diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 44e595be44..c160eb4472 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,32 @@ stages:
   - distribution
   - analysis
 
+# GitLab "default:" is buggy so let's use extensions and references
+.default:
+  # Caching support
+  variables:
+    CCACHE_BASEDIR: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR"
+    CCACHE_DIR: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/_ccache"
+    CC: "ccache clang"
+    CXX: "ccache clang++"
+  cache:
+    key: $CI_JOB_NAME
+    paths:
+      - _ccache/
+  # Universal variables (works in all OSes and archs)
+  before_script:
+    - export PATH="$GIMP_PREFIX/bin:$PATH"
+    - gcc -print-multi-os-directory | grep . && LIB_DIR=$(gcc -print-multi-os-directory | sed 's/\.\.\///g') || LIB_DIR="lib"
+    - gcc -print-multiarch | grep . && LIB_SUBDIR=$(echo $(gcc -print-multiarch)'/')
+    - export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="${GIMP_PREFIX}/${LIB_DIR}/${LIB_SUBDIR}pkgconfig${PKG_CONFIG_PATH:+:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH}"
+    - export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${GIMP_PREFIX}/${LIB_DIR}/${LIB_SUBDIR}${LD_LIBRARY_PATH:+:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
+    - export XDG_DATA_DIRS="${GIMP_PREFIX}/share:/usr/share${XDG_DATA_DIRS:+:$XDG_DATA_DIRS}"
+    - export GI_TYPELIB_PATH="${GIMP_PREFIX}/${LIB_DIR}/${LIB_SUBDIR}girepository-1.0${GI_TYPELIB_PATH:+:$GI_TYPELIB_PATH}"
+  # Common artifacts behavior
+  artifacts:
+    name: "${CI_JOB_NAME}-${CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG}-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}"
+    when: always
+
 variables:
   GIT_DEPTH: "1"
   ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX: "-x64"
@@ -47,11 +73,6 @@ variables:
 
 image-debian-x64:
   rules:
-    # On commits and merge requests.
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"'
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"'
-    # On releases.
-    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != null'
     # Custom builds though web GUI, API or schedules.
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_MESON_CLANG != null'
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_MESON_GCC != null'
@@ -60,13 +81,18 @@ image-debian-x64:
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_CROSSROAD_WIN32 != null'
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_SOURCES != null'
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_FLATPAK != null'
+    # On merge requests and commits.
+    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"'
+    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"'
+    # On releases.
+    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != null'
   stage: prepare
-  variables:
-    GIT_STRATEGY: none
-  cache: {}
   image:
     name: gcr.io/kaniko-project/executor:debug
     entrypoint: [""]
+  variables:
+    GIT_STRATEGY: none
+  cache: {}
   script:
     - export container=docker
     - mkdir -p /kaniko/.docker
@@ -81,6 +107,8 @@ image-debian-x64:
     - echo "appstream
             at-spi2-core
             build-essential
+            ccache
+            clang
             cpio
             desktop-file-utils
             ffmpeg
@@ -154,37 +182,11 @@ image-debian-x64:
 
