diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.md
index fa22ca7a66..16743d3bc9 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem.
 
 **Platform (please complete the following information):**
  - Supercomputer or desktop [e.g., Trinity, Sierra)
- - Compiler environment [e.g., clang-4.0, gcc8]
+ - Compiler environment [e.g., clang-4.0, gcc9]
  - Libraries [e.g., mpich-2, openmpi)
  - Commit ID or release of VT [e.g., vt-1.0.0]
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cccfb09dfa..735732ef2d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
 [![codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/DARMA-tasking/vt/branch/develop/graph/badge.svg)](https://codecov.io/gh/DARMA-tasking/vt)
 [![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-BSD%203--Clause-orange.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause)
 ![](https://github.com/DARMA-tasking/vt/workflows/Docker%20Image%20CI/badge.svg)
-[![gcc-8, ubuntu, mpich, address sanitizer](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_apis/build/status/PR%20tests%20(gcc-8%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich%2C%20address%20sanitizer)?branchName=develop&Label=(gcc-8%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich%2C%20address%20sanitizer))](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_build/latest?definitionId=9&branchName=develop)
 [![gcc-9, ubuntu, mpich, zoltan](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_apis/build/status/PR%20tests%20(gcc-9%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich%2C%20zoltan)?branchName=develop&Label=(gcc-9%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich%2C%20zoltan))](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_build/latest?definitionId=10&branchName=develop)
 [![gcc-10, ubuntu, openmpi, no LB](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_apis/build/status/PR%20tests%20(gcc-10%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20openmpi%2C%20no%20LB)?branchName=develop&Label=(gcc-10%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20openmpi%2C%20no%20LB))](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_build/latest?definitionId=4&branchName=develop)
 [![gcc-11, ubuntu, mpich](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_apis/build/status/PR%20tests%20(gcc-11%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich)?branchName=develop&Label=(gcc-11%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich%2C%20trace%20runtime%2C%20coverage))](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_build/latest?definitionId=29&branchName=develop)
 [![gcc-12, ubuntu, mpich](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_apis/build/status/PR%20tests%20(gcc-12%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich)?branchName=develop&Label=(gcc-12%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich))](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_build/latest?definitionId=30&branchName=develop)
+[![gcc-13, ubuntu, mpich](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_apis/build/status/PR%20tests%20(gcc-13%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich%2C%20address%20sanitizer)?branchName=develop&Label=(gcc-13%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich))](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_build/latest?definitionId=36&branchName=develop)
 [![clang-9, ubuntu, mpich](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_apis/build/status/PR%20tests%20(clang-9%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich)?branchName=develop&Label=(clang-9.0%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich))](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_build?definitionId=22&branchName=develop)
 [![clang-10, ubuntu, mpich](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_apis/build/status/PR%20tests%20(clang-10%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich)?branchName=develop&Label=(clang-10.0%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich))](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_build?definitionId=21&branchName=develop)
 [![clang-11, ubuntu, mpich](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_apis/build/status/PR%20tests%20(clang-11%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich)?branchName=develop&Label=(clang-11.0%2C%20ubuntu%2C%20mpich))](https://dev.azure.com/DARMA-tasking/DARMA/_build?definitionId=25&branchName=develop)
diff --git a/ci/azure/azure-clang-16-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/ci/azure/azure-clang-16-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index 0e13229cdc..9fb0c8a723 100644
--- a/ci/azure/azure-clang-16-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/ci/azure/azure-clang-16-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ############## Warning this is a generated file---do not modify ###############
 ###############################################################################
 
-name: PR tests (clang-16, ubuntu, mpich)
+name: PR tests (clang-16, ubuntu, mpich, json schema test)
 
 trigger:
   branches:
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ variables:
   VT_KOKKOS_ENABLED: 0
   VT_TV_ENABLED: 0
   CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD: 17
-  VT_CI_TEST_LB_SCHEMA: 0
+  VT_CI_TEST_LB_SCHEMA: 1
   RUN_FULL_CI: true
   CACHE: "$(Agent.TempDirectory)/cache/"
   cache_name: ubuntu-clang-16-cache
diff --git a/ci/azure/azure-gcc-8-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/ci/azure/azure-gcc-13-ubuntu-mpich.yml
similarity index 98%
rename from ci/azure/azure-gcc-8-ubuntu-mpich.yml
rename to ci/azure/azure-gcc-13-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index 0780609881..dbd42a39be 100644
--- a/ci/azure/azure-gcc-8-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/ci/azure/azure-gcc-13-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ############## Warning this is a generated file---do not modify ###############
 ###############################################################################
 
