diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
index 9033e3b..1cd9560 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
@@ -28,12 +28,13 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip wheel poetry
           make install
+          poetry run pip install matplotlib
       - name: Install package
         run: |
           poetry run pip install .
       - name: Test with pytest
         run: |
-          make test
+          make test-all
 
   build_wheels:
     name: Build wheels
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6296433..fa851f3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,3 +8,14 @@ doc/_templates
 /doc/latex/
 .dir-locals.el
 /dist
+
+
+# Generated by example scripts
+blade.stl
+circle.gif
+lissajous34.gif
+reuleaux-1.png
+reuleaux-2.png
+torus.g2
+torus.stl
+trefoil.stl
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2d20623..aa6aac8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.PHONY: install mypy lint pytest test fmt fmtcheck doc
+.PHONY: install mypy lint fmt fmtcheck doc
 
 install:
 	poetry install --with=dev
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ mypy:
 lint:
 	poetry run ruff splipy
 
-pytest:
-	poetry run pytest --benchmark-skip
-
 bench:
 	poetry run pytest --benchmark-only
 
@@ -23,18 +20,43 @@ fmtcheck:
 	poetry run black splipy --check
 	poetry run isort splipy --check
 
-test: pytest
 
 doc:
 	$(MAKE) -C doc html
 
 
+# Test targets
+
+.PHONY: pytest
+pytest:
+	poetry run pytest --benchmark-skip
+
+.PHONY: examples
+examples:
+	poetry run python examples/circle_animation.py --ci
+	poetry run python examples/lissajous.py --ci
+	poetry run python examples/loft.py
+	poetry run python examples/read.py
+	poetry run python examples/reuleaux.py --ci
+	poetry run python examples/trefoil.py
+	poetry run python examples/write.py
+
+.PHONY: test  # most common test commands for everyday development
+test: pytest
+
+.PHONY: test-all  # run from CI: the whole kitchen sink
+test-all: test examples
+
+
 # Build targets (used from CI)
 
+.PHONY: sdist
 sdist:
 	poetry build -f sdist
 
+.PHONY: wheel
 wheel:
 	poetry build -f wheel
 
+.PHONY: build
 build: sdist wheel
diff --git a/examples/circle_animation.py b/examples/circle_animation.py
index 26d922d..fe907f0 100644
--- a/examples/circle_animation.py
+++ b/examples/circle_animation.py
@@ -5,14 +5,17 @@
 # Institute: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
 # Date:      March 2016
 #
-from sys import path
-path.append('../')
+from sys import argv
 from splipy import *
 import splipy.curve_factory as curves
 import numpy as np
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import matplotlib.animation as animation
 
+
+INTERACTIVE = "--ci" not in argv[1:]
+
+
 n = 250                                  # number of evaluation points
 c = curves.circle()                      # create the NURBS circle
 t = np.linspace(c.start(0), c.end(0), n) # parametric evaluation points
@@ -37,7 +40,9 @@ def animate(i):
     
 # create and show the animation
 ani = animation.FuncAnimation(fig, animate, np.arange(1,n), interval=24)
-plt.show()
 
-# save results as an animated gif for web display (PS: this function call is slow)
-# ani.save('circle.gif', writer='imagemagick', fps=30);
+if INTERACTIVE:
+    plt.show()
+else:
+    # save results as an animated gif for web display (PS: this function call is slow)
+    ani.save('circle.gif', writer='imagemagick', fps=30);
diff --git a/examples/lissajous.py b/examples/lissajous.py
index 3c1223b..7103538 100644
--- a/examples/lissajous.py
+++ b/examples/lissajous.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 #
 
 
-from sys import path
-path.append('../')
+from sys import argv
 from splipy import curve_factory
 from math import gcd
 import numpy as np
@@ -18,22 +17,26 @@
 import matplotlib.animation as animation
 from math import pi
 
+
+INTERACTIVE = "--ci" not in argv[1:]
+
+
 def lissajous(a, b, d):
-  # request a,b integers, so we have closed, periodic curves
-  n = gcd(a,b)
-  N = (a/n) * (b/n) # number of periods before looping
+    # request a,b integers, so we have closed, periodic curves
+    n = gcd(a,b)
+    N = (a/n) * (b/n) # number of periods before looping
 
-  # error test input
-  if N > 1e4:       # non-integer (a,b) or otherwise too irregular
-    raise Exception('Non-periodic', 'a,b must be integers (of moderate size)')
+    # error test input
+    if N > 1e4:       # non-integer (a,b) or otherwise too irregular
+      raise Exception('Non-periodic', 'a,b must be integers (of moderate size)')
 
-  # compute a set of interpolation points
-  numb_pts = max(3*N, 100) # using 3N interpolation points is decent enough
-  t = np.linspace(0,2*pi/n, numb_pts)
-  x = np.array([np.sin(a*t + d), np.sin(b*t)])
+    # compute a set of interpolation points
+    numb_pts = max(3*N, 100) # using 3N interpolation points is decent enough
+    t = np.linspace(0,2*pi/n, numb_pts)
+    x = np.array([np.sin(a*t + d), np.sin(b*t)])
 
