diff --git a/.github/workflows/debug.yml b/.github/workflows/debug.yml
index c9dc231fe..64d4bc12b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/debug.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/debug.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        pyver: [3.9]
+        pyver: [3.10]
         testopts:
           - "--blocking"
           # - "--non-blocking --record --runslow"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/imports.yml b/.github/workflows/imports.yml
index 0116f615d..b9e9d4406 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/imports.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/imports.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ jobs:
         id: pyver
         with:
           contents: |
-            3.9
             3.10
             3.11
             3.12
@@ -38,14 +37,13 @@ jobs:
             1
             1
             1
-            1
   test_imports:
     needs: rngs
     runs-on: ${{ needs.rngs.outputs.os }}
     # runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     # strategy:
     #   matrix:
-    #     python-version: ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
+    #     python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
     #     os: ["ubuntu-latest", "macos-latest", "windows-latest"]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish_pypi.yml b/.github/workflows/publish_pypi.yml
index 366d01e97..b01d2a502 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish_pypi.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish_pypi.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set up Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
-          python-version: "3.9"
+          python-version: "3.10"
       - name: Install build dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_and_build.yml b/.github/workflows/test_and_build.yml
index 7086d8779..6c55a0eca 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_and_build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_and_build.yml
@@ -105,11 +105,10 @@ jobs:
         uses: ddradar/choose-random-action@v2.0.2
         id: pyver
         with:
-          # We should support major Python versions for at least 36-42 months
+          # We should support major Python versions for at least 36 months as per SPEC 0
           # We may be able to support pypy if anybody asks for it
           # 3.9.16 0_73_pypy
           contents: |
-            3.9
             3.10
             3.11
             3.12
@@ -117,7 +116,6 @@ jobs:
             1
             1
             1
-            1
       - name: RNG for source of python-suitesparse-graphblas
         uses: ddradar/choose-random-action@v2.0.2
         id: sourcetype
@@ -166,20 +164,13 @@ jobs:
           #
           # First let's randomly get versions of dependencies to install.
           # Consider removing old versions when they become problematic or very old (>=2 years).
-          nxver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=2.7", "=2.8", "=3.0", "=3.1", "=3.2", ""]))')
-          sparsever=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=0.13", "=0.14", "=0.15", ""]))')
+          nxver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=2.8", "=3.0", "=3.1", "=3.2", ""]))')
+          sparsever=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=0.14", "=0.15", ""]))')
           # Randomly choosing versions of dependencies based on Python version works surprisingly well...
-          if [[ ${{ startsWith(steps.pyver.outputs.selected, '3.9') }} == true ]]; then
-            npver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.22", "=1.23", "=1.24", "=1.25", "=1.26", ""]))')
-            spver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.9", "=1.10", "=1.11", "=1.12", ""]))')
-            pdver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.2", "=1.3", "=1.4", "=1.5", "=2.0", "=2.1", "=2.2", ""]))')
-            akver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.9", "=1.10", "=2.0", "=2.1", "=2.2", "=2.3", "=2.4", "=2.5", ""]))')
-            fmmver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.4", "=1.5", "=1.6", "=1.7", ""]))')
-            yamlver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=5.4", "=6.0", ""]))')
-          elif [[ ${{ startsWith(steps.pyver.outputs.selected, '3.10') }} == true ]]; then
-            npver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.22", "=1.23", "=1.24", "=1.25", "=1.26", ""]))')
+          if [[ ${{ startsWith(steps.pyver.outputs.selected, '3.10') }} == true ]]; then
+            npver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.23", "=1.24", "=1.25", "=1.26", ""]))')
             spver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.9", "=1.10", "=1.11", "=1.12", ""]))')
-            pdver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.3", "=1.4", "=1.5", "=2.0", "=2.1", "=2.2", ""]))')
+            pdver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.5", "=2.0", "=2.1", "=2.2", ""]))')
             akver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.9", "=1.10", "=2.0", "=2.1", "=2.2", "=2.3", "=2.4", "=2.5", ""]))')
             fmmver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=1.4", "=1.5", "=1.6", "=1.7", ""]))')
             yamlver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=5.4", "=6.0", ""]))')
@@ -237,8 +228,6 @@ jobs:
             numbaver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=0.58", "=0.59", ""]))')
           elif [[ ${npver} == "=1.24" || ${{ startsWith(steps.pyver.outputs.selected, '3.11') }} == true ]] ; then
             numbaver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=0.57", "=0.58", "=0.59", ""]))')
-          elif [[ ${npver} == "=1.21" ]] ; then
-            numbaver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=0.55", "=0.56", "=0.57", ""]))')
           else
             numbaver=$(python -c 'import random ; print(random.choice(["=0.56", "=0.57", "=0.58", "=0.59", ""]))')
           fi
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index fa563b639..12e5dd865 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ repos:
     rev: v3.15.0
     hooks:
       - id: pyupgrade
-        args: [--py39-plus]
+        args: [--py310-plus]
   - repo: https://github.com/MarcoGorelli/auto-walrus
     rev: v0.2.2
     hooks:
diff --git a/docs/getting_started/faq.rst b/docs/getting_started/faq.rst
index 1e60a1bd4..2609e7929 100644
--- a/docs/getting_started/faq.rst
+++ b/docs/getting_started/faq.rst
@@ -101,11 +101,10 @@ Bugs are not considered deprecations and may be fixed immediately.
 What is the version support policy?
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
-Each major Python version will be supported for at least 36 to 42 months.
+Each major Python version will be supported for at least 36.
 Major dependencies such as NumPy should be supported for at least 24 months.
-This is motivated by these guidelines:
+We aim to follow SPEC 0:
 
