diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-other.yaml b/.github/workflows/test-other.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4e8289263
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-other.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# Other tests, primarily those requiring obsolete dependencies.
+name: test-other
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - "*"
+
+jobs:
+  run-tox:
+    name: tox -e ${{ matrix.toxenv }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        python-version:
+          - "3.8"
+        toxenv:
+          - "py38_smoke"
+          - "py38_smoke_cython"
+          - "wsgi_meinheld"
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repo
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 2
+
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+
+      - name: Install smoke test dependencies
+        run: |
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y libunwind-dev
+
+      - name: Install Python dependencies
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install --upgrade setuptools tox wheel
+          python --version
+          pip --version
+          tox --version
+
+      - name: Run tox
+        run: tox -e ${{ matrix.toxenv }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-wheels.yaml b/.github/workflows/test-wheels.yaml
index 3ccf2e360..43c7644a7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-wheels.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-wheels.yaml
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ jobs:
           - build: "cp313-manylinux_s390x"
             os: ubuntu-latest
             emulation: true
+          - build: "cp38-manylinux_x86_64"
+            os: ubuntu-latest
           - build: "cp313-musllinux_x86_64"
             os: ubuntu-latest
           - build: "cp313-macosx_arm64"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
index 078e5f59a..47ece6bef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-name: Run tests
+# Run tests in various tox environments.
+name: tests
 
 on:
   # NOTE(vytas): Trigger the tests workflow on push or pull request
@@ -11,104 +12,73 @@ on:
       - master
 
 jobs:
-  run_tox:
-    name: tox -e ${{ matrix.toxenv }} (${{matrix.python-version}} on ${{ matrix.os }})
-    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+  run-tox:
+    name: tox -e ${{ matrix.tox.env }}${{ matrix.tox.platform-label || '' }}
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.tox.os || matrix.default-os }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
+        default-os:
+          - "ubuntu-latest"
         python-version:
           - "3.12"
-        python-dev-version:
-          - ""
-        os:
-          - "ubuntu-latest"
-        toxenv:
-          - "pep8"
-          - "pep8-docstrings"
-          - "pep8-examples"
-          - "ruff"
-          - "mypy"
-          - "mypy_tests"
-          - "py312"
-          - "py312_sans_msgpack"
-          - "py312_cython"
-          - "docs"
-          - "towncrier"
-          - "look"
-          - "asgilook"
-          - "ws_tutorial"
-          # NOTE(vytas): Temporarily disabled while we are releasing a
-          #   new version of python-mimeparse, and haven't decided yet whether
-          #   to keep vendoring or reimplement.
-          # - "check_vendored"
-          - "twine_check"
-          - "daphne"
-          - "hypercorn"
-          - "e2e_chrome"
-          - "e2e_firefox"
-          - "no_optional_packages"
-          # TODO(kgriffs): Re-enable once hug has a chance to address
-          # breaking changes in Falcon 3.0
-          # - "hug"
-        include:
-          - python-version: pypy3.9
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: pypy3
-          - python-version: "3.8"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py38
-          - python-version: "3.9"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py39
-          - python-version: "3.9"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py39_cython
-          - python-version: "3.10"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py310
-          - python-version: "3.10"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py310_cython
-          - python-version: "3.11"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py311
-          - python-version: "3.11"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py311_cython
-          - python-version: "3.12"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py312
-          - python-version: "3.12"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py312_cython
-          - python-version: "3.12"
+        tox:
+          # Lint
+          - env: pep8
+          - env: pep8-docstrings
+          - env: ruff
+          # Documentation
+          - env: docs
+          - env: towncrier
+          # Typing
+          - env: mypy
+          - env: mypy_tests
+          # Python tests
+          - env: mintest
+            coverage: true
+          - env: pypy3
+            python-version: "pypy3.10"
+          - env: py38
+            python-version: "3.8"
+          - env: py39
+            python-version: "3.9"
+          - env: py310
+            python-version: "3.10"
+          - env: py310_cython
+            python-version: "3.10"
+          - env: py311
+            python-version: "3.11"
+          - env: py311_cython
+            python-version: "3.11"
+          - env: py312
+            coverage: true
+            python-version: "3.12"
+          - env: py312_cython
+            python-version: "3.12"
+          - env: py313
+            python-version: "3.13.0-rc.3 - 3.13"
+          - env: py313_cython
+            python-version: "3.13.0-rc.3 - 3.13"
+          - env: py312_nocover
             os: macos-latest
-            toxenv: py312_nocover
-          - python-version: "3.12"
+            platform-label: ' (macos)'
+          - env: py312_nocover
             os: windows-latest
-            toxenv: py312_nocover
-          - python-version: "3.13"
-            python-dev-version: "3.13.0-rc.1 - 3.13"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py313
-          - python-version: "3.13"
-            python-dev-version: "3.13.0-rc.1 - 3.13"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: py313_cython
-          # These env require 3.8 and 20.04, see tox.ini
-          - python-version: "3.8"
-            os: ubuntu-20.04
-            toxenv: py38_smoke
-          - python-version: "3.8"
-            os: ubuntu-20.04
-            toxenv: py38_smoke_cython
-          - python-version: "3.8"
-            os: ubuntu-latest
-            toxenv: "wsgi_servers"
+            platform-label: ' (windows)'
+          # Tutorials
+          - env: "look"
+          - env: "asgilook"
+          - env: "ws_tutorial"
+          # Tooling
+          - env: "twine_check"
+          # ASGI & WSGI servers
+          - env: "daphne"
+          - env: "hypercorn"
+          - env: "wsgi_servers"
+          # E2E tests
+          - env: "e2e_chrome"
+          - env: "e2e_firefox"
 
