diff --git a/.vscode/tasks.json b/.vscode/tasks.json
index 30fd3c8..d1643d5 100644
--- a/.vscode/tasks.json
+++ b/.vscode/tasks.json
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@
             "type": "shell",
             "command": "mvn clean",
             "group": "build"
+        },
+        {
+            "label": "Watch types",
+            "detail": "Start TypeScript compiler in watch mode",
+            "type": "npm",
+            "script": "watch-types",
+            "group": "build",
+            "problemMatcher": [],
         }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/gulpfile.js b/gulpfile.js
index 111634b..fd996cb 100644
--- a/gulpfile.js
+++ b/gulpfile.js
@@ -64,15 +64,13 @@ mapapps.registerTasks({
     },
 
     /* a list of themes inside this project */
-    themes: [/*"sample-theme"*/],
+    themes: [],
     /* state that the custom theme will be dependant from map.apps everlasting theme that provides the base styles */
     hasBaseThemes: true,
     /* state that we want to support vuetify components and therefore need the vuetify core styles*/
     hasVuetify: true,
     themeChangeTargets: {
-        "vuetify": [
-            // "sample_theme"
-        ]
+        "vuetify": []
     },
     /* A list oft target browser versions. This should be streamlined with Esri JS API requirements. */
     transpileTargets: {
@@ -139,7 +137,6 @@ gulp.task("lint",
 gulp.task("preview",
     gulp.series(
         "build",
-        "lint",
         gulp.parallel(
             "watch",
             "browser-sync"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 899af04..6430ec8 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -4,22 +4,32 @@
     "version": "0.0.1",
     "license": "CC0-1.0",
     "scripts": {
-        "check-licenses": "node ./src/support/js/check-licenses.js"
+        "check-licenses": "tsx ./src/support/js/check-licenses.ts",
+        "check-types": "tsc --noEmit",
+        "watch-types": "tsc -w --noEmit"
     },
     "devDependencies": {
-        "@conterra/ct-mapapps-typings": "4.15.1",
-        "@conterra/mapapps-mocha-runner": "^1.1.1",
-        "@types/arcgis-js-api": "4.26.0",
-        "chai": "^4.3.7",
-        "ct-mapapps-browser-sync": "0.0.30",
-        "ct-mapapps-gulp-js": "0.9.4",
-        "eslint-config-ct-prodeng": "1.3.0-next-2",
-        "license-checker": "^25.0.1",
-        "mocha": "^10.2.0",
-        "puppeteer": "^19.11.1",
-        "vue-template-compiler": "2.7.8",
-        "stylelint-config-ct-prodeng": "1.0.4",
-        "stylelint-config-recommended": "5.0.0",
-        "stylelint": "^13.13.1"
+        "@conterra/ct-mapapps-typings": "~4.17.0",
+        "@conterra/mapapps-mocha-runner": "1.1.1",
+        "@types/arcgis-js-api": "4.28.0",
+        "@types/chai": "4.3.10",
+        "@types/license-checker": "^25.0.6",
+        "@types/mocha": "10.0.4",
+        "chai": "4.3.10",
+        "ct-mapapps-browser-sync": "0.0.35",
+        "ct-mapapps-gulp-js": "0.10.2",
+        "eslint-config-ct-prodeng": "1.4.0",
+        "license-checker": "25.0.1",
+        "mocha": "10.2.0",
+        "puppeteer": "21.5.2",
+        "stylelint": "15.11.0",
+        "stylelint-config-ct-prodeng": "2.0.0",
+        "stylelint-config-recommended": "13.0.0",
+        "stylelint-config-recommended-less": "2.0.0",
+        "ts-node": "^10.9.1",
+        "tsx": "^4.6.0",
+        "typescript": "5.2.2",
+        "vue": "2.7.15",
+        "vue-template-compiler": "2.7.15"
     }
 }
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 9c4ebff..1af1793 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -46,11 +46,6 @@
                 <type>pom</type>
                 <scope>import</scope>
             </dependency>
-            <dependency>
-                <groupId>de.conterra.mapapps</groupId>
-                <artifactId>ct-mapapps-js</artifactId>
-                <version>${mapapps.version}</version>
-            </dependency>
         </dependencies>
     </dependencyManagement>
     <dependencies>
@@ -97,6 +92,11 @@
     <build>
         <pluginManagement>
             <plugins>
+                <plugin>
+                    <groupId>de.conterra.mapapps</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>mapapps-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+                    <version>${mapapps.version}</version>
+                </plugin>
                 <plugin>
                     <groupId>de.conterra.jsregistry</groupId>
                     <artifactId>ct-jsregistry-maven-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -149,10 +149,9 @@
