diff --git a/blag/__init__.py b/blag/__init__.py
index 6527216..318e4f3 100644
--- a/blag/__init__.py
+++ b/blag/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-from blag.version import __VERSION__  # noqa
+from blag.version import __VERSION__ as __VERSION__ # noqa
diff --git a/blag/blag.py b/blag/blag.py
index f1c1b1a..8a9ce81 100644
--- a/blag/blag.py
+++ b/blag/blag.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 # remove when we don't support py38 anymore
 from __future__ import annotations
+from typing import Any
 import argparse
 import os
 import shutil
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ logging.basicConfig(
 )
 
 
-def main(arguments: list[str] = None) -> None:
+def main(arguments: list[str] | None = None) -> None:
     """Main entrypoint for the CLI.
 
     This method parses the CLI arguments and executes the respective
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ def main(arguments: list[str] = None) -> None:
     args.func(args)
 
 
-def parse_args(args: list[str] = None) -> argparse.Namespace:
+def parse_args(args: list[str] | None = None) -> argparse.Namespace:
     """Parse command line arguments.
 
     Parameters
@@ -175,8 +176,8 @@ def get_config(configfile: str) -> configparser.SectionProxy:
 
 
 def environment_factory(
-    template_dir: str = None,
-    globals_: dict = None,
+    template_dir: str | None = None,
+    globals_: dict[str, object] | None = None,
 ) -> Environment:
     """Environment factory.
 
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ def environment_factory(
     Parameters
     ----------
     template_dir : str
-    globals_ : dict
+    globals_ : dict[str, object]
 
     Returns
     -------
@@ -278,7 +279,7 @@ def process_markdown(
     output_dir: str,
     page_template: Template,
     article_template: Template,
-) -> tuple[list[tuple[str, dict]], list[tuple[str, dict]]]:
+) -> tuple[list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]], list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]]]:
     """Process markdown files.
 
     This method processes the convertibles, converts them to html and
@@ -298,7 +299,7 @@ def process_markdown(
 
     Returns
     -------
-    articles, pages : list[tuple[str, dict]]
+    articles, pages : list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]]
 
     """
     logger.info("Converting Markdown files...")
@@ -334,7 +335,7 @@ def process_markdown(
 
 
 def generate_feed(
-    articles: list[tuple[str, dict]],
+    articles: list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]],
     output_dir: str,
     base_url: str,
     blog_title: str,
@@ -345,7 +346,7 @@ def generate_feed(
 
     Parameters
     ----------
-    articles : list[tuple[str, dict]]
+    articles : list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]]
         list of relative output path and article dictionary
     output_dir : str
         where the feed is stored
@@ -386,7 +387,7 @@ def generate_feed(
 
 
 def generate_archive(
-    articles: list[tuple[str, dict]],
+    articles: list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]],
     template: Template,
     output_dir: str,
 ) -> None:
@@ -394,7 +395,7 @@ def generate_archive(
 
     Parameters
     ----------
-    articles : list[tuple[str, dict]]
+    articles : list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]]
         List of articles. Each article has the destination path and a
         dictionary with the content.
     template : jinja2.Template instance
@@ -413,7 +414,7 @@ def generate_archive(
 
 
 def generate_tags(
-    articles: list[tuple[str, dict]],
+    articles: list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]],
     tags_template: Template,
     tag_template: Template,
     output_dir: str,
@@ -422,7 +423,7 @@ def generate_tags(
 
     Parameters
     ----------
-    articles : list[tuple[str, dict]]
+    articles : list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]]
         List of articles. Each article has the destination path and a
         dictionary with the content.
     tags_template, tag_template : jinja2.Template instance
@@ -431,11 +432,10 @@ def generate_tags(
     """
     logger.info("Generating Tag-pages.")
     os.makedirs(f'{output_dir}/tags', exist_ok=True)
-
     # get tags number of occurrences
-    all_tags: dict = {}
+    all_tags: dict[str, int] = {}
     for _, context in articles:
-        tags = context.get('tags', [])
+        tags: list[str] = context.get('tags', [])
         for tag in tags:
             all_tags[tag] = all_tags.get(tag, 0) + 1
     # sort by occurrence
@@ -448,17 +448,17 @@ def generate_tags(
         fh.write(result)
 
