diff --git a/basicdataset/build.gradle.kts b/basicdataset/build.gradle.kts
index 759e1c33923..a5f91c7d374 100644
--- a/basicdataset/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/basicdataset/build.gradle.kts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ dependencies {
 }
 
 tasks.register<Exec>("syncS3") {
+    workingDir = project.projectDir
     commandLine(
         "sh",
         "-c",
diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/ai/djl/cppFormatter.gradle.kts b/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/ai/djl/cppFormatter.gradle.kts
index a96e90cd99f..48276f076a6 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/ai/djl/cppFormatter.gradle.kts
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/ai/djl/cppFormatter.gradle.kts
@@ -33,15 +33,17 @@ project.extensions.create<FormatterConfig>("formatCpp")
 
 project.tasks {
     register("formatCpp") {
+        val rootProject = project.rootProject
+        val clang = rootProject.projectDir / ".clang/clang-format"
+        val formatCpp = project.extensions.getByName<FormatterConfig>("formatCpp")
+        val files = project.fileTree("src")
+        val logger = project.logger
+
         doLast {
             if ("mac" !in os)
                 return@doLast
-            val rootProject = project.rootProject
-            val clang = rootProject.projectDir / ".clang/clang-format"
             checkClang(clang)
-            val files = project.fileTree("src")
             files.include("**/*.cc", "**/*.cpp", "**/*.h")
-            val formatCpp = project.extensions.getByName<FormatterConfig>("formatCpp")
             if (formatCpp.exclusions.isPresent)
                 for (exclusion in formatCpp.exclusions.get())
                     files.exclude(exclusion)
@@ -49,28 +51,30 @@ project.tasks {
             for (f in files) {
                 if (!f.isFile())
                     continue
-                project.logger.info("formatting cpp file: $f")
+                logger.info("formatting cpp file: $f")
                 f.text = formatCpp(f, clang)
             }
         }
     }
 
     register("verifyCpp") {
+        val rootProject = project.rootProject
+        val clang = rootProject.projectDir / ".clang/clang-format"
+        val files = project.fileTree("src")
+        val logger = project.logger
+
         doLast {
             if ("mac" !in os)
                 return@doLast
-            val rootProject = project.rootProject
-            val clang = rootProject.projectDir / ".clang/clang-format"
             checkClang(clang)
-            val files = project.fileTree("src")
             files.include("**/*.cc", "**/*.cpp", "**/*.h")
             for (f in files) {
                 if (!f.isFile())
                     continue
-                project.logger.info("checking cpp file: $f")
+                logger.info("checking cpp file: $f")
                 if (f.text != formatCpp(f, clang))
                     throw GradleException("File not formatted: " + f.absolutePath)
             }
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/ai/djl/javaFormatter.gradle.kts b/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/ai/djl/javaFormatter.gradle.kts
index 50eec3ad4c4..17584a9f89c 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/ai/djl/javaFormatter.gradle.kts
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/ai/djl/javaFormatter.gradle.kts
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@ import java.io.PrintWriter
 
 tasks {
     register("formatJava") {
+        val sourceSets = project.sourceSets
         doLast {
             val formatter = Main(PrintWriter(System.out, true), PrintWriter(System.err, true), System.`in`)
-            for (item in project.sourceSets)
+            for (item in sourceSets)
                 for (file in item.allSource) {
                     if (!file.name.endsWith(".java") || "generated-src" in file.absolutePath)
                         continue
@@ -24,9 +25,11 @@ tasks {
         inputs.files(project.sourceSets.flatMap { it.allSource })
         inputs.files(project.fileTree("generated-src"))
         outputs.file(project.file(resultFilePath))
+
+        val proj = project
         doLast {
             val formatter = Main(PrintWriter(System.out, true), PrintWriter(System.err, true), System.`in`)
-            for (item in project.sourceSets)
+            for (item in proj.sourceSets)
                 for (file in item.allSource) {
                     if (!file.name.endsWith(".java") || "generated-src" in file.absolutePath)
                         continue
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ tasks {
                                     + "See https://github.com/deepjavalibrary/djl/blob/master/docs/development/development_guideline.md#coding-conventions for more details"
                         )
                 }
-            project.file(resultFilePath).writeText("Success")
+            proj.file(resultFilePath).writeText("Success")
         }
     }
 