-name: PR tests (gcc-8, ubuntu, mpich, address sanitizer)
+name: PR tests (gcc-13, ubuntu, mpich, address sanitizer)
 
 trigger:
   branches:
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ variables:
   tag: '$(Build.BuildId)'
   REPO: lifflander1/vt
   ARCH: amd64
-  UBUNTU: 18.04
+  UBUNTU: 24.04
   COMPILER_TYPE: gnu
-  COMPILER: gcc-8
-  HOST_COMPILER: gcc-8
+  COMPILER: gcc-13
+  HOST_COMPILER: gcc-13
   BUILD_TYPE: release
   ULIMIT_CORE: 0
   VT_CODE_COVERAGE: 0
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ variables:
   VT_CI_TEST_LB_SCHEMA: 0
   RUN_FULL_CI: true
   CACHE: "$(Agent.TempDirectory)/cache/"
-  cache_name: ubuntu-gcc-8-cache
+  cache_name: ubuntu-gcc-13-cache
   volume_name: ubuntu-cpp
   build_root: "$(CACHE)$(ARCH)-ubuntu-$(UBUNTU)-$(HOST_COMPILER)-$(COMPILER)-cache/"
   TS: 0
diff --git a/ci/azure/azure-gcc-9-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/ci/azure/azure-gcc-9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index 50ace94dbd..9552abaa2b 100644
--- a/ci/azure/azure-gcc-9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/ci/azure/azure-gcc-9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ############## Warning this is a generated file---do not modify ###############
 ###############################################################################
 
-name: PR tests (gcc-9, ubuntu, mpich, zoltan, json schema test)
+name: PR tests (gcc-9, ubuntu, mpich, zoltan)
 
 trigger:
   branches:
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ variables:
   VT_KOKKOS_ENABLED: 0
   VT_TV_ENABLED: 0
   CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD: 17
-  VT_CI_TEST_LB_SCHEMA: 1
+  VT_CI_TEST_LB_SCHEMA: 0
   RUN_FULL_CI: true
   CACHE: "$(Agent.TempDirectory)/cache/"
   cache_name: ubuntu-gcc-9-cache
diff --git a/ci/docker/alpine-cpp.dockerfile b/ci/docker/alpine-cpp.dockerfile
index 9eee993129..aeadfee2d7 100644
--- a/ci/docker/alpine-cpp.dockerfile
+++ b/ci/docker/alpine-cpp.dockerfile
@@ -52,43 +52,6 @@ ENV CC=mpicc \
 
 FROM base as build
 COPY . /vt
-
-ARG VT_LB_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED
-ARG VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED
-ARG VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ASAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_UBSAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_WERROR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_POOL_ENABLED
-ARG VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED
-ARG VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-ARG VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED
-ARG BUILD_SHARED_LIBS
-ARG CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD
-ARG VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE
-ARG VT_CI_BUILD
-
-ENV VT_LB_ENABLED=${VT_LB_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED=${VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED=${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_RUNTIME} \
-    VT_ASAN_ENABLED=${VT_ASAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UBSAN_ENABLED=${VT_UBSAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_WERROR_ENABLED=${VT_WERROR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_POOL_ENABLED=${VT_POOL_ENABLED} \
-    VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED=${VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED} \
-    VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED=${VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED} \
-    CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} \
-    BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} \
-    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} \
-    VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE=${VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE} \
-    VT_CI_BUILD=${VT_CI_BUILD}
-
 RUN /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build
 
 FROM build as test
diff --git a/ci/docker/develop.dockerfile b/ci/docker/develop.dockerfile
index 1df31c93d1..6deab0bdb9 100644
--- a/ci/docker/develop.dockerfile
+++ b/ci/docker/develop.dockerfile
@@ -31,50 +31,6 @@ RUN if test ${zoltan_enabled} -eq 1; then \
 
 COPY . /vt
 
-ARG VT_LB_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED
-ARG VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED
-ARG VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ASAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_UBSAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_WERROR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_POOL_ENABLED
-ARG VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-ARG VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED
-ARG VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED
-ARG VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED
-ARG BUILD_SHARED_LIBS
-ARG CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD
-ARG VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE
-ARG VT_CI_BUILD
-
-ENV VT_LB_ENABLED=${VT_LB_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED=${VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED=${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_RUNTIME} \
-    VT_ASAN_ENABLED=${VT_ASAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UBSAN_ENABLED=${VT_UBSAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_WERROR_ENABLED=${VT_WERROR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_POOL_ENABLED=${VT_POOL_ENABLED} \
-    VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED=${VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED=${VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED=${VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED=${VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED} \
-    VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED=${VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED} \
-    CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} \
-    BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} \
-    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} \
-    VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE=${VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE} \
-    VT_CI_BUILD=${VT_CI_BUILD}
-
 RUN /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build
 RUN /vt/ci/test_cpp.sh /vt /build
 RUN /vt/ci/build_vt_sample.sh /vt /build
diff --git a/ci/docker/ubuntu-20.04-gnu-openmpi-cpp.dockerfile b/ci/docker/ubuntu-20.04-gnu-openmpi-cpp.dockerfile
index 9cb7bfcf54..543eeabc60 100644
--- a/ci/docker/ubuntu-20.04-gnu-openmpi-cpp.dockerfile
+++ b/ci/docker/ubuntu-20.04-gnu-openmpi-cpp.dockerfile
@@ -78,51 +78,6 @@ ENV OMPI_ALLOW_RUN_AS_ROOT=1 \
 
