diff --git a/.github/actions/action.yml b/.github/actions/action.yml
index 20a239026e4f..2c271c0c5726 100644
--- a/.github/actions/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/action.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ runs:
       echo DOWNLOAD_OPENBLAS $DOWNLOAD_OPENBLAS
       echo USE_DEBUG $USE_DEBUG
       echo NPY_USE_BLAS_ILP64 $NPY_USE_BLAS_ILP64
-      echo NUMPY_EXPERIMENTAL_ARRAY_FUNCTION $NUMPY_EXPERIMENTAL_ARRAY_FUNCTION
       echo USE_ASV $USE_ASV
       echo PATH $PATH
       echo python `which python`
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux.yml b/.github/workflows/linux.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d73de33c7640
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+name: Linux tests
+
+# This file is meant for testing across supported Python versions, build types
+# and interpreters (PyPy, python-dbg, a pre-release Python in summer time),
+# build-via-sdist, run benchmarks, measure code coverage, and other build
+# options like relaxed-strides.
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      # coverage comparison in the "full" step needs to run on main after merges
+      - main
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+      - maintenance/**
+
+defaults:
+  run:
+    shell: bash
+
+env:
+  DOWNLOAD_OPENBLAS: 1
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref || github.run_id }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read # to fetch code (actions/checkout)
+
+jobs:
+  lint:
+    if: github.repository == 'numpy/numpy' && github.event_name != 'push'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    continue-on-error: true
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.9'
+    - name: Install linter requirements
+      run:
+        python -m pip install -r linter_requirements.txt
+    - name: Run linter on PR diff
+      run:
+        python tools/linter.py --branch origin/${{ github.base_ref }}
+
+  smoke_test:
+    if: "github.repository == 'numpy/numpy'"
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      MESON_ARGS: "-Dallow-noblas=true -Dcpu-baseline=none -Dcpu-dispatch=none"
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.9'
+    - uses: ./.github/meson_actions
+
+  basic:
+    needs: [smoke_test]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: github.event_name != 'push'
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        python-version: ["3.9", "pypy3.9-v7.3.12"]
+    env:
+      EXPECT_CPU_FEATURES: "SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE41 POPCNT SSE42 AVX F16C FMA3 AVX2 AVX512F AVX512CD AVX512_KNL AVX512_KNM AVX512_SKX AVX512_CLX AVX512_CNL AVX512_ICL"
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
+      with:
+        python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+    - uses: ./.github/actions
+
+  debug:
+    needs: [smoke_test]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: github.event_name != 'push'
+    env:
+      USE_DEBUG: 1
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.11'
+
+    - uses: ./.github/actions
+
+  full:
+    # Build a wheel, install it, then run the full test suite with code coverage
+    needs: [smoke_test]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.9'
+    - name: Install build and test dependencies from PyPI
+      run: |
+        pip install -r build_requirements.txt
+        pip install -r test_requirements.txt
+    - name: Install gfortran and OpenBLAS (MacPython build)
+      run: |
+        set -xe
+        sudo apt install gfortran libgfortran5
+        target=$(python tools/openblas_support.py)
+        sudo cp -r $target/lib/* /usr/lib
+        sudo cp $target/include/* /usr/include
+    - name: Build a wheel
+      run: |
+        python -m build --wheel --no-isolation --skip-dependency-check
+        pip install dist/numpy*.whl
+    - name: Run full test suite
+      run: |
+        cd tools
+        pytest --pyargs numpy --cov-report=html:build/coverage
+        # TODO: gcov
+
+  benchmark:
+    needs: [smoke_test]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: github.event_name != 'push'
+    env:
+      PYTHONOPTIMIZE: 2
+      BLAS: None
+      LAPACK: None
+      ATLAS: None
+      NPY_BLAS_ORDER: mkl,blis,openblas,atlas,blas
+      NPY_LAPACK_ORDER: MKL,OPENBLAS,ATLAS,LAPACK
+      USE_ASV: 1
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.9'
+    - uses: ./.github/actions
+
+  relaxed_strides_debug:
+    needs: [smoke_test]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: github.event_name != 'push'
+    env:
+      CHECK_BLAS: 1
+      NPY_USE_BLAS_ILP64: 1
+      NPY_RELAXED_STRIDES_DEBUG: 1
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.11'
+    - uses: ./.github/actions
+
+  sdist:
+    needs: [smoke_test]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: github.event_name != 'push'
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.11'
+    - name: Install gfortran and OpenBLAS (MacPython build)
+      run: |
+        set -xe
+        sudo apt install gfortran libgfortran5
+        target=$(python tools/openblas_support.py)
+        sudo cp -r $target/lib/* /usr/lib
+        sudo cp $target/include/* /usr/include
+    - name: Build a wheel via an sdist
+      run: |
+        pip install build
+        python -m build
+        pip install dist/numpy*.whl
+    - name: Install test dependencies
+      run: |
+        pip install -r test_requirements.txt
+        pip install ninja
+    - name: Run test suite
+      run: |
+        cd tools
+        pytest --pyargs numpy -m "not slow"
+
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux_meson.yml b/.github/workflows/linux_blas.yml
similarity index 59%
rename from .github/workflows/linux_meson.yml
rename to .github/workflows/linux_blas.yml
index 8ef0e5752119..699381f6584f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux_meson.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux_blas.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,22 @@
-name: Test Meson build (Linux)
+name: BLAS tests (Linux)
+
+# This file is meant for testing different BLAS/LAPACK flavors and build
+# options on Linux. All other yml files for Linux will only test without BLAS
+# (mostly because that's easier and faster to build) or with the same 64-bit
+# OpenBLAS build that is used in the wheel jobs.
+#
+# Jobs and their purpose:
+#
+#   - openblas64_setuppy:
+#         This job uses the default 64-bit build of OpenBLAS with the
+#         `numpy.distutils`-based build. It can be removed once we remove
+#         support for those builds.
+#   - openblas32_stable_nightly:
+#         Uses the 32-bit OpenBLAS builds, both the latest stable release and a
+#         nightly build.
+#
+# TODO: coverage here is limited, we should add non-OpenBLAS libraries and
+#       exercise the BLAS-related build options (see `meson_options.txt`).
 