@@ -47,4 +50,4 @@ tasks {
 }
 
 val Project.sourceSets: SourceSetContainer
-    get() = extensions.getByName<SourceSetContainer>("sourceSets")
\ No newline at end of file
+    get() = extensions.getByName<SourceSetContainer>("sourceSets")
diff --git a/engines/ml/xgboost/build.gradle.kts b/engines/ml/xgboost/build.gradle.kts
index 5dfa5cb0de5..33bec12a3a6 100644
--- a/engines/ml/xgboost/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/ml/xgboost/build.gradle.kts
@@ -46,12 +46,14 @@ tasks {
         val jnilibDir = buildDirectory / "resources/main/lib/linux/aarch64/"
         inputs.properties(mapOf("xgboostVersion" to libs.versions.xgboost.get()))
         outputs.dir(jnilibDir)
+
+        val logger = project.logger
         doLast {
             val url =
                 "https://publish.djl.ai/xgboost/${libs.versions.xgboost.get()}/jnilib/linux/aarch64/libxgboost4j.so"
             val file = jnilibDir / "libxgboost4j.so"
             if (!file.exists()) {
-                project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url")
+                logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url")
                 url.url into file
             }
         }
@@ -116,4 +118,4 @@ tasks {
             }
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/engines/mxnet/mxnet-engine/build.gradle.kts b/engines/mxnet/mxnet-engine/build.gradle.kts
index 0b825755262..257d7b6e54c 100644
--- a/engines/mxnet/mxnet-engine/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/mxnet/mxnet-engine/build.gradle.kts
@@ -42,9 +42,12 @@ tasks {
             .withPropertyName("jna/mapping.properties file")
         outputs.dir(buildDirectory / "generated-src")
         outputs.cacheIf { true }
+
+        val dir = project.projectDir
         doLast {
             val jnaGenerator = jnaratorJar.get().outputs.files.singleFile
-            javaexec {
+            providers.javaexec {
+                workingDir = dir
                 mainClass = "-jar"
                 args(
                     jnaGenerator.absolutePath,
@@ -55,12 +58,12 @@ tasks {
                     "-o",
                     "$buildDirectory/generated-src",
                     "-m",
-                    "${project.projectDir}/src/main/jna/mapping.properties",
+                    "${dir}/src/main/jna/mapping.properties",
                     "-f",
                     "src/main/include/mxnet/c_api.h",
                     "src/main/include/nnvm/c_api.h"
                 )
-            }
+            }.result.get()
         }
     }
 
@@ -121,4 +124,4 @@ tasks {
             }
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/engines/mxnet/mxnet-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts b/engines/mxnet/mxnet-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
index 475c3650ff8..c7f4bb1dffd 100644
--- a/engines/mxnet/mxnet-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/mxnet/mxnet-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ dependencies {
 }
 
 tasks.register<Exec>("syncS3") {
+    workingDir = project.projectDir
     commandLine(
         "sh",
         "-c",
diff --git a/engines/mxnet/native/build.gradle.kts b/engines/mxnet/native/build.gradle.kts
index c168b396f56..1cb34bb3515 100644
--- a/engines/mxnet/native/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/mxnet/native/build.gradle.kts
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ tasks {
         // this line is to enforce gradle to build the jar otherwise it doesn't generate the placeholder jar at times
         // when there is no java code inside src/main
         outputs.dir("build/libs")
+
+        var versionName = project.version.toString()
         doFirst {
-            var versionName = project.version.toString()
             if (!isRelease)
                 versionName += "-$nowFormatted"
             val dir = placeholder / "native/lib"
diff --git a/engines/onnxruntime/onnxruntime-engine/build.gradle.kts b/engines/onnxruntime/onnxruntime-engine/build.gradle.kts
index 6346080d179..a5857de78f0 100644
--- a/engines/onnxruntime/onnxruntime-engine/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/onnxruntime/onnxruntime-engine/build.gradle.kts
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ dependencies {
 }
 
