diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
index 24515f8..1686afe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: [3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, "3.10", "3.11"]
+        python-version: [3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
         dependencies: [minimal, latest]
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
     - name: Install dependencies
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ jobs:
     if: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Python 3.7
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
         python-version: 3.7
     - name: Install dependencies
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index ae802f4..c53192e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: [3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, "3.10", "3.11"]
+        python-version: [3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
         dependencies: [minimal, latest]
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
     - name: Install dependencies
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ jobs:
     needs: [ build ]
     runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Python 3.7
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
         python-version: 3.7
     - name: Install dependencies
diff --git a/.github/workflows/weekly.yml b/.github/workflows/weekly.yml
index 5707030..86e8f20 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/weekly.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/weekly.yml
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: [3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, "3.10", "3.11"]
+        python-version: [3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
         dependencies: [minimal, latest]
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
     - name: Install dependencies
diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index b7dc56f..93c40ec 100755
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from subprocess import call
 from watchdog.events import FileSystemEventHandler
 from watchdog.observers import Observer
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 import time
 import os
 import yaml
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@
 import logging.config
 
 
-here = Path(__file__).abspath().dirname()
+here = Path(__file__).absolute().parent
 
 logging.config.dictConfig(yaml.load((here / 'log.yaml').open(), Loader=yaml.FullLoader))
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-os.environ['PYTHONPATH'] = Path.getcwd()
+os.environ['PYTHONPATH'] = str(Path.cwd())
 
 
 def sh(cmd, all=False, **kwargs):
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def cli():
 @cli.command()
 def antlr():
     """generate a new parser based on the grammar using antlr"""
-    cwd = str(Path('qface/idl/parser').abspath())
+    cwd = str(Path('qface/idl/parser').absolute())
     sh('antlr4 -Dlanguage=Python3 -Werror -package qface.idl.parser -o . -listener -visitor T.g4', cwd=cwd)
 
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def test_ci():
 @cli.command()
 def install(editable):
     """install the script onto the system using pip3"""
-    script_dir = str(Path(__file__).parent.abspath())
+    script_dir = str(Path(__file__).parent.absolute())
     click.secho(script_dir, fg='blue')
     if editable:
         sh('pip3 install --editable {0} --upgrade'.format(script_dir))
diff --git a/docs/extending.rst b/docs/extending.rst
index d968c76..b83060d 100644
--- a/docs/extending.rst
+++ b/docs/extending.rst
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ The `RuleGenerator` allows you to extract the documentation rules into an extern
 .. code-block:: python
 
     from qface.generator import FileSystem, RuleGenerator
-    from path import Path
+    from pathlib import Path
 
     here = Path(__file__).dirname()
 
diff --git a/qface/__about__.py b/qface/__about__.py
index 3f83255..aa6883c 100644
--- a/qface/__about__.py
+++ b/qface/__about__.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 __title__ = "qface"
 __summary__ = "A generator framework based on a common modern IDL"
 __url__ = "https://pelagicore.github.io/qface/"
-__version__ = "2.0.8"
+__version__ = "2.0.9"
 __author__ = "JRyannel"
 __author_email__ = ""
 __copyright__ = "2019 Pelagicore"
diff --git a/qface/app.py b/qface/app.py
index 434195e..b4452d7 100644
--- a/qface/app.py
+++ b/qface/app.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import sys
 import click
 import logging
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 from qface.generator import FileSystem, RuleGenerator
 from qface.watch import monitor
 from qface.utils import load_filters
diff --git a/qface/cli.py b/qface/cli.py
index f0b06b0..2f7334d 100644
--- a/qface/cli.py
+++ b/qface/cli.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import sys
 import click
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 from qface.generator import FileSystem, RuleGenerator
 from qface.watch import monitor
 
diff --git a/qface/contrib/logging.py b/qface/contrib/logging.py
index 6b7625c..f9fb751 100644
--- a/qface/contrib/logging.py
+++ b/qface/contrib/logging.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import logging
 import logging.config
 import coloredlogs
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 import os
 
 
diff --git a/qface/filters.py b/qface/filters.py
index 236c7b3..50f6c7b 100644
--- a/qface/filters.py
+++ b/qface/filters.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def load_filters(path):
         return {}
 
