diff --git a/.gitpod.yml b/.gitpod.yml
index e65e8386..82da5910 100644
--- a/.gitpod.yml
+++ b/.gitpod.yml
@@ -1,38 +1,22 @@
 image:
   file: .gitpod/Dockerfile
 
-# --------------------------------------------------------
-# using prebuilds for the container
-github:
-  prebuilds:
-    # enable for the default branch (defaults to true)
-    master: true
-    # enable for all branches in this repo (defaults to false)
-    branches: true
-    # enable for pull requests coming from this repo (defaults to true)
-    pullRequests: true
-    # enable for pull requests coming from forks (defaults to false)
-    pullRequestsFromForks: true
-    # add a check to pull requests (defaults to true)
-    addCheck: true
-    # add a "Review in Gitpod" button as a comment to pull requests (defaults to false)
-    addComment: true
-    # add a "Review in Gitpod" button to the pull request's description (defaults to false)
-    addBadge: false
-
 # --------------------------------------------------------
 # some useful extensions to have
 vscode:
   extensions:
+    - vivaxy.vscode-conventional-commits
+    - streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker
+    - ms-python.python
+    - ms-python.black-formatter
     - twxs.cmake
     - ms-vscode.cmake-tools
     - xaver.clang-format
-    - streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker
-    - vivaxy.vscode-conventional-commits
     - hbenl.vscode-test-explorer
     - matepek.vscode-catch2-test-adapter
-    - redhat.vscode-yaml
-    - ms-python.python
+    - bierner.markdown-mermaid
+    - DavidAnson.vscode-markdownlint
+    - darkriszty.markdown-table-prettify
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------
 # VSCode setup, Conan installation, and build of all the targets
@@ -77,43 +61,58 @@ tasks:
       EOF
       exit
   - name: install python packages
-    before: |
+    init: |
       python -m venv ${PYTHON_VENV}
       source ${PYTHON_VENV}/bin/activate
       pip install -Ur requirements.txt
+      gp sync-done python-init
+  - name: configure conan and install dependencies
+    init: |
+      gp sync-await python-init
       conan profile detect
       conan config install $PWD/.gitpod/conan
-      conan graph info .
-      gp sync-done python-init
-      exit
+      conan install . -pr gcc12 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -b missing
+      conan install . -pr gcc12 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -b missing -s build_type=Debug
+      gp sync-done conan-gcc12-20
+      conan install . -pr gcc13 -c user.build:all=True -b missing
+      conan install . -pr gcc13 -c user.build:all=True -b missing -s build_type=Debug
+      gp sync-done conan-gcc13-20
+      conan install . -pr clang16 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -b missing
+      conan install . -pr clang16 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -b missing -s build_type=Debug
+      gp sync-done conan-clang16-20
+      conan install . -pr clang17 -c user.build:all=True -o cxx_modules=True -b missing
+      conan install . -pr clang17 -c user.build:all=True -o cxx_modules=True -b missing -s build_type=Debug
+      gp sync-done conan-clang17-20
+      conan remote login -p $ARTIFACTORY_TOKEN conan-gitpod-mp-units $ARTIFACTORY_USER
+      conan upload "*" -r conan-gitpod-mp-units -c
   - name: gcc-12-20
     init: |
-      gp sync-await python-init
+      gp sync-await conan-gcc12-20
       source ${PYTHON_VENV}/bin/activate
-      conan build . -pr gcc12 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -b missing
-      conan build . -pr gcc12 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -b missing -s build_type=Debug
-      echo "🛠️ gcc-12 pre-build done for C++20 and libfmt! You can close this terminal and use 'Build' button in the VSCode status bar for incremental builds. 🛠️"
+      conan build . -pr gcc12 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True
+      conan build . -pr gcc12 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -s build_type=Debug
+      echo "🛠️ gcc-12 pre-build done for C++20, header files, and libfmt! You can close this terminal and use 'Build' button in the VSCode status bar for incremental builds. 🛠️"
   - name: gcc-13-20
     init: |
-      gp sync-await python-init
+      gp sync-await conan-gcc13-20
       source ${PYTHON_VENV}/bin/activate
-      conan build . -pr gcc13 -c user.build:all=True -b missing
-      conan build . -pr gcc13 -c user.build:all=True -b missing -s build_type=Debug
-      echo "🛠️ gcc-13 pre-build done for C++20 and 'std::format'! You can close this terminal and use 'Build' button in the VSCode status bar for incremental builds. 🛠️"
+      conan build . -pr gcc13 -c user.build:all=True
+      conan build . -pr gcc13 -c user.build:all=True -s build_type=Debug
+      echo "🛠️ gcc-13 pre-build done for C++20 and header files! You can close this terminal and use 'Build' button in the VSCode status bar for incremental builds. 🛠️"
   - name: clang-16-20
     init: |
-      gp sync-await python-init
+      gp sync-await conan-clang16-20
       source ${PYTHON_VENV}/bin/activate
-      conan build . -pr clang16 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -b missing
-      conan build . -pr clang16 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -b missing -s build_type=Debug
-      echo "🛠️ clang-16 pre-build done for C++20 and libfmt! You can close this terminal and use 'Build' button in the VSCode status bar for incremental builds. 🛠️"
+      conan build . -pr clang16 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True
+      conan build . -pr clang16 -c user.build:all=True -o use_fmtlib=True -s build_type=Debug
+      echo "🛠️ clang-16 pre-build done for C++20, header files, and libfmt! You can close this terminal and use 'Build' button in the VSCode status bar for incremental builds. 🛠️"
   - name: clang-17-20
     init: |
-      gp sync-await python-init
+      gp sync-await conan-clang17-20
       source ${PYTHON_VENV}/bin/activate
-      conan build . -pr clang17 -c user.build:all=True -o cxx_modules=True -b missing
-      conan build . -pr clang17 -c user.build:all=True -o cxx_modules=True -b missing -s build_type=Debug
-      echo "🛠️ clang-17 pre-build done for C++20, 'std::format', and C++20 modules! You can close this terminal and use 'Build' button in the VSCode status bar for incremental builds. 🛠️"
+      conan build . -pr clang17 -c user.build:all=True -o cxx_modules=True
+      conan build . -pr clang17 -c user.build:all=True -o cxx_modules=True -s build_type=Debug
+      echo "🛠️ clang-17 pre-build done for C++20! You can close this terminal and use 'Build' button in the VSCode status bar for incremental builds. 🛠️"
   - name: documentation
     init: |
       gp sync-await python-init
@@ -121,6 +120,6 @@ tasks:
       mkdocs serve &
       echo "📚 Documentation generation done! You can open it by clicking on 'Open Preview' or 'Open Browser' in the VSCode dialog window. 📚"
   - name: open-contributing-guide
-    command: |
+    init: |
       gp open CONTRIBUTING.md
       exit