     # get tags and archive per tag
-    all_tags = {}
+    all_tags2: dict[str, list[dict[str, Any]]] = {}
     for dst, context in articles:
         tags = context.get('tags', [])
         for tag in tags:
-            archive = all_tags.get(tag, [])
+            archive: list[dict[str, Any]] = all_tags2.get(tag, [])
             entry = context.copy()
             entry['dst'] = dst
             archive.append(entry)
-            all_tags[tag] = archive
+            all_tags2[tag] = archive
 
-    for tag, archive in all_tags.items():
+    for tag, archive in all_tags2.items():
         result = tag_template.render(dict(archive=archive, tag=tag))
         with open(f'{output_dir}/tags/{tag}.html', 'w') as fh:
             fh.write(result)
diff --git a/blag/markdown.py b/blag/markdown.py
index b71df4b..efe0926 100644
--- a/blag/markdown.py
+++ b/blag/markdown.py
@@ -41,7 +41,10 @@ def markdown_factory() -> Markdown:
     return md
 
 
-def convert_markdown(md: Markdown, markdown: str) -> tuple[str, dict]:
+def convert_markdown(
+    md: Markdown,
+    markdown: str,
+) -> tuple[str, dict[str, str]]:
     """Convert markdown into html and extract meta data.
 
     Some meta data is treated special:
@@ -56,13 +59,13 @@ def convert_markdown(md: Markdown, markdown: str) -> tuple[str, dict]:
 
     Returns
     -------
-    str, dict :
+    str, dict[str, str] :
         html and metadata
 
     """
     md.reset()
     content = md.convert(markdown)
-    meta = md.Meta
+    meta = md.Meta  # type: ignore
 
     # markdowns metadata consists as list of strings -- one item per
     # line. let's convert into single strings.
@@ -90,7 +93,7 @@ class MarkdownLinkTreeprocessor(Treeprocessor):
 
     """
 
-    def run(self, root: Element):
+    def run(self, root: Element) -> Element:
         for element in root.iter():
             if element.tag == 'a':
                 url = element.get('href')
@@ -102,7 +105,7 @@ class MarkdownLinkTreeprocessor(Treeprocessor):
                 element.set('href', converted)
         return root
 
-    def convert(self, url: str):
+    def convert(self, url: str) -> str:
         scheme, netloc, path, query, fragment = urlsplit(url)
         logger.debug(
             f'{url}: {scheme=} {netloc=} {path=} {query=} {fragment=}'
@@ -120,7 +123,7 @@ class MarkdownLinkExtension(Extension):
     """markdown.extension that converts relative .md- to .html-links.
 
     """
-    def extendMarkdown(self, md: Markdown):
+    def extendMarkdown(self, md: Markdown) -> None:
         md.treeprocessors.register(
                 MarkdownLinkTreeprocessor(md), 'mdlink', 0,
         )
diff --git a/blag/quickstart.py b/blag/quickstart.py
index dc82380..cbdcaac 100644
--- a/blag/quickstart.py
+++ b/blag/quickstart.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def get_input(question: str, default: str) -> str:
     return reply
 
 
-def quickstart(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
+def quickstart(args: argparse.Namespace | None) -> None:
     """Quickstart.
 
     This method asks the user some questions and generates a
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 71030af..94d778c 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ exclude = venv,build,docs
 
 [mypy]
 files = blag,tests
+strict = True
 
 [mypy-feedgenerator.*]
 ignore_missing_imports = True
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 221078c..f774841 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
+from argparse import Namespace
+from typing import Iterator, Callable
 from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
 import os
 
 import pytest
+from jinja2 import Environment, Template
 
 from blag import blag
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def environment():
+def environment() -> Iterator[Environment]:
     site = {
         'base_url': 'site base_url',
         'title': 'site title',
@@ -19,32 +22,32 @@ def environment():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def page_template(environment):
+def page_template(environment: Environment) -> Iterator[Template]:
     yield environment.get_template('page.html')
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def article_template(environment):
+def article_template(environment: Environment) -> Iterator[Template]:
     yield environment.get_template('article.html')
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def archive_template(environment):
+def archive_template(environment: Environment) -> Iterator[Template]:
     yield environment.get_template('archive.html')
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tags_template(environment):
+def tags_template(environment: Environment) -> Iterator[Template]:
     yield environment.get_template('tags.html')
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tag_template(environment):
+def tag_template(environment: Environment) -> Iterator[Template]:
     yield environment.get_template('tag.html')
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def cleandir():
+def cleandir() -> Iterator[str]:
     """Create a temporary workind directory and cwd.
 
     """
@@ -70,14 +73,9 @@ author = a. u. thor
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def args(cleandir):
+def args(cleandir: Callable[[], Iterator[str]]) -> Iterator[Namespace]:
 
-    class NameSpace:
-        def __init__(self, **kwargs):
-            for name in kwargs:
-                setattr(self, name, kwargs[name])
-
-    args = NameSpace(
+    args = Namespace(
             input_dir='content',
             output_dir='build',
             static_dir='static',
diff --git a/tests/test_blag.py b/tests/test_blag.py
index eeafbae..d4f40ae 100644
--- a/tests/test_blag.py
+++ b/tests/test_blag.py
@@ -1,37 +1,41 @@
 from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
 import os
 from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Any
+from argparse import Namespace
 
 import pytest
+from pytest import CaptureFixture, LogCaptureFixture
+from jinja2 import Template
 
+from blag import __VERSION__
 from blag import blag
 
 
-def test_generate_feed(cleandir):
-    articles = []
+def test_generate_feed(cleandir: str) -> None:
+    articles: list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]] = []
     blag.generate_feed(articles, 'build', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ')
     assert os.path.exists('build/atom.xml')
 
 
-def test_feed(cleandir):
-    articles = [
-        [
+def test_feed(cleandir: str) -> None:
+    articles: list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]] = [
+        (
             'dest1.html',
             {
                 'title': 'title1',
                 'date': datetime(2019, 6, 6),
                 'content': 'content1',
             }
-        ],
-        [
+        ),
+        (
             'dest2.html',
             {
                 'title': 'title2',
                 'date': datetime(1980, 5, 9),
                 'content': 'content2',
             }
-        ],
-
+        ),
     ]
 
     blag.generate_feed(articles, 'build', 'https://example.com/',
@@ -60,10 +64,10 @@ def test_feed(cleandir):
     assert '<link href="https://example.com/dest2.html"' in feed
 
 
-def test_generate_feed_with_description(cleandir):
+def test_generate_feed_with_description(cleandir: str) -> None:
     # if a description is provided, it will be used as the summary in
     # the feed, otherwise we simply use the title of the article
-    articles = [[
+    articles: list[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]] = [(
         'dest.html',
         {
             'title': 'title',
@@ -71,7 +75,7 @@ def test_generate_feed_with_description(cleandir):
             'date': datetime(2019, 6, 6),
             'content': 'content',
         }
-    ]]
+    )]
     blag.generate_feed(articles, 'build', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ')
 
     with open('build/atom.xml') as fh:
@@ -83,7 +87,7 @@ def test_generate_feed_with_description(cleandir):
     assert '<content type="html">content' in feed
 
 
-def test_parse_args_build():
+def test_parse_args_build() -> None:
     # test default args
     args = blag.parse_args(['build'])
     assert args.input_dir == 'content'
@@ -116,7 +120,7 @@ def test_parse_args_build():
     assert args.static_dir == 'foo'
 
 
-def test_get_config():
+def test_get_config() -> None:
     config = """
 [main]
 base_url = https://example.com/
@@ -166,8 +170,8 @@ author = a. u. thor
         assert config_parsed['base_url'] == 'https://example.com/'
 
 
-def test_environment_factory():
-    globals_ = {
+def test_environment_factory() -> None:
+    globals_: dict[str, object] = {
         'foo': 'bar',
         'test': 'me'
     }
@@ -176,7 +180,11 @@ def test_environment_factory():
     assert env.globals['test'] == 'me'
 
 
-def test_process_markdown(cleandir, page_template, article_template):
+def test_process_markdown(
+    cleandir: str,
+    page_template: Template,
+    article_template: Template,
+) -> None:
     page1 = """\
 title: some page
 
@@ -202,10 +210,9 @@ foo bar
 
     convertibles = []
     for i, txt in enumerate((page1, article1, article2)):
-        i = str(i)
-        with open(f'content/{i}', 'w') as fh:
+        with open(f'content/{str(i)}', 'w') as fh:
             fh.write(txt)
-        convertibles.append([i, i])
+        convertibles.append((str(i), str(i)))
 
     articles, pages = blag.process_markdown(
             convertibles,
@@ -230,7 +237,7 @@ foo bar
         assert 'content' in context
 
 
-def test_build(args):
+def test_build(args: Namespace) -> None:
     page1 = """\
 title: some page
 
@@ -259,10 +266,9 @@ foo bar
     # write some convertibles
     convertibles = []
     for i, txt in enumerate((page1, article1, article2)):
-        i = str(i)
-        with open(f'{args.input_dir}/{i}.md', 'w') as fh:
+        with open(f'{args.input_dir}/{str(i)}.md', 'w') as fh:
             fh.write(txt)
-        convertibles.append([i, i])
+        convertibles.append((str(i), str(i)))
 
     # some static files
     with open(f'{args.static_dir}/test', 'w') as fh:
@@ -291,21 +297,21 @@ foo bar
     assert os.path.exists(f'{args.output_dir}/tags/bar.html')
 
 
-def test_main(cleandir):
+def test_main(cleandir: str) -> None:
     blag.main(['build'])
 
 
-def test_cli_version(capsys):
+def test_cli_version(capsys: CaptureFixture[str]) -> None:
     with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex:
         blag.main(['--version'])
     # normal system exit
     assert ex.value.code == 0
     # proper version reported
     out, _ = capsys.readouterr()
-    assert blag.__VERSION__ in out
+    assert __VERSION__ in out
 
 
-def test_cli_verbose(cleandir, caplog):
+def test_cli_verbose(cleandir: str, caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
     blag.main(['build'])
     assert 'DEBUG' not in caplog.text
 
diff --git a/tests/test_devserver.py b/tests/test_devserver.py
index 7f56a40..cdbb842 100644
--- a/tests/test_devserver.py
+++ b/tests/test_devserver.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 import time
 import threading
+from argparse import Namespace
 
 import pytest
 
 from blag import devserver
 
 
-def test_get_last_modified(cleandir):
+def test_get_last_modified(cleandir: str) -> None:
     # take initial time
     t1 = devserver.get_last_modified(['content'])
 
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ def test_get_last_modified(cleandir):
     assert t2 == t3
 
 
-def test_autoreload_builds_immediately(args):
+def test_autoreload_builds_immediately(args: Namespace) -> None:
     # create a dummy file that can be build
     with open('content/test.md', 'w') as fh:
         fh.write('boo')
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ def test_autoreload_builds_immediately(args):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore::pytest.PytestUnhandledThreadExceptionWarning")  # noqa
-def test_autoreload(args):
+def test_autoreload(args: Namespace) -> None:
     t = threading.Thread(target=devserver.autoreload,
                          args=(args, ),
                          daemon=True,)
diff --git a/tests/test_markdown.py b/tests/test_markdown.py
index 9103ec1..4cee8c2 100644
--- a/tests/test_markdown.py
+++ b/tests/test_markdown.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Any
 
 import pytest
 import markdown
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ from blag.markdown import convert_markdown, markdown_factory
     ('[test][]\n[test]: /a/test.md', '/a/test.html'),
     ('[test][]\n[test]: /a/test.md "test"', '/a/test.html'),
 ])
-def test_convert_markdown_links(input_, expected):
+def test_convert_markdown_links(input_: str, expected: str) -> None:
     md = markdown_factory()
     html, _ = convert_markdown(md, input_)
     assert expected in html
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ def test_convert_markdown_links(input_, expected):
     # no path
     ('[test]()', ''),
 ])
-def test_dont_convert_normal_links(input_, expected):
+def test_dont_convert_normal_links(input_: str, expected: str) -> None:
     md = markdown_factory()
     html, _ = convert_markdown(md, input_)
     assert expected in html
@@ -54,18 +55,18 @@ def test_dont_convert_normal_links(input_, expected):
     ('date: 2020-01-01 12:10', {'date':
                                 datetime(2020, 1, 1, 12, 10).astimezone()}),
 ])
-def test_convert_metadata(input_, expected):
+def test_convert_metadata(input_: str, expected: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     md = markdown_factory()
     _, meta = convert_markdown(md, input_)
     assert expected == meta
 
 
-def test_markdown_factory():
+def test_markdown_factory() -> None:
     md = markdown_factory()
     assert isinstance(md, markdown.Markdown)
 
 
-def test_smarty():
+def test_smarty() -> None:
     md = markdown_factory()
 
     md1 = """
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ this --- is -- a test ...
     assert 'hellip' in html
 
 
-def test_smarty_code():
+def test_smarty_code() -> None:
     md = markdown_factory()
 
     md1 = """
diff --git a/tests/test_quickstart.py b/tests/test_quickstart.py
index 4594497..ada2844 100644
--- a/tests/test_quickstart.py
+++ b/tests/test_quickstart.py
@@ -1,19 +1,21 @@
+from pytest import MonkeyPatch
+
 from blag.quickstart import get_input, quickstart
 
 
-def test_get_input_default_answer(monkeypatch):
+def test_get_input_default_answer(monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch) -> None:
     monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda x: '')
     answer = get_input("foo", "bar")
     assert answer == 'bar'
 
 
-def test_get_input(monkeypatch):
+def test_get_input(monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch) -> None:
     monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda x: 'baz')
     answer = get_input("foo", "bar")
     assert answer == 'baz'
 
 
-def test_quickstart(cleandir, monkeypatch):
+def test_quickstart(cleandir: str, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch) -> None:
     monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda x: 'foo')
     quickstart(None)
     with open('config.ini', 'r') as fh:
diff --git a/tests/test_templates.py b/tests/test_templates.py
index e420891..dc3395a 100644
--- a/tests/test_templates.py
+++ b/tests/test_templates.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import datetime
 
+from jinja2 import Template
 
-def test_page(page_template):
+
+def test_page(page_template: Template) -> None:
     ctx = {
         'content': 'this is the content',
         'title': 'this is the title',
@@ -11,7 +13,7 @@ def test_page(page_template):
     assert 'this is the title' in result
 
 
-def test_article(article_template):
+def test_article(article_template: Template) -> None:
     ctx = {
         'content': 'this is the content',
         'title': 'this is the title',
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ def test_article(article_template):
     assert '1980-05-09' in result
 
 
-def test_archive(archive_template):
+def test_archive(archive_template: Template) -> None:
     entry = {
         'title': 'this is a title',
         'dst': 'https://example.com/link',
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ def test_archive(archive_template):
     assert 'https://example.com/link' in result
 
 
-def test_tags(tags_template):
+def test_tags(tags_template: Template) -> None:
     tags = [('foo', 42)]
     ctx = {
         'tags': tags,
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ def test_tags(tags_template):
     assert '42' in result
 
 
-def test_tag(tag_template):
+def test_tag(tag_template: Template) -> None:
     entry = {
         'title': 'this is a title',
         'dst': 'https://example.com/link',
diff --git a/tests/test_version.py b/tests/test_version.py
index 04f8d9a..d978f67 100644
--- a/tests/test_version.py
+++ b/tests/test_version.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import blag
 
 
-def test_version():
+def test_version() -> None:
     assert isinstance(blag.__VERSION__, str)