 on:
   pull_request:
@@ -10,9 +28,6 @@ defaults:
   run:
     shell: bash
 
-env:
-  PYTHON_VERSION: 3.11
-
 concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref || github.run_id }}
   cancel-in-progress: true
@@ -21,7 +36,23 @@ permissions:
   contents: read # to fetch code (actions/checkout)
 
 jobs:
-  meson_spin:
+  openblas64_setuppy:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: "github.repository == 'numpy/numpy'"
+    env:
+      DOWNLOAD_OPENBLAS: 1
+      NPY_USE_BLAS_ILP64: 1
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
+      with:
+        submodules: recursive
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.11'
+    - uses: ./.github/actions
+
+  openblas32_stable_nightly:
     if: "github.repository == 'numpy/numpy'"
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
@@ -37,7 +68,8 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
       with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+        python-version: '3.11'
+
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         pip install -r build_requirements.txt
@@ -50,23 +82,28 @@ jobs:
         fi
         sudo cp -r $target/lib/* /usr/lib
         sudo cp $target/include/* /usr/include
+
     - name: Build
       shell: 'script -q -e -c "bash --noprofile --norc -eo pipefail {0}"'
       env:
         TERM: xterm-256color
       run:
         spin build -- --werror
+
     - name: Check build-internal dependencies
       run:
         ninja -C build -t missingdeps
+
     - name: Check installed test and stub files
       run:
         python tools/check_installed_files.py $(find ./build-install -path '*/site-packages/numpy')
+
     - name: Test
       shell: 'script -q -e -c "bash --noprofile --norc -eo pipefail {0}"'
       env:
         TERM: xterm-256color
         LD_LIBRARY_PATH: "/usr/local/lib/"  # to find libopenblas.so.0
+
       run: |
         pip install pytest pytest-xdist hypothesis typing_extensions
         spin test -j auto
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_test.yml b/.github/workflows/linux_simd.yml
similarity index 60%
rename from .github/workflows/build_test.yml
rename to .github/workflows/linux_simd.yml
index 66f4acd45adc..33a2b4620a4e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux_simd.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,38 @@
-name: Build_Test
+name: SIMD tests (Linux)
+
+# This file is meant for testing different SIMD-related build options and
+# optimization levels. See `meson_options.txt` for the available build options.
+#
+# Jobs and their purpose:
+#
+#   - smoke_test:
+#         Meant to complete as quickly as possible, and acts as a filter for
+#         the other, more expensive jobs (those only start once `smoke_test`
+#         passes).
+#   - old_gcc:
+#         Tests the oldest supported GCC version with the default build
+#         settings.
+#   - without_optimizations:
+#         Completely disables both all SIMD optimizations and other compiler
+#         optimizations like loop unrolling.
+#   - with_baseline_only:
+#         Only uses the baseline SIMD settings, but no runtime dispatch based
+#         on compiler features detected at runtime.
+#   - without_avx512_avx2_fma3:
+#         Uses runtime SIMD dispatching, with AVX2, FMA3 and AVX512 disabled.
+#   - without_avx512:
+#         Uses runtime SIMD dispatching, with AVX512 disabled.
+#   - armv7_simd_test:
+#         Cross-compiles from x86-64 to armv7, and then runs only the
+#         SIMD-specific tests under QEMU.
+#   - sde_simd_avx512_test:
+#         Runs only the SIMD tests for several AVX512-xxx instruction sets
+#         under the Intel Software Development Emulator (SDE).
+#   - intel_spr_sde_test:
+#         Similar to the SDE test above, but for AVX512-SPR which requires some
+#         special-casing.
 
 on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      # coverage comparison in the "full" step needs to run on main after merges
-      - main
   pull_request:
     branches:
       - main
@@ -16,7 +44,6 @@ defaults:
 
 env:
   DOWNLOAD_OPENBLAS: 1
-  PYTHON_VERSION: 3.9
 
 concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref || github.run_id }}
@@ -26,25 +53,6 @@ permissions:
   contents: read # to fetch code (actions/checkout)
 
 jobs:
-  lint:
-    if: github.repository == 'numpy/numpy' && github.event_name != 'push'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    continue-on-error: true
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-    - name: Install linter requirements
-      run:
-        python -m pip install -r linter_requirements.txt
-    - name: Run linter on PR diff
-      run:
-        python tools/linter.py --branch origin/${{ github.base_ref }}
-
   smoke_test:
     if: "github.repository == 'numpy/numpy'"
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -57,31 +65,12 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
       with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+        python-version: '3.9'
     - uses: ./.github/meson_actions
 
-  basic:
-    needs: [smoke_test]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name != 'push'
-    strategy:
-      matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "pypy3.9-v7.3.12"]
-    env:
-      EXPECT_CPU_FEATURES: "SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE41 POPCNT SSE42 AVX F16C FMA3 AVX2 AVX512F AVX512CD AVX512_KNL AVX512_KNM AVX512_SKX AVX512_CLX AVX512_CNL AVX512_ICL"
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-    - uses: ./.github/actions
-
   old_gcc:
     needs: [smoke_test]
-    # provides GCC  7, 8
+    # provides GCC 8
     runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
     if: github.event_name != 'push'
     steps:
@@ -89,7 +78,6 @@ jobs:
       with:
         submodules: recursive
         fetch-depth: 0
-    # comes with python3.6
     - name: Install Python3.9
       run: |
         sudo apt update
@@ -100,21 +88,14 @@ jobs:
         sudo ln -s /usr/bin/python3.9 /usr/bin/pythonx
         pythonx -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
         pythonx -m pip install -r test_requirements.txt
-    - name: Install Compilers
-      run: sudo apt install g++-7 g++-8 -y
-    - name: Build gcc-7
-      run: |
-        export CC=/usr/bin/gcc-7
-        export CXX=/usr/bin/g++-7
-        rm -rf build && pythonx setup.py install --user
-    - name: Runtests gcc-7
-      run: pythonx runtests.py -n
+    - name: Install GCC 8
+      run: sudo apt install g++-8 -y
     - name: Build gcc-8
       run: |
         export CC=/usr/bin/gcc-8
         export CXX=/usr/bin/g++-8
         rm -rf build && pythonx setup.py install --user
-    - name: Runtests gcc-8
+    - name: Run test suite
       run: pythonx runtests.py -n
 
   without_optimizations:
@@ -146,7 +127,7 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
       with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+        python-version: '3.10'
     - uses: ./.github/meson_actions
 
   without_avx512:
@@ -162,7 +143,7 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
       with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+        python-version: '3.10'
     - uses: ./.github/meson_actions
 
   without_avx512_avx2_fma3:
@@ -178,151 +159,9 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
       with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+        python-version: '3.10'
     - uses: ./.github/meson_actions
 
-  debug:
-    needs: [smoke_test]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name != 'push'
-    env:
-      USE_DEBUG: 1
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-
-    - uses: ./.github/actions
-
-  blas64:
-    needs: [smoke_test]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name != 'push'
-    env:
-      NPY_USE_BLAS_ILP64: 1
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-    - uses: ./.github/actions
-
-  full:
-    needs: [smoke_test]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
-    env:
-      USE_WHEEL: 1
-      RUN_FULL_TESTS: 1
-      RUN_COVERAGE: 1
-      INSTALL_PICKLE5: 1
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-    - uses: ./.github/actions
-
-  benchmark:
-    needs: [smoke_test]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name != 'push'
-    env:
-      PYTHONOPTIMIZE: 2
-      BLAS: None
-      LAPACK: None
-      ATLAS: None
-      NPY_BLAS_ORDER: mkl,blis,openblas,atlas,blas
-      NPY_LAPACK_ORDER: MKL,OPENBLAS,ATLAS,LAPACK
-      USE_ASV: 1
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-    - uses: ./.github/actions
-
-  relaxed_strides_debug:
-    needs: [smoke_test]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name != 'push'
-    env:
-      CHECK_BLAS: 1
-      NPY_USE_BLAS_ILP64: 1
-      NPY_RELAXED_STRIDES_DEBUG: 1
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-    - uses: ./.github/actions
-
-  use_wheel:
-    needs: [smoke_test]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name != 'push'
-    env:
-      USE_WHEEL: 1
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-    - uses: ./.github/actions
-
-  no_openblas:
-    needs: [smoke_test]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name != 'push'
-    env:
-      BLAS: None
-      LAPACK: None
-      ATLAS: None
-      DOWNLOAD_OPENBLAS: ''
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-    - uses: ./.github/actions
-
-  sdist:
-    needs: [smoke_test]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name != 'push'
-    env:
-      USE_SDIST: 1
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-    - uses: ./.github/actions
-
   armv7_simd_test:
     needs: [smoke_test]
     # make sure this matches the base docker image below
@@ -391,7 +230,7 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
       with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+        python-version: '3.9'
     - name: Install Intel SDE
       run: |
         curl -o /tmp/sde.tar.xz https://downloadmirror.intel.com/732268/sde-external-9.7.0-2022-05-09-lin.tar.xz
@@ -420,7 +259,7 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
       with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+        python-version: '3.11'
     - name: Install Intel SDE
       run: |
         curl -o /tmp/sde.tar.xz https://downloadmirror.intel.com/784319/sde-external-9.24.0-2023-07-13-lin.tar.xz
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows_meson.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
similarity index 82%
rename from .github/workflows/windows_meson.yml
rename to .github/workflows/windows.yml
index f6f5c932ee10..52bea0e9e00c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows_meson.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Test Meson build (Windows)
+name: Windows tests
 
 on:
   pull_request:
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ on:
       - main
       - maintenance/**
 
-env:
-  PYTHON_VERSION: 3.11
-
 concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref || github.run_id }}
   cancel-in-progress: true
@@ -17,10 +14,13 @@ permissions:
   contents: read # to fetch code (actions/checkout)
 
 jobs:
-  msvc_64bit_python_openblas:
-    name: MSVC, x86-64, LP64 OpenBLAS
+  python64bit_openblas:
+    name: x86-64, LP64 OpenBLAS
     runs-on: windows-2019
     if: "github.repository == 'numpy/numpy'"
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        compiler: ["MSVC", "Clang-cl"]
     steps:
     - name: Checkout
       uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Setup Python
       uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
       with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+        python-version: '3.11'
 
     - name: Install build dependencies from PyPI
       run: |
@@ -48,10 +48,22 @@ jobs:
         unzip -d c:\opt openblas-v0.3.21-win_amd64-gcc_10_3_0.zip
         echo "PKG_CONFIG_PATH=c:\opt\64\lib\pkgconfig;" >> $env:GITHUB_ENV
 
-    - name: Install NumPy
+    - name: Install Clang-cl
+      if: matrix.compiler == 'Clang-cl'
+      run: |
+        choco install llvm -y --version=16.0.6
+
+    - name: Install NumPy (MSVC)
+      if: matrix.compiler == 'MSVC'
       run: |
         spin build -j2 -- --vsenv
 