 ## GNU/Linux 64-bit CIs (Debian bookworm) ##
 
-deps-debian-x64:
-  rules:
-    # On commits and merge requests.
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"'
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"'
-    # On releases.
-    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != null'
-    # Custom builds though web GUI, API or schedules.
-    - if: '$GIMP_CI_MESON_CLANG != null'
-    - if: '$GIMP_CI_MESON_GCC != null'
-    - if: '$GIMP_CI_RASTER_ICONS != null'
-    - if: '$GIMP_CI_CROSSROAD_WIN64 != null'
-    - if: '$GIMP_CI_CROSSROAD_WIN32 != null'
-    - if: '$GIMP_CI_SOURCES != null'
-    - if: '$GIMP_CI_FLATPAK != null'
-  variables:
-    CC: "clang"
-    CXX: "clang++"
+.deps-debian-base:
+  extends: .default
+  needs: ["image-debian-x64"]
   stage: dependencies
   image: $CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE:build-debian-latest
-  cache:
-    paths:
-    - apt-cache
-  artifacts:
-    name: "${CI_JOB_NAME}-${CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG}-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}"
-    expire_in: 2 hours
-    when: always
-    paths:
-    - "_install${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}"
-    - _babl/_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
-    - _gegl/_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
   before_script:
     - if [ "$CI_COMMIT_TAG" != "" ]; then
         repo=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/babl.git;
@@ -201,78 +203,92 @@ deps-debian-x64:
       fi
     - git clone $babl_branch --depth=${GIT_DEPTH} https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/babl.git _babl
     - git clone $gegl_branch --depth=${GIT_DEPTH} https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gegl.git _gegl
-    - export PATH="$GIMP_PREFIX/bin:$PATH"
-    - gcc -print-multi-os-directory | grep . && LIB_DIR=$(gcc -print-multi-os-directory | sed 's/\.\.\///g') || LIB_DIR="lib"
-    - gcc -print-multiarch | grep . && LIB_SUBDIR=$(echo $(gcc -print-multiarch)'/')
-    - export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="${GIMP_PREFIX}/${LIB_DIR}/${LIB_SUBDIR}pkgconfig${PKG_CONFIG_PATH:+:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH}"
-    - export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${GIMP_PREFIX}/${LIB_DIR}/${LIB_SUBDIR}${LD_LIBRARY_PATH:+:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
-    - export XDG_DATA_DIRS="${GIMP_PREFIX}/share:/usr/share${XDG_DATA_DIRS:+:$XDG_DATA_DIRS}"
-    - export GI_TYPELIB_PATH="${GIMP_PREFIX}/${LIB_DIR}/${LIB_SUBDIR}girepository-1.0${GI_TYPELIB_PATH:+:$GI_TYPELIB_PATH}"
+    # Universal variables
+    - !reference [.default, before_script]
+    - mkdir -p _ccache/
   script:
-    - mkdir -p "$APT_CACHE"
-    - apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends -o dir::cache::archives="$APT_CACHE"
-                         clang
     - mkdir _babl/_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX} && cd _babl/_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
     - meson setup .. -Dprefix="${GIMP_PREFIX}"
-    - ninja && ninja install
+    - ninja
+    - ninja install
+    - ccache --show-stats
     - mkdir ../../_gegl/_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX} && cd ../../_gegl/_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
     - meson setup .. -Dprefix="${GIMP_PREFIX}"
-    - ninja && ninja install
-  needs: ["image-debian-x64"]
-
-.gimp-debian-base:
-  stage: gimp
-  image: $CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE:build-debian-latest
-  dependencies:
-    - deps-debian-x64
-  cache:
-    paths:
-    - apt-cache
+    - ninja
+    - ninja install
+    - ccache --show-stats
   artifacts:
-    expire_in: 1 days
-    when: always
-    name: "${CI_JOB_NAME}-${CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG}-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}"
+    expire_in: 2 hours
     paths:
-    - "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}"
-    - "_install${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}"
-  before_script:
-    - export PATH="$GIMP_PREFIX/bin:$PATH"
-    - gcc -print-multi-os-directory | grep . && LIB_DIR=$(gcc -print-multi-os-directory | sed 's/\.\.\///g') || LIB_DIR="lib"
-    - gcc -print-multiarch | grep . && LIB_SUBDIR=$(echo $(gcc -print-multiarch)'/')
-    - export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="${GIMP_PREFIX}/${LIB_DIR}/${LIB_SUBDIR}pkgconfig${PKG_CONFIG_PATH:+:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH}"
-    - export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${GIMP_PREFIX}/${LIB_DIR}/${LIB_SUBDIR}${LD_LIBRARY_PATH:+:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
-    - export XDG_DATA_DIRS="${GIMP_PREFIX}/share:/usr/share${XDG_DATA_DIRS:+:$XDG_DATA_DIRS}"
-    - export GI_TYPELIB_PATH="${GIMP_PREFIX}/${LIB_DIR}/${LIB_SUBDIR}girepository-1.0${GI_TYPELIB_PATH:+:$GI_TYPELIB_PATH}"
-    - git submodule update --init
-  needs: ["deps-debian-x64"]
+    - _install${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
+    - _babl/_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
+    - _gegl/_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
 
