diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e97386c..274cb4d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ dist/
 downloads/
 eggs/
 .eggs/
+.pdm-python
 lib/
 lib64/
 parts/
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 85d9580..5883f2a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 ### Changes
 
 - improve prompt for project name
+- prepare switch from poetry to pdm
 
 ### Deprecated
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b83ae50..83d5a41 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -47,10 +47,12 @@ components of the MEx project are open-sourced under the same license as well.
 - on unix, consider using pyenv https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv
   - get pyenv `curl https://pyenv.run | bash`
   - install 3.11 `pyenv install 3.11`
-  - use version `pyenv global 3.11`
+  - switch version `pyenv global 3.11`
   - run `pip install cruft`
-- on windows, see https://python-poetry.org/docs/managing-environments
-  - install `python3.11` in your preferred way
+- on windows, consider using pyenv-win https://pyenv-win.github.io/pyenv-win/
+  - follow https://pyenv-win.github.io/pyenv-win/#quick-start
+  - install 3.11 `pyenv install 3.11`
+  - switch version `pyenv global 3.11`
   - run `pip install cruft`
 
 ## usage
diff --git a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.dockerignore b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.dockerignore
index 93870dc..2f9109b 100644
--- a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.dockerignore	
+++ b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.dockerignore	
@@ -121,10 +121,12 @@ dmypy.json
 .bandit
 .isort.cfg
 .mypy.ini
+.pdm-python
 .pre-commit-config.yaml
 .pydocstyle
 Makefile
 mex.bat
+pdm.lock
 poetry.lock
 poetry.toml
 pytest.ini
diff --git a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/cve-scan.yml b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/cve-scan.yml
index cc0c03a..585bca3 100644
--- a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/cve-scan.yml	
+++ b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/cve-scan.yml	
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
           cache-name: cache-trivy
         with:
           path: ~/.cache/trivy
-          {% raw %}key: ${{ env.cache-name }}-${{ hashFiles('poetry.lock') }}{% endraw %}
+          {% raw %}key: ${{ env.cache-name }}-${{ hashFiles('*.lock') }}{% endraw %}
           restore-keys: |
             {% raw %}${{ env.cache-name }}-{% endraw %}
 
diff --git a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/documentation.yml b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/documentation.yml
index db5f1a3..703597a 100644
--- a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/documentation.yml	
+++ b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/documentation.yml	
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ jobs:
           restore-keys: |
             {% raw %}${{ env.cache-name }}-{% endraw %}
 
-      - name: Cache poetry
+      - name: Cache environment
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         env:
-          cache-name: cache-poetry
+          cache-name: cache-environment
         with:
           path: ~/.cache/pip
-          {% raw %}key: ${{ env.cache-name }}-${{ hashFiles('poetry.lock') }}{% endraw %}
+          {% raw %}key: ${{ env.cache-name }}-${{ hashFiles('*.lock') }}{% endraw %}
           restore-keys: |
             {% raw %}${{ env.cache-name }}-{% endraw %}
 
diff --git a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/linting.yml b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/linting.yml
index 631650e..bcab021 100644
--- a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/linting.yml	
+++ b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/linting.yml	
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ jobs:
           restore-keys: |
             {% raw %}${{ env.cache-name }}-{% endraw %}
 
-      - name: Cache poetry
+      - name: Cache environment
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         env:
-          cache-name: cache-poetry
+          cache-name: cache-environment
         with:
           path: ~/.cache/pip
-          {% raw %}key: ${{ env.cache-name }}-${{ hashFiles('poetry.lock') }}{% endraw %}
+          {% raw %}key: ${{ env.cache-name }}-${{ hashFiles('*.lock') }}{% endraw %}
           restore-keys: |
             {% raw %}${{ env.cache-name }}-{% endraw %}
 
diff --git a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/testing.yml b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/testing.yml
index d0c5fea..240e43f 100644
--- a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/testing.yml	
+++ b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.github/workflows/testing.yml	
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ jobs:
           restore-keys: |
             {% raw %}${{ env.cache-name }}-{% endraw %}
 
-      - name: Cache poetry
+      - name: Cache environment
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         env:
-          cache-name: cache-poetry
+          cache-name: cache-environment
         with:
           path: ~/.cache/pip
-          {% raw %}key: ${{ env.cache-name }}-${{ hashFiles('poetry.lock') }}{% endraw %}
+          {% raw %}key: ${{ env.cache-name }}-${{ hashFiles('*.lock') }}{% endraw %}
           restore-keys: |
             {% raw %}${{ env.cache-name }}-{% endraw %}
 
diff --git a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.gitignore b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.gitignore
index 8f4b50c..1a65936 100644
--- a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.gitignore	
+++ b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/.gitignore	
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ dist/
 downloads/
 eggs/
 .eggs/
+.pdm-python
 lib/
 lib64/
 parts/
diff --git a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/Makefile b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/Makefile
index d02ca19..ab1fea9 100644
--- a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/Makefile	
+++ b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/Makefile	
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ hooks:
 	fi; \
 
 install: setup hooks
-	# run the poetry installation with embedded virtual environment
+	# install packages from lock file in local virtual environment
 	@ echo installing package; \
 	poetry install --no-interaction --sync; \
 
diff --git a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/README.md b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/README.md
index 5cc1c3a..c757f47 100644
--- a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/README.md	
+++ b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/README.md	
@@ -50,13 +50,12 @@ components of the MEx project are open-sourced under the same license as well.
 - on unix, consider using pyenv https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv
   - get pyenv `curl https://pyenv.run | bash`
   - install 3.11 `pyenv install 3.11`
-  - create env `pyenv virtualenv 3.11 mex`
-  - go to repo root
-  - use env `pyenv local mex`
+  - switch version `pyenv global 3.11`
   - run `make install`
-- on windows, see https://python-poetry.org/docs/managing-environments
-  - install `python3.11` in your preferred way
-  - go to repo root
+- on windows, consider using pyenv-win https://pyenv-win.github.io/pyenv-win/
+  - follow https://pyenv-win.github.io/pyenv-win/#quick-start
+  - install 3.11 `pyenv install 3.11`
+  - switch version `pyenv global 3.11`
   - run `.\mex.bat install`
 
 ### linting and testing
@@ -71,16 +70,16 @@ components of the MEx project are open-sourced under the same license as well.
 ### updating dependencies
 
 - update boilerplate files with `cruft update`
-- update global dependencies in `requirements.txt` manually
+- update global requirements in `requirements.txt` manually
 - update git hooks with `pre-commit autoupdate`
 - show outdated dependencies with `poetry show --outdated`
 - update dependencies in poetry using `poetry update --lock`
-- update github actions manually in `.github/workflows/*.yml`
+- update github actions in `.github/workflows/*.yml` manually
 
 ### creating release
 
-- update version, eg `poetry version minor`
-- commit update `git commit --message "..." pyproject.toml`
+- update version in `pyproject.toml` and `CHANGELOG.md`
+- commit update `git commit --message "..."`
 - create a tag `git tag ...`
 - push `git push --follow-tags`
 
diff --git a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/mex.bat b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/mex.bat
index 38380ee..858e7f6 100644
--- a/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/mex.bat	
+++ b/mex-{{ cookiecutter.project_name }}/mex.bat	
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ if "%CI%"=="" (
     if %errorlevel% neq 0 exit /b %errorlevel%
 )
 
-@REM run the poetry installation with embedded virtual environment
+@REM install packages from lock file in local virtual environment
 echo installing package
 poetry install --no-interaction --sync
 exit /b %errorlevel%