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 LABEL maintainer=sanderegg
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ ENV PATH="${VIRTUAL_ENV}/bin:$PATH"
 
 
 # --------------------------------------------
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,mode=0755,sharing=private \
   --mount=type=cache,target=/var/lib/apt,mode=0755,sharing=private \
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ RUN \
 
 
 # --------------------------------------------
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
 
diff --git a/services/osparc-gateway-server/Dockerfile b/services/osparc-gateway-server/Dockerfile
index 150063ce0fc1..59f55c8b3b6f 100644
--- a/services/osparc-gateway-server/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/osparc-gateway-server/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bullseye as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bullseye AS base
 ARG TARGETPLATFORM
 ARG BUILDPLATFORM
 RUN echo "I am running on $BUILDPLATFORM, building for $TARGETPLATFORM"
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ EXPOSE 8000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ RUN dpkgArch="$(dpkg --print-architecture)";\
 #  + /build
 #    + services/osparc-gateway-server [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/osparc-gateway-server [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/osparc-gateway-server/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development
 
diff --git a/services/payments/Dockerfile b/services/payments/Dockerfile
index 692541c29d03..90cbb1c908e6 100644
--- a/services/payments/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/payments/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ EXPOSE 8000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/payments [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/payments [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/payments/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/payments
diff --git a/services/payments/requirements/_base.txt b/services/payments/requirements/_base.txt
index d4c08c97591c..9c6ed81bca47 100644
--- a/services/payments/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/services/payments/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ pyyaml==6.0.1
     #   -c requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
     #   uvicorn
-redis==5.0.8
+redis==5.0.4
     # via
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/postgres-database/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
diff --git a/services/resource-usage-tracker/Dockerfile b/services/resource-usage-tracker/Dockerfile
index 31001e4f7355..55976c00c538 100644
--- a/services/resource-usage-tracker/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/resource-usage-tracker/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 
 #
 #  USAGE:
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ EXPOSE 3000
 #
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=build
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/resource-usage-tracker [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + services/resource-usage-tracker [scu:scu]
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/resource-usage-tracker/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/resource-usage-tracker
diff --git a/services/static-webserver/client/tools/qooxdoo-kit/builder/Dockerfile b/services/static-webserver/client/tools/qooxdoo-kit/builder/Dockerfile
index 5890069e77b5..d5ec65a25922 100644
--- a/services/static-webserver/client/tools/qooxdoo-kit/builder/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/static-webserver/client/tools/qooxdoo-kit/builder/Dockerfile
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@
 # Note: context at osparc-simcore/services/static-webserver/client expected
 #
 ARG tag
-FROM itisfoundation/qooxdoo-kit:${tag} as touch
+FROM itisfoundation/qooxdoo-kit:${tag} AS touch
 
 WORKDIR /project
 ENV PATH=/home/node/node_modules/.bin:${PATH}
 
 RUN mkdir /project/build-output
 
-FROM touch as build-client
+FROM touch AS build-client
 
 # Installs contributions
 # Install packages (warning: cache might keep these library out-of-date!)
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ RUN \
   python3 ./scripts/post-compile.py
 
 
-FROM joseluisq/static-web-server:2.32.1-alpine as server-base
+FROM joseluisq/static-web-server:2.32.1-alpine AS server-base
 
 LABEL org.opencontainers.image.authors="GitHK, odeimaiz"
 
@@ -79,12 +79,12 @@ RUN chown -R "${SC_USER_NAME}:${SC_USER_NAME}" /entrypoint.sh && \
 
 USER ${SC_USER_NAME}
 
-FROM server-base as production
+FROM server-base AS production
 # front-end client last we copy the client application directly inside
 COPY --from=build-client \
   --chown=${SC_USER_NAME}:${SC_USER_NAME} \
   /project/build-output "/static-content"
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET production
 
-FROM server-base as development
+FROM server-base AS development
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET development
diff --git a/services/storage/Dockerfile b/services/storage/Dockerfile
index 688f5dfa9f9d..12e60feb78dc 100644
--- a/services/storage/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/storage/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 #
 #  USAGE:
 #     cd sercices/storage
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ EXPOSE 8080
 # + /build             WORKDIR
 #
 
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET build
 
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/storage [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ RUN \
 # --------------------------Production stage -------------------
 # Final cleanup up to reduce image size and startup setup
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production \
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ CMD ["/bin/sh", "services/storage/docker/boot.sh"]
 #    + packages  (mounted volume)
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=development \
   SC_DEVEL_MOUNT=/devel/services/storage/
diff --git a/services/web/Dockerfile b/services/web/Dockerfile
index 1e134f8c106f..1a1a443333a4 100644
--- a/services/web/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/web/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.9"
-FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm as base
+FROM python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-bookworm AS base
 #
 #  USAGE:
 #     cd sercices/web
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ EXPOSE 8080
 #       + src
 #       + tests
 
-FROM base as build
+FROM base AS build
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET build
 