 tasks {
+    val basePath = "${project.projectDir}/build/resources/main/nlp"
+    val logger = project.logger
     processResources {
-        val basePath = "${project.projectDir}/build/resources/main/nlp"
         outputs.dir(basePath)
         doLast {
             val url = "https://mlrepo.djl.ai/model/nlp"
@@ -33,9 +34,9 @@ tasks {
             for (task in tasks) {
                 val file = File("$basePath/$task/ai.djl.huggingface.onnxruntime.json")
                 if (file.exists())
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("model zoo metadata already exists: $task")
+                    logger.lifecycle("model zoo metadata already exists: $task")
                 else {
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading model zoo metadata: $task")
+                    logger.lifecycle("Downloading model zoo metadata: $task")
                     file.parentFile.mkdirs()
                     "$url/$task/ai/djl/huggingface/onnxruntime/models.json.gz".url gzipInto file
                 }
@@ -55,4 +56,4 @@ publishing {
             }
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/engines/pytorch/pytorch-jni/build.gradle.kts b/engines/pytorch/pytorch-jni/build.gradle.kts
index b6b6342885d..c2c0c0c8472 100644
--- a/engines/pytorch/pytorch-jni/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/pytorch/pytorch-jni/build.gradle.kts
@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@ tasks {
 
     processResources {
         outputs.dir(buildDirectory / "classes/java/main/jnilib")
+
+        val logger = project.logger
+        val dir = project.projectDir
+        val nativeDir = project.parent!!.projectDir / "pytorch-native/jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/"
+        val version = project.version
+        val hasJni = project.hasProperty("jni")
+
         doFirst {
             val url = "https://publish.djl.ai/pytorch/$ptVersion/jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}"
             val files = listOf(
@@ -49,22 +56,21 @@ tasks {
 
                 else -> throw GradleException("Unsupported version: $ptVersion.")
             }
-            val jnilibDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib" / libs.versions.djl.get()
+            val jnilibDir = dir / "jnilib" / libs.versions.djl.get()
             for (entry in files) {
                 val file = jnilibDir / entry
                 if (file.exists())
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $entry")
+                    logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $entry")
                 else {
-                    val nativeDir = project.parent!!.projectDir / "pytorch-native/jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/"
                     val jnilibFile = nativeDir / entry
                     if (jnilibFile.exists()) {
-                        project.logger.lifecycle("Copying $jnilibFile")
+                        logger.lifecycle("Copying $jnilibFile")
                         copy {
                             from(jnilibFile)
                             into(file.parent)
                         }
-                    } else if (!project.hasProperty("jni")) {
-                        project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$entry")
+                    } else if (!hasJni) {
+                        logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$entry")
                         file.parentFile.mkdirs()
                         "$url/$entry".url into file
                     }
@@ -77,7 +83,7 @@ tasks {
 
             // write properties
             val propFile = buildDirectory / "classes/java/main/jnilib/pytorch.properties"
-            propFile.text = "jni_version=" + project.version
+            propFile.text = "jni_version=$version"
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/engines/pytorch/pytorch-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts b/engines/pytorch/pytorch-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
index 3aa50c0cc1b..827eade3e89 100644
--- a/engines/pytorch/pytorch-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/pytorch/pytorch-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ dependencies {
 }
 
 tasks.register<Exec>("syncS3") {
+    workingDir = project.projectDir
     commandLine(
         "sh",
         "-c",
diff --git a/engines/pytorch/pytorch-native/build.gradle.kts b/engines/pytorch/pytorch-native/build.gradle.kts
index 4adf96b2523..917feed71be 100644
--- a/engines/pytorch/pytorch-native/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/pytorch/pytorch-native/build.gradle.kts
@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@ val isAarch64 = project.hasProperty("aarch64") || arch == "aarch64"
 
 version = ptVersion + if (isRelease) "" else "-SNAPSHOT"
 