+    - name: Install NumPy (Clang-cl)
+      if: matrix.compiler == 'Clang-cl'
+      run: |
+        "[binaries]","c = 'clang-cl'","cpp = 'clang-cl'","ar = 'llvm-lib'","c_ld = 'lld-link'","cpp_ld = 'lld-link'" | Out-File $PWD/clang-cl-build.ini -Encoding ascii
+        spin build -j2 -- --vsenv --native-file=$PWD/clang-cl-build.ini
+
     - name: Copy OpenBLAS DLL, write _distributor_init.py
       run: |
         # Getting the OpenBLAS DLL to the right place so it loads
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows_clangcl.yml b/.github/workflows/windows_clangcl.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 223d4809da89..000000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/windows_clangcl.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-name: Test Clang-CL Build (Windows)
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    branches:
-      - main
-      - maintenance/**
-
-env:
-  PYTHON_VERSION: 3.11
-
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref || github.run_id }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-permissions:
-  contents: read # to fetch code (actions/checkout)
-
-jobs:
-  meson:
-    name: Meson windows build/test
-    runs-on: windows-2019
-    if: "github.repository == 'numpy/numpy'"
-    steps:
-    - name: Checkout
-      uses: actions/checkout@c85c95e3d7251135ab7dc9ce3241c5835cc595a9 # v3.5.3
-      with:
-        submodules: recursive
-        fetch-depth: 0
-    - name: Setup Python
-      uses: actions/setup-python@61a6322f88396a6271a6ee3565807d608ecaddd1 # v4.7.0
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
-
-    - name: Install build dependencies from PyPI
-      run: |
-        pip install spin Cython
-
-    - name: Install OpenBLAS and Clang-cl
-      run: |
-        # Download and install pre-built OpenBLAS library with 32-bit
-        # interfaces Unpack it in the pkg-config hardcoded path
-        choco install unzip -y
-        choco install wget -y
-        # Install llvm, which contains clang-cl
-        choco install llvm -y --version=16.0.6 
-        choco install -y --checksum 6004DF17818F5A6DBF19CB335CC92702 pkgconfiglite
-        wget https://anaconda.org/multibuild-wheels-staging/openblas-libs/v0.3.21/download/openblas-v0.3.21-win_amd64-gcc_10_3_0.zip
-        unzip -d c:\opt openblas-v0.3.21-win_amd64-gcc_10_3_0.zip
-        echo "PKG_CONFIG_PATH=c:\opt\64\lib\pkgconfig;" >> $env:GITHUB_ENV
-
-    - name: Write native file for Clang-cl binaries
-      run: |
-        # TODO: this job is identical to the one in `windows_meson.yml` aside
-        # from installing Clang-cl and usage of this .ini file. So merge the
-        # two and use a matrix'ed CI job run.
-        "[binaries]","c = 'clang-cl'","cpp = 'clang-cl'","ar = 'llvm-lib'","c_ld = 'lld-link'","cpp_ld = 'lld-link'" | Out-File $PWD/clang-cl-build.ini -Encoding ascii
-
-    - name: Install NumPy
-      run: |
-        spin build -j2 -- --vsenv --native-file=$PWD/clang-cl-build.ini
-
-    - name: Copy OpenBLAS DLL, write _distributor_init.py
-      run: |
-        # Getting the OpenBLAS DLL to the right place so it loads
-        $installed_path = "$PWD\build-install\usr\Lib\site-packages"
-        $numpy_path = "${installed_path}\numpy"
-        $libs_path = "${numpy_path}\.libs"
-        mkdir ${libs_path}
-        $ob_path = "C:/opt/64/bin/"
-        cp $ob_path/*.dll $libs_path
-        # Write _distributor_init.py to load .libs DLLs.
-        python -c "from tools import openblas_support; openblas_support.make_init(r'${numpy_path}')"
-
-    - name: Install test dependencies
-      run: |
-        python -m pip install -r test_requirements.txt
-        python -m pip install threadpoolctl
-
-    - name: Run test suite
-      run: |
-        spin test
diff --git a/build_requirements.txt b/build_requirements.txt
index e12ac1cf4e2c..7f598f623252 100644
--- a/build_requirements.txt
+++ b/build_requirements.txt
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ Cython>=3.0
 wheel==0.38.1
 ninja
 spin==0.5
+build