diff --git a/.github/workflows/checks.yml b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
index 3df0cf4..1678b31 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
@@ -87,8 +87,11 @@ jobs:
           .\gradlew.bat sample:clean sample:shadowJar
           java -jar sample/build/libs/sample-all.jar
 
-  docker-checks:
+  docker-checks-matrix:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        variant: ["debian-12", "ubuntu-2404", "ubuntu-2404-jemalloc"]
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -105,4 +108,11 @@ jobs:
           gradle-version: 8.14
 
       - name: Run checks
-        run: ./run_docker_tests.sh
\ No newline at end of file
+        run: ./run_single_docker_tests.sh ${{ matrix.variant }}
+
+  docker-checks:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    name: Verify all Docker checks passed
+    needs: [docker-checks-matrix]
+    steps:
+      - run: exit 0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index c0db903..3759a5d 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ library is already used by some larger businesses (which is cool!), and I care a
 Please discuss any bigger changes with me **before** submitting a Pull Request - I can help you refine your idea better
 that way, and I don't want to waste anybody's time: [Discussions](https://github.com/lopcode/vips-ffm/discussions).
 
+As part of a pull request I will probably edit commits on the branch, and will squash them down, but will be careful to
+retain your contributor metadata so you're named appropriately as a contributor on GitHub. GitHub Actions workflows to
+run the project's tests require approval - I'll do this when I'm reviewing the PR. 
+
 I haven't currently defined a code of conduct for this project specifically, but please refer to the CoC [in libvips](https://github.com/libvips/libvips/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md)
 for guidance on expected behaviour.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index af64b7f..8f6be1d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ Fast, safe, complete [libvips](https://github.com/libvips/libvips) bindings for
 
 Supports a vast range of image formats, including HEIC, JXL, WebP, PNG, JPEG, and more. Pronounced "vips (like zips)
 eff-eff-emm". The project is relatively new, but aims to be production ready. Tested on macOS 14, Windows 11, and Linux
-(Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12.1). Should work on any architecture you can use libvips and Java on (arm64/amd64/etc).
+(Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12.1, with and without jemalloc). Should work on any architecture you can use libvips and
+Java on (arm64/amd64/etc).
 
 Uses the "Foreign Function & Memory API" ([JEP 454](https://openjdk.org/jeps/454)), and the "Class-File API" ([JEP 457](https://openjdk.org/jeps/457)) released in JDK 22.
 Built in such a way that it's usually the fastest image processing library available for Java.
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ import app.photofox.vipsffm.enums.VipsAccess
 
 // Call once to initialise libvips when your program starts, from any thread
 //   Note that by default this blocks untrusted operations (like loading PDFs)
-//   Use `Vips.init(true, ...)` to permit untrusted operations
+//   See the "Allowing untrusted operations" section below to read about permitting untrusted operations
 Vips.init()
 
 // Use `Vips.run` to wrap your usage of the API, and get an arena with an appropriate lifetime to use
@@ -193,6 +194,60 @@ like Android where it's hard to set the system library path), you can do so usin
 * glib: `vipsffm.libpath.glib.override`
 * gobject: `vipsffm.libpath.gobject.override`
 