-- https://numpy.org/neps/nep-0029-deprecation_policy.html
 - https://scientific-python.org/specs/spec-0000/
 
 ``python-graphblas`` itself follows a "single trunk" versioning strategy.
diff --git a/graphblas/core/formatting.py b/graphblas/core/formatting.py
index aefb87f94..0b6252101 100644
--- a/graphblas/core/formatting.py
+++ b/graphblas/core/formatting.py
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ def create_header(type_name, keys, vals, *, lower_border=False, name="", quote=T
         name = f'"{name}"'
     key_text = []
     val_text = []
-    for key, val in zip(keys, vals):
+    for key, val in zip(keys, vals, strict=True):
         width = max(len(key), len(val)) + 2
         key_text.append(key.rjust(width))
         val_text.append(val.rjust(width))
diff --git a/graphblas/core/matrix.py b/graphblas/core/matrix.py
index 359477d4c..e28e92a65 100644
--- a/graphblas/core/matrix.py
+++ b/graphblas/core/matrix.py
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ def __contains__(self, index):
     def __iter__(self):
         """Iterate over (row, col) indices which are present in the matrix."""
         rows, columns, _ = self.to_coo(values=False)
-        return zip(rows.flat, columns.flat)
+        return zip(rows.flat, columns.flat, strict=True)
 
     def __sizeof__(self):
         if backend == "suitesparse":
@@ -961,7 +961,7 @@ def from_edgelist(
             rows = edgelist[:, 0]
             cols = edgelist[:, 1]
         else:
-            unzipped = list(zip(*edgelist))
+            unzipped = list(zip(*edgelist, strict=True))
             if len(unzipped) == 2:
                 rows, cols = unzipped
             elif len(unzipped) == 3:
@@ -1826,10 +1826,11 @@ def to_dicts(self, order="rowwise"):
         cols = cols.tolist()
         values = values.tolist()
         return {
-            row: dict(zip(cols[start:stop], values[start:stop]))
+            row: dict(zip(cols[start:stop], values[start:stop], strict=True))
             for row, (start, stop) in zip(
                 compressed_rows.tolist(),
                 np.lib.stride_tricks.sliding_window_view(indptr, 2).tolist(),
+                strict=True,
             )
         }
         # Alternative
diff --git a/graphblas/core/ss/matrix.py b/graphblas/core/ss/matrix.py
index 0489cb5d6..0a08c50e2 100644
--- a/graphblas/core/ss/matrix.py
+++ b/graphblas/core/ss/matrix.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def head(matrix, n=10, dtype=None, *, sort=False):
         dtype = matrix.dtype
     else:
         dtype = lookup_dtype(dtype)
-    rows, cols, vals = zip(*itertools.islice(matrix.ss.iteritems(), n))
+    rows, cols, vals = zip(*itertools.islice(matrix.ss.iteritems(), n), strict=True)
     return np.array(rows, np.uint64), np.array(cols, np.uint64), np.array(vals, dtype.np_type)
 
