diff --git a/.github/actions/install_lima_from_artifact/action.yml b/.github/actions/install_lima_from_artifact/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..349b4d7271a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/install_lima_from_artifact/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+name: install lima from artifact
+description: install lima from artifact
+inputs:
+  artifact:
+    description: artifact to install
+    required: true
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+  - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+    with:
+      name: ${{ inputs.artifact }}
+      path: _artifacts
+  - name: Install lima from downloaded archive on Linux
+    if: runner.os == 'Linux'
+    run: |
+      sudo make uninstall
+      sudo tar -C /usr/local -xvf _artifacts/${{ inputs.artifact }} --no-same-owner
+    shell: bash
+  - name: Install lima from downloaded archive on macOS
+    if: runner.os == 'macOS'
+    run: |
+      make uninstall || true
+      tar -C /usr/local -xvmf _artifacts/${{ inputs.artifact }} --no-same-owner
+    shell: bash
diff --git a/.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache/action.yml b/.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a00172a73cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+name: setup go with cache
+description: setup go with cache. export GOMODCACHE environment variable
+inputs:
+  additional-gocache-key:
+    description: additional cache key for GOCACHE
+    required: false
+  go-version:
+    description: go version
+    required: true
+  ignore-go-mod-and-go-sum:
+    description: ignore go.mod and go.sum if true
+    required: false
+  runs-on:
+    description: runs on
+    required: true
+  working-directory:
+    description: working directory
+    default: '.'
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+  - id: setup-go
+    uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    with:
+      cache: false
+      go-version: ${{ inputs.go-version }}
+  - name: Set GOMODCACHE environment variable
+    if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+    run: echo "GOMODCACHE=$(pwd)/.gomodcache" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+    shell: bash
+  - name: Set GOMODCACHE environment variable on Windows
+    if: runner.os == 'Windows'
+    run: echo "GOMODCACHE=$(cygpath -w $(pwd)/.gomodcache)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+    shell: bash
+  - id: go-env
+    run: |
+      echo "GOCACHE=$(go env GOCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+      if [[ "${{ inputs.ignore-go-mod-and-go-sum }}" == "true" ]]; then
+        echo "GOMOD=" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+        echo "GOSUM=" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+      else
+        GOMOD=$(go env GOMOD)
+        case $GOMOD in
+          /dev/null|NUL) GOMOD= ;;
+        esac
+        GOSUM=${GOMOD/%.mod/.sum}
+        echo "GOMOD=${GOMOD}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+        echo "GOSUM=${GOSUM}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+      fi
+    shell: bash
+    working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}
+  - id: base-key
+    run: |
+      echo "gomodcache-key=go-modcache-${WORKING_DIRECTORY}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+      echo "gocache-key=go-cache-${WORKING_DIRECTORY}-${RUNS_ON}-${ADDITIONAL_GOCACHE_KEY}-${GO_VERSION}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+    shell: bash
+    env:
+      ADDITIONAL_GOCACHE_KEY: ${{ inputs.additional-gocache-key }}
+      GO_VERSION: ${{ steps.setup-go.outputs.go-version }}
+      RUNS_ON: ${{ inputs.runs-on }}
+      WORKING_DIRECTORY: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}
+  - name: Cache go modules
+    uses: actions/cache@v4
+    with:
+      path: .gomodcache
+      key: ${{ steps.base-key.outputs.gomodcache-key }}-${{ steps.setup-go.outputs.go-version }}-${{ hashFiles(steps.go-env.outputs.GOMOD) }}
+      restore-keys: |
+        ${{ steps.base-key.outputs.gomodcache-key }}-${{ steps.setup-go.outputs.go-version }}-
+        ${{ steps.base-key.outputs.gomodcache-key }}-
+      enableCrossOsArchive: true
+  - name: Cache go build cache
+    uses: actions/cache@v4
+    with:
+      path: ${{ steps.go-env.outputs.GOCACHE }}
+      key: ${{ steps.base-key.outputs.gocache-key }}-${{ hashFiles(steps.go-env.outputs.GOSUM) }}
+      restore-keys: |
+        ${{ steps.base-key.outputs.gocache-key }}-
+  - name: Download dependencies
+    if: inputs.ignore-go-mod-and-go-sum != 'true'
+    run: go mod download -x
+    shell: bash
+    working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_lima_and_fill_cache.yml b/.github/workflows/build_lima_and_fill_cache.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d7c33346184
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_lima_and_fill_cache.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+name: build lima and fill cache
+run-name: build lima and fill cache on ${{ inputs.runs-on }} using go ${{ inputs.go-version }}
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      go-version:
+        type: string
+        description: 'The version of Go to use'
+        required: true
+      runs-on:
+        type: string
+        description: 'The type of runner to use'
+        required: true
+    outputs:
+      artifact:
+        description: 'The name of the artifact'
+        value: ${{ jobs.build.outputs.artifact }}
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    name: "Build on ${{ inputs.runs-on }} using go ${{ inputs.go-version }}"
+    runs-on: ${{ inputs.runs-on }}
+    timeout-minutes: 30
+    outputs:
+      artifact: ${{ steps.make-artifacts.outputs.artifact }}
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache
+      with:
+        go-version: ${{ inputs.go-version }}
+        runs-on: ${{ inputs.runs-on }}
+    - name: go test to filling cache
+      run: go test ./... --run=nope
+      shell: bash
+    - name: make artifacts to filling cache
+      id: make-artifacts
+      run: |
+        case "${RUNNER_OS}" in
+          Linux)
+            make artifact-linux-$(uname -m) VERSION_TRIMMED="${RUNS_ON}"
+            artifact=lima-${RUNS_ON}-Linux-$(uname -m).tar.gz
+            ;;
+          macOS)
+            make artifact-darwin-$(uname -m) VERSION_TRIMMED="${RUNS_ON}"
+            artifact=lima-${RUNS_ON}-Darwin-$(uname -m).tar.gz
+            ;;
+          Windows)
+            make artifact-windows-$(uname -m) VERSION_TRIMMED="${RUNS_ON}"
+            artifact=lima-${RUNS_ON}-Windows-$(uname -m).tar.gz
+            ;;
+          *)
+            echo "Unsupported OS: ${RUNNER_OS}"
+            exit 1 ;;
+        esac
+        echo "artifact=${artifact}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+      env:
+        RUNS_ON: ${{ inputs.runs-on }}
+    - name: upload archive
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+      with:
+        name: ${{ steps.make-artifacts.outputs.artifact }}
+        path: _artifacts/${{ steps.make-artifacts.outputs.artifact }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 2bc463a296f..5549b711132 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -28,9 +28,11 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       with:
         fetch-depth: 1
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache
       with:
+        additional-gocache-key: release
         go-version: 1.23.x
+        runs-on: macos-12
     - name: Make darwin artifacts
       run: make artifacts-darwin
     - name: "Upload artifacts"
@@ -55,9 +57,11 @@ jobs:
       with:
         name: artifacts-darwin
         path: _artifacts/
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache
       with:
+        additional-gocache-key: release
         go-version: 1.23.x
+        runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
     - name: Install gcc-x86-64-linux-gnu
       run: |
         sudo apt-get update
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index e861d09a79f..7d610ed74a0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
       with:
+        cache-dependency-path: ""  # disable using hash for cache key
         go-version: 1.23.x
     - name: Install protoc
       run: |
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ jobs:
 
   unit:
     name: "Unit tests"
+    needs: build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-ubuntu
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     timeout-minutes: 30
     strategy:
@@ -82,9 +84,10 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       with:
         fetch-depth: 1
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache
       with:
         go-version: ${{ matrix.go-version }}
+        runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     - name: Unit tests
       run: go test -v ./...
     - name: Make
@@ -130,9 +133,10 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       with:
         fetch-depth: 1
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache
       with:
         go-version: 1.23.x
+        runs-on: windows-2022-8-cores
     - name: Unit tests
       run: go test -v ./...
     - name: Make
@@ -151,9 +155,17 @@ jobs:
       if: always()
       run: type C:\Users\runneradmin\.lima\wsl2\ha.stderr.log
 
+  build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-macos-12:
+    name: "Build on macOS 12"
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/build_lima_and_fill_cache.yml
+    with:
+      go-version: 1.23.x
+      runs-on: macos-12
+
   integration:
     name: Integration tests
     # on macOS 12, the default vmType is QEMU
+    needs: build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-macos-12
     runs-on: macos-12
     timeout-minutes: 120
     steps:
@@ -161,9 +173,10 @@ jobs:
       with:
         # To avoid "failed to load YAML file \"templates/experimental/riscv64.yaml\": can't parse builtin Lima version \"3f3a6f6\": 3f3a6f6 is not in dotted-tri format"
         fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache
       with:
         go-version: 1.23.x
+        runs-on: macos-12
     - name: Unit tests
       run: go test -v ./...
     - name: Make
@@ -208,10 +221,18 @@ jobs:
       if: always()
       run: ./hack/debug-cache.sh
 
