diff --git a/dockerfiles/bun-1.1.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/bun-1.1.Dockerfile
index 4db1041..3622634 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/bun-1.1.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/bun-1.1.Dockerfile
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM oven/bun:1.1.4-alpine
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="package.json,bun.lockb"
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
-COPY package.json ./
-COPY bun.lockb ./
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 # For reproducible builds.
 # This will install the exact versions of each package specified in the lockfile.
@@ -15,3 +16,6 @@ RUN bun install --frozen-lockfile
 RUN mkdir -p /app-cached
 # If the node_modules directory exists, move it to /app-cached
 RUN if [ -d "/app/node_modules" ]; then mv /app/node_modules /app-cached; fi
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/cpp-20.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/cpp-20.Dockerfile
index dd2cc64..a33529d 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/cpp-20.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/cpp-20.Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM gcc:12.2.0-bullseye
 
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
+
 RUN apt-get update && \
     apt-get install --no-install-recommends -y cmake=3.18.* && \
     apt-get clean && \
     rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/dotnet-8.0.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/dotnet-8.0.Dockerfile
index 5e9822a..9bbd1c5 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/dotnet-8.0.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/dotnet-8.0.Dockerfile
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/sdk:8.0-alpine
 
-COPY codecrafters-grep.csproj /app/codecrafters-grep.csproj
-COPY codecrafters-grep.sln /app/codecrafters-grep.sln
 
 RUN mkdir /app/src
 RUN (echo 'System.Console.WriteLine("If you are seeing this, there is something wrong with our caching mechanism! Please contact us at hello@codecrafters.io.");' > /app/src/Program.cs) > /dev/null
 
 WORKDIR /app
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 # This saves nuget packages to ~/.nuget
 RUN dotnet build --configuration Release .
@@ -22,3 +23,6 @@ RUN echo "cd \${CODECRAFTERS_SUBMISSION_DIR} && dotnet build --configuration Rel
 RUN chmod +x /codecrafters-precompile.sh
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="codecrafters-grep.csproj,codecrafters-grep.sln"
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/gleam-1.0.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/gleam-1.0.Dockerfile
index 2d62298..04850d0 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/gleam-1.0.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/gleam-1.0.Dockerfile
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM ghcr.io/gleam-lang/gleam:v1.0.0-erlang-alpine
 
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
+
 # Pre-compile steps
 RUN printf "cd \${CODECRAFTERS_SUBMISSION_DIR} && gleam build" > /codecrafters-precompile.sh
 RUN chmod +x /codecrafters-precompile.sh
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/go-1.19.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/go-1.19.Dockerfile
index 23ced9c..145398d 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/go-1.19.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/go-1.19.Dockerfile
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM golang:1.19-alpine
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="go.mod,go.sum"
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
-COPY go.mod go.sum ./
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 RUN ash -c "set -exo pipefail; go mod graph | awk '{if (\$1 !~ \"@\") {print \$2}}' | xargs -r go get"
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/go-1.21.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/go-1.21.Dockerfile
index d92cb87..c883c1c 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/go-1.21.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/go-1.21.Dockerfile
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM golang:1.21-alpine
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="go.mod,go.sum"
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
-COPY go.mod go.sum ./
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 # Starting from Go 1.20, the go standard library is no loger compiled
 # setting the GODEBUG environment to "installgoroot=all" restores the old behavior
 RUN GODEBUG="installgoroot=all" go install std
 
 RUN ash -c "set -exo pipefail; go mod graph | awk '{if (\$1 !~ \"@\") {print \$2}}' | xargs -r go get"
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/go-1.22.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/go-1.22.Dockerfile
index ec4d2bd..85cb5ca 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/go-1.22.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/go-1.22.Dockerfile
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM golang:1.22-alpine
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="go.mod,go.sum"
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
-COPY go.mod go.sum ./
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 # Starting from Go 1.20, the go standard library is no loger compiled
 # setting the GODEBUG environment to "installgoroot=all" restores the old behavior
 RUN GODEBUG="installgoroot=all" go install std
 
 RUN ash -c "set -exo pipefail; go mod graph | awk '{if (\$1 !~ \"@\") {print \$2}}' | xargs -r go get"
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/haskell-9.2.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/haskell-9.2.Dockerfile
index ef0be62..1f4ea11 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/haskell-9.2.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/haskell-9.2.Dockerfile
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM haskell:9.2.5-buster
 
 WORKDIR /app
@@ -11,13 +12,11 @@ RUN echo "allow-different-user: true" >> /etc/stack/config.yaml
 RUN echo "install-ghc: false" >> /etc/stack/config.yaml
 RUN echo "system-ghc: true" >> /etc/stack/config.yaml
 
-COPY stack.yaml package.yaml stack.yaml.lock /app/
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 # Dummy static content to circumvent the /app doesn't exist warning
 RUN mkdir /app/src
-RUN mkdir /app/app
-RUN echo 'main :: IO ()' >> /app/app/Main.hs
-RUN echo 'main = putStrLn "Hello, World!"' >> /app/app/Main.hs
 
 RUN stack build 
 RUN stack clean hs-grep-clone
@@ -29,4 +28,6 @@ RUN rm -rf /app/src
 RUN echo "cd \${CODECRAFTERS_SUBMISSION_DIR} && cp -r /tmp/.stack-work . && stack build" > /codecrafters-precompile.sh
 RUN chmod +x /codecrafters-precompile.sh
 
-ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="stack.yaml,package.yaml,stack.yaml.lock"
\ No newline at end of file
+ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="stack.yaml,package.yaml,stack.yaml.lock"
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/nodejs-18.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/nodejs-18.Dockerfile
index 330bf0b..278c40c 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/nodejs-18.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/nodejs-18.Dockerfile
@@ -1 +1,7 @@
-FROM node:18.18.0-alpine3.17
\ No newline at end of file
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
+FROM node:18.18.0-alpine3.17
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/nodejs-21.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/nodejs-21.Dockerfile
index 435b41e..8f634f5 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/nodejs-21.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/nodejs-21.Dockerfile
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM node:21.7-alpine3.19
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="package.json,package-lock.json"
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
-COPY package.json ./
-COPY package-lock.json ./
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 # If dependencies in the package lock do not match those in package.json, instead of updating the package lock, npm ci will exit with an error. 
 RUN npm ci
@@ -13,3 +14,6 @@ RUN npm ci
 RUN mkdir -p /app-cached
 # If the node_modules directory exists, move it to /app-cached
 RUN if [ -d "/app/node_modules" ]; then mv /app/node_modules /app-cached; fi
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/python-3.10.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/python-3.10.Dockerfile
index 071947e..f2e99c3 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/python-3.10.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/python-3.10.Dockerfile
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM python:3.10-alpine
 
 RUN pip install --no-cache-dir "pipenv>=2023.12.1"
 
-COPY Pipfile /app/Pipfile
-COPY Pipfile.lock /app/Pipfile.lock
 
 WORKDIR /app
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 ENV WORKON_HOME=/venvs
 
@@ -15,3 +16,6 @@ RUN pipenv install
 RUN pipenv run python3 -c "1+1"
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="Pipfile,Pipfile.lock"
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/python-3.11.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/python-3.11.Dockerfile
index e377bca..3ec85c5 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/python-3.11.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/python-3.11.Dockerfile
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM python:3.11-alpine
 
 RUN pip install --no-cache-dir "pipenv>=2023.12.1"
 
-COPY Pipfile /app/Pipfile
-COPY Pipfile.lock /app/Pipfile.lock
 
 WORKDIR /app
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 ENV WORKON_HOME=/venvs
 
@@ -15,3 +16,6 @@ RUN pipenv install
 RUN pipenv run python3 -c "1+1"
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="Pipfile,Pipfile.lock"
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/python-3.12.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/python-3.12.Dockerfile
index 9d4f14c..45c632b 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/python-3.12.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/python-3.12.Dockerfile
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM python:3.12-alpine
 
 RUN pip install --no-cache-dir "pipenv>=2023.12.1"
 
-COPY Pipfile /app/Pipfile
-COPY Pipfile.lock /app/Pipfile.lock
 
 WORKDIR /app
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 ENV WORKON_HOME=/venvs
 
@@ -15,3 +16,6 @@ RUN pipenv install
 RUN pipenv run python3 -c "1+1"
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="Pipfile,Pipfile.lock"
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/ruby-2.7.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/ruby-2.7.Dockerfile
index 9204142..9658506 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/ruby-2.7.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/ruby-2.7.Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM ruby:2.7-alpine
 
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
+
 RUN apk add --no-cache --upgrade 'curl>=7.66'
 RUN apk add --no-cache --upgrade 'curl-dev>=7.66'
 
 WORKDIR /app
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/ruby-3.2.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/ruby-3.2.Dockerfile
index 3c9465c..8348c80 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/ruby-3.2.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/ruby-3.2.Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM ruby:3.2-alpine
 
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
+
 RUN apk add --no-cache --upgrade 'curl>=7.66'
 RUN apk add --no-cache --upgrade 'curl-dev>=7.66'
 
 WORKDIR /app
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/ruby-3.3.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/ruby-3.3.Dockerfile
index 2c92211..9accaf4 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/ruby-3.3.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/ruby-3.3.Dockerfile
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM ruby:3.3-alpine
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="Gemfile,Gemfile.lock"
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
-COPY Gemfile Gemfile.lock ./
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 
 RUN bundle install --verbose
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/rust-1.62.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/rust-1.62.Dockerfile
index d0293b1..05fb007 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/rust-1.62.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/rust-1.62.Dockerfile
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM rust:1.62-buster
 
-COPY Cargo.toml /app/Cargo.toml
-COPY Cargo.lock /app/Cargo.lock
 
 RUN mkdir /app/src
 RUN echo 'fn main() { println!("Hello World!"); }' > /app/src/main.rs
 
 WORKDIR /app
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 RUN cargo build --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
 
 RUN cargo clean -p grep-starter-rust --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
@@ -18,3 +19,6 @@ RUN chmod +x /codecrafters-precompile.sh
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="Cargo.toml,Cargo.lock"
 
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/rust-1.68.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/rust-1.68.Dockerfile
index f6d848b..4936cfc 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/rust-1.68.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/rust-1.68.Dockerfile
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM rust:1.68-buster
 
-COPY Cargo.toml /app/Cargo.toml
-COPY Cargo.lock /app/Cargo.lock
 
 RUN mkdir /app/src
 RUN echo 'fn main() { println!("Hello World!"); }' > /app/src/main.rs
 
 WORKDIR /app
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 RUN cargo build --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
 
 RUN cargo clean -p grep-starter-rust --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
@@ -18,3 +19,6 @@ RUN chmod +x /codecrafters-precompile.sh
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="Cargo.toml,Cargo.lock"
 
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/rust-1.70.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/rust-1.70.Dockerfile
index 28e4d8b..e1ccca1 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/rust-1.70.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/rust-1.70.Dockerfile
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM rust:1.70-buster
 
-COPY Cargo.toml /app/Cargo.toml
-COPY Cargo.lock /app/Cargo.lock
 
 RUN mkdir /app/src
 RUN echo 'fn main() { println!("Hello World!"); }' > /app/src/main.rs
 
 WORKDIR /app
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 RUN cargo build --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
 
 RUN cargo clean -p grep-starter-rust --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
@@ -18,3 +19,6 @@ RUN chmod +x /codecrafters-precompile.sh
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="Cargo.toml,Cargo.lock"
 
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/rust-1.76.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/rust-1.76.Dockerfile
index aa5baab..e1e5421 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/rust-1.76.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/rust-1.76.Dockerfile
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM rust:1.76-buster
 
-COPY Cargo.toml /app/Cargo.toml
-COPY Cargo.lock /app/Cargo.lock
 
 RUN mkdir /app/src
 RUN echo 'fn main() { println!("Hello World!"); }' > /app/src/main.rs
 
 WORKDIR /app
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 RUN cargo build --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
 
 RUN cargo clean -p grep-starter-rust --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
@@ -18,3 +19,6 @@ RUN chmod +x /codecrafters-precompile.sh
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="Cargo.toml,Cargo.lock"
 
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app
diff --git a/dockerfiles/rust-1.77.Dockerfile b/dockerfiles/rust-1.77.Dockerfile
index fc5e596..1c75196 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/rust-1.77.Dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfiles/rust-1.77.Dockerfile
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.7-labs
 FROM rust:1.77-buster
 
-COPY Cargo.toml /app/Cargo.toml
-COPY Cargo.lock /app/Cargo.lock
 
 RUN mkdir /app/src
 RUN echo 'fn main() { println!("Hello World!"); }' > /app/src/main.rs
 
 WORKDIR /app
+# .git & README.md are unique per-repository. We ignore them on first copy to prevent cache misses
+COPY --exclude=.git --exclude=README.md . /app
 RUN cargo build --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
 
 RUN cargo clean -p grep-starter-rust --release --target-dir=/tmp/codecrafters-grep-target
@@ -18,3 +19,6 @@ RUN chmod +x /codecrafters-precompile.sh
 
 ENV CODECRAFTERS_DEPENDENCY_FILE_PATHS="Cargo.toml,Cargo.lock"
 
+
+# Once the heave steps are done, we can copy all files back
+COPY . /app