diff --git a/packages/postgres-database/docker/Dockerfile b/packages/postgres-database/docker/Dockerfile
index 687ee0e2f27..63f84d10762 100644
--- a/packages/postgres-database/docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/packages/postgres-database/docker/Dockerfile
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ COPY --from=uv_build /uv /uvx /bin/
 # NOTE: python virtualenv is used here such that installed packages may be moved to production image easily by copying the venv
 RUN uv venv "${VIRTUAL_ENV}"
 
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
+
 ARG GIT_BRANCH
 ARG GIT_REPOSITORY
 
@@ -41,8 +45,6 @@ RUN git clone --single-branch --branch ${GIT_BRANCH} ${GIT_REPOSITORY} osparc-si
 FROM base AS production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 # ensure home folder is read/writable for user scu
diff --git a/packages/service-integration/Dockerfile b/packages/service-integration/Dockerfile
index ed59d613346..39e6841602c 100644
--- a/packages/service-integration/Dockerfile
+++ b/packages/service-integration/Dockerfile
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ ENV LANG=C.UTF-8
 ENV PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1 \
   VIRTUAL_ENV=/home/scu/.venv
 # https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 # Ensures that the python and pip executables used
 # in the image will be those from our virtualenv.
diff --git a/services/agent/Dockerfile b/services/agent/Dockerfile
index b933f61ee07..f2073066cc1 100644
--- a/services/agent/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/agent/Dockerfile
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   curl \
   && apt-get clean -y \
@@ -113,6 +114,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/agent
 
@@ -138,8 +142,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/agent/docker/boot.sh b/services/agent/docker/boot.sh
index 5cc8f9f5aad..b972c9dfd78 100755
--- a/services/agent/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/agent/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/agent
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -48,15 +48,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
-
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/agent/src/simcore_service_agent && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${AGENT_SERVER_REMOTE_DEBUG_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --port 8000 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/agent/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/agent/docker/entrypoint.sh
index e89ad5408a3..c1697b74b85 100755
--- a/services/agent/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/agent/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/api-server/Dockerfile b/services/api-server/Dockerfile
index a28d8ccf5b4..9f9b0da600a 100644
--- a/services/api-server/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/api-server/Dockerfile
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -106,6 +107,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/api-server
 
@@ -132,8 +136,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/api-server/docker/boot.sh b/services/api-server/docker/boot.sh
index ea12e3446c9..1e41a3f8e13 100755
--- a/services/api-server/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/api-server/docker/boot.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/api-server
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/api-server/src/simcore_service_api_server && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${API_SERVER_REMOTE_DEBUG_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/api-server/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/api-server/docker/entrypoint.sh
index b579236b562..e5060ff8f7b 100755
--- a/services/api-server/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/api-server/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -57,10 +57,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/autoscaling/Dockerfile b/services/autoscaling/Dockerfile
index b4449bf6e3a..cd1a088ec08 100644
--- a/services/autoscaling/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/autoscaling/Dockerfile
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux; \
   apt-get update; \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   ca-certificates \
   curl \
@@ -122,6 +123,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/autoscaling
 
@@ -147,8 +151,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 # ensure home folder is read/writable for user scu
diff --git a/services/autoscaling/docker/boot.sh b/services/autoscaling/docker/boot.sh
index c78cf322c2d..79f86d977af 100755
--- a/services/autoscaling/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/autoscaling/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/autoscaling
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   uv pip list
 fi
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/autoscaling/src/simcore_service_autoscaling && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${AUTOSCALING_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/autoscaling/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/autoscaling/docker/entrypoint.sh
index ad982fd8d5c..1071a664b92 100755
--- a/services/autoscaling/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/autoscaling/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -63,10 +63,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/catalog/Dockerfile b/services/catalog/Dockerfile
index f799fb9f4f8..2fd10e65309 100644
--- a/services/catalog/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/catalog/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -108,6 +109,10 @@ FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
 
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
+
 WORKDIR /build/services/catalog
 