-gimp-debian-x64:
+deps-debian-x64:
+  extends: .deps-debian-base
   rules:
-    # On commits and merge requests.
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"'
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"'
     # Custom builds though web GUI, API or schedules.
+    - if: '$GIMP_CI_MESON_CLANG != null'
+    - if: '$GIMP_CI_RASTER_ICONS != null'
+    - if: '$GIMP_CI_CROSSROAD_WIN64 != null'
+    - if: '$GIMP_CI_CROSSROAD_WIN32 != null'
+    - if: '$GIMP_CI_SOURCES != null'
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_FLATPAK != null'
+    # On merge requests and commits.
+    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"'
+    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"'
     # On releases.
     - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != null'
+
+# GitLab "rules:variables:" is buggy so let's use jobs
+deps-debian-gcc:
+  extends: .deps-debian-base
+  rules:
+    # Custom builds though web GUI, API or schedules.
+    - if: '$GIMP_CI_MESON_GCC != null'
+  variables:
+    CC: "ccache gcc"
+    CXX: "ccache gcc"
+
+.gimp-debian-base:
+  extends: .default
+  needs: ["deps-debian-x64"]
+  stage: gimp
+  image: $CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE:build-debian-latest
+  before_script:
+    # Universal variables
+    - !reference [.default, before_script]
+    - mkdir -p _ccache/
+    - git submodule update --init
+    - mkdir -p _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX} && cd _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
+  after_script:
+    - ccache --show-stats
+  artifacts:
+    expire_in: 1 days
+    paths:
+    - "_install${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}"
+    - "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}"
+
+gimp-debian-x64:
+  extends: .gimp-debian-base
+  rules:
     # Custom builds though web GUI, API or schedules.
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_MESON_CLANG != null'
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_CROSSROAD_WIN64 != null'
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_CROSSROAD_WIN32 != null'
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_SOURCES != null'
-  extends: .gimp-debian-base
-  variables:
-    CC: "clang"
-    CXX: "clang++"
+    - if: '$GIMP_CI_FLATPAK != null'
+    # On merge requests and commits.
+    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"'
+    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"'
+    # On releases.
+    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != null'
   script:
-    - mkdir -p "$APT_CACHE"
-    - apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends -o dir::cache::archives="$APT_CACHE"
-                         clang
-    - mkdir -p "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}" && cd "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}"
     - meson setup .. -Dprefix="${GIMP_PREFIX}"
                      -Dgi-docgen=enabled
                      -Dg-ir-doc=true
-    - ninja && ninja test
+    - ninja
+    - ninja test
     # The src should not be changed by the build. If it is, something is
     # wrong. Let's print out the diff for debugging in such case, and
     # exit to fail the CI.
@@ -280,40 +296,43 @@ gimp-debian-x64:
         git diff;
         exit 1;
       fi
-    - ninja dist && ninja install
+    - ninja dist
+    - ninja install
   artifacts:
-    name: "${CI_JOB_NAME}-${CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG}-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}"
-    when: always
+    paths:
+      - _install${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/
+      - _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/config.h
+      - _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/meson-dist/
+      - _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/devel-docs/
+      - _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/build/flatpak/
+      - _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/meson-logs/
     reports:
       junit: "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/meson-logs/testlog.junit.xml"
-    paths:
-      - "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/config.h"
-      - "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/meson-logs"
-      - "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/meson-dist"
-      - "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/devel-docs"
-      - "_build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}/build/flatpak/"
-      - "_install${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}"
 
 gimp-debian-gcc:
+  extends: .gimp-debian-base
   rules:
     # Custom builds only (web GUI, API or schedules).
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_MESON_GCC != null'
-  extends: .gimp-debian-base
+  needs: ["deps-debian-gcc"]
+  variables:
+    CC: "ccache gcc"
+    CXX: "ccache gcc"
   script:
-    - mkdir -p _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX} && cd _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
     - meson setup .. -Dprefix="${GIMP_PREFIX}"
-    - ninja && ninja test
+    - ninja
+    - ninja test
 
 gimp-debian-raster-icons:
+  extends: .gimp-debian-base
   rules:
     # Custom builds only (web GUI, API or schedules).
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_RASTER_ICONS != null'
-  extends: .gimp-debian-base
   script:
-    - mkdir -p _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX} && cd _build${ARTIFACTS_SUFFIX}
     - meson setup .. -Dprefix="${GIMP_PREFIX}"
                      -Dvector-icons=false
-    - ninja && ninja test
+    - ninja
+    - ninja test
 
 packaging-flatpak-x64:
   # See: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/Initiatives/-/wikis/DevOps-with-Flatpak
@@ -639,6 +658,7 @@ packaging-win-x86-nightly:
 ## WINDOWS Aarch64 CI (native MSYS2) ##
 
 .win:
+  extends: .default
   rules:
     # On releases.
     - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != null'
@@ -649,17 +669,8 @@ packaging-win-x86-nightly:
   variables:
     BUILD_TYPE: "CI_NATIVE"
     CHERE_INVOKING: "yes"
-    CCACHE_BASEDIR: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR"
-    CCACHE_DIR: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/_ccache"
-  cache:
-    key: $CI_JOB_NAME
-    paths:
-      - _ccache/
   before_script:
     - New-Item -Path .\_ccache -ItemType Directory -Force
-  artifacts:
-    name: "${CI_JOB_NAME}-${CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG}-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}"
-    when: always
 
 .win-a64:
   extends: .win
@@ -809,6 +820,8 @@ packaging-win-x64:
     - win32-ps
   variables:
     MSYSTEM: "MINGW32"
+    CC: "ccache cc"
+    CXX: "ccache c++"
 
 deps-win-x86:
   extends: .win-x86
@@ -923,8 +936,6 @@ dist-installer-weekly:
     - packaging-win-x64
     - packaging-win-x86
   artifacts:
-    name: "${CI_JOB_NAME}-${CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG}-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}"
-    when: always
     expire_in: 1 week
     expose_as: 'Windows exe'
     paths: