diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-linux-QT5.yml b/.github/workflows/build-linux-QT5.yml
index bb82f26d..78b23431 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-linux-QT5.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-linux-QT5.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
         os: [ubuntu-24.04]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - run: sudo apt update
       - run: sudo apt install -y apt-utils build-essential wget qt5-qmake qt5-qmake-bin qt5-assistant qtbase5-dev qtmultimedia5-dev libqt5charts5 libqt5charts5-dev libqt5multimedia* libqt5datavisualization5-dev libqt5datavisualization5 libopencv-core-dev libopencv-dev libqwt-qt5-6 libqwt-qt5-dev libarmadillo-dev
       - run: qmake DFTFringe_QT5.pro
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-linux-clazy.yml b/.github/workflows/build-linux-clazy.yml
index e4bed7ed..9bff213a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-linux-clazy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-linux-clazy.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
         os: [ubuntu-24.04]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - run: |
           sudo apt update
           sudo apt install -y clazy apt-utils build-essential wget qt6-base-dev-tools qt6-declarative-dev qt6-multimedia-dev libqt6charts6-dev libqt6datavisualization6-dev libqt6svg6-dev libopencv-core-dev libopencv-dev libqwt-qt5-6 libqwt-qt5-dev libarmadillo-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libglu1-mesa-dev
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml b/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml
index b483b24f..9a8f0bb0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
         os: [ubuntu-24.04, ubuntu-22.04]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - run: sudo apt update
       - run: sudo apt install -y apt-utils build-essential wget qt6-base-dev-tools qt6-declarative-dev qt6-multimedia-dev libqt6charts6-dev libqt6datavisualization6-dev libqt6svg6-dev libopencv-core-dev libopencv-dev libqwt-qt5-6 libqwt-qt5-dev libarmadillo-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libglu1-mesa-dev bear
       - run: wget -O qwt-${{env.QWT_version}}.zip https://sourceforge.net/projects/qwt/files/qwt/${{env.QWT_version}}/qwt-${{env.QWT_version}}.zip/download?use_mirror=pilotfiber
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-windows-QT5.yml b/.github/workflows/build-windows-QT5.yml
index a64327b8..c48b0769 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-windows-QT5.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-windows-QT5.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
       # this will restore/cache everything in /Tools depending on cache hit/miss
       - name: Cache minGW
         id: cache-minGW
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
         with:
           path: Tools
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-mingw${{env.mingw_version}}_64
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ jobs:
       # all what follows is only run on cache miss
       - name: install newer python
         if: steps.cache-minGW.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v7
         with:
           python-version: ${{env.python_version}}
       - name: install aqtinstall tool
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       # this will restore/cache everything depending on cache hit/miss
       - name: Cache QT and openCV
-        uses: actions/cache/@v4
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
         id: cache-openCV-QT
         with:
           path: |
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ jobs:
       # all what follows is only run on cache miss
 
       # restore cached minGW
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         if: steps.cache-openCV-QT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         id: cache-minGW
         with:
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ jobs:
           fail-on-cache-miss: true
       - name: install newer python
         if: steps.cache-openCV-QT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v7
         with:
           python-version: ${{env.python_version}}
       - name: add minGW to path
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: install QT
         if: steps.cache-openCV-QT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         run: aqt install-qt windows desktop ${{env.QT_version}} win64_mingw81 -m qtcharts qtdatavis3d
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
         if: steps.cache-openCV-QT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         with:
           repository: 'opencv/opencv'
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       # this will restore/cache everything depending on cache hit/miss
       - name: cache QWT
-        uses: actions/cache/@v4
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
         id: cache-QWT
         with:
           path: |
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ jobs:
       # all what follows is only run on cache miss
 
       # restore cached minGW
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         if: steps.cache-QWT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         id: cache-minGW
         with:
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ jobs:
         run: 7z x qwt-${{env.QWT_version}}.zip
       - name: install newer python
         if: steps.cache-QWT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v7
         with:
           python-version: ${{env.python_version}}
       - name: install aqtinstall tool
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ jobs:
       # this will restore/cache everything depending on cache hit/miss
       - name: Cache lapack build
         id: cache-lapack
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
         with:
           path: |
             build_lapack\bin\liblapack.dll
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ jobs:
       # all what follows is only run on cache miss
 
       # restore cached minGW
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         if: steps.cache-lapack.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         id: cache-minGW
         with:
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ jobs:
         if: steps.cache-lapack.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         shell: bash
         run: echo "${{github.workspace}}\Tools\mingw${{env.mingw_version}}_64\bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
         if: steps.cache-lapack.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         with:
           repository: 'Reference-LAPACK/lapack'
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ jobs:
       # Match will be done in build folder, and file at root will be used to link the match
       # Note checkouting twice is not working.
       # This copy is done before adding any more file into folders
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       #  with:
       #    path: 'DFTFringe'
 
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ jobs:
 
 
       # restore cached minGW
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         id: cache-minGW
         with:
           path: Tools
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: echo "${{github.workspace}}\Tools\mingw${{env.mingw_version}}_64\bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH
       # restore cached lapack and armadillo
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         id: cache-lapack
         with:
           path: |
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ jobs:
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-lapack-${{env.lapack_version}}-armadillo-${{env.armadillo_version}}
           fail-on-cache-miss: true
       # restore cached QWT
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         id: cache-QWT
         with:
           path: |
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ jobs:
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-QWT-${{env.QWT_version}}
           fail-on-cache-miss: true
       # restore cached openCV and QT
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         id: cache-openCV-QT
         with:
           path: |
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ jobs:
         run: Tools\QtInstallerFramework\4.7\bin\binarycreator.exe -c DFTFringe\DFTFringeInstaller\config\config.xml -p DFTFringe\DFTFringeInstaller\packages DFTFringeInstaller_QT5_${{env.WORKFLOW_VERSION}}
 
       - name: Upload Artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
         with:
           name: DFTFringe-windows-build-artifact-QT5
           path: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-windows.yml b/.github/workflows/build-windows.yml
index ae3cd0ef..b8e50bbd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-windows.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
       # this will restore/cache everything in /Tools depending on cache hit/miss
       - name: Cache minGW
         id: cache-minGW
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
         with:
           path: Tools
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-mingw${{env.mingw_version}}_64
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ jobs:
       # all what follows is only run on cache miss
       - name: install newer python
         if: steps.cache-minGW.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v7
         with:
           python-version: ${{env.python_version}}
       - name: install aqtinstall tool
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       # this will restore/cache everything depending on cache hit/miss
       - name: Cache QT and openCV
-        uses: actions/cache/@v4
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
         id: cache-openCV-QT
         with:
           path: |
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ jobs:
       # all what follows is only run on cache miss
 
       # restore cached minGW
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         if: steps.cache-openCV-QT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         id: cache-minGW
         with:
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ jobs:
           fail-on-cache-miss: true
       - name: install newer python
         if: steps.cache-openCV-QT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v7
         with:
           python-version: ${{env.python_version}}
       - name: add minGW to path
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: install QT
         if: steps.cache-openCV-QT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         run: aqt install-qt windows desktop ${{env.QT_version}} win64_mingw -m qtcharts qtdatavis3d
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
         if: steps.cache-openCV-QT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         with:
           repository: 'opencv/opencv'
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       # this will restore/cache everything depending on cache hit/miss
       - name: cache QWT
-        uses: actions/cache/@v4
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
         id: cache-QWT
         with:
           path: |
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ jobs:
       # all what follows is only run on cache miss
 
       # restore cached minGW
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         if: steps.cache-QWT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         id: cache-minGW
         with:
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ jobs:
         run: 7z x qwt-${{env.QWT_version}}.zip
       - name: install newer python
         if: steps.cache-QWT.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v7
         with:
           python-version: ${{env.python_version}}
       - name: install aqtinstall tool
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ jobs:
       # this will restore/cache everything depending on cache hit/miss
       - name: Cache lapack build
         id: cache-lapack
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
         with:
           path: |
             build_lapack\bin\liblapack.dll
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ jobs:
       # all what follows is only run on cache miss
 
       # restore cached minGW
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         if: steps.cache-lapack.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         id: cache-minGW
         with:
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ jobs:
         if: steps.cache-lapack.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         shell: bash
         run: echo "${{github.workspace}}\Tools\mingw${{env.mingw_version}}_64\bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
         if: steps.cache-lapack.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         with:
           repository: 'Reference-LAPACK/lapack'
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ jobs:
       # Match will be done in build folder, and file at root will be used to link the match
       # Note checkouting twice is not working.
       # This copy is done before adding any more file into folders
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       #  with:
       #    path: 'DFTFringe'
 
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ jobs:
 
 
       # restore cached minGW
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         id: cache-minGW
         with:
           path: Tools
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: echo "${{github.workspace}}\Tools\mingw${{env.mingw_version}}_64\bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH
       # restore cached lapack and armadillo
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         id: cache-lapack
         with:
           path: |
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ jobs:
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-lapack-${{env.lapack_version}}-armadillo-${{env.armadillo_version}}-mingw${{env.mingw_version}}
           fail-on-cache-miss: true
       # restore cached QWT
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         id: cache-QWT
         with:
           path: |
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ jobs:
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-QWT-${{env.QWT_version}}-mingw${{env.mingw_version}}
           fail-on-cache-miss: true
       # restore cached openCV and QT
-      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
         id: cache-openCV-QT
         with:
           path: |
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Upload Artifact
         id: upload_artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
         with:
           name: DFTFringe-windows-build-artifact
           path: |
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Comment PR with artifact link
         if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
-        uses: peter-evans/create-or-update-comment@v4
+        uses: peter-evans/create-or-update-comment@v5
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           issue-number: ${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/make-release.yml b/.github/workflows/make-release.yml
index 4e92b218..8830af96 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/make-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/make-release.yml
@@ -43,12 +43,12 @@ jobs:
     needs: call-build-windows
     steps:
       # get artifact uploaded from build workflow
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v8
         with:
           name: DFTFringe-windows-build-artifact
       # create the GitHub release and upload the artifacts
       - name: publish Release
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v3
         with:
           body: |
             - edit this changelog