                 <plugin>
                     <groupId>com.github.eirslett</groupId>
                     <artifactId>frontend-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-                    <version>1.12.1</version>
+                    <version>1.14.2</version>
                     <configuration>
-                        <nodeVersion>v18.13.0</nodeVersion>
-                        <npmVersion>8.19.3</npmVersion>
+                        <nodeVersion>v20.9.0</nodeVersion>
                     </configuration>
                 </plugin>
                 <plugin>
@@ -178,11 +177,6 @@
                     <artifactId>setproperties-maven-plugin</artifactId>
                     <version>1.0.2</version>
                 </plugin>
-                <plugin>
-                    <groupId>de.conterra.jsrt</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>ct-jsrt-test-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-                    <version>${ct.jsrt-test.version}</version>
-                </plugin>
             </plugins>
         </pluginManagement>
         <sourceDirectory>src/main/js</sourceDirectory>
@@ -220,9 +214,7 @@
                     </execution>
                 </executions>
                 <configuration>
-                    <!-- add here properties which are used in plugin configuration resolution -->
                     <properties>
-                        <!-- deployment of map.apps installation -->
                         <mapapps.remote.base>.</mapapps.remote.base>
                     </properties>
                 </configuration>
@@ -230,7 +222,7 @@
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                 <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-                <version>3.8.0</version>
+                <version>3.11.0</version>
                 <configuration>
                     <skip>true</skip>
                 </configuration>
@@ -238,7 +230,7 @@
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                 <artifactId>maven-javadoc-plugin</artifactId>
-                <version>3.1.0</version>
+                <version>3.5.0</version>
                 <configuration>
                     <skip>true</skip>
                 </configuration>
@@ -246,6 +238,7 @@
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                 <artifactId>maven-dependency-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>3.5.0</version>
                 <executions>
                     <execution>
                         <id>unpack-themes-src</id>
@@ -348,6 +341,9 @@
                         <include>**/gulpfile.js</include>
                         <include>**/pom.xml</include>
                     </includes>
+                    <excludes>
+                        <exclude>src/main/js/**/*.min.js</exclude>
+                    </excludes>
                     <mapping>
                         <vue>XML_STYLE</vue>
                     </mapping>
@@ -414,6 +410,12 @@
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>de.conterra.mapapps</groupId>
                 <artifactId>mapapps-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+                <configuration>
+                    <!-- only build zip files -->
+                    <skipDeploy>true</skipDeploy>
+                    <sourceDirectory>${js.build.outputPath}/apps</sourceDirectory>
+                    <outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}</outputDirectory>
+                </configuration>
                 <executions>
                     <execution>
                         <!-- used to create .zip files containing the apps during the build -->
@@ -441,13 +443,6 @@
                         </configuration>
                     </execution>
                 </executions>
-                <configuration>
-                    <!-- only build zip files -->
-                    <skipDeploy>true</skipDeploy>
-                    <createApp>false</createApp>
-                    <sourceDirectory>${js.build.outputPath}/apps</sourceDirectory>
-                    <outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}</outputDirectory>
-                </configuration>
             </plugin>
             <plugin>
                 <artifactId>maven-assembly-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -501,11 +496,12 @@
         <root.build.outputPath>${project.build.directory}/webapp</root.build.outputPath>
         <js.build.outputPath>${root.build.outputPath}/js</js.build.outputPath>
 
-        <mapapps.version>4.15.1</mapapps.version>
+        <mapapps.version>4.17.0</mapapps.version>
+        <vuetify.version>1.5.28</vuetify.version>
         <!-- JS lib versions -->
         <apprt.version>${mapapps.version}</apprt.version>
         <!-- java lib versions -->
-        <ct.jsregistry.version>1.5.10</ct.jsregistry.version>
+        <ct.jsregistry.version>2.0.1</ct.jsregistry.version>
         <ct.jsrt-test.version>2.0.2</ct.jsrt-test.version>
 
         <!-- the default app, replaced in the *.html files to switch app names-->
@@ -568,6 +564,11 @@
                     <artifactId>ags-js-api4</artifactId>
                     <scope>test</scope>
                 </dependency>
+                <dependency>
+                    <groupId>com.esri</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>terraformer-js</artifactId>
+                    <scope>test</scope>
+                </dependency>
                 <dependency>
                     <groupId>moment-js</groupId>
                     <artifactId>moment-js</artifactId>
@@ -670,12 +671,6 @@
             </properties>
             <build>
                 <plugins>
-                    <plugin>
-                        <artifactId>maven-deploy-plugin</artifactId>
-                        <configuration>
-                            <updateReleaseInfo>true</updateReleaseInfo>
-                        </configuration>
-                    </plugin>
                     <plugin>
                         <groupId>de.conterra.jsregistry</groupId>
                         <artifactId>ct-jsregistry-maven-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -718,8 +713,6 @@
                         <configuration>
                             <skipDeploy>${skip.apps.upload}</skipDeploy>
                             <deployAsApp>true</deployAsApp>
-                            <appName>${project.artifactId}</appName>
-                            <appTitle>${project.artifactId}-${project.version}</appTitle>
                             <appEditorState>PUBLISHED</appEditorState>
                             <serverResourcesEndpoint>${mapapps.remote.base}/resources</serverResourcesEndpoint>
                             <username>${mapapps.user}</username>
diff --git a/src/support/js/check-licenses.js b/src/support/js/check-licenses.ts
similarity index 84%
rename from src/support/js/check-licenses.js
rename to src/support/js/check-licenses.ts
index 8ce6054..9eda7f4 100644
--- a/src/support/js/check-licenses.js
+++ b/src/support/js/check-licenses.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     Fails with exit code != 0 and an error message if a disallowed license is encountered.
     The script should be executed from the project root directory after dependencies have been installed:
 
-        $ ./node/node ./src/support/js/check-licenses.js
+        $ tsx ./src/support/js/check-licenses.ts
 
     To run checks yourself (e.g. to update the allow list or to get details), install
     license-checker yourself and run it from the project root directory:
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
     See also https://www.npmjs.com/package/license-checker
 */
 
-const checker = require("license-checker");
-const process = require("process");
+import { init as initChecker } from "license-checker";
+import { cwd, exit} from "node:process";
 
 // Licenses known to be OK.
 const ACCEPTED_LICENSES = [
@@ -41,17 +41,19 @@ const SKIP_PACKAGES = [
     "taffydb@2.6.2" // BSD-1-Clause License in source code
 ];
 
-checker.init(
+initChecker(
     {
-        start: process.cwd(),
+        start: cwd(),
         onlyAllow: ACCEPTED_LICENSES.join(";"),
         excludePackages: SKIP_PACKAGES.join(";")
     },
     (error, packages) => {
+        void packages; // currently unused
+
         if (error) {
             console.error("Error: ", error);
-            process.exit(1);
+            exit(1);
         }
-        process.exit(0);
+        exit(0);
     }
 );
diff --git a/src/test/webapp/WEB-INF/web.xml b/src/test/webapp/WEB-INF/web.xml
index 47a22e5..fc35e73 100644
--- a/src/test/webapp/WEB-INF/web.xml
+++ b/src/test/webapp/WEB-INF/web.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
          version="3.0">
 
     <display-name>map.apps sample</display-name>
-    
+
     <!-- NOTE: a META-INF/web-fragment.xml from ct-jsregistry-embedded is also loaded together with this specification ! -->
 
     <servlet>
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         <servlet-name>ProxyServlet</servlet-name>
         <url-pattern>/proxy</url-pattern>
     </servlet-mapping>
-         
+
     <servlet>
         <!-- Override init parameter to avoid nasty -->
         <!-- file locking issue on windows.
@@ -30,5 +30,5 @@
            <param-value>false</param-value>
         </init-param>
     </servlet>
-    
+
 </web-app>
diff --git a/src/test/webapp/js/tests/test-init.js b/src/test/webapp/js/tests/test-init.js
index 68bef32..2c86832 100644
--- a/src/test/webapp/js/tests/test-init.js
+++ b/src/test/webapp/js/tests/test-init.js
@@ -13,14 +13,14 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
+// eslint-disable-next-line no-undef
 testConfig({
     jsregistry: [{
-            //root: "url to registry..",
-            packages: [
-                // register all self hosted packages
-                "*"
-            ]
-        }
+        //root: "url to registry..",
+        packages: [
+            // register all self hosted packages
+            "*"
+        ]}
         //uncomment, if project runs in remote mode
         // ,{
         //     root: "@@mapapps.remote.base@@/resources/jsregistry/root",
diff --git a/src/test/webapp/login.css b/src/test/webapp/login.css
index d28165e..3976a7d 100644
--- a/src/test/webapp/login.css
+++ b/src/test/webapp/login.css
@@ -129,4 +129,4 @@
 .dj_ie .start.notheme .dijitInputInner,
 .dj_gecko .start.notheme .dijitInputInner{
     height: 22px;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}