     extra_filters = {}
-    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location('filters', path.abspath())
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location('filters', path.absolute())
     filters_module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
     spec.loader.exec_module(filters_module)
     filters_module.get_filters(extra_filters)
diff --git a/qface/generator.py b/qface/generator.py
index d8e987f..9763774 100644
--- a/qface/generator.py
+++ b/qface/generator.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from jinja2 import Environment, Template, Undefined, StrictUndefined
 from jinja2 import FileSystemLoader, PackageLoader, ChoiceLoader
 from jinja2 import TemplateSyntaxError, TemplateNotFound, TemplateError
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 from antlr4 import InputStream, FileStream, CommonTokenStream, ParseTreeWalker
 from antlr4.error import DiagnosticErrorListener, ErrorListener
 import shelve
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ def _write(self, file_path: Path, template: str, context: dict, preserve: bool =
         force = self.force or force
         path = self.resolved_path / Path(self.apply(file_path, context))
         if path.parent:
-            path.parent.makedirs_p()
+            path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         logger.info('write {0}'.format(path))
         data = self.render(template, context)
         if self._has_different_content(data, path) or force:
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def _parse_document(document: Path, system: System = None, profile=EProfile.FULL
         logger.debug('parse document: {0}'.format(document))
         stream = FileStream(str(document), encoding='utf-8')
         system = FileSystem._parse_stream(stream, system, document, profile)
-        FileSystem.merge_annotations(system, document.stripext() + '.yaml')
+        FileSystem.merge_annotations(system, os.path.splitext(document)[0] + '.yaml')
         return system
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -351,10 +351,10 @@ def merge_annotations(system, document):
             return
         meta = FileSystem.load_yaml(document)
         if not meta:
-            click.secho('skipping empty: {0}'.format(document.name), fg='blue')
+            click.secho('skipping empty: {0}'.format(Path(document).name), fg='blue')
             return
         else:
-            click.secho('merge: {0}'.format(document.name), fg='blue')
+            click.secho('merge: {0}'.format(Path(document).name), fg='blue')
         try:
             for identifier, data in meta.items():
                 symbol = system.lookup(identifier)
@@ -389,11 +389,11 @@ def parse(input, identifier: str = None, use_cache=False, clear_cache=True, patt
                 system = cache[identifier]
         # if domain model not cached generate it
         for input in inputs:
-            path = Path.getcwd() / str(input)
-            if path.isfile():
+            path = Path.cwd() / str(input)
+            if path.is_file():
                 FileSystem.parse_document(path, system)
             else:
-                for document in path.walkfiles(pattern):
+                for document in path.rglob(pattern):
                     FileSystem.parse_document(document, system)
 
         if use_cache:
diff --git a/qface/idl/domain.py b/qface/idl/domain.py
index fbd0175..c8ffa5c 100644
--- a/qface/idl/domain.py
+++ b/qface/idl/domain.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class System(object):
     """The root entity which consist of modules"""
     def __init__(self):
         log.debug('System()')
+        self._tags = dict()
         self._moduleMap = OrderedDict()  # type: dict[str, Module]
 
     def __unicode__(self):
@@ -43,6 +44,30 @@ def __unicode__(self):
     def __repr__(self):
         return '<System>'
 
+    @property
+    def tags(self):
+        return self._tags
+
+    def add_tag(self, tag):
+        """ add a tag to the tag list """
+        if tag not in self._tags:
+            self._tags[tag] = dict()
+
+    def add_attribute(self, tag, name, value):
+        """ add an attribute (nam, value pair) to the named tag """
+        self.add_tag(tag)
+        d = self._tags[tag]
+        d[name] = value
+
+    def tag(self, name):
+        """ return tag by name """
+        return self._tags[name]
+
+    def attribute(self, tag, name):
+        """ return attribute by tag and attribute name """
+        if tag in self._tags and name in self._tags[tag]:
+            return self._tags[tag][name]
+
     @property
     def modules(self):
         '''returns ordered list of module symbols'''
@@ -53,6 +78,8 @@ def lookup(self, name: str):
         # <module>
         if name in self._moduleMap:
             return self._moduleMap[name]
+        if name == 'system':
+            return self;
         # <module>.<Symbol>
         (module_name, type_name, fragment_name) = self.split_typename(name)
         if not module_name in self._moduleMap:
diff --git a/qface/idl/listener.py b/qface/idl/listener.py
index db891f9..a529550 100644
--- a/qface/idl/listener.py
+++ b/qface/idl/listener.py
@@ -36,13 +36,14 @@ def escape_decode(s):
 class QFaceListener(TListener):
     def __init__(self, system, profile=EProfile.FULL):
         super().__init__()
-        click.secho('qface uses language profile: {}'.format(profile), fg='blue')
+        if profile != EProfile.FULL:
+            log.secho('qface uses language profile: {}'.format(profile), fg='blue')
         self.lang_features = get_features(profile)
         self.system = system or System()  # type:System
 
     def check_support(self, feature, report=True):
         if feature not in self.lang_features and report:
-            click.secho('Unsuported language feature: {}'.format(EFeature.IMPORT), fg='red')
+            log.error('Unsuported language feature: {}'.format(EFeature.IMPORT), fg='red')
             return False
         return True
 