+## Operationalisation
+
+libvips maintain [a checklist](https://www.libvips.org/API/8.17/developer-checklist.html) of things to be aware of when
+using the library. Of particular note for vips-ffm is memory usage - especially if the library is used for long-running
+application (like a server).
+
+### Operation cache
+
+At the time of writing, libvips maintains a cache of the 100 most recent operations ([see docs](https://www.libvips.org/API/8.17/how-it-works.html#operation-cache)).
+If running an image proxy, or something that processes lots of different images, you won't see any benefit, and can
+disable it:
+
+```java
+Vips.init();
+Vips.disableOperationCache();
+```
+
+### Memory allocation
+
+On glibc-based Linux systems (e.g. Debian, Red Hat), the default memory allocator performs poorly for long-running,
+multithreaded processes with frequent small allocations. Using an alternative allocator like jemalloc can reduce the
+off-heap footprint of the JVM when using libvips.
+
+Note that the jemalloc project is going through [some turbulence](https://jasone.github.io/2025/06/12/jemalloc-postmortem/)
+at the moment. Facebook have [forked it](https://github.com/facebook/jemalloc), though its maintenance status is
+currently unknown.
+
+An example of using jemalloc on Ubuntu:
+1. Install jemalloc
+   ```sh
+   apt install libjemalloc2
+   ```
+2. Set the `LD_PRELOAD` environment variable before running your application.
+   ```sh
+   ln -sT "$(readlink -e /usr/lib/*/libjemalloc.so.2)" /usr/local/lib/libjemalloc.so # symlink jemalloc to a standard location
+   export LD_PRELOAD=/usr/local/lib/libjemalloc.so
+   java -jar ...
+   ```
+
+### Allowing untrusted operations
+
+By default, vips-ffm sets the "block untrusted operations" flag in libvips, in an attempt to be "secure by default".
+This includes blocking things like the imagemagick and PDF loaders. If you get an error relating to "operation is
+blocked", then the operation you're trying to use is marked as untrusted in libvips.
+
+If you need to work with operations and formats that are marked as "untrusted" in libvips, you can permit them
+explicitly:
+```java
+Vips.allowUntrustedOperations();
+```
+
+See the [libvips docs](https://www.libvips.org/API/8.17/func.block_untrusted_set.html) for guidance on figuring out what
+loaders and operations are marked as trusted or untrusted.
+
 ## Project goals
 
 Ideas and suggestions are welcome, but please make sure they fit in to these goals, or you have a good argument about
@@ -224,4 +279,4 @@ Thank you for being enthusiastic about the project!
   * And only after a GitHub Release is made
   * Run `./publish_release_to_maven_central.sh <version matching github release version, including v prefix>` 
 
-[1]: https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/23/core/memory-segments-and-arenas.html
\ No newline at end of file
+[1]: https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/23/core/memory-segments-and-arenas.html
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/app/photofox/vipsffm/Vips.java b/core/src/main/java/app/photofox/vipsffm/Vips.java
index 130db8f..f9fe79e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/app/photofox/vipsffm/Vips.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/app/photofox/vipsffm/Vips.java
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ public static void init(boolean allowUntrusted, boolean detectLeaks) {
         VipsHelper.leak_set(detectLeaks);
     }
 
+    /// Provides a scoped arena to provide a memory boundary for running libvips operations
+    ///
+    /// After the scope has ended, any memory allocated whilst using libvips within it will be freed
     public static void run(VipsRunnable runnable) {
         try (var arena = Arena.ofConfined()) {
             runnable.run(arena);
@@ -26,4 +29,22 @@ public static void run(VipsRunnable runnable) {
     public static void shutdown() {
         VipsHelper.shutdown();
     }
+
+    /// Permits untrusted operations, such as loading PDFs
+    ///
+    /// vips-ffm blocks these by default - see the [libvips docs](https://www.libvips.org/API/8.17/func.block_untrusted_set.html)
+    /// for guidance
+    public static void allowUntrustedOperations() {
+        VipsHelper.block_untrusted_set(false);
+    }
+
+    /// Disables the libvips operations cache
+    ///
+    /// At the time of writing libvips caches 100 operations by default, which might not be useful in long-running
+    /// applications (like servers).
+    ///
+    /// See also: [libvips docs](https://www.libvips.org/API/8.17/how-it-works.html#operation-cache)
+    public static void disableOperationCache() {
+        VipsHelper.cache_set_max(0);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/docker_tests/debian-12/Dockerfile b/docker_tests/debian-12/Dockerfile
index 2ca8a0c..3160911 100644
--- a/docker_tests/debian-12/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker_tests/debian-12/Dockerfile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ ENV PATH="${JAVA_HOME}/bin:${PATH}"
 COPY sample /opt/sample
 COPY run_samples.sh /opt/run_samples.sh
 
-RUN apt update && apt install libvips-dev -y
+RUN apt update && apt install --no-install-recommends --yes libvips-dev libvips-tools libjemalloc2
 RUN vips --version
 