 
diff --git a/graphblas/core/ss/vector.py b/graphblas/core/ss/vector.py
index d1f7a5bcb..a21d54de9 100644
--- a/graphblas/core/ss/vector.py
+++ b/graphblas/core/ss/vector.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def head(vector, n=10, dtype=None, *, sort=False):
         dtype = vector.dtype
     else:
         dtype = lookup_dtype(dtype)
-    indices, vals = zip(*itertools.islice(vector.ss.iteritems(), n))
+    indices, vals = zip(*itertools.islice(vector.ss.iteritems(), n), strict=True)
     return np.array(indices, np.uint64), np.array(vals, dtype.np_type)
 
 
diff --git a/graphblas/core/utils.py b/graphblas/core/utils.py
index 184272124..6e91edd1b 100644
--- a/graphblas/core/utils.py
+++ b/graphblas/core/utils.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def normalize_chunks(chunks, shape):
             f"chunks argument must be of length {len(shape)} (one for each dimension of a {typ})"
         )
     chunksizes = []
-    for size, chunk in zip(shape, chunks):
+    for size, chunk in zip(shape, chunks, strict=True):
         if chunk is None:
             cur_chunks = [size]
         elif (c := maybe_integral(chunk)) is not None:
diff --git a/graphblas/core/vector.py b/graphblas/core/vector.py
index 863d186ec..8bac4198e 100644
--- a/graphblas/core/vector.py
+++ b/graphblas/core/vector.py
@@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ def from_pairs(cls, pairs, dtype=None, *, size=None, dup_op=None, name=None):
         """
         if isinstance(pairs, np.ndarray):
             raise TypeError("pairs as NumPy array is not supported; use `Vector.from_coo` instead")
-        unzipped = list(zip(*pairs))
+        unzipped = list(zip(*pairs, strict=True))
         if len(unzipped) == 2:
             indices, values = unzipped
         elif not unzipped:
@@ -2105,7 +2105,7 @@ def to_dict(self):
 
         """
         indices, values = self.to_coo(sort=False)
-        return dict(zip(indices.tolist(), values.tolist()))
+        return dict(zip(indices.tolist(), values.tolist(), strict=True))
 
 
 if backend == "suitesparse":
diff --git a/graphblas/io/_networkx.py b/graphblas/io/_networkx.py
index dab04c82d..8cf84e576 100644
--- a/graphblas/io/_networkx.py
+++ b/graphblas/io/_networkx.py
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ def to_networkx(m, edge_attribute="weight"):
     cols = cols.tolist()
     G = nx.DiGraph()
     if edge_attribute is None:
-        G.add_edges_from(zip(rows, cols))
+        G.add_edges_from(zip(rows, cols, strict=True))
     else:
-        G.add_weighted_edges_from(zip(rows, cols, vals.tolist()), weight=edge_attribute)
+        G.add_weighted_edges_from(
+            zip(rows, cols, vals.tolist(), strict=True), weight=edge_attribute
+        )
     return G
diff --git a/graphblas/tests/test_io.py b/graphblas/tests/test_io.py
index 109c90a2c..7e786f0da 100644
--- a/graphblas/tests/test_io.py
+++ b/graphblas/tests/test_io.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def test_matrix_to_from_networkx():
     M = gb.io.from_networkx(G, nodelist=range(7))
     if suitesparse:
         assert M.ss.is_iso
-    rows, cols = zip(*edges)
+    rows, cols = zip(*edges, strict=True)
     expected = gb.Matrix.from_coo(rows, cols, 1)
     assert expected.isequal(M)
     # Test empty
diff --git a/graphblas/tests/test_matrix.py b/graphblas/tests/test_matrix.py
index 06e4ee868..63561930b 100644
--- a/graphblas/tests/test_matrix.py
+++ b/graphblas/tests/test_matrix.py
@@ -2603,12 +2603,14 @@ def test_iter(A):
         zip(
             [3, 0, 3, 5, 6, 0, 6, 1, 6, 2, 4, 1],
             [0, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6],
+            strict=True,
         )
     )
     assert set(A.T) == set(
         zip(
             [0, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6],
             [3, 0, 3, 5, 6, 0, 6, 1, 6, 2, 4, 1],
+            strict=True,
         )
     )
 