 RUN \
@@ -132,8 +137,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/catalog/docker/boot.sh b/services/catalog/docker/boot.sh
index 9db9967c98f..3efc6789681 100755
--- a/services/catalog/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/catalog/docker/boot.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/catalog
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${CATALOG_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/catalog/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/catalog/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 63e9249be31..9e820488a53 100755
--- a/services/catalog/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/catalog/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/clusters-keeper/Dockerfile b/services/clusters-keeper/Dockerfile
index caae1db9bbc..a775c6d441f 100644
--- a/services/clusters-keeper/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/clusters-keeper/Dockerfile
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux; \
   apt-get update; \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   ca-certificates \
   curl \
@@ -125,6 +126,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/clusters-keeper
 
@@ -150,8 +154,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 # ensure home folder is read/writable for user scu
diff --git a/services/clusters-keeper/docker/boot.sh b/services/clusters-keeper/docker/boot.sh
index 384133c7a87..562dcc89f14 100755
--- a/services/clusters-keeper/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/clusters-keeper/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/clusters-keeper
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/clusters-keeper/src/simcore_service_clusters_keeper && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${CLUSTERS_KEEPER_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/clusters-keeper/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/clusters-keeper/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 66fbfba9200..1071a664b92 100755
--- a/services/clusters-keeper/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/clusters-keeper/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -63,14 +63,12 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
-
 # Appends docker group if socket is mounted
 DOCKER_MOUNT=/var/run/docker.sock
 if stat $DOCKER_MOUNT >/dev/null 2>&1; then
diff --git a/services/dask-sidecar/Dockerfile b/services/dask-sidecar/Dockerfile
index 30065378151..ef5e199bdd5 100644
--- a/services/dask-sidecar/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/dask-sidecar/Dockerfile
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux \
   && apt-get update \
   && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   iputils-ping \
   curl \
   gosu \
@@ -107,6 +108,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/dask-sidecar
 
@@ -131,8 +135,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 # ensure home folder is read/writable for user scu
diff --git a/services/dask-sidecar/docker/boot.sh b/services/dask-sidecar/docker/boot.sh
index 30cb7397189..f26cdd9f8a3 100755
--- a/services/dask-sidecar/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/dask-sidecar/docker/boot.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   python --version | sed 's/^/    /'
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
   cd services/dask-sidecar
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   print_info "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
diff --git a/services/dask-sidecar/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/dask-sidecar/docker/entrypoint.sh
index f69fd1a71d8..b65860a3ef6 100755
--- a/services/dask-sidecar/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/dask-sidecar/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -58,10 +58,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/datcore-adapter/Dockerfile b/services/datcore-adapter/Dockerfile
index e3b76c29565..5b655edbf59 100644
--- a/services/datcore-adapter/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/datcore-adapter/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -108,6 +109,10 @@ FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
 
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
+
 WORKDIR /build/services/datcore-adapter
 
 RUN \
@@ -132,8 +137,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/datcore-adapter/docker/boot.sh b/services/datcore-adapter/docker/boot.sh
index 187ea506ba8..ca19372d572 100755
--- a/services/datcore-adapter/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/datcore-adapter/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/datcore-adapter
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -45,14 +45,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/datcore-adapter/src/simcore_service_datcore_adapter && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${DATCORE_ADAPTER_REMOTE_DEBUG_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/datcore-adapter/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/datcore-adapter/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 25153a6b2a2..b55d4bc7716 100755
--- a/services/datcore-adapter/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/datcore-adapter/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/director-v2/Dockerfile b/services/director-v2/Dockerfile
index 80cb5fd4d66..ab57f8d5472 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/director-v2/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -107,6 +108,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/director-v2
 
@@ -132,8 +136,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/director-v2/docker/boot.sh b/services/director-v2/docker/boot.sh
index 1af7ab240de..9dc04a97fcf 100755
--- a/services/director-v2/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/director-v2/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/director-v2
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2 && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${DIRECTOR_V2_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/director-v2/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/director-v2/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 42995c6ae78..244f9b6a1db 100755
--- a/services/director-v2/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/director-v2/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -63,10 +63,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/director/Dockerfile b/services/director/Dockerfile
index cdcdc88d839..8ff33334260 100644
--- a/services/director/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/director/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -103,6 +104,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/director
 