 FROM base as build
 COPY . /vt
-
-ARG VT_LB_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED
-ARG VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED
-ARG VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ASAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_UBSAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_WERROR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_POOL_ENABLED
-ARG VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-ARG VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED
-ARG VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED
-ARG BUILD_SHARED_LIBS
-ARG CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD
-ARG VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE
-ARG VT_CI_BUILD
-
-ENV VT_LB_ENABLED=${VT_LB_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED=${VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED=${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_RUNTIME} \
-    VT_ASAN_ENABLED=${VT_ASAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UBSAN_ENABLED=${VT_UBSAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_WERROR_ENABLED=${VT_WERROR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_POOL_ENABLED=${VT_POOL_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED=${VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED=${VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED=${VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED=${VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED} \
-    VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED=${VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED} \
-    CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} \
-    BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} \
-    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} \
-    VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE=${VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE} \
-    VT_CI_BUILD=${VT_CI_BUILD}
-
 RUN /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build
 
 FROM build as test
diff --git a/ci/docker/ubuntu-clang-cpp.dockerfile b/ci/docker/ubuntu-clang-cpp.dockerfile
index 3621d82f71..cd77b905fe 100644
--- a/ci/docker/ubuntu-clang-cpp.dockerfile
+++ b/ci/docker/ubuntu-clang-cpp.dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ARG arch=amd64
 ARG ubuntu=20.04
-FROM ${arch}/ubuntu:${ubuntu} as base
+FROM ${arch}/ubuntu:${ubuntu} AS base
 
 ARG proxy=""
 ARG compiler=clang-11
@@ -14,22 +14,27 @@ ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
 
 RUN apt-get update -y -q && \
     apt-get install -y -q --no-install-recommends \
-    ${compiler} \
-    ${ubsan_enabled:+llvm-$(echo ${compiler} | cut -d- -f2)} \
-    ca-certificates \
-    ccache \
-    curl \
-    git \
-    less \
-    libomp-dev \
-    libomp5 \
-    make-guile \
-    ninja-build \
-    python3 \
-    valgrind \
-    wget \
-    zlib1g \
-    zlib1g-dev && \
+        ${compiler} \
+        ${ubsan_enabled:+llvm-$(echo ${compiler} | cut -d- -f2)} \
+        brotli \
+        ca-certificates \
+        ccache \
+        curl \
+        git \
+        less \
+        libomp-dev \
+        libomp5 \
+        make-guile \
+        ninja-build \
+        python3 \
+        python3-brotli \
+        python3-deepdiff \
+        python3-pip \
+        python3-schema \
+        valgrind \
+        wget \
+        zlib1g \
+        zlib1g-dev && \
     apt-get clean && \
     rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
@@ -52,10 +57,7 @@ ENV PATH=/cmake/bin/:$PATH
 ENV LESSCHARSET=utf-8
 
 COPY ./ci/deps/mpich.sh mpich.sh
-RUN if [ "$ubuntu" = "18.04" ]; then \
-      ./mpich.sh 3.3.2 -j4; else \
-      ./mpich.sh 4.0.2 -j4; \
-    fi
+RUN ./mpich.sh 4.0.2 -j4
 
 ENV MPI_EXTRA_FLAGS="" \
     CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/" \
@@ -64,52 +66,9 @@ ENV MPI_EXTRA_FLAGS="" \
 
 FROM base as build
 COPY . /vt
-
-ARG BUILD_SHARED_LIBS
-ARG CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-ARG VT_ASAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED
-ARG VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED
-ARG VT_LB_ENABLED
-ARG VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED
-ARG VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_POOL_ENABLED
-ARG VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED
-ARG VT_UBSAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_WERROR_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD
-ARG VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE
-ARG VT_CI_BUILD
-
-ENV BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} \
-    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} \
-    VT_ASAN_ENABLED=${VT_ASAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED=${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED=${VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED=${VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED} \
-    VT_LB_ENABLED=${VT_LB_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED=${VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED=${VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED=${VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_POOL_ENABLED=${VT_POOL_ENABLED} \
-    VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_RUNTIME} \
-    VT_UBSAN_ENABLED=${VT_UBSAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_WERROR_ENABLED=${VT_WERROR_ENABLED} \
-    CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} \
-    VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE=${VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE} \
-    VT_CI_BUILD=${VT_CI_BUILD}
-
 RUN /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build
 
