diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 43eb3718..d14b4c9c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -56,10 +56,10 @@ PHP version 8.1 or higher is required, with the following extensions installed:
 - [mbstring](http://php.net/manual/en/mbstring.installation.php)
 
 > [!WARNING]
-> The end of life date for PHP 7.4 was November 28, 2022.
-> The end of life date for PHP 8.0 was November 26, 2023.
-> If you are still using PHP 7.4 or 8.0, you should upgrade immediately.
-> The end of life date for PHP 8.1 will be November 25, 2024.
+> - The end of life date for PHP 7.4 was November 28, 2022.
+> - The end of life date for PHP 8.0 was November 26, 2023.
+> - If you are still using PHP 7.4 or 8.0, you should upgrade immediately.
+> - The end of life date for PHP 8.1 will be December 31, 2025.
 
 Additionally, make sure that the following extensions are enabled in your PHP:
 
diff --git a/app/Config/DocTypes.php b/app/Config/DocTypes.php
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/app/Config/Exceptions.php b/app/Config/Exceptions.php
index c240675e..4e339634 100644
--- a/app/Config/Exceptions.php
+++ b/app/Config/Exceptions.php
@@ -60,12 +60,10 @@ class Exceptions extends BaseConfig
 
     /**
      * --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-     * LOG DEPRECATIONS INSTEAD OF THROWING?
+     * WHETHER TO THROW AN EXCEPTION ON DEPRECATED ERRORS
      * --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-     * By default, CodeIgniter converts deprecations into exceptions. Also,
-     * starting in PHP 8.1 will cause a lot of deprecated usage warnings.
-     * Use this option to temporarily cease the warnings and instead log those.
-     * This option also works for user deprecations.
+     * If set to `true`, DEPRECATED errors are only logged and no exceptions are
+     * thrown. This option also works for user deprecations.
      */
     public bool $logDeprecations = true;
 
diff --git a/phpunit.xml.dist b/phpunit.xml.dist
index dea94087..b408a99d 100644
--- a/phpunit.xml.dist
+++ b/phpunit.xml.dist
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <phpunit
     xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
     xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://schema.phpunit.de/10.5/phpunit.xsd"
-    bootstrap="system/Test/bootstrap.php"
+    bootstrap="vendor/codeigniter4/framework/system/Test/bootstrap.php"
     backupGlobals="false"
     beStrictAboutOutputDuringTests="true"
     colors="true"
diff --git a/preload.php b/preload.php
index 2fa69938..75d86f5c 100644
--- a/preload.php
+++ b/preload.php
@@ -29,19 +29,6 @@
 // Path to the front controller
 define('FCPATH', __DIR__ . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'public' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR);
 
-/**
- * See https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.str-contains.php#126277
- */
-if (! function_exists('str_contains')) {
-    /**
-     * Polyfill of str_contains()
-     */
-    function str_contains(string $haystack, string $needle): bool
-    {
-        return empty($needle) || strpos($haystack, $needle) !== false;
-    }
-}
-
 class preload
 {
     /**
@@ -51,6 +38,7 @@ class preload
         [
             'include' => __DIR__ . '/vendor/codeigniter4/framework/system', // Change this path if using manual installation
             'exclude' => [
+                '/system/bootstrap.php',
                 // Not needed if you don't use them.
                 '/system/Database/OCI8/',
                 '/system/Database/Postgre/',
@@ -77,16 +65,18 @@ public function __construct()
         $this->loadAutoloader();
     }
 
-    private function loadAutoloader()
+    private function loadAutoloader(): void
     {
         $paths = new Config\Paths();
-        require rtrim($paths->systemDirectory, '\\/ ') . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'bootstrap.php';
+        require rtrim($paths->systemDirectory, '\\/ ') . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'Boot.php';
+
+        CodeIgniter\Boot::preload($paths);
     }
 
     /**
      * Load PHP files.
      */
-    public function load()
+    public function load(): void
     {
         foreach ($this->paths as $path) {
             $directory = new RecursiveDirectoryIterator($path['include']);
diff --git a/spark b/spark
index a56fbc1b..992d044c 100755
--- a/spark
+++ b/spark
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
  */
 
 // Refuse to run when called from php-cgi
-if (strpos(PHP_SAPI, 'cgi') === 0) {
+if (str_starts_with(PHP_SAPI, 'cgi')) {
     exit("The cli tool is not supported when running php-cgi. It needs php-cli to function!\n\n");
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/.htaccess b/tests/.htaccess
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/tests/index.html b/tests/index.html
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/writable/.htaccess b/writable/.htaccess
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/writable/cache/index.html b/writable/cache/index.html
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/writable/index.html b/writable/index.html
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/writable/logs/index.html b/writable/logs/index.html
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/writable/session/index.html b/writable/session/index.html
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/writable/uploads/index.html b/writable/uploads/index.html
old mode 100755
new mode 100644