@@ -128,8 +132,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 # ensure home folder is read/writable for user scu
diff --git a/services/director/docker/boot.sh b/services/director/docker/boot.sh
index af732895050..67298472d0e 100755
--- a/services/director/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/director/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,15 +24,15 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/director
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
-  uv pip list
+  # uv pip list
 fi
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/director/src/simcore_service_director && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${DIRECTOR_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/director/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/director/docker/entrypoint.sh
index ad982fd8d5c..1071a664b92 100755
--- a/services/director/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/director/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -63,10 +63,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/dynamic-scheduler/Dockerfile b/services/dynamic-scheduler/Dockerfile
index 6ea7d585374..380ac0eaba6 100644
--- a/services/dynamic-scheduler/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/dynamic-scheduler/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -104,6 +105,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/dynamic-scheduler
 
@@ -129,8 +133,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/dynamic-scheduler/docker/boot.sh b/services/dynamic-scheduler/docker/boot.sh
index dae7ea09e1b..89e85223aa6 100755
--- a/services/dynamic-scheduler/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/dynamic-scheduler/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/dynamic-scheduler
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/dynamic-scheduler/src/simcore_service_dynamic_scheduler && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${DYNAMIC_SCHEDULER_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/dynamic-scheduler/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/dynamic-scheduler/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 25153a6b2a2..b55d4bc7716 100755
--- a/services/dynamic-scheduler/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/dynamic-scheduler/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/dynamic-sidecar/Dockerfile b/services/dynamic-sidecar/Dockerfile
index 90009b0dffa..87f5e07fe08 100644
--- a/services/dynamic-sidecar/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/dynamic-sidecar/Dockerfile
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ RUN \
   && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
   docker-ce-cli=${DOCKER_APT_VERSION} \
   docker-compose-plugin=${DOCKER_COMPOSE_APT_VERSION} \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   ca-certificates \
   # required by python-magic
@@ -159,6 +160,9 @@ COPY --chown=root:root services/dynamic-sidecar/scripts/Makefile /root
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/dynamic-sidecar
 
@@ -183,8 +187,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/dynamic-sidecar/docker/boot.sh b/services/dynamic-sidecar/docker/boot.sh
index 152fc8a04c0..cb209e00cc9 100755
--- a/services/dynamic-sidecar/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/dynamic-sidecar/docker/boot.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
 
   # NOTE: uv does not like this requirement file...
   cd /devel/services/dynamic-sidecar
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   pip list | sed 's/^/    /'
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -49,14 +49,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/dynamic-sidecar/src/simcore_service_dynamic_sidecar && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/dynamic-sidecar/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/dynamic-sidecar/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 73815d447dd..74eb8867b74 100755
--- a/services/dynamic-sidecar/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/dynamic-sidecar/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -67,10 +67,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/efs-guardian/Dockerfile b/services/efs-guardian/Dockerfile
index 1c5f3303f70..3b73b094698 100644
--- a/services/efs-guardian/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/efs-guardian/Dockerfile
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux; \
   apt-get update; \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   ca-certificates \
   curl \
@@ -143,6 +144,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/efs-guardian
 
@@ -168,8 +172,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/efs
 
diff --git a/services/efs-guardian/docker/boot.sh b/services/efs-guardian/docker/boot.sh
index 862a3456b26..317ee312459 100755
--- a/services/efs-guardian/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/efs-guardian/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/efs-guardian
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/efs-guardian/src/simcore_service_efs_guardian && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${EFS_GUARDIAN_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/efs-guardian/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/efs-guardian/docker/entrypoint.sh
index d8ddf1c826a..a1b9ea0137d 100755
--- a/services/efs-guardian/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/efs-guardian/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -63,14 +63,12 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$EFS_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $EFS_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$EFS_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$EFS_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $EFS_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$EFS_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$EFS_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$EFS_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$EFS_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
-
 # Appends docker group if socket is mounted
 DOCKER_MOUNT=/var/run/docker.sock
 if stat $DOCKER_MOUNT >/dev/null 2>&1; then
diff --git a/services/invitations/Dockerfile b/services/invitations/Dockerfile
index 890d3d3e3be..33a9251daaf 100644
--- a/services/invitations/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/invitations/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -107,6 +108,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/invitations
 
@@ -132,8 +136,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/invitations/docker/boot.sh b/services/invitations/docker/boot.sh
index 0616dc4c2b7..99afa6e1a75 100755
--- a/services/invitations/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/invitations/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/invitations
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/invitations/src/simcore_service_invitations && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${INVITATIONS_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/invitations/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/invitations/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 25153a6b2a2..b55d4bc7716 100755
--- a/services/invitations/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/invitations/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/migration/Dockerfile b/services/migration/Dockerfile
index 380ead9651b..ca2cf6bbd50 100644
--- a/services/migration/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/migration/Dockerfile
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ COPY --from=uv_build /uv /uvx /bin/
 # NOTE: python virtualenv is used here such that installed packages may be moved to production image easily by copying the venv
 RUN uv venv "${VIRTUAL_ENV}"
 
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
+
 
 
 
@@ -79,8 +83,6 @@ RUN \
 FROM base AS production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 # testing defaults
 ENV POSTGRES_USER=scu \
diff --git a/services/notifications/Dockerfile b/services/notifications/Dockerfile
index 173dd3ba995..f01d12c4f41 100644
--- a/services/notifications/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/notifications/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   # verify that the binary works
@@ -104,6 +105,10 @@ FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
 
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
+
 WORKDIR /build/services/notifications
 
 RUN \
@@ -128,8 +133,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/notifications/docker/boot.sh b/services/notifications/docker/boot.sh
index 8d079d9bc1b..8aae19c2f8e 100755
--- a/services/notifications/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/notifications/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/notifications
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/notifications/src/simcore_service_notifications && \
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --port 8000 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/notifications/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/notifications/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 1568d6affdc..b55d4bc7716 100755
--- a/services/notifications/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/notifications/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -56,14 +56,12 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
-
 echo "$INFO Starting $* ..."
 echo "  $SC_USER_NAME rights    : $(id "$SC_USER_NAME")"
 echo "  local dir : $(ls -al)"
diff --git a/services/payments/Dockerfile b/services/payments/Dockerfile
index df0eb6e1205..23d1793eb33 100644
--- a/services/payments/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/payments/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -107,6 +108,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/payments
 
@@ -132,8 +136,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/payments/docker/boot.sh b/services/payments/docker/boot.sh
index 1cc69d83665..740e8ff1e17 100755
--- a/services/payments/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/payments/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/payments
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/payments/src/simcore_service_payments && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${PAYMENTS_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/payments/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/payments/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 25153a6b2a2..b55d4bc7716 100755
--- a/services/payments/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/payments/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/resource-usage-tracker/Dockerfile b/services/resource-usage-tracker/Dockerfile
index c8cc16026ec..b19ed19a464 100644
--- a/services/resource-usage-tracker/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/resource-usage-tracker/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -107,6 +108,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 WORKDIR /build/services/resource-usage-tracker
 
@@ -132,8 +136,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/resource-usage-tracker/docker/boot.sh b/services/resource-usage-tracker/docker/boot.sh
index fe90bb17050..b1863b10308 100755
--- a/services/resource-usage-tracker/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/resource-usage-tracker/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/resource-usage-tracker
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ SERVER_LOG_LEVEL=$(echo "${APP_LOG_LEVEL}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 echo "$INFO" "Log-level app/server: $APP_LOG_LEVEL/$SERVER_LOG_LEVEL"
 
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-  reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+  reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
   exec sh -c "
     cd services/resource-usage-tracker/src/simcore_service_resource_usage_tracker && \
     python -Xfrozen_modules=off -m debugpy --listen 0.0.0.0:${RESOURCE_USAGE_TRACKER_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT} -m uvicorn main:the_app \
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/resource-usage-tracker/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/resource-usage-tracker/docker/entrypoint.sh
index e89ad5408a3..c1697b74b85 100755
--- a/services/resource-usage-tracker/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/resource-usage-tracker/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/storage/Dockerfile b/services/storage/Dockerfile
index 04519f8892e..d7f0fdf554f 100644
--- a/services/storage/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/storage/Dockerfile
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   gosu \
   && apt-get clean -y \
   && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
@@ -118,6 +119,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 # 2nd party packages
 WORKDIR /build/services/storage
@@ -144,8 +148,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_HEALTHCHECK_RETRY=3
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/storage/docker/boot.sh b/services/storage/docker/boot.sh
index 1b39def4a2e..3e1fff945d1 100755
--- a/services/storage/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/storage/docker/boot.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/storage
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ if [ "${STORAGE_WORKER_MODE}" = "true" ]; then
   fi
 else
   if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
-    reload_dir_packages=$(find /devel/packages -maxdepth 3 -type d -path "*/src/*" ! -path "*.*" -exec echo '--reload-dir {} \' \;)
+    reload_dir_packages=$(fdfind src /devel/packages --exec echo '--reload-dir {} ' | tr '\n' ' ')
 
