diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs.yml b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
index 68f52d89..a3662738 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
           python-version: "3.10"
       - name: Install dependencies and Studio
         run: |
-          pip install -e .[docs]
+          pip install --group docs -e .
       - name: Setup doc deploy
         run: |
             git config user.name 'github-actions[bot]'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/matrix-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/matrix-tests.yml
index c8d7f672..6ed994cf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/matrix-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/matrix-tests.yml
@@ -48,6 +48,6 @@ jobs:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
       - name: Install Python dependencies
         run: |
-          pip install -e .[all]
+          pip install --group dev -e .
       - name: Run tests
         run: pytest
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pythonpublish.yml b/.github/workflows/pythonpublish.yml
index 9a304db1..4d353aa5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pythonpublish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pythonpublish.yml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: diff <(echo "VERSION = \"${VERSION#v}\"") <(head -1 readalongs/_version.py)
 
-      - name: Install dependencies
+      - name: Install build dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           pip install build
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ jobs:
           python-version: "3.10"
       - name: Install dependencies and Studio
         run: |
-          pip install -e .[docs]
+          pip install --group dev -e .
       - name: Setup doc deploy
         run: |
             git config user.name 'github-actions[bot]'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 7ec12f04..6391aace 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
           # Keep pip up to date
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           # Install all Python dependencies in just one pip call, including Studio itself
-          pip install -e .[all]
+          pip install --group all -e .
 
       - name: Run tests
         run: |
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Python dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install -e .[all]
+          pip install --group all -e .
 
       - name: Run tests on Windows
         run: pytest
diff --git a/Contributing.md b/Contributing.md
index dc060c29..c3ba9452 100644
--- a/Contributing.md
+++ b/Contributing.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ commits.
 Run these commands in each of your sandboxes to enable our pre-commit hooks and commitlint:
 
 ```sh
-pip install -e '.[dev]'
+pip install --group dev -e .
 prek install
 gitlint install-hook
 ```
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ We've listed all the developper dependencies for the project in
 [pyproject.toml](pyproject.toml) to make them easy to install:
 
 ```sh
-pip install -e '.[dev]'
+pip install --group dev -e .
 prek install
 ```
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ commit-msg hook in Git.
 Run this command in your g2p sandbox to install and enable the commit-msg hook:
 
 ```sh
-pip install -e '.[dev]'
+pip install --group dev -e .
 gitlint install-hook
 ```
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9aadd564..5d5cb000 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -96,34 +96,30 @@ The compiler should already be there, but run `<your package manager> install gc
 ##### The easy way, using conda
 
 The `conda` package manager can install Python 3 and the required compiler automatically for you,
-and simplifies ffmpeg and git installation. We recommend this solution.
+and simplifies ffmpeg and git installation.
 
-If the Anaconda Terms of Service are compatible with your organization, you can
-use Miniconda3: download and run the latest "Miniconda3 Windows 64-bit"
-installer from https://docs.conda.io/en/latest/miniconda.html.
-
-Fully open-source alternative, free for all organizations: Miniforge3.
 Download and run the latest "Miniforge3-Windows-x86_64" installer from
-https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge.
-
-Either way, you can accept all the default options suggested by the installer.
+https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge.  You can accept all the default options suggested by the installer.
 
-Launch an Anaconda Prompt or a Miniforge Prompt (this should be available from
+Launch a Miniforge Prompt (this should be available from
 your Start Menu after installation) and run:
 
     conda install ffmpeg
     conda install git
 
 You can then run the pip install and git commands below, and use readalongs, all
-from the Anaconda or Miniforge Prompt.
+from the Miniforge Prompt.
 
 ##### The hard way
 
 If you know what you're doing, you can install the dependencies directly on your machine:
 
  - Install Python3 for Windows.
- - Install [FFmpeg builds for Windows](https://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/) ([alternative instructions](https://windowsloop.com/install-ffmpeg-windows-10/)).
- - Install [Visual Studio Build Tools](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/#build-tools-for-visual-studio-2017) (search for "Build Tools", select C++ when prompted).
+ - Install ffmpeg one of these ways:
+    - Install [Pixi](https://pixi.prefix.dev/latest/installation/) and run `pixi global install ffmpeg`
+    - or download from the [Official FFmpeg source](https://ffmpeg.org/download.html#build-windows)
+    - or use [alternative instructions](https://windowsloop.com/install-ffmpeg-windows-10/).
+ - If the `pip install` commands below fail during a compilation step, install [Visual Studio Build Tools](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/#build-tools-for-visual-studio-2017) (search for "Build Tools", select C++ when prompted).
  - Install Git for Windows (optional).
 
 ### Installing ReadAlongs Studio itself
@@ -151,15 +147,14 @@ environment](https://docs.python.org/3/library/venv.html) though!):
 
 Run `readalongs -h` to confirm that installation was successful.
 
-If you installed the current development version with Git, you can also run the
+If you installed the current development version from GitHub, you can also run the
 full test suite, either with `hatch`:
 
     hatch test
 
-or test the installed version (requires installing dev dependencies):
+or with pytest (requires installing dev dependencies):
 
-    pip install 'readalongs[dev]'  # if you installed from PyPI, or
-    pip install -e '.[dev]'        # if you installed from a local clone
+    pip install --group dev -e .
     pytest
 
 And you can download our [open samples on GitHub](https://github.com/ReadAlongs/OpenSamples)
@@ -259,8 +254,8 @@ This repo follows the [Contributor Covenant](http://contributor-covenant.org/ver
 You can install our standard Git hooks by running these commands in your sandbox:
 
 ```sh
-pip install -e '.[dev]'
-pre-commit install
+pip install --group dev -e .
+prek install
 gitlint install-hook
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/Contributing.md b/docs/Contributing.md
index e9ffa710..449157df 100644
--- a/docs/Contributing.md
+++ b/docs/Contributing.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ commands at the root of your Studio sandbox:
 
 1. Install Studio and the required build software (mkdocs and friends):
 
-       pip install -e '.[docs]'
+       pip install --group docs -e .
 
 2. Run this command to serve the documentation locally:
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 7b5b3dcf..16c3874e 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -55,15 +55,7 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
-dev = [
-    "readalongs[api]",
-    "gitlint-core>=0.17.0",
-    "httpx>=0.24.1",  # for testing with starlette<1.2
-    "httpx2",  # for testing with starlette>=1.2
-    "pep440>=0.1.2",
-    "prek",
-    "pytest",
-]
+# Optional production dependency extras
 
 api = [
     # gunivorn is only available on *nix, but it's only required for production deployments
@@ -78,10 +70,31 @@ heroku = [
     "ilt-panphon>=0.21.4,<0.22",
 ]
 
-ci = [
+[dependency-groups]
+# Optional development dependency groups
+
+dev = [
+    {include-group = "test"},
+    {include-group = "lint"},
+]
+
+all = [
+    {include-group = "dev"},
+    {include-group = "ci"},
+    {include-group = "docs"},
+]
+
+test = [
     "readalongs[api]",
-    "coverage",
-    "licensecheck",
+    "httpx>=0.24.1",  # for testing with starlette<1.2
+    "httpx2",  # for testing with starlette>=1.2
+    "pep440>=0.1.2",
+    "pytest",
+]
+
+lint = [
+    "gitlint-core>=0.17.0",
+    "prek",
 ]
 
 docs = [
@@ -94,10 +107,10 @@ docs = [
     "mike>=2.1.1",
 ]
 
-all = [
-    "readalongs[dev]",
-    "readalongs[ci]",
-    "readalongs[docs]",
+ci = [
+    "readalongs[api]",
+    "coverage",
+    "licensecheck",
 ]
 
 [project.scripts]
@@ -115,7 +128,10 @@ include = [
 requires = [ "hatch-pip-compile" ]
 
 [tool.hatch.envs.hatch-test]
-features = [ "dev" ]
+dependency-groups = [ "dev" ]
+
+[[tool.hatch.envs.hatch-test.matrix]]
+python = ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
 
 [tool.hatch.envs.prod]
 features = [ "heroku", "api" ]
diff --git a/readalongs/api.py b/readalongs/api.py
index 165b2498..0706a117 100644
--- a/readalongs/api.py
+++ b/readalongs/api.py
@@ -150,14 +150,6 @@ def make_xml(
 
     Returns: (status, exception, log_text)
     """
-    # plaintextfile is not a file object if passed from click
-
-    plaintextfile = (
-        plaintextfile.name
-        if isinstance(plaintextfile, click.utils.LazyFile)
-        else plaintextfile
-    )
-    xmlfile = str(xmlfile) if isinstance(xmlfile, os.PathLike) else xmlfile
     logging_stream = io.StringIO()
     logging_handler = logging.StreamHandler(logging_stream)
     try:
@@ -169,7 +161,7 @@ def make_xml(
             with open(plaintextfile, encoding="utf-8-sig") as plaintextfile_handle:
                 make_xml_args.update(
                     plaintextfile=plaintextfile_handle,
-                    xmlfile=xmlfile,
+                    xmlfile=str(xmlfile),
                     language=JoinerCallbackForClick(get_langs_deferred())(
                         value_groups=language
                     ),