-FROM build as test
+FROM build AS test
 RUN /vt/ci/test_cpp.sh /vt /build
 
 RUN /vt/ci/build_vt_sample.sh /vt /build
diff --git a/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-cpp.dockerfile b/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-cpp.dockerfile
index af31b8f87c..5469cd6098 100644
--- a/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-cpp.dockerfile
+++ b/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-cpp.dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ARG arch=amd64
 ARG ubuntu=20.04
-FROM ${arch}/ubuntu:${ubuntu} as base
+FROM ${arch}/ubuntu:${ubuntu} AS base
 
 ARG proxy=""
 ARG compiler=gcc-9
@@ -15,31 +15,34 @@ ARG zoltan_enabled
 
 RUN apt-get update -y -q && \
     apt-get install -y -q --no-install-recommends \
-    ${compiler} \
-    g++-$(echo ${compiler} | cut -d- -f2) \
-    ${zoltan_enabled:+gfortran-$(echo ${compiler} | cut -d- -f2)} \
-    ca-certificates \
-    ccache \
-    curl \
-    git \
-    less \
-    libomp5 \
-    libunwind-dev \
-    make-guile \
-    ninja-build \
-    valgrind \
-    wget \
-    zlib1g \
-    zlib1g-dev \
-    libncurses5-dev \
-    m4 \
-    libgl1-mesa-dev \
-    libglu1-mesa-dev \
-    mesa-common-dev \
-    brotli \
-    python3 \
-    python3-brotli \
-    python3-pip && \
+        ${compiler} \
+        g++-$(echo ${compiler} | cut -d- -f2) \
+        ${zoltan_enabled:+gfortran-$(echo ${compiler} | cut -d- -f2)} \
+        brotli \
+        ca-certificates \
+        ccache \
+        curl \
+        git \
+        less \
+        libgl1-mesa-dev \
+        libglu1-mesa-dev \
+        libncurses5-dev \
+        libomp5 \
+        libunwind-dev \
+        m4 \
+        make-guile \
+        mesa-common-dev \
+        ninja-build \
+        python3 \
+        python3-brotli \
+        python3-deepdiff \
+        python3-numpy \
+        python3-pip \
+        python3-schema \
+        valgrind \
+        wget \
+        zlib1g \
+        zlib1g-dev && \
     apt-get clean && \
     rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
@@ -69,10 +72,7 @@ ENV PATH=/cmake/bin/:$PATH
 ENV LESSCHARSET=utf-8
 
 COPY ./ci/deps/mpich.sh mpich.sh
-RUN if [ "$ubuntu" = "18.04" ]; then \
-      ./mpich.sh 3.3.2 -j4; else \
-      ./mpich.sh 4.0.2 -j4; \
-    fi
+RUN ./mpich.sh 4.0.2 -j4
 
 ENV MPI_EXTRA_FLAGS="" \
     PATH=/usr/lib/ccache/:$PATH
@@ -91,62 +91,11 @@ RUN apt-get update -y -q && \
     apt-get clean && \
     rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
-RUN pip3 install --upgrade pip \
-    && pip3 install schema deepdiff
-
 FROM base as build
 COPY . /vt
-
-ARG BUILD_SHARED_LIBS
-ARG CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-ARG VT_ASAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED
-ARG VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED
-ARG VT_LB_ENABLED
-ARG VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED
-ARG VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_POOL_ENABLED
-ARG VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED
-ARG VT_UBSAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_WERROR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD
-ARG VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE
-ARG VT_CI_BUILD
-ARG VT_KOKKOS_ENABLED
-
-ENV BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} \
-    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} \
-    VT_ASAN_ENABLED=${VT_ASAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED=${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED=${VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED=${VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED} \
-    VT_LB_ENABLED=${VT_LB_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED=${VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED=${VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED=${VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_POOL_ENABLED=${VT_POOL_ENABLED} \
-    VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_RUNTIME} \
-    VT_UBSAN_ENABLED=${VT_UBSAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_WERROR_ENABLED=${VT_WERROR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED=${VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED} \
-    CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} \
-    VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE=$(VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE) \
-    VT_CI_BUILD=${VT_CI_BUILD} \
-    VT_KOKKOS_ENABLED=${VT_KOKKOS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TV_ENABLED=${VT_TV_ENABLED}
-
 RUN /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build
 
-FROM build as test
+FROM build AS test
 RUN /vt/ci/test_cpp.sh /vt /build
 
 RUN /vt/ci/build_vt_sample.sh /vt /build
diff --git a/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-docs.dockerfile b/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-docs.dockerfile
index 07edbaba6a..803ef13990 100644
--- a/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-docs.dockerfile
+++ b/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-docs.dockerfile
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ ARG ubuntu=22.04
 FROM ${arch}/ubuntu:${ubuntu} as base
 