diff --git a/qface/idl/parser/T4Lexer.py b/qface/idl/parser/T4Lexer.py
index a3c7595..58b6ce2 100644
--- a/qface/idl/parser/T4Lexer.py
+++ b/qface/idl/parser/T4Lexer.py
@@ -210,7 +210,9 @@ class T4Lexer(Lexer):
 
     def __init__(self, input=None, output:TextIO = sys.stdout):
         super().__init__(input, output)
-        self.checkVersion("4.10")
+        # Disable the version check for now as although there is a mismatch the Lexer seems to work fine.
+        # Rely on the weekly CI to make sure this keeps working also with later antlr versions.
+        # self.checkVersion("4.10")
         self._interp = LexerATNSimulator(self, self.atn, self.decisionsToDFA, PredictionContextCache())
         self._actions = None
         self._predicates = None
diff --git a/qface/idl/parser/T4Parser.py b/qface/idl/parser/T4Parser.py
index df15673..4aa07b6 100644
--- a/qface/idl/parser/T4Parser.py
+++ b/qface/idl/parser/T4Parser.py
@@ -246,7 +246,9 @@ class T4Parser ( Parser ):
 
     def __init__(self, input:TokenStream, output:TextIO = sys.stdout):
         super().__init__(input, output)
-        self.checkVersion("4.10")
+        # Disable the version check for now as although there is a mismatch the Lexer seems to work fine.
+        # Rely on the weekly CI to make sure this keeps working also with later antlr versions.
+        # self.checkVersion("4.10")
         self._interp = ParserATNSimulator(self, self.atn, self.decisionsToDFA, self.sharedContextCache)
         self._predicates = None
 
diff --git a/qface/watch.py b/qface/watch.py
index 29bc30f..7a9762f 100644
--- a/qface/watch.py
+++ b/qface/watch.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from watchdog.events import FileSystemEventHandler
 from watchdog.observers import Observer
 import click
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 import time
 from subprocess import call
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def run(self):
         if self.is_running:
             return
         self.is_running = True
-        call(self.args, cwd=Path.getcwd())
+        call(self.args, cwd=Path.cwd())
         self.is_running = False
 
 
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ def monitor(args, watch):
     reloads the script given by argv when src files changes
     """
     watch = watch if isinstance(watch, (list, tuple)) else [watch]
-    watch = [Path(entry).expand().abspath() for entry in watch]
+    watch = [Path(entry).expand().absolute() for entry in watch]
     event_handler = RunScriptChangeHandler(args)
     observer = Observer()
     for entry in watch:
-        if entry.isfile():
+        if entry.is_file():
             entry = entry.parent
         click.secho('watch recursive: {0}'.format(entry), fg='blue')
         observer.schedule(event_handler, entry, recursive=True)
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 781a230..70019cd 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -2,13 +2,10 @@ antlr4-python3-runtime>=4.7.1
 argh>=0.26.2
 click>=6.7
 coloredlogs>=10.0
-humanfriendly>=4.15.1
 Jinja2>=2.10.3
 MarkupSafe>=1.0
-path.py>=11.0.1
-pathtools>=0.1.2
 PyYAML>=5.1
 six>=1.11.0
-watchdog>=0.8.3
+watchdog>=1.0
 pytest>=5.3.5
 pytest-cov>=2.8.1
diff --git a/requirements_minimal.txt b/requirements_minimal.txt
index f06ff91..14d1a56 100644
--- a/requirements_minimal.txt
+++ b/requirements_minimal.txt
@@ -2,13 +2,10 @@ antlr4-python3-runtime==4.7.1
 argh==0.26.2
 click==6.7
 coloredlogs==10.0
-humanfriendly==4.15.1
 Jinja2==2.10.3
 MarkupSafe==1.1
-path.py==11.0.1
-pathtools==0.1.2
 PyYAML==5.1
 six==1.11.0
-watchdog==0.8.3
+watchdog==1.0
 pytest==6.2.5
 pytest-cov==2.8.1
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index bb9fbbd..3dca1d3 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -49,9 +49,8 @@
         'click>=6.7',
         'antlr4-python3-runtime>=4.7.1',
         'jinja2>=2.10.3',
-        'path.py>=11.0.1',
         'pyyaml>=5.1',
-        'watchdog>=0.8.3',
+        'watchdog>=1.0',
         'six>=1.11.0',
         'coloredlogs>=10.0',
     ],
diff --git a/tests/in/com.pelagicore.ivi.tuner.yaml b/tests/in/com.pelagicore.ivi.tuner.yaml
index a320743..6eae90b 100644
--- a/tests/in/com.pelagicore.ivi.tuner.yaml
+++ b/tests/in/com.pelagicore.ivi.tuner.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+system:
+  global_option: true
+
 com.pelagicore.ivi.tuner.Tuner:
   port: 12345
   config:
diff --git a/tests/test_climate.py b/tests/test_climate.py
index 1a2135a..b7adec6 100644
--- a/tests/test_climate.py
+++ b/tests/test_climate.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from qface.generator import FileSystem
 import logging
 import logging.config
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 
 # logging.config.fileConfig('logging.ini')
 logging.basicConfig()
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 inputPath = Path('tests/in')
-log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.abspath()))
+log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.absolute()))
 
 
 def load_system():
diff --git a/tests/test_comments.py b/tests/test_comments.py
index d2f18b6..6af3d1c 100644
--- a/tests/test_comments.py
+++ b/tests/test_comments.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from qface.helper import doc
 import logging
 import logging.config
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 
 