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /build
 #    + services/web/server [scu:scu] WORKDIR
 #
-FROM build as prod-only-deps
+FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET prod-only-deps
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ RUN \
 #  + /home/scu     $HOME = WORKDIR
 #    + docker
 #
-FROM base as production
+FROM base AS production
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ CMD ["services/web/server/docker/boot.sh"]
 #  + /devel         WORKDIR
 #    + services  (mounted volume)
 #
-FROM build as development
+FROM build AS development
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET development
 
diff --git a/services/web/server/requirements/_base.txt b/services/web/server/requirements/_base.txt
index b7d14fef70a9..bf5eb3e7c293 100644
--- a/services/web/server/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/services/web/server/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ anyio==4.3.0
     # via
     #   fast-depends
     #   faststream
+appdirs==1.4.4
+    # via pint
 arrow==1.2.3
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../../packages/models-library/requirements/_base.in
@@ -164,6 +166,10 @@ faststream==0.5.10
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
     #   -r requirements/../../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
+flexcache==0.3
+    # via pint
+flexparser==0.3.1
+    # via pint
 frozenlist==1.4.1
     # via
     #   -c requirements/./constraints.txt
@@ -365,7 +371,7 @@ passlib==1.7.4
     # via -r requirements/_base.in
 pillow==10.3.0
     # via captcha
-pint==0.19.2
+pint==0.24.3
     # via
     #   -r requirements/../../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/_base.in
     #   -r requirements/_base.in
@@ -564,7 +570,10 @@ typing-extensions==4.12.0
     #   aiodebug
     #   aiodocker
     #   faststream
+    #   flexcache
+    #   flexparser
     #   opentelemetry-sdk
+    #   pint
     #   pydantic
     #   typer
 ujson==5.5.0
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/catalog/_models.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/catalog/_models.py
index 4e2f4147e480..2432e98bc96b 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/catalog/_models.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/catalog/_models.py
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@
     ServiceOutputKey,
 )
 from models_library.services import BaseServiceIOModel
-from pint import PintError, UnitRegistry
-from pint.quantity import Quantity  # pylint:disable=no-name-in-module
+from pint import PintError, Quantity, UnitRegistry
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/services/web/server/tests/integration/01/test_garbage_collection.py b/services/web/server/tests/integration/01/test_garbage_collection.py
index 2dcdb190ea9d..c52977d7115a 100644
--- a/services/web/server/tests/integration/01/test_garbage_collection.py
+++ b/services/web/server/tests/integration/01/test_garbage_collection.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from collections.abc import AsyncIterable, Awaitable, Callable
 from copy import deepcopy
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, NamedTuple
 from unittest import mock
 from uuid import UUID, uuid4
 
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ async def get_template_project(
     )
 
 
-async def get_group(client, user):
+async def get_group(client: TestClient, user):
     """Creates a group for a given user"""
     return await create_user_group(
         app=client.app,
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ async def get_group(client, user):
     )
 
 
-async def invite_user_to_group(client, owner, invitee, group):
+async def invite_user_to_group(client: TestClient, owner, invitee, group):
     """Invite a user to a group on which the owner has writes over"""
     await add_user_in_group(
         client.app,
@@ -303,13 +303,19 @@ async def change_user_role(
         )
 
 
+class SioConnectionData(NamedTuple):
+    sio: socketio.AsyncClient
+    resource_key: UserSessionDict
+
+
 async def connect_to_socketio(
-    client,
+    client: TestClient,
     user,
     socketio_client_factory: Callable[..., Awaitable[socketio.AsyncClient]],
-):
+) -> SioConnectionData:
     """Connect a user to a socket.io"""
-    socket_registry = get_registry(client.server.app)
+    assert client.app
+    socket_registry = get_registry(client.app)
     cur_client_session_id = f"{uuid4()}"
     sio = await socketio_client_factory(cur_client_session_id, client)
     resource_key: UserSessionDict = {
@@ -323,14 +329,18 @@ async def connect_to_socketio(
         resource_key, "socket_id"
     )
     assert len(await socket_registry.find_resources(resource_key, "socket_id")) == 1
-    return sio, resource_key
+    return SioConnectionData(sio, resource_key)
 
 
-async def disconnect_user_from_socketio(client, sio_connection_data) -> None:
+async def disconnect_user_from_socketio(
+    client: TestClient, sio_connection_data: SioConnectionData
+) -> None:
     """disconnect a previously connected socket.io connection"""
     sio, resource_key = sio_connection_data
     sid = sio.get_sid()
-    socket_registry = get_registry(client.server.app)
+
+    assert client.app
+    socket_registry = get_registry(client.app)
     await sio.disconnect()
     assert not sio.sid
     await asyncio.sleep(0)  # just to ensure there is a context switch
diff --git a/tests/e2e/docker/Dockerfile b/tests/e2e/docker/Dockerfile
index b4e2d4012c53..0f9413777c3f 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/tests/e2e/docker/Dockerfile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ARG NODE_VERSION="14"
-FROM node:${NODE_VERSION}-slim as base
+FROM node:${NODE_VERSION}-slim AS base
 
 RUN apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
diff --git a/tests/swarm-deploy/requirements/_test.txt b/tests/swarm-deploy/requirements/_test.txt
index 16c8a272e9b7..467cf442c6b3 100644
--- a/tests/swarm-deploy/requirements/_test.txt
+++ b/tests/swarm-deploy/requirements/_test.txt
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ pyyaml==6.0.2
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
     #   -r requirements/../../../packages/simcore-sdk/requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/_base.in
     #   -r requirements/_test.in
-redis==5.0.8
+redis==5.0.4
     # via
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -c requirements/../../../packages/service-library/requirements/../../../packages/models-library/requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
diff --git a/tests/swarm-deploy/test_service_images.py b/tests/swarm-deploy/test_service_images.py
index 6fa388b7519f..fa18ea6f8374 100644
--- a/tests/swarm-deploy/test_service_images.py
+++ b/tests/swarm-deploy/test_service_images.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def _extract_from_dockerfile(service_name: str) -> str:
         )
 
         dockerfile = dockerfile_path.read_text()
-        m = re.search(r"FROM (.+) as base", dockerfile)
+        m = re.search(r"FROM (.+) AS base", dockerfile)
         assert m, f"{dockerfile_path} has no 'base' alias!?"
         return m.group(0)