-  # do a cubic curve interpolation with periodic boundary conditions
-  return curve_factory.cubic_curve(x.T, curve_factory.Boundary.PERIODIC)
+    # do a cubic curve interpolation with periodic boundary conditions
+    return curve_factory.cubic_curve(x.T, curve_factory.Boundary.PERIODIC)
 
 
 ### main program ###
@@ -73,7 +76,9 @@ def animate(i):
 
 # create and show the animation
 ani = animation.FuncAnimation(fig, animate, np.arange(0,int(2*n/fps)), interval=10)
-plt.show()
 
-# save results as an animated gif for web display (PS: this function call is slow)
-# ani.save('lissajous34.gif', writer='imagemagick', fps=30);
+if INTERACTIVE:
+    plt.show()
+else:
+    # save results as an animated gif for web display (PS: this function call is slow)
+    ani.save('lissajous34.gif', writer='imagemagick', fps=30);
diff --git a/examples/loft.py b/examples/loft.py
index d3ed7ba..108d866 100644
--- a/examples/loft.py
+++ b/examples/loft.py
@@ -5,11 +5,6 @@
 # Date:      February 2021
 #
 
-# This is simply to allow the example to run from the example 
-# folder without the need for splipy to be installed globally on the system
-from sys import path
-path.append('../')
-
 # Slightly more interesting input geometries. Read more on NACA wing 
 # profiles here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NACA_airfoil
 from splipy.utils.NACA import NACA
diff --git a/examples/read.py b/examples/read.py
index bde7ba3..e729847 100644
--- a/examples/read.py
+++ b/examples/read.py
@@ -5,18 +5,19 @@
 # Date:      October 2017
 #
 
-from sys import path
-path.append('../')
+from pathlib import Path
 from splipy.io import *
 
 # G2 files are native GoTools (http://www.sintef.no/projectweb/geometry-toolkits/gotools/)
 
+path = str(Path(__file__).parent)
+
 # Read a single NURBS patch from the file 'sphere.g2'
-with G2('sphere.g2') as my_file:
+with G2(f'{path}/sphere.g2') as my_file:
     my_sphere = my_file.read()
 
 # Read multiple NURBS patches from the file 'teapot.g2'
-with G2('teapot.g2') as my_file:
+with G2(f'{path}/teapot.g2') as my_file:
     my_teapot = my_file.read()
 
 print(type(my_teapot)) # <class 'list'>
diff --git a/examples/reuleaux.py b/examples/reuleaux.py
index 49d9976..41b5c2b 100644
--- a/examples/reuleaux.py
+++ b/examples/reuleaux.py
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@
 # Date:      March 2016
 #
 
-from sys import path
-path.append('../')
+from sys import argv
 from splipy import *
 import splipy.curve_factory as curves
 import splipy.surface_factory as surfaces
@@ -16,6 +15,10 @@
 from mpl_toolkits.mplot3d import Axes3D
 from math import pi, cos, sin
 
+
+INTERACTIVE = "--ci" not in argv[1:]
+
+
 # create the three sides of the triangle, each consisting of a circle segment
 c1 = curves.circle_segment(pi/3)
 c2 = c1.clone().rotate(2*pi/3) + [1,0]
@@ -30,7 +33,11 @@
 x = c(t)                                   # evaluate (x,y)-coordinates
 plt.plot(x[:,0], x[:,1])
 plt.axis('equal')
-plt.show()
+
+if INTERACTIVE:
+    plt.show()
+else:
+    plt.savefig('reuleaux-1.png')
 
 # split the triangle in two, and align this with the y-axis
 two_parts = c.split((c.start(0) + c.end(0)) / 2.0)
@@ -45,4 +52,8 @@
 x = surf(u,v)
 ax = plt.axes(projection='3d')
 ax.plot_wireframe(x[:,:,0], x[:,:,1], x[:,:,2])
-plt.show()
+
+if INTERACTIVE:
+    plt.show()
+else:
+    plt.savefig('reuleaux-2.png')
diff --git a/examples/trefoil.py b/examples/trefoil.py
index 75d3b05..e641fbd 100644
--- a/examples/trefoil.py
+++ b/examples/trefoil.py
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@
 # Date:      June 2017
 #
 
-from sys import path
-path.append('../')
-
 from splipy import curve_factory, surface_factory
 from splipy.io import STL
 from numpy import pi, cos, sin
@@ -35,4 +32,3 @@ def trefoil(t):
 ### write results to file. Use meshlab (www.meshlab.net) to view stl-files
 with STL('trefoil.stl') as f:
     f.write(srf, n=(150,30))
-
diff --git a/examples/write.py b/examples/write.py
index b6a6884..90947bc 100644
--- a/examples/write.py
+++ b/examples/write.py
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 # Date:      March 2016
 #
 
-from sys import path
-path.append('../')
 from splipy.io import G2, STL
 import splipy.surface_factory as surfaces