@@ -2731,8 +2733,8 @@ def test_ss_split(A):
     for results in [A.ss.split([4, 3]), A.ss.split([[4, None], 3], name="split")]:
         row_boundaries = [0, 4, 7]
         col_boundaries = [0, 3, 6, 7]
-        for i, (i1, i2) in enumerate(zip(row_boundaries[:-1], row_boundaries[1:])):
-            for j, (j1, j2) in enumerate(zip(col_boundaries[:-1], col_boundaries[1:])):
+        for i, (i1, i2) in enumerate(itertools.pairwise(row_boundaries)):
+            for j, (j1, j2) in enumerate(itertools.pairwise(col_boundaries)):
                 expected = A[i1:i2, j1:j2].new()
                 assert expected.isequal(results[i][j])
     with pytest.raises(DimensionMismatch):
@@ -3068,7 +3070,7 @@ def test_ss_flatten(A):
         [3, 2, 3, 1, 5, 3, 7, 8, 3, 1, 7, 4],
     ]
     # row-wise
-    indices = [row * A.ncols + col for row, col in zip(data[0], data[1])]
+    indices = [row * A.ncols + col for row, col in zip(data[0], data[1], strict=True)]
     expected = Vector.from_coo(indices, data[2], size=A.nrows * A.ncols)
     for fmt in ["csr", "hypercsr", "bitmapr"]:
         B = Matrix.ss.import_any(**A.ss.export(format=fmt))
@@ -3087,7 +3089,7 @@ def test_ss_flatten(A):
     assert C.isequal(B)
 
     # column-wise
-    indices = [col * A.nrows + row for row, col in zip(data[0], data[1])]
+    indices = [col * A.nrows + row for row, col in zip(data[0], data[1], strict=True)]
     expected = Vector.from_coo(indices, data[2], size=A.nrows * A.ncols)
     for fmt in ["csc", "hypercsc", "bitmapc"]:
         B = Matrix.ss.import_any(**A.ss.export(format=fmt))
@@ -3626,9 +3628,9 @@ def test_ss_iteration(A):
     assert not list(B.ss.itervalues())
     assert not list(B.ss.iteritems())
     rows, columns, values = A.to_coo()
-    assert sorted(zip(rows, columns)) == sorted(A.ss.iterkeys())
+    assert sorted(zip(rows, columns, strict=True)) == sorted(A.ss.iterkeys())
     assert sorted(values) == sorted(A.ss.itervalues())
-    assert sorted(zip(rows, columns, values)) == sorted(A.ss.iteritems())
+    assert sorted(zip(rows, columns, values, strict=True)) == sorted(A.ss.iteritems())
     N = rows.size
 
     A = Matrix.ss.import_bitmapr(**A.ss.export("bitmapr"))
diff --git a/graphblas/tests/test_vector.py b/graphblas/tests/test_vector.py
index 77f608969..df1f5c86e 100644
--- a/graphblas/tests/test_vector.py
+++ b/graphblas/tests/test_vector.py
@@ -2270,7 +2270,7 @@ def test_ss_iteration(v):
     # This is what I would expect
     assert sorted(indices) == sorted(v.ss.iterkeys())
     assert sorted(values) == sorted(v.ss.itervalues())
-    assert sorted(zip(indices, values)) == sorted(v.ss.iteritems())
+    assert sorted(zip(indices, values, strict=True)) == sorted(v.ss.iteritems())
 