 ARG proxy=""
-ARG compiler=gcc-8
+ARG compiler=gcc-9
 ARG token
 
 ENV https_proxy=${proxy} \
@@ -54,45 +54,5 @@ FROM base as build
 COPY . /vt
 
 ARG token
-ARG VT_LB_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED
-ARG VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED
-ARG VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ASAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_UBSAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_WERROR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_POOL_ENABLED
-ARG VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-ARG VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED
-ARG VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED
-ARG VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED
-ARG BUILD_SHARED_LIBS
-ARG CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD
-ARG VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE
-ARG VT_CI_BUILD
-
-ENV VT_LB_ENABLED=${VT_LB_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED=${VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED=${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_RUNTIME} \
-    VT_ASAN_ENABLED=${VT_ASAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UBSAN_ENABLED=${VT_UBSAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_WERROR_ENABLED=${VT_WERROR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_POOL_ENABLED=${VT_POOL_ENABLED} \
-    VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED=${VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED=${VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED=${VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED} \
-    VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED=${VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED} \
-    CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} \
-    BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} \
-    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} \
-    VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE=${VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE} \
-    VT_CI_BUILD=${VT_CI_BUILD}
 
 RUN /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build "${token}"
diff --git a/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-vtk-cpp.dockerfile b/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-vtk-cpp.dockerfile
index 2ba34f3a53..cc6f46c38b 100644
--- a/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-vtk-cpp.dockerfile
+++ b/ci/docker/ubuntu-gnu-vtk-cpp.dockerfile
@@ -100,54 +100,6 @@ RUN pip3 install schema
 
 FROM base as build
 COPY . /vt
-
-ARG BUILD_SHARED_LIBS
-ARG CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-ARG VT_ASAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED
-ARG VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED
-ARG VT_LB_ENABLED
-ARG VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED
-ARG VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_POOL_ENABLED
-ARG VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED
-ARG VT_UBSAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_WERROR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD
-ARG VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE
-ARG VT_CI_BUILD
-ARG VT_KOKKOS_ENABLED
-
-ENV BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} \
-    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} \
-    VT_ASAN_ENABLED=${VT_ASAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED=${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED=${VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED=${VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED} \
-    VT_LB_ENABLED=${VT_LB_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED=${VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED=${VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED=${VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_POOL_ENABLED=${VT_POOL_ENABLED} \
-    VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_RUNTIME} \
-    VT_UBSAN_ENABLED=${VT_UBSAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_WERROR_ENABLED=${VT_WERROR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED=${VT_ZOLTAN_ENABLED} \
-    CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} \
-    VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE=$(VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE) \
-    VT_CI_BUILD=${VT_CI_BUILD} \
-    VT_KOKKOS_ENABLED=${VT_KOKKOS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TV_ENABLED=${VT_TV_ENABLED}
-
 RUN /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build
 
 FROM build as test
diff --git a/ci/docker/ubuntu-intel-oneapi-cpp.dockerfile b/ci/docker/ubuntu-intel-oneapi-cpp.dockerfile
index 82e0361fd4..f777abefde 100644
--- a/ci/docker/ubuntu-intel-oneapi-cpp.dockerfile
+++ b/ci/docker/ubuntu-intel-oneapi-cpp.dockerfile
@@ -59,43 +59,6 @@ ENV CC=mpicc \
 
 FROM base as build
 COPY . /vt
-
-ARG VT_LB_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED
-ARG VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED
-ARG VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ASAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_WERROR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_POOL_ENABLED
-ARG VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED
-ARG VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-ARG VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD
-ARG VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE
-ARG VT_CI_BUILD
-
-ENV VT_LB_ENABLED=${VT_LB_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED=${VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED=${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_RUNTIME} \
-    VT_ASAN_ENABLED=${VT_ASAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_WERROR_ENABLED=${VT_WERROR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_POOL_ENABLED=${VT_POOL_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED=${VT_MPI_GUARD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED=${VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED=${VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED} \
-    CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} \
-    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} \
-    VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE=${VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE} \
-    VT_CI_BUILD=${VT_CI_BUILD}
-
 RUN /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build
 
 FROM build as test
diff --git a/ci/docker/ubuntu-nvidia-cpp.dockerfile b/ci/docker/ubuntu-nvidia-cpp.dockerfile
index b916ab94c6..b2ecce38a6 100644
--- a/ci/docker/ubuntu-nvidia-cpp.dockerfile
+++ b/ci/docker/ubuntu-nvidia-cpp.dockerfile
@@ -70,48 +70,6 @@ ENV MPI_EXTRA_FLAGS="" \
 