     exec sh -c "
     cd services/storage/src/simcore_service_storage && \
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ else
       --host 0.0.0.0 \
       --port ${STORAGE_PORT} \
       --reload \
-      $reload_dir_packages
+      $reload_dir_packages \
       --reload-dir . \
       --log-level \"${SERVER_LOG_LEVEL}\"
   "
diff --git a/services/storage/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/storage/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 11684a3a591..8511f90e1d7 100755
--- a/services/storage/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/storage/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -61,10 +61,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/services/web/Dockerfile b/services/web/Dockerfile
index 292855b825d..2c0d83ed0a0 100644
--- a/services/web/Dockerfile
+++ b/services/web/Dockerfile
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=private \
   set -eux && \
   apt-get update && \
   apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+  fd-find \
   curl \
   gosu \
   libmagic1 \
@@ -126,6 +127,9 @@ WORKDIR /build
 FROM build AS prod-only-deps
 
 ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=prod-only-deps
+# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
+ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1 \
+  UV_LINK_MODE=copy
 
 # 2nd party packages
 WORKDIR /build/services/web/server
@@ -151,8 +155,6 @@ ENV SC_BUILD_TARGET=production \
   SC_BOOT_MODE=production
 
 ENV PYTHONOPTIMIZE=TRUE
-# https://docs.astral.sh/uv/guides/integration/docker/#compiling-bytecode
-ENV UV_COMPILE_BYTECODE=1
 
 WORKDIR /home/scu
 
diff --git a/services/web/server/docker/boot.sh b/services/web/server/docker/boot.sh
index add4415d44d..1fa26ebbda9 100755
--- a/services/web/server/docker/boot.sh
+++ b/services/web/server/docker/boot.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   command -v python | sed 's/^/    /'
 
   cd services/web/server
-  uv pip --quiet sync requirements/dev.txt
+  uv pip --quiet sync --link-mode=copy requirements/dev.txt
   cd -
   echo "$INFO" "PIP :"
   uv pip list
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fi
 if [ "${SC_BOOT_MODE}" = "debug" ]; then
   # NOTE: production does NOT pre-installs debugpy
   if command -v uv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    uv pip install debugpy
+    uv pip install --link-mode=copy debugpy
   else
     pip install debugpy
   fi
diff --git a/services/web/server/docker/entrypoint.sh b/services/web/server/docker/entrypoint.sh
index d7e4f13bb7a..9e7e1a2bc2e 100755
--- a/services/web/server/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/services/web/server/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -28,9 +28,6 @@ echo "$INFO" "User : $(id scu)"
 echo "$INFO" "python : $(command -v python)"
 echo "$INFO" "pip : $(command -v pip)"
 
-USERNAME=scu
-GROUPNAME=scu
-
 if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
   echo "$INFO" "development mode detected..."
   # NOTE: expects docker run ... -v $(pwd):$DEVEL_MOUNT
@@ -64,10 +61,9 @@ if [ "${SC_BUILD_TARGET}" = "development" ]; then
     usermod --uid "$HOST_USERID" --gid "$HOST_GROUPID" "$SC_USER_NAME"
 
     echo "$INFO" "Changing group properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -group "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" {} \;
-    # change user property of files already around
+    fdfind --owner ":$SC_USER_ID" --exclude proc --exec-batch chgrp --no-dereference "$CONT_GROUPNAME" . '/'
     echo "$INFO" "Changing ownership properties of files around from $SC_USER_ID to group $CONT_GROUPNAME"
-    find / -path /proc -prune -o -user "$SC_USER_ID" -exec chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" {} \;
+    fdfind --owner "$SC_USER_ID:" --exclude proc --exec-batch chown --no-dereference "$SC_USER_NAME" . '/'
   fi
 fi