     N = indices.size
     v = Vector.ss.import_bitmap(**v.ss.export("bitmap"))
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e9ce9da86..a3447b751 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ name = "python-graphblas"
 dynamic = ["version"]
 description = "Python library for GraphBLAS: high-performance sparse linear algebra for scalable graph analytics"
 readme = "README.md"
-requires-python = ">=3.9"
+requires-python = ">=3.10"
 license = {file = "LICENSE"}
 authors = [
     {name = "Erik Welch", email = "erik.n.welch@gmail.com"},
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ classifiers = [
     "Operating System :: Microsoft :: Windows",
     "Programming Language :: Python",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
-    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ classifiers = [
     "Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules",
 ]
 dependencies = [
-    "numpy >=1.22",
+    "numpy >=1.23",
     "donfig >=0.6",
     "pyyaml >=5.4",
     # These won't be installed by default after 2024.3.0
@@ -84,7 +83,7 @@ numba = [
     "numba >=0.55",
 ]
 pandas = [
-    "pandas >=1.2",
+    "pandas >=1.5",
 ]
 scipy = [
     "scipy >=1.9",
@@ -99,17 +98,17 @@ io = [
     "python-graphblas[networkx,scipy]",
     "python-graphblas[numba]; python_version<'3.13'",
     "awkward >=1.9",
-    "sparse >=0.13; python_version<'3.13'",  # make optional, b/c sparse needs numba
+    "sparse >=0.14; python_version<'3.13'",  # make optional, b/c sparse needs numba
     "fast-matrix-market >=1.4.5",
 ]
 viz = [
     "python-graphblas[networkx,scipy]",
-    "matplotlib >=3.5",
+    "matplotlib >=3.6",
 ]
 datashade = [  # datashade requires numba
     "python-graphblas[numba,pandas,scipy]",
-    "datashader >=0.12",
-    "hvplot >=0.7",
+    "datashader >=0.14",
+    "hvplot >=0.8",
 ]
 test = [
     "python-graphblas[suitesparse,pandas,scipy]",
@@ -157,7 +156,7 @@ dirty_template = "{tag}+{ccount}.g{sha}.dirty"
 
 [tool.black]
 line-length = 100
-target-version = ["py39", "py310", "py311", "py312"]
+target-version = ["py310", "py311", "py312"]
 
 [tool.isort]
 sections = ["FUTURE", "STDLIB", "THIRDPARTY", "FIRSTPARTY", "LOCALFOLDER"]
@@ -241,10 +240,11 @@ ignore-words-list = "coo,ba"
 [tool.ruff]
 # https://github.com/charliermarsh/ruff/
 line-length = 100
-target-version = "py39"
+target-version = "py310"
 [tool.ruff.lint]
 unfixable = [
-    "F841"  # unused-variable (Note: can leave useless expression)
+    "F841",  # unused-variable (Note: can leave useless expression)
+    "B905",  # zip-without-explicit-strict (Note: prefer `zip(x, y, strict=True)`)
 ]
 select = [
     # Have we enabled too many checks that they'll become a nuisance? We'll see...
@@ -360,6 +360,7 @@ ignore = [
     "SIM105",  # Use contextlib.suppress(...) instead of try-except-pass (Note: try-except-pass is much faster)
     "SIM108",  # Use ternary operator ... instead of if-else-block (Note: if-else better for coverage and sometimes clearer)
     "TRY003",  # Avoid specifying long messages outside the exception class (Note: why?)
+    "UP038",  # Use `X | Y` in `isinstance` call instead of `(X, Y)` (Note: using `|` is slower atm)
 
     # Ignored categories
     "C90",  # mccabe (Too strict, but maybe we should make things less complex)
@@ -409,7 +410,7 @@ convention = "numpy"
 [tool.pylint.messages_control]
 # To run a single check, do: pylint graphblas --disable E,W,R,C,I --enable assignment-from-no-return
 max-line-length = 100
-py-version = "3.9"
+py-version = "3.10"
 enable = ["I"]
 disable = [
     # Error
diff --git a/scripts/check_versions.sh b/scripts/check_versions.sh
index 59fb59d5f..893f09539 100755
--- a/scripts/check_versions.sh
+++ b/scripts/check_versions.sh
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ conda search 'sparse[channel=conda-forge]>=0.15.1'
 conda search 'fast_matrix_market[channel=conda-forge]>=1.7.6'
 conda search 'numba[channel=conda-forge]>=0.59.0'
 conda search 'pyyaml[channel=conda-forge]>=6.0.1'
-# conda search 'python[channel=conda-forge]>=3.9 *pypy*'
+# conda search 'python[channel=conda-forge]>=3.10 *pypy*'