+
 fun downloadBuild(ver: String, os: String, flavor: String, isPrecxx11: Boolean = false, isAarch64: Boolean = false) {
     val arch = if (isAarch64) "aarch64" else "x86_64"
-    exec {
+    providers.exec {
+        workingDir = project.projectDir
         if (os == "win")
             commandLine(project.projectDir / "build.cmd", ver, flavor)
         else
@@ -50,7 +52,8 @@ fun downloadBuild(ver: String, os: String, flavor: String, isPrecxx11: Boolean =
 
 fun downloadBuildAndroid(ver: String) {
     for (abi in listOf("armeabi-v7a", "arm64-v8a", "x86", "x86_64")) {
-        exec {
+        providers.exec {
+            workingDir = project.projectDir
             commandLine("bash", "build_android.sh", ver, abi)
         }
         val ciDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/android/$abi"
@@ -93,7 +96,8 @@ fun prepareNativeLib(binaryRoot: String, ver: String, packageType: String?) {
         copyNativeLibToOutputDir(files, binaryRoot, officialPytorchUrl)
         copyNativeLibToOutputDir(aarch64Files, binaryRoot, aarch64PytorchUrl)
 
-        exec {
+        providers.exec {
+            workingDir = project.projectDir
             commandLine(
                 "install_name_tool",
                 "-add_rpath",
@@ -101,7 +105,8 @@ fun prepareNativeLib(binaryRoot: String, ver: String, packageType: String?) {
                 "$binaryRoot/cpu/osx-aarch64/native/lib/libtorch_cpu.dylib"
             )
         }
-        exec {
+        providers.exec {
+            workingDir = project.projectDir
             commandLine(
                 "install_name_tool",
                 "-add_rpath",
@@ -188,6 +193,8 @@ fun copyNativeLibToOutputDir(fileStoreMap: Map<String, String>, binaryRoot: Stri
     }
 }
 
+open class Cmd @Inject constructor(@Internal val execOperations: ExecOperations) : DefaultTask()
+
 tasks {
     register("compileAndroidJNI") {
         doFirst {
@@ -228,13 +235,15 @@ tasks {
         }
     }
 
-    register("uploadS3") {
+    register<Cmd>("uploadS3") {
+        val dir = project.projectDir
         doLast {
             delete("$binaryRoot")
             prepareNativeLib("$binaryRoot", ptVersion, "cpu")
             prepareNativeLib("$binaryRoot", ptVersion, "gpu")
 
-            exec {
+            execOperations.exec {
+                workingDir = dir
                 commandLine("sh", "-c", "find $binaryRoot -type f | xargs gzip")
             }
 
@@ -255,13 +264,15 @@ tasks {
                         appendLine(out + "/" + URLEncoder.encode(it, "UTF-8"))
                     }
             }
-            exec {
+            execOperations.exec {
+                workingDir = dir
                 commandLine("aws", "s3", "sync", "$binaryRoot", "s3://djl-ai/publish/pytorch/$ptVersion/")
             }
         }
     }
 
     // Create a placeholder jar without classifier to pass sonatype tests but throws an Exception if loaded
+    val version = project.version
     jar {
         val placeholder = buildDirectory / "placeholder"
         // this line is to enforce gradle to build the jar
@@ -272,7 +283,7 @@ tasks {
             val dir = placeholder / "native/lib"
             dir.mkdirs()
             val propFile = placeholder / "native/lib/pytorch.properties"
-            propFile.text = "placeholder=true\nversion=${project.version}\n"
+            propFile.text = "placeholder=true\nversion=${version}\n"
         }
 
         from(placeholder)
@@ -442,9 +453,10 @@ tasks {
     }
 
     clean {
+        val dir = project.projectDir
         doFirst {
-            delete(project.projectDir / "jnilib")
-            delete(project.projectDir.parentFile / "pytorch-jni/jnilib")
+            delete(dir / "jnilib")
+            delete(dir.parentFile / "pytorch-jni/jnilib")
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/engines/tensorflow/tensorflow-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts b/engines/tensorflow/tensorflow-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
index eecebdbb39e..284ef20afa0 100644
--- a/engines/tensorflow/tensorflow-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/tensorflow/tensorflow-model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ dependencies {
 }
 
 tasks.register<Exec>("syncS3") {
+    workingDir = project.projectDir
     commandLine("sh", "-c", "find . -name .DS_Store | xargs rm && aws s3 sync src/test/resources/mlrepo s3://djl-ai/mlrepo --acl public-read")
 
     standardOutput = ByteArrayOutputStream()
diff --git a/engines/tensorflow/tensorflow-native/build.gradle.kts b/engines/tensorflow/tensorflow-native/build.gradle.kts
index ee2074e352b..3cc774fa207 100644
--- a/engines/tensorflow/tensorflow-native/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/tensorflow/tensorflow-native/build.gradle.kts
@@ -31,8 +31,11 @@ infix fun URL.unzipInto(dir: File) {
     }
 }
 
+open class Cmd @Inject constructor(@Internal val execOperations: ExecOperations) : DefaultTask()
+
 tasks {
-    register("uploadTensorflowNativeLibs") {
+    register<Cmd>("uploadTensorflowNativeLibs") {
+        val baseDir = project.projectDir
         doLast {
             val dir = buildDirectory / "download"
             delete(dir)
@@ -54,7 +57,8 @@ tasks {
                 }
             }
 
-            exec {
+            execOperations.exec {
+                workingDir = baseDir
                 commandLine(
                     "aws",
                     "s3",
@@ -71,11 +75,11 @@ tasks {
         // otherwise it don't generate the placeholder jar at times
         // when there is no java code inside src/main
         outputs.dir("build/libs")
+        var versionName = project.version.toString()
         doFirst {
             val dir = buildDirectory / "classes/java/main/native/lib"
             dir.mkdirs()
             val propFile = dir / "tensorflow.properties"
-            var versionName = project.version.toString()
             if (!isRelease)
                 versionName += "-$nowFormatted"
             propFile.text = "placeholder=true\nversion=${versionName}\n"
diff --git a/engines/tensorrt/build.gradle.kts b/engines/tensorrt/build.gradle.kts
index b10a246e957..99592583ae8 100644
--- a/engines/tensorrt/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/engines/tensorrt/build.gradle.kts
@@ -17,26 +17,34 @@ dependencies {
     testRuntimeOnly(project(":engines:pytorch:pytorch-engine"))
 }
 
+open class Cmd @Inject constructor(@Internal val execOperations: ExecOperations) : DefaultTask()
+
 tasks {
     compileJava { dependsOn(processResources) }
 
     processResources {
-        inputs.properties(mapOf("djlVersion" to libs.versions.djl, "trtVersion" to libs.versions.tensorrt.get(),
-            "version" to version))
+        inputs.properties(
+            mapOf(
+                "djlVersion" to libs.versions.djl, "trtVersion" to libs.versions.tensorrt.get(),
+                "version" to version
+            )
+        )
         val baseResourcePath = "${project.projectDir}/build/resources/main"
         outputs.dir(file("${baseResourcePath}/native/lib"))
+        val trtVersion = libs.versions.tensorrt.get()
+        val djlVersion = libs.versions.djl.get()
+        val url = "https://publish.djl.ai/tensorrt/${trtVersion}/jnilib/${djlVersion}"
+        val files = listOf("linux-x86_64/libdjl_trt.so")
+        val jnilibDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${djlVersion}"
+
+        val logger = project.logger
         doLast {
-            val trtVersion = libs.versions.tensorrt.get()
-            val djlVersion = libs.versions.djl.get()
-            val url = "https://publish.djl.ai/tensorrt/${trtVersion}/jnilib/${djlVersion}"
-            val files = listOf("linux-x86_64/libdjl_trt.so")
-            val jnilibDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${djlVersion}"
             for (entry in files) {
                 val file = jnilibDir / entry
                 if (file.exists()) {
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $entry")
+                    logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $entry")
                 } else if (!project.hasProperty("jni")) {
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$entry")
+                    logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$entry")
                     file.parentFile.mkdirs()
                     "$url/$entry".url into file
                 }
@@ -53,10 +61,12 @@ tasks {
         }
     }
 
-    register("compileJNI") {
+    register<Cmd>("compileJNI") {
+        val dir = project.projectDir
         doFirst {
             if ("linux" in os) {
-                exec {
+                execOperations.exec {
+                    workingDir = dir
                     commandLine("bash", "build.sh")
                 }
             } else {
@@ -65,7 +75,7 @@ tasks {
 