 WORKDIR /opt
diff --git a/docker_tests/ubuntu-2404-jemalloc/Dockerfile b/docker_tests/ubuntu-2404-jemalloc/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..402b893
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker_tests/ubuntu-2404-jemalloc/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+FROM ubuntu:24.04
+ENV JAVA_HOME=/opt/java/openjdk
+COPY --from=eclipse-temurin:23 $JAVA_HOME $JAVA_HOME
+ENV PATH="${JAVA_HOME}/bin:${PATH}"
+
+COPY sample /opt/sample
+COPY run_samples.sh /opt/run_samples.sh
+
+RUN apt update && apt install --no-install-recommends --yes libvips-dev libvips-tools libjemalloc2
+RUN ln -sT "$(readlink -e /usr/lib/*/libjemalloc.so.2)" /usr/local/lib/libjemalloc.so
+
+RUN vips --version
+
+WORKDIR /opt
+CMD ./run_samples.sh
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker_tests/ubuntu-2404/Dockerfile b/docker_tests/ubuntu-2404/Dockerfile
index 7ebc91b..754f92d 100644
--- a/docker_tests/ubuntu-2404/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker_tests/ubuntu-2404/Dockerfile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ ENV PATH="${JAVA_HOME}/bin:${PATH}"
 COPY sample /opt/sample
 COPY run_samples.sh /opt/run_samples.sh
 
-RUN apt update && apt install libvips-dev -y
+RUN apt update && apt install --no-install-recommends --yes libvips-dev libvips-tools libjemalloc2
 RUN vips --version
 
 WORKDIR /opt
diff --git a/run_docker_tests.sh b/run_docker_tests.sh
index a7ec7b5..b29ca3b 100755
--- a/run_docker_tests.sh
+++ b/run_docker_tests.sh
@@ -2,18 +2,11 @@
 set -eou pipefail
 
 echo "building samples..."
-./gradlew sample:clean sample:shadowJar
+./gradlew sample:shadowJar
 
-echo "running docker tests..."
-WORKSPACE_DIR="$PWD"
+echo "running all docker tests..."
 
-docker_tests=("debian-12" "ubuntu-2404")
+docker_tests=("ubuntu-2404-jemalloc" "debian-12" "ubuntu-2404")
 for docker_test in "${docker_tests[@]}"; do
-  echo "testing \"$docker_test\""
-  pushd "docker_tests/$docker_test"
-  cp -r "$WORKSPACE_DIR"/sample .
-  cp "$WORKSPACE_DIR"/run_samples.sh .
-  docker build -t "vips-ffm-$docker_test-test" .
-  docker run "vips-ffm-$docker_test-test"
-  popd
+  ./run_single_docker_tests.sh "$docker_test" || (echo "test failed" && exit 1)
 done
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/run_samples.sh b/run_samples.sh
index 5df9e0e..285273b 100755
--- a/run_samples.sh
+++ b/run_samples.sh
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ if [[ "$OSTYPE" == "darwin"* ]]; then
   export JAVA_PATH_OPTS="-Dvipsffm.libpath.vips.override=/opt/homebrew/lib/libvips.dylib"
 fi
 
+if test -f /usr/local/lib/libjemalloc.so; then
+  echo "found jemalloc - using it"
+  export LD_PRELOAD=/usr/local/lib/libjemalloc.so
+fi
+
 echo "running samples..."
 java $JAVA_PATH_OPTS -jar sample/build/libs/sample-all.jar 2>&1 | tee sample_output.log
 
diff --git a/run_single_docker_tests.sh b/run_single_docker_tests.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..7ac0187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run_single_docker_tests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -eou pipefail
+
+if [ -z "$1" ]; then
+  echo "usage: ./run_single_docker_tests.sh ubuntu-2404"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "building samples..."
+./gradlew sample:shadowJar
+
+echo "verifying docker test variant \"$1\" exists..."
+if [ ! -d "docker_tests/$1" ]; then
+  echo "could not find docker test variant - exiting"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "running docker tests for variant $1..."
+WORKSPACE_DIR="$PWD"
+
+pushd "docker_tests/$1"
+cp -r "$WORKSPACE_DIR"/sample .
+cp "$WORKSPACE_DIR"/run_samples.sh .
+docker build --progress=plain -t "vips-ffm-$1-test" .
+docker run "vips-ffm-$1-test"
+popd
\ No newline at end of file