 FROM base as build
 COPY . /vt
-
-ARG VT_LB_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_ENABLED
-ARG VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED
-ARG VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED
-ARG VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_ASAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_UBSAN_ENABLED
-ARG VT_WERROR_ENABLED
-ARG VT_POOL_ENABLED
-ARG VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED
-ARG CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-ARG VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED
-ARG VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED
-ARG VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED
-ARG BUILD_SHARED_LIBS
-ARG CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD
-ARG VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE
-ARG VT_CI_BUILD
-
-ENV VT_LB_ENABLED=${VT_LB_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_ENABLED} \
-    VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED=${VT_MIMALLOC_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED=${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_TRACE_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_TRACE_RUNTIME} \
-    VT_ASAN_ENABLED=${VT_ASAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UBSAN_ENABLED=${VT_UBSAN_ENABLED} \
-    VT_WERROR_ENABLED=${VT_WERROR_ENABLED} \
-    VT_POOL_ENABLED=${VT_POOL_ENABLED} \
-    VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED=${VT_EXTENDED_TESTS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_UNITY_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED=${VT_PRODUCTION_BUILD_ENABLED} \
-    VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED=${VT_FCONTEXT_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_ENABLED} \
-    VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED=${VT_DIAGNOSTICS_RUNTIME_ENABLED} \
-    VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED=${VT_NO_COLOR_ENABLED} \
-    CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} \
-    BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} \
-    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} \
-    VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE=${VT_DEBUG_VERBOSE} \
-    VT_CI_BUILD=${VT_CI_BUILD}
-
 RUN /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build
 
 FROM build as test
diff --git a/cmake/link_vt.cmake b/cmake/link_vt.cmake
index 52128a747f..cc3c9ad340 100644
--- a/cmake/link_vt.cmake
+++ b/cmake/link_vt.cmake
@@ -255,11 +255,4 @@ function(link_target_with_vt)
   if (vt_ubsan_enabled)
     target_link_libraries(${ARG_TARGET} PUBLIC ${ARG_BUILD_TYPE} -fsanitize=undefined)
   endif()
-
-  # Enable additional flag for GCC-8 to link std::filesystem
-  if (${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} MATCHES "GNU")
-    if (NOT (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL 9))
-      target_link_libraries(${ARG_TARGET} PUBLIC ${ARG_BUILD_TYPE} -lstdc++fs)
-    endif ()
-  endif ()
 endfunction()
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index b4916434ae..f2e4f50c8a 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@
 # Variables:
 #   ARCH={amd64, arm64v8, ...}
 #   COMPILER_TYPE={gnu, clang, intel, nvidia}
-#   COMPILER={gcc-8, gcc-9, gcc-10,
-#             clang-8, clang-9, clang-10,
+#   COMPILER={gcc-9, gcc-10, gcc-11, gcc-12, gcc-13
+#             clang-9, clang-10, clang-11, clang-12, clang-13, clang-14
 #             icpc, icpx,
 #             nvcc-11, nvcc-11.2}
 #   REPO=lifflander1/vt
-#   UBUNTU={18.04, 20.04, 22.04}
+#   UBUNTU={20.04, 22.04, 24.04}
 #   ULIMIT_CORE=0
 #
 # DARMA/vt Configuration Variables:
@@ -55,11 +55,11 @@
 # $ docker compose run ubuntu-cpp-interactive
 # # /vt/ci/build_cpp.sh /vt /build
 #
-# For a non-interactive build with gcc-8, since gnu is the default compiler
+# For a non-interactive build with gcc-9, since gnu is the default compiler
 # type, one may do the following:
 #
-#  $ COMPILER=gcc-8 docker compose pull ubuntu-cpp
-#  $ COMPILER=gcc-8 docker compose run ubuntu-cpp
+#  $ COMPILER=gcc-9 docker compose pull ubuntu-cpp
+#  $ COMPILER=gcc-9 docker compose run ubuntu-cpp
 #
 
 # Volume will be created automatically for each combination of parameters.
diff --git a/docs/md/building.md b/docs/md/building.md
index e86466d0e3..8add1b9429 100644
--- a/docs/md/building.md
+++ b/docs/md/building.md
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ which `docker compose` will read.
 # Variables:
 #   ARCH={amd64, arm64v8, ...}
 #   COMPILER_TYPE={gnu, clang, intel, nvidia}
-#   COMPILER={gcc-8, gcc-9, gcc-10,
+#   COMPILER={gcc-9, gcc-10,
 #             clang-8, clang-9, clang-10,
 #             icpc, icpx,
 #             nvcc-11, nvcc-11.2}
diff --git a/examples/lb_data/lb_data_file_example.json b/examples/lb_data/lb_data_file_example.json
index 061a3fe210..0183c05f13 100644
--- a/examples/lb_data/lb_data_file_example.json
+++ b/examples/lb_data/lb_data_file_example.json
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
         {
             "communications": [
                 {
-                    "bytes": 152.0,
+                    "bytes": 160.0,
                     "from": {
                         "collection_id": 7,
                         "home": 0,
diff --git a/scripts/workflows-azure.ini b/scripts/workflows-azure.ini
index 7905116fb5..382448cc39 100644
--- a/scripts/workflows-azure.ini
+++ b/scripts/workflows-azure.ini
@@ -99,24 +99,11 @@ vt_pool = 0
 vt_tests_num_nodes = 4
 vt_external_fmt = 1
 