+  build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-ubuntu:
+    name: "Build on Ubuntu"
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/build_lima_and_fill_cache.yml
+    with:
+      go-version: 1.23.x
+      runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+
   # Non-default templates are tested on Linux instances of GHA,
   # as they seem more stable than macOS instances.
   integration-linux:
     name: Integration tests (on Linux)
+    needs: build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-ubuntu
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     timeout-minutes: 120
     strategy:
@@ -232,13 +253,9 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       with:
         fetch-depth: 1
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/install_lima_from_artifact
       with:
-        go-version: 1.23.x
-    - name: Make
-      run: make
-    - name: Install
-      run: sudo make install
+        artifact: ${{ needs.build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-ubuntu.outputs.artifact }}
     - name: Cache image used by templates/${{ matrix.template }}
       uses: ./.github/actions/setup_cache_for_template
       with:
@@ -272,6 +289,7 @@ jobs:
 
   colima:
     name: Colima
+    needs: build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-ubuntu
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     timeout-minutes: 120
     strategy:
@@ -283,24 +301,29 @@ jobs:
         # fetch-depth is set to 0 to let `limactl --version` print semver-ish version
         fetch-depth: 0
         ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
-      with:
-        go-version: 1.23.x
     - uses: actions/cache@v4
       with:
         path: ~/.cache/lima/download
         key: ${{ runner.os }}-colima-${{ matrix.colima-version }}
-    - name: Make
-      run: make
-    - name: Install
-      run: sudo make install
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/install_lima_from_artifact
+      with:
+        artifact: ${{ needs.build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-ubuntu.outputs.artifact }}
+    - name: Checkout colima
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        repository: abiosoft/colima
+        ref: ${{ matrix.colima-version }}
+        path: colima
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache
+      with:
+        go-version: 1.23.x
+        runs-on: macos-12
+        working-directory: ./colima
     - name: Install colima
       run: |
-        git clone https://github.com/abiosoft/colima
-        cd colima
-        git checkout ${{ matrix.colima-version }}
         make
         sudo make install
+      working-directory: ./colima
     - name: Install test dependencies
       run: |
         sudo apt-get update
@@ -322,22 +345,20 @@ jobs:
 
   vmnet:
     name: "VMNet test"
+    needs: build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-macos-12
     runs-on: macos-12
     timeout-minutes: 120
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       with:
         fetch-depth: 1
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/install_lima_from_artifact
       with:
-        go-version: 1.23.x
-    - name: Make
-      run: make
-    - name: Install
-      run: make install
+        artifact: ${{ needs.build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-macos-12.outputs.artifact }}
     - name: "Inject `no_timer_check` to kernel cmdline"
       # workaround to https://github.com/lima-vm/lima/issues/84
       run: ./hack/inject-cmdline-to-template.sh templates/vmnet.yaml no_timer_check
+
     - name: Cache image used by vmnet.yaml
       uses: ./.github/actions/setup_cache_for_template
       with:
@@ -357,6 +378,11 @@ jobs:
           sudo make PREFIX=/opt/socket_vmnet install
         )
         limactl sudoers | sudo tee /etc/sudoers.d/lima
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache
+      with:
+        additional-gocache-key: vmnet
+        go-version: 1.23.x
+        runs-on: macos-12
     - name: Unit test (pkg/networks) with socket_vmnet
       # Set -count=1 to disable cache
       run: go test -v -count=1 ./pkg/networks/...
@@ -372,6 +398,7 @@ jobs:
 
   upgrade:
     name: "Upgrade test"
+    needs: build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-macos-12
     runs-on: macos-12
     timeout-minutes: 120
     strategy:
@@ -389,9 +416,10 @@ jobs:
         path: homebrew-core
         fetch-depth: 0
         filter: tree:0
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_go_with_cache
       with:
         go-version: 1.23.x
+        runs-on: macos-12
     - name: Cache image used by ${{ matrix.oldver }}/examples/ubuntu-lts.yaml
       uses: ./.github/actions/setup_cache_for_template
       with:
@@ -412,8 +440,16 @@ jobs:
     - if: always()
       uses: ./.github/actions/upload_failure_logs_if_exists
 
+  build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-macos-13:
+    name: "Build on macOS 13"
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/build_lima_and_fill_cache.yml
+    with:
+      go-version: 1.23.x
+      runs-on: macos-13
+
   vz:
     name: "vz"
+    needs: build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-macos-13
     # on macOS 13, the default vmType is VZ
     runs-on: macos-13
     timeout-minutes: 120
@@ -427,13 +463,9 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       with:
         fetch-depth: 1
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+    - uses: ./.github/actions/install_lima_from_artifact
       with:
-        go-version: 1.23.x
-    - name: Make
-      run: make
-    - name: Install
-      run: make install
+        artifact: ${{ needs.build-lima-and-fill-cache-on-macos-13.outputs.artifact }}
     - name: Cache image used by templates/${{ matrix.template }}
       uses: ./.github/actions/setup_cache_for_template
       with: