diff --git a/.github/workflows/applicationTests.yml b/.github/workflows/applicationTests.yml
index d1fdcb80b10..8eecde60850 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/applicationTests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/applicationTests.yml
@@ -42,19 +42,19 @@ on:
       - main
 
 jobs:
-  applicationsTests:
+  test:
+    name: ${{ matrix.os }}
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
-    name:  Ap Test ${{ matrix.tests }} 
     steps:
     - name: Checkout Repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
     - name: Cache Maven Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
+      uses: actions/cache@v2
       with:
         path: ~/.m2/repository
         key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-test-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 4fe60b6e086..82f52f09a31 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -43,31 +43,37 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   build:
+    name: ${{ matrix.os }} Java ${{ matrix.java }} ${{ matrix.javadist }}
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [
           ubuntu-latest, 
-          # macOS-latest, 
+          macOS-latest, 
           windows-latest
           ]
+        java: [
+          # '8', 
+          '11', 
+          # '16'
+          ]
+        javadist: [
+          # 'adopt',
+          'adopt-openj9',
+          # 'zulu',
+          # 'temurin'
+          ]
     steps:
     - name: Checkout Repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
-    - name: Setup Java 11
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v1
-      with:
-        java-version: 11
-
-    - name: Cache Maven Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
+    - name: Setup Java ${{ matrix.java }} ${{ matrix.javadist }}
+      uses: actions/setup-java@v2
       with:
-        path: ~/.m2/repository
-        key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
-        restore-keys: |
-          ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
+        distribution: ${{ matrix.javadist }}
+        java-version: ${{ matrix.java }}
+        cache: 'maven'
 
     - name: Build
-      run: mvn package -P rat
+      run: mvn package
diff --git a/.github/workflows/componentTests.yml b/.github/workflows/componentTests.yml
index 276a27804f9..2e99d08cae8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/componentTests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/componentTests.yml
@@ -42,29 +42,25 @@ on:
       - main
 
 jobs:
-  componentTests:
+  test:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
-    name: Component Tests ${{ matrix.os }}
+        java: ['11']
+        javadist: ['adopt-openj9']
+    name: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
     - name: Checkout Repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
-    - name: Setup Java 1.8
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v1
+    - name: Setup Java ${{ matrix.java }} ${{ matrix.javadist }}
+      uses: actions/setup-java@v2
       with:
-        java-version: 1.8
-
-    - name: Cache Maven Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
-      with:
-        path: ~/.m2/repository
-        key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-test-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
-        restore-keys: |
-          ${{ runner.os }}-maven-test-
+        distribution: ${{ matrix.javadist }}
+        java-version: ${{ matrix.java }}
+        cache: 'maven'
 
     - name: Component Tests
       run: ./docker/entrypoint.sh org.apache.sysds.test.component.**
diff --git a/.github/workflows/documentation.yml b/.github/workflows/documentation.yml
index 848224c0dec..57fb1f23f61 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/documentation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/documentation.yml
@@ -36,32 +36,32 @@ on:
       - main
 
 jobs:
-  documentation1:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    name: Documentation Java
+  doc1:
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest]
+        java: ['11']
+        javadist: ['adopt-openj9']
+    name: Java
     steps:
     - name: Checkout Repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
-    - name: Setup Java 1.8
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v1
-      with:
-        java-version: 1.8
-
-    - name: Cache Maven Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
+    - name: Setup Java ${{ matrix.java }} ${{ matrix.javadist }}
+      uses: actions/setup-java@v2
       with:
-        path: ~/.m2/repository
-        key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
-        restore-keys: |
-          ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
+        distribution: ${{ matrix.javadist }}
+        java-version: ${{ matrix.java }}
+        cache: 'maven'
   
     - name: Make Documentation SystemDS Java
       run: mvn -ntp -P distribution package
 
-  documentation2:
+  doc2:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    name: Documentation Python
+    name: Python
     steps:
     - name: Checkout Repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ jobs:
         architecture: 'x64'
 
     - name: Cache Pip Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
+      uses: actions/cache@v2
       with:
         path: ~/.cache/pip
         key: ${{ runner.os }}-pip-docs-${{ hashFiles('src/main/python/docs/requires-docs.txt') }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/functionsTests.yml b/.github/workflows/functionsTests.yml
index ae9a1cd9f5b..b2b2ef61241 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/functionsTests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/functionsTests.yml
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ on:
       - main
 
 jobs:
-  applicationsTests:
+  test:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     timeout-minutes: 90
     strategy:
@@ -65,13 +65,13 @@ jobs:
           "**.functions.unary.matrix.**"
           ]
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
-    name: Function Test ${{ matrix.tests }}
+    name: ${{ matrix.tests }}
     steps:
     - name: Checkout Repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
     - name: Cache Maven Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
+      uses: actions/cache@v2
       with:
         path: ~/.m2/repository
         key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-test-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/license.yml b/.github/workflows/license.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c1402f5b519
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/license.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#-------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+# or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+# distributed with this work for additional information
+# regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+# to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+# "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+# with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+# software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+# "AS IS" BASIS, 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.
+#
+#-------------------------------------------------------------
+
+name: LicenseCheck
+
+on:
+  push:
+    paths-ignore:
+      - 'docs/**'
+      - '*.md'
+      - '*.html'
+      - 'src/main/python/docs/**'
+      - 'dev/**'
+    branches:
+      - main
+  pull_request:
+    paths-ignore:
+      - 'docs/**'
+      - '*.md'
+      - '*.html'
+      - 'src/main/python/docs/**'
+      - 'dev/**'
+    branches:
+      - main
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    name: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest]
+        java: ['11']
+        javadist: ['adopt-openj9']
+
+    steps:
+    - name: Checkout Repository
+      uses: actions/checkout@v2
+
+    - name: Setup Java ${{ matrix.java }} ${{ matrix.javadist }}
+      uses: actions/setup-java@v2
+      with:
+        distribution: ${{ matrix.javadist }}
+        java-version: ${{ matrix.java }}
+        cache: 'maven'
+
+    - name: Build
+      run: mvn package -P rat
diff --git a/.github/workflows/python.yml b/.github/workflows/python.yml
index 5106063063b..5cbd5aba18f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python.yml
@@ -42,50 +42,44 @@ on:
       - main
 
 jobs:
-  applicationsTests:
+  test:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         python-version: [3.8]
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
-        java: [ 11 ]
-    name:  Python Test
+        java: ['11']
+        javadist: ['adopt-openj9']
+
+    name: ${{ matrix.os }} Java ${{ matrix.java }} ${{ matrix.javadist }} Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
     steps:
     - name: Checkout Repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
-    - name: Setup Java
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v1
+    - name: Setup Java ${{ matrix.java }} ${{ matrix.javadist }}
+      uses: actions/setup-java@v2
       with:
+        distribution: ${{ matrix.javadist }}
         java-version: ${{ matrix.java }}
-
-    - name: Cache Maven Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
-      with:
-        path: ~/.m2/repository
-        key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
+        cache: 'maven'
     
     - name: Cache Pip Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
+      uses: actions/cache@v2
       with:
         path: ~/.cache/pip
         key: ${{ runner.os }}-pip-${{ matrix.python-version }}-${{ hashFiles('src/main/python/setup.py') }}
 
-    - name: Cache MNIST
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
-      with:
-        path: src/main/python/systemds/examples/tutorials/mnist
-        key: ${{ runner.os }}-mnist-${{ hashFiles('src/main/python/systemds/examples/tutorials/mnist.py') }}
-
-    - name: Cache Adult/Census
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
+    - name: Cache Datasets
+      uses: actions/cache@v2
       with:
-        path: src/main/python/systemds/examples/tutorials/adult/data.zip
-        key: ${{ runner.os }}-adult-${{ hashFiles('src/main/python/systemds/examples/tutorials/adult.py') }}
+        path: |
+          src/main/python/systemds/examples/tutorials/mnist
+          src/main/python/systemds/examples/tutorials/adult/data.zip
+        key: ${{ runner.os }}-mnist-${{ hashFiles('src/main/python/systemds/examples/tutorials/mnist.py') }}-${{ hashFiles('src/main/python/systemds/examples/tutorials/adult.py') }}
 
     - name: Cache Deb Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v1
+      uses: actions/cache@v2
       with:
         path: /var/cache/apt/archives
         key: ${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('.github/workflows/python.yml') }}
@@ -93,8 +87,8 @@ jobs:
     - name: Maven clean & package
       run: mvn -ntp clean package -P distribution
 
-    - name: Setup Python
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v1
+    - name: Setup Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v2
       with:
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
         architecture: 'x64'
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 10d807f1d61..19510018b4c 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@
 		<enableGPU>false</enableGPU>
 		<jcuda.scope>provided</jcuda.scope>
 		<jcuda.version>10.2.0</jcuda.version>
+		<!-- Set java compile level via argument, ex: 1.8 1.9 10 11-->
+		<java.level>1.8</java.level>
 		<!-->Testing settings<!-->
 		<maven.test.skip>true</maven.test.skip>
 		<rerun.failing.tests.count>2</rerun.failing.tests.count>
@@ -234,8 +236,8 @@
 				<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
 				<version>3.8.1</version><!--$NO-MVN-MAN-VER$-->
 				<configuration>
-					<source>1.8</source>
-					<target>1.8</target>
+					<source>${java.level}</source>
+					<target>${java.level}</target>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 
@@ -365,7 +367,7 @@
 			<plugin>
 				<groupId>org.jacoco</groupId>
 				<artifactId>jacoco-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-				<version>0.8.5</version>
+				<version>0.8.7</version>
 				<configuration>
 					<includes>
 						<include>${jacoco.include}</include>
@@ -400,8 +402,8 @@
 				<version>3.2.0</version>
 				<configuration>
 					<quiet>true</quiet>
+					<!-- Skip java docs creation if not explicitly asked, to create use -P distribution-->
 					<skip>true</skip>
-					<source>8</source> <!-- TODO migrate to 11 -->
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 
@@ -744,6 +746,7 @@
 							<quiet>true</quiet>
 							<skip>false</skip>
 							<show>public</show>
+							<source>${java.level}</source>
 						</configuration>
 						<executions>
 							<execution>