-[PR-tests-gcc-8]
-test_configuration = "gcc-8, ubuntu, mpich, address sanitizer"
-compiler_type = gnu
-compiler = gcc-8
-distro = 18.04
-vt_trace = 1
-vt_pool = 0
-vt_asan = 1
-vt_unity_build = 0
-output_name = ci/azure/azure-gcc-8-ubuntu-mpich.yml
-lsan_options = suppressions=/vt/tests/lsan.supp
-
 [PR-tests-gcc-9]
-test_configuration = "gcc-9, ubuntu, mpich, zoltan, json schema test"
+test_configuration = "gcc-9, ubuntu, mpich, zoltan"
 compiler_type = gnu
 compiler = gcc-9
 output_name = ci/azure/azure-gcc-9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
-vt_ci_test_lb_schema = 1
 vt_zoltan = 1
 
 [PR-tests-gcc-10]
@@ -150,6 +137,18 @@ pr_pattern = "pr:\\n  drafts: true\\n  autoCancel: true\\n  branches:\\n    incl
 vt_debug_verbose = 1
 vt_kokkos_enabled = 1
 
+[PR-tests-gcc-13]
+test_configuration = "gcc-13, ubuntu, mpich, address sanitizer"
+compiler_type = gnu
+compiler = gcc-13
+distro = 24.04
+vt_trace = 1
+vt_pool = 0
+vt_asan = 1
+vt_unity_build = 0
+output_name = ci/azure/azure-gcc-13-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+lsan_options = suppressions=/vt/tests/lsan.supp
+
 [PR-tests-clang-13-alpine]
 test_configuration = "clang-13, alpine, mpich"
 compiler_type = clang
@@ -212,11 +211,12 @@ vt_trace = 1
 vt_debug_verbose = 1
 
 [PR-tests-clang-16]
-test_configuration = "clang-16, ubuntu, mpich"
+test_configuration = "clang-16, ubuntu, mpich, json schema test"
 compiler_type = clang
 compiler = clang-16
 distro = 24.04
 output_name = ci/azure/azure-clang-16-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+vt_ci_test_lb_schema = 1
 vt_trace = 1
 
 [PR-tests-gcc-10-spack-package]
diff --git a/src/vt/collective/reduce/reduce.impl.h b/src/vt/collective/reduce/reduce.impl.h
index 3ccc36ffe7..c8c571ab48 100644
--- a/src/vt/collective/reduce/reduce.impl.h
+++ b/src/vt/collective/reduce/reduce.impl.h
@@ -165,7 +165,8 @@ detail::ReduceStamp Reduce::reduceImmediate(
     envelopeSetGroup(msg->env, std::get<detail::StrongGroup>(scope_.get()).get());
   }
 
-  auto cur_id = id == detail::ReduceStamp{} ? generateNextID() : id;
+  auto default_stamp = detail::ReduceStamp{};
+  auto cur_id = id == default_stamp ? generateNextID() : id;
 
   auto const han = auto_registry::makeAutoHandler<MsgT,f>();
   msg->combine_handler_ = han;
diff --git a/src/vt/runnable/runnable.h b/src/vt/runnable/runnable.h
index b8228b2edf..ac37d8b2c5 100644
--- a/src/vt/runnable/runnable.h
+++ b/src/vt/runnable/runnable.h
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@
 #define INCLUDED_VT_RUNNABLE_RUNNABLE_H
 
 #include "vt/messaging/message/smart_ptr.h"
-#include "vt/configs/debug/debug_var_unused.h"
 #include "vt/context/runnable_context/td.h"
 #include "vt/context/runnable_context/trace.h"
 #include "vt/context/runnable_context/set_context.h"
@@ -121,13 +120,11 @@ struct RunnableNew {
    *
    * \param[in] in_is_threaded whether the handler can be run with a thread
    */
-  explicit RunnableNew(bool in_is_threaded)
+  explicit RunnableNew([[maybe_unused]] bool in_is_threaded)
 #if vt_check_enabled(fcontext)
     : is_threaded_(in_is_threaded)
 #endif
-  {
-    vt_force_use(in_is_threaded); // FIXME gcc-8 errors out on [[maybe_unused]]
-  }
+  { }
 