             // for nightly ci
             val classifier = "${os}-x86_64"
-            val ciDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/${classifier}"
+            val ciDir = dir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/${classifier}"
             copy {
                 from(fileTree(buildDirectory) {
                     include("libdjl_trt.*")
diff --git a/extensions/fasttext/build.gradle.kts b/extensions/fasttext/build.gradle.kts
index 1c8f463e5bb..ae35e3db8e8 100644
--- a/extensions/fasttext/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/extensions/fasttext/build.gradle.kts
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ dependencies {
     testImplementation(libs.slf4j.simple)
 }
 
+open class Cmd @Inject constructor(@Internal val execOperations: ExecOperations) : DefaultTask()
+
 tasks {
     compileJava { dependsOn(processResources) }
 
@@ -23,6 +25,9 @@ tasks {
             "version" to version))
         val baseResourcePath = "${project.projectDir}/build/resources/main"
         outputs.dir("$baseResourcePath/native/lib")
+        val jnilibDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}"
+        val logger = project.logger
+        val hasJni = project.hasProperty("jni")
         doLast {
             val url =
                 "https://publish.djl.ai/fasttext-${libs.versions.fasttext.get()}/jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}"
@@ -30,13 +35,12 @@ tasks {
                 "linux-x86_64" to "libjni_fasttext.so",
                 "osx-aarch64" to "libjni_fasttext.dylib"
             )
-            val jnilibDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}"
             for ((key, value) in files) {
                 val file = jnilibDir / key / value
                 if (file.exists())
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $value")
-                else if (!project.hasProperty("jni")) {
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$key")
+                    logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $value")
+                else if (!hasJni) {
+                    logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$key")
                     file.parentFile.mkdirs()
                     val downloadPath = "$url/$key/$value".url
                     downloadPath into file
@@ -53,15 +57,17 @@ tasks {
         }
     }
 
-    register("compileJNI") {
+    register<Cmd>("compileJNI") {
+        val dir = project.projectDir
         doFirst {
             check("mac" in os || "linux" in os) { "Unknown Architecture $osName" }
-            exec {
+            execOperations.exec {
+                workingDir = dir
                 commandLine("bash", "build.sh")
             }
 
             // for ci to upload to S3
-            val ciDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}"
+            val ciDir = dir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}"
             copy {
                 from(buildDirectory / "jnilib")
                 into(ciDir)
@@ -88,4 +94,4 @@ publishing {
             }
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/extensions/sentencepiece/build.gradle.kts b/extensions/sentencepiece/build.gradle.kts
index ca484d357ee..bceedffe2df 100644
--- a/extensions/sentencepiece/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/extensions/sentencepiece/build.gradle.kts
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ dependencies {
     testImplementation(libs.slf4j.simple)
 }
 
+open class Cmd @Inject constructor(@Internal val execOperations: ExecOperations) : DefaultTask()
+
 tasks {
     compileJava { dependsOn(processResources) }
 
@@ -20,6 +22,8 @@ tasks {
         val baseResourcePath = "${project.projectDir}/build/resources/main"
         inputs.properties(mapOf("djlVersion" to libs.versions.djl.get(), "sentencepieceVersion" to libs.versions.sentencepiece.get()))
         outputs.dir("$baseResourcePath/native/lib")
+        val jnilibDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}"
+        val logger = project.logger
         doLast {
             val url =
                 "https://publish.djl.ai/sentencepiece-${libs.versions.sentencepiece.get()}/jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}"
@@ -29,13 +33,12 @@ tasks {
                 "linux-aarch64" to "libsentencepiece_native.so",
                 "osx-aarch64" to "libsentencepiece_native.dylib"
             )
-            val jnilibDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}"
             for ((key, value) in files) {
                 val file = jnilibDir / key / value
                 if (file.exists())
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $value")
+                    logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $value")
                 else if (!project.hasProperty("jni")) {
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$key")
+                    logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$key")
                     file.parentFile.mkdirs()
                     val downloadPath = "$url/$key/$value".url
                     downloadPath into file
@@ -52,22 +55,25 @@ tasks {
         }
     }
 
-    register("compileJNI") {
+    register<Cmd>("compileJNI") {
+        val dir = project.projectDir
         doFirst {
             if ("win" in os)
-                exec {
-                    commandLine("${project.projectDir}/build.cmd", "v${libs.versions.sentencepiece.get()}")
+                execOperations.exec {
+                    workingDir = dir
+                    commandLine("${dir}/build.cmd", "v${libs.versions.sentencepiece.get()}")
                 }
             else if ("mac" in os || "linux" in os) {
                 val arch = if (arch == "amd64") "x86_64" else arch
-                exec {
+                execOperations.exec {
+                    workingDir = dir
                     commandLine("bash", "build.sh", "v${libs.versions.sentencepiece.get()}", arch)
                 }
             } else
                 throw IllegalStateException("Unknown Architecture $osName")
 
             // for ci to upload to S3
-            val ciDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/"
+            val ciDir = dir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/"
             copy {
                 from(buildDirectory / "jnilib")
                 into(ciDir)
@@ -93,4 +99,4 @@ publishing {
             }
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/extensions/spark/build.gradle.kts b/extensions/spark/build.gradle.kts
index 5f6f57a881d..80bc337012b 100644
--- a/extensions/spark/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/extensions/spark/build.gradle.kts
@@ -27,12 +27,9 @@ tasks {
         scalaCompileOptions.setAdditionalParameters(listOf("-target:jvm-1.8"))
     }
 
-    register("formatPython") {
-        doFirst {
-            exec {
-                commandLine("bash", "-c", "find . -name '*.py' -print0 | xargs -0 yapf --in-place")
-            }
-        }
+    register<Exec>("formatPython") {
+        workingDir = project.projectDir
+        commandLine("bash", "-c", "find . -name '*.py' -print0 | xargs -0 yapf --in-place")
     }
 }
 
@@ -49,4 +46,4 @@ extensions.getByName<PublishingExtension>("publishing").apply {
             }
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/extensions/tokenizers/build.gradle.kts b/extensions/tokenizers/build.gradle.kts
index dbf32273e71..155954fb863 100644
--- a/extensions/tokenizers/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/extensions/tokenizers/build.gradle.kts
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ dependencies {
     testImplementation(libs.slf4j.simple)
 }
 
+open class Cmd @Inject constructor(@Internal val execOperations: ExecOperations) : DefaultTask()
+
 tasks {
     compileJava { dependsOn(processResources) }
 
@@ -35,6 +37,9 @@ tasks {
         val baseResourcePath = "${project.projectDir}/build/resources/main"
         outputs.dirs(File("${baseResourcePath}/native/lib"), File("${baseResourcePath}/nlp"))
 
+        val logger = project.logger
+        val dir = project.projectDir
+        val hasJni = project.hasProperty("jni")
         doLast {
             var url = "https://publish.djl.ai/tokenizers"
             val (tokenizers, djl) = libs.versions.tokenizers.get() to libs.versions.djl.get()
@@ -47,18 +52,18 @@ tasks {
                 "linux-aarch64/cpu/libtokenizers.so" to "$tokenizers/jnilib/$djl",
                 "osx-aarch64/cpu/libtokenizers.dylib" to "$tokenizers/jnilib/$djl"
             )
-            val jnilibDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/$djl"
+            val jnilibDir = dir / "jnilib/$djl"
             for ((key, value) in files) {
                 val file = jnilibDir / URLDecoder.decode(key, "UTF-8")
                 if (file.exists())
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $key")
+                    logger.lifecycle("prebuilt or cached file found for $key")
                 else if (value.startsWith("extra")) {
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$value")
+                    logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$value")
                     file.parentFile.mkdirs()
                     val downloadPath = "$url/$value".url
                     downloadPath into file
-                } else if (!project.hasProperty("jni")) {
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$value/$key")
+                } else if (!hasJni) {
+                    logger.lifecycle("Downloading $url/$value/$key")
                     file.parentFile.mkdirs()
                     val downloadPath = "$url/$value/$key".url
                     downloadPath into file
@@ -81,9 +86,9 @@ tasks {
             for (task in tasks) {
                 var file = prefix / task / "ai.djl.huggingface.pytorch.json"
                 if (file.exists())
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("PyTorch model zoo metadata already exists: $task")
+                    logger.lifecycle("PyTorch model zoo metadata already exists: $task")
                 else {
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading PyTorch model zoo metadata: $task")
+                    logger.lifecycle("Downloading PyTorch model zoo metadata: $task")
                     file.parentFile.mkdirs()
                     val downloadPath = "$url/$task/ai/djl/huggingface/pytorch/models.json.gz".url
                     downloadPath gzipInto file
@@ -94,9 +99,9 @@ tasks {
 