-    # Steps to run in each job.
-    # Some are GitHub actions, others run shell commands.
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repo
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -119,43 +89,30 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        if: ${{ !matrix.python-dev-version }}
         with:
-          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-
-      - name: Set up Python (pre-release)
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        if: ${{ matrix.python-dev-version }}
-        with:
-          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-dev-version }}
-
-      - name: Install smoke test dependencies
-        if: ${{ matrix.toxenv == 'py38_smoke' || matrix.toxenv == 'py38_smoke_cython' }}
-        run: |
-          sudo apt-get update
-          sudo apt-get install -y libunwind-dev
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.tox.python-version || matrix.python-version }}
 
-      - name: Install dependencies
+      - name: Install Python dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install -U coverage fixtures setuptools tox wheel
+          pip install --upgrade coverage setuptools tox wheel
           python --version
           pip --version
           tox --version
           coverage --version
 
-      - name: Run tests
-        run: tox -e ${{ matrix.toxenv }}
+      - name: Run tox
+        run: tox -e ${{ matrix.tox.env }}
 
       - name: Combine coverage
-        if: ${{ matrix.toxenv == 'py312' || matrix.toxenv == 'py312_sans_msgpack' }}
+        if: ${{ matrix.tox.coverage }}
         run: |
           coverage --version
           coverage combine
 
       - name: Upload coverage to Codecov
         uses: codecov/codecov-action@v4
-        if: ${{ matrix.toxenv == 'py312' || matrix.toxenv == 'py312_sans_msgpack' }}
+        if: ${{ matrix.tox.coverage }}
         with:
           env_vars: PYTHON
           fail_ci_if_error: true
diff --git a/.github/workflows/mintest.yaml b/.github/workflows/tox-sdist.yaml
similarity index 96%
rename from .github/workflows/mintest.yaml
rename to .github/workflows/tox-sdist.yaml
index c3a6b5f78..0986fc841 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/mintest.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tox-sdist.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Run tests (contributor's checklist)
+name: test-tox-sdist
 
 on:
   # Trigger the workflow on master but also allow it to run manually.
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 996555128..dfa18e0c6 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
    :target: https://falconframework.org/
    :width: 100 %
 
-|Build Status| |Docs| |codecov.io|
+|Build status| |Docs| |codecov.io| |PyPI package| |Python versions|
 
 The Falcon Web Framework
 ========================
@@ -978,13 +978,17 @@ WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 limitations under the License.
 
+.. |Build status| image:: https://github.com/falconry/falcon/actions/workflows/tests.yaml/badge.svg
+    :target: https://github.com/falconry/falcon/actions/workflows/tests.yaml
 .. |Docs| image:: https://readthedocs.org/projects/falcon/badge/?version=stable
     :alt: Falcon web framework docs
     :target: https://falcon.readthedocs.io/en/stable/?badge=stable
-.. |Build Status| image:: https://github.com/falconry/falcon/workflows/Run%20tests/badge.svg
-    :target: https://github.com/falconry/falcon/actions?query=workflow%3A%22Run+tests%22
 .. |codecov.io| image:: https://codecov.io/gh/falconry/falcon/branch/master/graphs/badge.svg
-    :target: http://codecov.io/gh/falconry/falcon
+    :target: https://codecov.io/gh/falconry/falcon
+.. |PyPI package| image:: https://badge.fury.io/py/falcon.svg
+    :target: https://pypi.org/project/falcon/
+.. |Python versions| image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/falcon.svg
+    :target: https://pypi.org/project/falcon/
 .. |Backer:GovCert| image:: https://falconframework.org/assets/govcert.png
     :alt: CERT Gouvernemental Luxembourg
     :height: 60px
diff --git a/tools/testing/install_hug.sh b/tools/testing/install_hug.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 67e1ab8eb..000000000
--- a/tools/testing/install_hug.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-
-HUG_PATH=.ecosystem/hug
-
-# Clean up in case we are running locally and not in CI
-rm -rf $HUG_PATH
-
-mkdir -p .ecosystem
-git clone https://github.com/timothycrosley/hug.git $HUG_PATH
-virtualenv $HUG_PATH/.venv
-source $HUG_PATH/.venv/bin/activate
-
-pip install hug
-
-pushd $HUG_PATH
-git checkout master
-git pull
-HUG_VERSION=$(pip freeze | grep hug | cut -c 6-)
-git checkout tags/$HUG_VERSION
-pip install -rrequirements/build.txt
-popd
-
-pip install .  # Override Hug's Falcon version with the one under test
diff --git a/tools/testing/test_hug.sh b/tools/testing/test_hug.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 85d656e5a..000000000
--- a/tools/testing/test_hug.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-
-set -e
-
-pushd .ecosystem/hug
-source .venv/bin/activate
-python -m pytest tests
-popd
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 0b96f9d77..560f78f30 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 envlist = cleanup,
           ruff,
           pep8,
+          pep8-docstrings,
           mypy,
           mypy_tests,
           mintest,
@@ -48,29 +49,6 @@ commands = coverage combine
            coverage html -d {toxinidir}/.coverage_html
            coverage report --fail-under 100
 
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-# ASGI servers
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-[testenv:daphne]
-deps = {[testenv]deps}
-       daphne
-
-[testenv:hypercorn]
-# TODO(vytas): Unpin Hypercorn once the buggy versions are yanked upstream.
-deps = {[testenv]deps}
-       hypercorn != 0.14.0, != 0.14.1
-
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Test without optional packages
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-[testenv:no_optional_packages]
-deps = {[testenv]deps}
-commands = python "{toxinidir}/tools/clean.py" "{toxinidir}/falcon"
-           pip uninstall --yes python-rapidjson daphne orjson
-           pytest tests []
-
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Coverage
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -93,11 +71,6 @@ deps = {[testenv]deps}
        jsonschema
 commands = coverage run -m pytest tests []
 
-[testenv:pytest_sans_msgpack]
-deps = {[testenv]deps}
-commands = pip uninstall --yes msgpack
-           coverage run -m pytest tests -k "test_ws and test_msgpack_missing"
-
 [testenv:py312]
 basepython = python3.12
 deps = {[testenv]deps}
@@ -105,12 +78,6 @@ deps = {[testenv]deps}
        jsonschema
 commands = {[with-coverage]commands}
 
-[testenv:py312_sans_msgpack]
-basepython = python3.12
-deps = {[testenv]deps}
-commands = pip uninstall --yes msgpack
-           coverage run -m pytest tests -k "test_ws and test_msgpack_missing"
-
 [testenv:py312_nocover]
 basepython = python3.12
 deps = {[testenv]deps}
@@ -134,13 +101,13 @@ deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements/tests
        pdbpp
 
 [testenv:py3_debug]
-basepython = python3.10
+basepython = python3.12
 deps = {[with-debug-tools]deps}
        uvicorn
        jsonschema
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
-# mypy
+# Mypy
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 [testenv:mypy]
@@ -229,12 +196,33 @@ commands = {[with-cython]commands}
 setenv = {[with-cython]setenv}
 deps = {[with-cython]deps}
        gunicorn
-       # NOTE(caselit): meinheld requires greenlet<0.5 that's not compatible with py3.10
-       meinheld
        uwsgi
        waitress
 commands = pytest -v tests/test_wsgi_servers.py
 