   RunnableNew(RunnableNew&&) = default;
   RunnableNew(RunnableNew const&) = delete;
diff --git a/src/vt/vrt/collection/manager.impl.h b/src/vt/vrt/collection/manager.impl.h
index 91e914fa97..f03d60fa9f 100644
--- a/src/vt/vrt/collection/manager.impl.h
+++ b/src/vt/vrt/collection/manager.impl.h
@@ -921,7 +921,8 @@ messaging::PendingSend CollectionManager::reduceMsgExpr(
   vtAssert(group_ready, "Must be ready");
 
   auto cur_stamp = stamp;
-  if (cur_stamp == ReduceStamp{}) {
+  auto default_stamp = ReduceStamp{};
+  if (cur_stamp == default_stamp) {
     cur_stamp = proxy(idx).tryGetLocalPtr()->getNextStamp();
   }
 
diff --git a/tests/perf/collection_local_send.cc b/tests/perf/collection_local_send.cc
index 713f4d12e5..dae368209a 100644
--- a/tests/perf/collection_local_send.cc
+++ b/tests/perf/collection_local_send.cc
@@ -112,12 +112,9 @@ struct NodeObj {
 
 private:
   std::vector<MsgSharedPtr<TestCol::ColMsg>> msgs;
-  HandlerType han;
   MyTest* test_obj_ = nullptr;
   vt::objgroup::proxy::Proxy<NodeObj> proxy_ = {};
   vt::CollectionProxy<TestCol> col_proxy;
-  int reduce_counter_ = -1;
-  int i = 0;
   bool preallocate_ = false;
 };
 
diff --git a/tests/perf/make_runnable_micro.cc b/tests/perf/make_runnable_micro.cc
index 551b1a10c5..3571dc1f49 100644
--- a/tests/perf/make_runnable_micro.cc
+++ b/tests/perf/make_runnable_micro.cc
@@ -102,8 +102,6 @@ struct NodeObj {
   HandlerType han;
   MyTest* test_obj_ = nullptr;
   vt::objgroup::proxy::Proxy<NodeObj> proxy_ = {};
-  int reduce_counter_ = -1;
-  int i = 0;
 };
 
 VT_PERF_TEST(MyTest, test_make_runnable_micro) {
diff --git a/tests/perf/objgroup_local_send.cc b/tests/perf/objgroup_local_send.cc
index 27d484bc8f..21daf48867 100644
--- a/tests/perf/objgroup_local_send.cc
+++ b/tests/perf/objgroup_local_send.cc
@@ -101,12 +101,9 @@ struct NodeObj {
 
 private:
   std::vector<MsgSharedPtr<MyMsg>> msgs;
-  HandlerType han;
   MyTest* test_obj_ = nullptr;
   vt::objgroup::proxy::Proxy<NodeObj> proxy_ = {};
   vt::objgroup::proxy::Proxy<TestObj> obj_proxy;
-  int reduce_counter_ = -1;
-  int i = 0;
 };
 
 VT_PERF_TEST(MyTest, test_objgroup_local_send) {
diff --git a/tests/perf/ping_pong_am.cc b/tests/perf/ping_pong_am.cc
index 9330529ece..a47e6a0d95 100644
--- a/tests/perf/ping_pong_am.cc
+++ b/tests/perf/ping_pong_am.cc
@@ -96,8 +96,6 @@ struct NodeObj {
 private:
   MyTest* test_obj_ = nullptr;
   vt::objgroup::proxy::Proxy<NodeObj> proxy_ = {};
-  int reduce_counter_ = -1;
-  int i = 0;
 };
 
 void handlerFinished(MyMsg* msg) {
diff --git a/tests/perf/send_cost.cc b/tests/perf/send_cost.cc
index 34692eaaa8..3156d1a057 100644
--- a/tests/perf/send_cost.cc
+++ b/tests/perf/send_cost.cc
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ struct SendTest : PerfTestHarness {
 
 VT_PERF_TEST(SendTest, test_send) {
   auto const thisNode = vt::theContext()->getNode();
-  auto const lastNode = theContext()->getNumNodes() - 1;
 
   auto const prevNode = (thisNode - 1 + num_nodes_) % num_nodes_;
   auto const nextNode = (thisNode + 1) % num_nodes_;
@@ -164,9 +163,6 @@ VT_PERF_TEST(SendTest, test_objgroup_send) {
   grp_proxy[my_node_].invoke<&NodeObj::initialize>();
 
   auto const thisNode = vt::theContext()->getNode();
-  auto const lastNode = theContext()->getNumNodes() - 1;
-
-  auto const prevNode = (thisNode - 1 + num_nodes_) % num_nodes_;
   auto const nextNode = (thisNode + 1) % num_nodes_;
 
   for (auto size : payloadSizes) {