                 file = prefix / task / "ai.djl.huggingface.rust.json"
                 if (file.exists())
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("Rust model zoo metadata alrady exists: $task")
+                    logger.lifecycle("Rust model zoo metadata alrady exists: $task")
                 else {
-                    project.logger.lifecycle("Downloading Rust model zoo metadata: $task")
+                    logger.lifecycle("Downloading Rust model zoo metadata: $task")
                     file.parentFile.mkdirs()
                     val downloadPath = "$url/$task/ai/djl/huggingface/rust/models.json.gz".url
                     downloadPath gzipInto file
@@ -109,20 +114,23 @@ tasks {
         }
     }
 
-    register("compileJNI") {
+    register<Cmd>("compileJNI") {
+        val dir = project.projectDir
         doFirst {
             if ("mac" in os || "linux" in os) {
                 val arch = if (arch == "amd64") "x86_64" else arch
-                exec {
+                execOperations.exec {
+                    workingDir = dir
                     commandLine("bash", "build.sh", arch, flavor)
                 }
             } else
-                exec {
-                    commandLine("${project.projectDir}/build.cmd")
+                execOperations.exec {
+                    workingDir = dir
+                    commandLine("${dir}/build.cmd")
                 }
 
             // for ci to upload to S3
-            val ciDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/"
+            val ciDir = dir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/"
             copy {
                 from(buildDirectory / "jnilib")
                 into(ciDir)
@@ -131,15 +139,17 @@ tasks {
         }
     }
 
-    register("compileAndroidJNI"){
+    register<Cmd>("compileAndroidJNI") {
+        val dir = project.projectDir
         doFirst {
             for (abi in listOf("armeabi-v7a", "arm64-v8a", "x86", "x86_64")) {
-                exec {
+                execOperations.exec {
+                    workingDir = dir
                     commandLine("bash", "build_android.sh", abi)
                 }
-                val ciDir = project.projectDir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/android/$abi"
+                val ciDir = dir / "jnilib/${libs.versions.djl.get()}/android/$abi"
                 copy {
-                    from(buildDirectory / "jnilib" / "$abi")
+                    from(buildDirectory / "jnilib" / abi)
                     into(ciDir)
                 }
                 delete("$buildDirectory/jnilib")
@@ -147,12 +157,9 @@ tasks {
         }
     }
 
-    register("formatPython") {
-        doFirst {
-            exec {
-                commandLine("bash", "-c", "find . -name '*.py' -print0 | xargs -0 yapf --in-place")
-            }
-        }
+    register<Exec>("formatPython") {
+        workingDir = project.projectDir
+        commandLine("bash", "-c", "find . -name '*.py' -print0 | xargs -0 yapf --in-place")
     }
 
     clean {
@@ -173,4 +180,4 @@ publishing {
             }
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
index a407977093c..17dfa12fa96 100644
--- a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
+++ b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ distributionBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 distributionPath=wrapper/dists
 zipStoreBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 zipStorePath=wrapper/dists
-distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-8.10.1-bin.zip
+distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-8.12-bin.zip
diff --git a/model-zoo/build.gradle.kts b/model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
index c5c19752762..87a3aafadbb 100644
--- a/model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/model-zoo/build.gradle.kts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ dependencies {
 }
 
 tasks.register<Exec>("syncS3") {
+    workingDir = project.projectDir
     commandLine(
         "sh",
         "-c",