 # logging.config.fileConfig('logging.ini')
diff --git a/tests/test_generator.py b/tests/test_generator.py
index f83fb1b..9e1d53c 100644
--- a/tests/test_generator.py
+++ b/tests/test_generator.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 import logging
 import logging.config
 import tempfile
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
+import shutil
 
 # logging.config.fileConfig('logging.ini')
 logging.basicConfig()
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 inputPath = Path('tests/in')
-log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.abspath()))
+log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.absolute()))
 
 
 def loadSystem():
@@ -62,16 +63,16 @@ def test_parse_document_mixed():
 def test_destination_prefix():
     system = FileSystem.parse(inputPath)
     out = Path('tests/out')
-    out.rmtree_p()
-    out.makedirs_p()
+    shutil.rmtree(out, ignore_errors=True)
+    out.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     generator = Generator(search_path='tests/templates')
     for module in system.modules:
         dst_template = '{{out}}/{{module|lower}}.txt'
-        ctx = {'out': out.abspath(), 'module': module}
+        ctx = {'out': out.absolute(), 'module': module}
         generator.write(dst_template, 'module.txt', ctx)
         path = generator.apply(dst_template, ctx)
         assert Path(path).exists() == True
-    out.rmtree_p()
+    shutil.rmtree(out, ignore_errors=True)
 
 @patch('sys.stderr', new_callable=StringIO)
 def test_error_template_syntax_error(mock_stderr):
diff --git a/tests/test_json.py b/tests/test_json.py
index 785680a..827e140 100644
--- a/tests/test_json.py
+++ b/tests/test_json.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from qface.generator import FileSystem
 import logging
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 import json
 
 # logging.config.fileConfig('logging.ini')
diff --git a/tests/test_lookup.py b/tests/test_lookup.py
index 47184c0..5d27536 100644
--- a/tests/test_lookup.py
+++ b/tests/test_lookup.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import logging.config
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 
 from qface.generator import FileSystem
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 inputPath = Path('tests/in')
-log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.abspath()))
+log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.absolute()))
 
 
 def load_tuner():
diff --git a/tests/test_parser.py b/tests/test_parser.py
index 324b68a..ca9277d 100644
--- a/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import logging
 import logging.config
 import pytest
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 
 from qface.generator import FileSystem
 import qface.idl.domain as domain
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 inputPath = Path('tests/in')
-log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.abspath()))
+log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.absolute()))
 
 
 def load_tuner():
diff --git a/tests/test_qtcpp_helper.py b/tests/test_qtcpp_helper.py
index 3a12b0f..39cd190 100644
--- a/tests/test_qtcpp_helper.py
+++ b/tests/test_qtcpp_helper.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import logging.config
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 
 from qface.helper import qtcpp
 from qface.generator import FileSystem
diff --git a/tests/test_tags.py b/tests/test_tags.py
index be9483c..8cf340b 100644
--- a/tests/test_tags.py
+++ b/tests/test_tags.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from io import StringIO
 import logging
 import logging.config
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 
 
 # logging.config.fileConfig('logging.ini')
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 inputPath = Path('tests/in')
-log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.abspath()))
+log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.absolute()))
 
 
 def loadTuner():
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ def test_tag():
     assert 'default' in enum.tags
     assert enum.attribute('default', 'value') == 'FM'
 
+    # lookup system
+    system = system.lookup('system')
+    assert 'global_option' in system.tags
 
 def test_meta_tags():
     system = loadTuner()
diff --git a/tests/test_validation.py b/tests/test_validation.py
index d742872..a420783 100644
--- a/tests/test_validation.py
+++ b/tests/test_validation.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import logging.config
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 
 from qface.generator import FileSystem
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 inputPath = Path('tests/in')
-log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.abspath()))
+log.debug('input path folder: {0}'.format(inputPath.absolute()))
 
 
 def load_one():
diff --git a/tests/test_values.py b/tests/test_values.py
index 9ce93d1..e2d2071 100644
--- a/tests/test_values.py
+++ b/tests/test_values.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from qface.generator import FileSystem
 import logging
 import logging.config
-from path import Path
+from pathlib import Path
 
 
 # logging.config.fileConfig('logging.ini')