diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yml b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
index 0ef15d1c5..5a1c55743 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref }}
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
+env:
+  FORCE_COLOR: 1
+  PIP_PROGRESS_BAR: off
+  PYTHONUNBUFFERED: 1
+
 jobs:
   lint:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -17,9 +22,10 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v3
     - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
       with:
+        cache: pip
         python-version: '3.11'
     # required for pylint
-    - run: make karapace/version.py
+    - run: make version
     - run: pip install pre-commit
     - uses: actions/cache@v3
       with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 50519edf0..fe44ec46c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -2,56 +2,43 @@ name: Test Suite
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
+    types: [ opened, synchronize, reopened ]
   push:
-    branches:
-      - main
+    branches: [ main ]
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+env:
+  FORCE_COLOR: 1
+  PIP_PROGRESS_BAR: off
+  PYTHONUNBUFFERED: 1
 
 jobs:
   tests:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.7', '3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11']
+        python-version: [ '3.7', '3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11' ]
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v3
 
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
       uses: actions/setup-python@v4
       with:
+        cache: pip
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 
-    - name: Install libsnappy-dev (python-snappy legacy-install-failure on Python 3.11)
-      run: sudo apt install libsnappy-dev
-
-    - name: Install dependencies
-      run: python -m pip install -r requirements-dev.txt
-
-    - name: Extract Protobuf Version
-      id: protoc
-      run: pip freeze | grep -m1 '^protobuf==' | cut -d= -f3 | xargs printf 'version=%s' >>"$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-
-    - name: Install Protobuf Compiler
-      uses: arduino/setup-protoc@v1
-      with:
-         version: ${{ steps.protoc.outputs.version }}
-         repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-    # needed by both unit and integration tests
-    - name: Generate version.py
-      run: make karapace/version.py
-
-    - name: Execute unit-tests
-      timeout-minutes: 2
-      run: python3 -m pytest -s -vvv tests/unit/
-
-    - name: Execute integration-tests
-      timeout-minutes: 30
-      run: python3 -m pytest -s -vvv tests/integration/ --log-dir=/tmp/ci-logs --log-file=/tmp/ci-logs/pytest.log
+    - run: make install version
+    - run: make unit-tests
+    - run: make integration-tests
+      env:
+        PYTEST_ARGS: --log-dir=/tmp/ci-logs --log-file=/tmp/ci-logs/pytest.log
 
     - name: Archive logs
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
       if: ${{ always() }}
       with:
-          name: logs  ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-          path: /tmp/ci-logs
+        name: karapace-integration-test-logs-${{ matrix.python-version }}
+        path: /tmp/ci-logs
diff --git a/.python-version b/.python-version
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..475ba515c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.python-version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+3.7
diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..84831c1cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+VENV_DIR ?= $(CURDIR)/venv
+PIP      ?= pip3 --disable-pip-version-check --no-input --require-virtualenv
+PYTHON   ?= python3
+ifdef CI
+PYENV    ?= $(PYTHON)
+else
+PYENV    ?= pyenv exec python
+endif
+
+export PATH   := $(VENV_DIR)/bin:$(PATH)
+export PS4    := \e[0m\e[32m==> \e[0m
+export LC_ALL := C
+MAKEFLAGS     += --warn-undefined-variables
+MAKEFLAGS     += --no-builtin-rules
+SHELL         := bash
+.SHELLFLAGS   := -euxo pipefail -O globstar -c
+.ONESHELL:
+.SILENT:
+.SUFFIXES:
+
+.PHONY: all
+all: version
+
+.PHONY: venv
+venv: venv/.make
+venv/.make:
+	rm -fr '$(VENV_DIR)'
+	$(PYENV) -m venv '$(VENV_DIR)'
+	$(PIP) install --upgrade pip
+	touch '$(@)'
+
+.PHONY: install
+install: venv/.deps
+venv/.deps: requirements-dev.txt requirements.txt | venv/.make
+	set +x
+	source ./bin/get-java
+	source ./bin/get-protoc
+	source ./bin/get-snappy
+	set -x
+	$(PIP) install -r '$(<)' --use-pep517
+	touch '$(@)'
+
+.PHONY: version
+version: karapace/version.py
+karapace/version.py: version.py | venv/.make
+	$(PYTHON) '$(<)' '$(@)'
+
+.PHONY: test
+tests: unit-tests integration-tests
+
+.PHONY: unit-tests
+unit-tests: export PYTEST_ARGS ?=
+unit-tests: karapace/version.py venv/.deps
+	rm -fr runtime/*
+	$(PYTHON) -m pytest -s -vvv $(PYTEST_ARGS) tests/unit/
+	rm -fr runtime/*
+
+.PHONY: integration-tests
+unit-tests: export PYTEST_ARGS ?=
+integration-tests: karapace/version.py venv/.deps
+	rm -fr runtime/*
+	$(PYTHON) -m pytest -s -vvv $(PYTEST_ARGS) tests/integration/
+	rm -fr runtime/*
+
+.PHONY: clean
+clean:
+	rm -fr ./kafka_* ./*.egg-info/ ./dist/ ./karapace/version.py
+
+.PHONY: cleaner
+cleaner: clean
+	rm -fr ./.*cache*/
+
+.PHONY: cleanest
+cleanest: cleaner
+	rm -fr '$(VENV_DIR)'
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
deleted file mode 100644
index 2c8b20ba4..000000000
--- a/Makefile
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-PYTHON = python3
-
-default: karapace/version.py
-
-clean:
-	# remove all the versions of kafka
-	rm -rf kafka_*
-	# delete cache files
-	find . -iname '*.pyc' -delete
-	find . -iname '__pycache__' -delete
-	# delete packaging directories
-	rm -rf dist karapace.egg-info
-	# delete generate files
-	rm karapace/version.py
-
-karapace/version.py: version.py
-	$(PYTHON) $^ $@
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 8ad8fad98..e7c02fe6a 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -585,6 +585,52 @@ If you installed Karapace from the sources via ``python setup.py install``, it c
 
     pip uninstall karapace
 
+Development
+===========
+
+Execute ``make`` (GNU, usually ``gmake`` on BSD and Mac) to set up a ``venv``
+and install the required software for development. Use ``make unit-tests`` and
+``make integration-tests`` to execute the respective test suite, or simply
+``make test`` to execute both. You can set ``PYTEST_ARGS`` to customize the
+execution (e.g. ``PYTEST_ARGS=--maxfail=1 make test``).
+
+By default ``pyenv`` is expected to be installed and in ``PATH``. This ensures
+on all platforms that arbitrary Python versions can be used for development. It
+is possible to overwrite this by setting ``PYENV`` to something else (e.g.
+``PYENV=python3 make venv`` to simply use the global Python executable). The
+default Python version is defined in ``.python-version``.
+
+Karapace currently depends on various system software to be installed. The
+installation of these is automated for some operation systems, but not all. At
+the time of writing Java, the Protobuf Compiler, and the Snappy shared library
+are required to work with Karapace. You need to install them manually if your
+operating system is not supported by the automatic installation scripts. Note
+that the scripts are going to ask before installing any of these on your system.
+
+Note that Karapace requires a Protobuf Compiler older than 3.20.0, because
+3.20.0 introduces various breaking changes. The tests are going to fail if the
+Protobuf Compiler is newer than that. However, you can work around this locally
+by running ``pip install --upgrade protobuf`` in your venv. We are going to fix
+this soon.
+
+Note that the integration tests are currently not working on Mac. You can use
+Docker, just be sure to set ``VENV_DIR`` to a directory outside the working
+directory so that the container is not overwriting files from the host (e.g.
+``docker run --env VENV_DIR=/tmp/venv ...``).
+
+Note that the ``runtime`` directory **MUST** exist and that Karapace is going to
+fail if it does not. The ``runtime`` directory is also not cleaned between test
+runs, and left over data might result in failing tests. Use the ``make`` test
+targets that correctly clean the ``runtime`` directory without deleting it, but
+keep this in mind whenever you are not using ``make`` (e.g. running tests from
+your IDE).
+
+Note that the pre-commit checks are currently not working with the default
+Python version. This is because isort dropped Python 3.7 support. You have to
+use at least Python 3.8 for the pre-commit checks. Use ``pipx`` or ``brew`` or
+… to install pre-commit and use the global installation, there is also no
+dependency on it.
+
 License
 =======
 
diff --git a/bin/get-java b/bin/get-java
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..493757bdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/get-java
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -Eeuo pipefail
+
+if ! command -v java; then
+    exists() { command -v "$1" &>/dev/null; }
+    update=()
+    install=()
+    java_version=11
+
+    if exists brew; then
+        install+=(brew install "openjdk@$java_version")
+    else
+        if ((EUID != 0)) && exists sudo; then
+            update+=(sudo)
+            install+=(sudo)
+        fi
+
+        if exists apt-get; then
+            update+=(apt-get update)
+            install+=(apt-get install -y "openjdk-$java_version-jdk")
+        elif exists dnf; then
+            install+=(dnf install -y "java-$java_version-openjdk")
+        elif exists apk; then
+            install+=(apk add "openjdk$java_version")
+        else
+            printf '\e[0m\e[31mUnsupported system, install \e[1mjava\e[22m and make sure it is in your \e[1mPATH\e[22m.\e[0m\n' >&2
+            exit 1
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    if [[ ${CI:-false} != true ]]; then
+        cmd=
+        ((${#update[@]} < 2)) || cmd="${update[*]} && "
+        cmd+=${install[*]}
+        read -ern1 -p "$cmd [Yn] "
+        if [[ $REPLY == [Nn]* ]]; then
+            exit 0
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    ((${#update[@]} < 2)) || "${update[@]}"
+    "${install[@]}"
+fi
diff --git a/bin/get-protoc b/bin/get-protoc
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..1d35a8b35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/get-protoc
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -Eeuo pipefail
+
+if ! command -v protoc; then
+    exists() { command -v "$1" &>/dev/null; }
+    update=()
+    install=()
+
+    if exists brew; then
+        install+=(brew install protobuf)
+    else
+        if ((EUID != 0)) && exists sudo; then
+            update+=(sudo)
+            install+=(sudo)
+        fi
+
+        if exists apt-get; then
+            update+=(apt-get update)
+            install+=(apt-get install -y protobuf-compiler)
+        elif exists dnf; then
+            install+=(dnf install -y protobuf-compiler)
+        elif exists apk; then
+            install+=(apk add protoc)
+        else
+            printf '\e[0m\e[31mUnsupported system, install \e[1mprotoc\e[22m and make sure it is in your \e[1mPATH\e[22m.\e[0m\n' >&2
+            exit 1
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    if [[ ${CI:-false} != true ]]; then
+        cmd=
+        ((${#update[@]} < 2)) || cmd="${update[*]} && "
+        cmd+=${install[*]}
+        read -ern1 -p "$cmd [Yn] "
+        if [[ $REPLY == [Nn]* ]]; then
+            exit 0
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    ((${#update[@]} < 2)) || "${update[@]}"
+    "${install[@]}"
+fi
diff --git a/bin/get-snappy b/bin/get-snappy
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..f30ae5f45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/get-snappy
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -Eeuo pipefail
+
+exists() { command -v "$1" &>/dev/null; }
+update=()
+install=()
+
+ask() {
+    if [[ ${CI:-false} != true ]]; then
+        cmd=
+        ((${#update[@]} < 2)) || cmd="${update[*]} && "
+        cmd+=${install[*]}
+        read -ern1 -p "$cmd [Yn] "
+        if [[ $REPLY == [Nn]* ]]; then
+            return 1
+        fi
+    fi
+}
+
+if exists brew; then
+    snappy_prefix() { brew --prefix snappy 2>/dev/null; }
+
+    # brew might return a path even though it does not exist
+    if ! prefix=$(snappy_prefix) || [[ ! -d $prefix ]]; then
+        install+=(brew install snappy)
+        if ask; then
+            "${install[@]}"
+            prefix=$(snappy_prefix)
+        else
+            exit 0
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    # https://stackoverflow.com/a/41707800/1251219
+    export CPPFLAGS="'-I$prefix/include' '-L$prefix/lib'"
+elif ! ldconfig -p | grep -F 'libsnappy.so '; then
+    if ((EUID != 0)) && exists sudo; then
+        update+=(sudo)
+        install+=(sudo)
+    fi
+
+    if exists apt-get; then
+        update+=(apt-get update -y)
+        install+=(apt-get install -y libsnappy-dev)
+    elif exists dnf; then
+        install+=(dnf install -y csnappy-devel)
+    elif exists apk; then
+        install+=(apk add --no-cache snappy-dev g++)
+    else
+        printf '\e[0m\e[33mUnsupported system, not installing \e[1msnappy\e[22m but carrying on in case pip is able to find the required libraries.\e[0m\n' >&2
+        exit 0
+    fi
+
+    if ask; then
+        ((${#update[@]} < 2)) || "${update[@]}"
+        "${install[@]}"
+    fi
+fi