+[testenv:wsgi_meinheld]
+# NOTE(caselit): meinheld requires greenlet<0.5 that's not compatible with py3.10
+basepython = python3.8
+setenv = {[with-cython]setenv}
+deps = {[with-cython]deps}
+       gunicorn
+       meinheld
+commands = pytest -v tests/test_wsgi_servers.py
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------
+# ASGI servers
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+[testenv:daphne]
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+       daphne
+commands = pytest -v tests/asgi/test_asgi_servers.py
+
+[testenv:hypercorn]
+deps = {[testenv]deps}
+       hypercorn
+commands = pytest -v tests/asgi/test_asgi_servers.py
+
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Smoke testing with a sample app
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -266,8 +254,17 @@ commands = {[smoke-test]commands}
 
 [testenv:pep8]
 deps = ruff
+skip_install = True
 commands = ruff check []
 
+[testenv:pep8-docstrings]
+deps = ruff
+skip_install = True
+commands = ruff check \
+             --exclude=.ecosystem,.eggs,.git,.tox,.venv,build,dist,docs,examples,tests,falcon/vendor,falcon/bench/nuts \
+             --select=D205,D212,D400,D401,D403,D404 \
+             []
+
 [testenv:ruff]
 deps = ruff>=0.3.7
 skip_install = True
@@ -276,35 +273,23 @@ commands = ruff format --check . []
 [testenv:reformat]
 deps = ruff>=0.3.7
 skip_install = True
-commands = ruff format . []
-
-[testenv:pep8-docstrings]
-deps = ruff
-commands = ruff check \
-             --exclude=.ecosystem,.eggs,.git,.tox,.venv,build,dist,docs,examples,tests,falcon/vendor,falcon/bench/nuts \
-             --select=D205,D212,D400,D401,D403,D404 \
-             []
-
-[testenv:pep8-examples]
-deps = ruff
-commands = ruff check examples []
+commands =
+    ruff format . []
+    ruff check --fix
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # For viewing environ dicts generated by various WSGI servers
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-[testenv:py310_dump_gunicorn]
-basepython = python3.10
+[testenv:dump_gunicorn]
 deps = gunicorn
 commands = gunicorn -b localhost:8000 tests.dump_wsgi
 
-[testenv:py310_dump_waitress]
-basepython = python3.10
+[testenv:dump_waitress]
 deps = waitress
 commands = waitress-serve --listen=localhost:8000 tests.dump_wsgi:application
 
-[testenv:py310_dump_wsgiref]
-basepython = python3.10
+[testenv:dump_wsgiref]
 commands = python tests/dump_wsgi.py
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -358,13 +343,11 @@ commands = {toxinidir}/tools/check-vendored.sh
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 [testenv:twine_check]
-basepython = python3.10
 skipsdist = True
-deps = setuptools
+deps = build
        twine
-       wheel
 commands =
-    python {toxinidir}/setup.py bdist_wheel sdist
+    python -m build
     twine check {toxinidir}/dist/*
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -414,7 +397,11 @@ commands =
     {toxinidir}/tools/generate_dash.sh
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Tutorial ("look") tests
+# Tutorial tests
+#
+#   - Tutorial ("look") tests
+#   - ASGI tutorial ("asgilook") tests
+#   - WebSockets tutorial ("ws_tutorial") tests
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 [testenv:look]
@@ -423,10 +410,6 @@ deps =
 commands =
     pytest {toxinidir}/examples/look/tests
 
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-# ASGI tutorial ("asgilook") tests
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
 [testenv:asgilook]
 basepython = python3.12
 deps =
@@ -440,10 +423,6 @@ commands =
         --cov-report term-missing \
         {toxinidir}/examples/asgilook/tests/
 
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-# WebSockets tutorial ("ws_tutorial") tests
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
 [testenv:ws_tutorial]
 basepython = python3.12
 deps =
@@ -457,17 +436,6 @@ commands =
         --cov-report term-missing \
         {toxinidir}/examples/ws_tutorial/tests/
 
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Ecosystem
-# --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-[testenv:hug]
-basepython = python3.8
-deps = virtualenv
-commands =
-     {toxinidir}/tools/testing/install_hug.sh
-     {toxinidir}/tools/testing/test_hug.sh
-
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # E2E tests
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -485,4 +453,3 @@ deps =
     -r{toxinidir}/requirements/e2e
 commands =
     pytest {toxinidir}/e2e-tests/ --browser=firefox
-