diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index f2710a1..3a8a8ab 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
   create-libqrmi-tarball-rhel:
     if: github.repository_owner == 'qiskit-community'
     name: Create libqrmi tarball for RHEL compatible distributions
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/libqrmi-tarball-rhel.yml
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/tarball-libqrmi-el8.yml
       
   create-draft-release:
     if: github.repository_owner == 'qiskit-community'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/libqrmi-tarball-rhel.yml b/.github/workflows/tarball-libqrmi-el8.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from .github/workflows/libqrmi-tarball-rhel.yml
rename to .github/workflows/tarball-libqrmi-el8.yml
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 970a145..e6d8e73 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ qrmi.h
 
 # python venvs
 *venv
+.venv*
 
 # Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
 __pycache__/
@@ -59,6 +60,9 @@ __pycache__/
 # C extensions
 *.so
 
+# Documentation
+html/
+
 # Distribution / packaging
 .Python
 build/
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index aad8040..838d668 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,65 +1,314 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 # (C) Copyright IBM Corporation 2026
 
-VERSION := $$($(MAKE) get-qrmi-version)
 DIST_DIR ?= .
 
-include Makefile_helpers.mk
+.PHONY: _build
+_build: build
 
-.PHONY: all build dist dist-rhel-lib clean help
-
-all: build
+include Makefile_common.mk
 
 # ------------------------------------------------
-# Rust targets
+# Build targets
 # ------------------------------------------------
 
+.PHONY: build build-rust-examples build-task-runner build-stubgen
+.PHONY: build-c-examples build-pypkg build-rust-all build-all
+
 build:
-	cargo build --locked --release
+	cargo build --locked --release --lib
+
+build-rust-examples:
+	cargo build --locked --release --examples
+
+build-task-runner:
+	cargo build --locked --release --bin task_runner --features="build-binary"
+
+build-stubgen: check-venv-exists
+	@source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	cargo build --locked --release --bin stubgen --features="pyo3"
+
+build-c-examples: build
+	@mkdir -p examples/qrmi/c/direct_access/build
+	@cd examples/qrmi/c/direct_access/build && \
+		cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release .. && \
+		cmake --build .
+	@mkdir -p examples/qrmi/c/qiskit_runtime_service/build
+	@cd examples/qrmi/c/qiskit_runtime_service/build && \
+		cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release .. && \
+		cmake --build .
+	@mkdir -p examples/qrmi/c/pasqal_cloud/build
+	@cd examples/qrmi/c/pasqal_cloud/build && \
+		cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release .. && \
+		cmake --build .
+	@mkdir -p examples/qrmi/c/config/build
+	@cd examples/qrmi/c/config/build && \
+		cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release .. && \
+		cmake --build .
+
+build-pypkg: check-venv-exists
+	@source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	maturin build --locked --release
+
+build-rust-all: build build-rust-examples build-task-runner build-stubgen
+
+build-all: build-rust-all build-c-examples build-pypkg
+
+# ------------------------------------------------
+# Linting targets
+# ------------------------------------------------
+
+.PHONY: lint lint-rust-examples lint-task-runner lint-stubgen
+.PHONY: lint-pypkg lint-rust-all lint-all
+
+lint:
+	cargo clippy --locked --release --lib -- -D warnings
+
+lint-rust-examples:
+	cargo clippy --locked --release --examples -- -D warnings
+
+lint-task-runner:
+	cargo clippy --locked --release --bin task_runner --features="build-binary" -- -D warnings
+
+lint-stubgen: check-venv-exists
+	@source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	cargo clippy --locked --release --bin stubgen --features="pyo3" -- -D warnings
+
+lint-pypkg: check-venv-exists install-pypkg
+	@source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	pylint ./python
+
+lint-rust-all: lint-with-examples lint-task-runner lint-stubgen
+
+lint-all: lint-rust-all lint-pypkg
+
+# ------------------------------------------------
+# Unit test targets
+# ------------------------------------------------
+
+.PHONY: test test-doc test-deps test-rust-examples test-task-runner
+.PHONY: test-stubgen test-pypkg test-rust-all test-all
+
+test:
+	cargo test --lib --locked --release
+
+test-doc:
+	cargo test --doc --locked --release
+
+test-deps:
+	cargo test --locked --release -p direct-access-api
+	cargo test --locked --release -p pasqal-cloud-api
+	cargo test --locked --release -p qiskit_runtime_client
+
+test-rust-examples:
+	cargo test --examples --locked --release
+
+test-task-runner:
+	cargo test --locked --release --bin task_runner --features="build-binary"
+
+test-stubgen: check-venv-exists
+	@source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	cargo test --locked --release --bin stubgen --features="pyo3"
+
+test-pypkg: check-venv-exists install-pypkg
+	@source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	pytest python/tests/
+
+test-rust-all: test test-rust-examples test-rust-doc test-task-runner test-stubgen
+
+test-all: test-rust-all test-pypkg
+
+# ------------------------------------------------
+# Format check targets
+# ------------------------------------------------
+
+.PHONY: fmt fmt-rust fmt-pypkg fmt-all
+
+fmt: fmt-rust
+
+fmt-rust:
+	cargo fmt --all -- --check --verbose
+
+fmt-pypkg: check-venv-exists
+	@source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	black --check ./python
+
+fmt-all: fmt-rust fmt-pypkg
+
+# ------------------------------------------------
+# Setup targets
+# ------------------------------------------------
+
+.PHONY: create-env install-pypkg
+
+create-venv: check-python-version-installed
+	@if [ -d $(PYTHON_VENV_DIR) ]; then \
+	  echo "Error: $(PYTHON_VENV_DIR) already exists. Remove it first or just skip this step."; \
+	  exit 1; \
+	fi; \
+	python$(PYTHON_VERSION) -m venv $(PYTHON_VENV_DIR) && \
+	source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	pip install --upgrade pip && \
+	pip install -r requirements-dev.txt && \
+	echo && \
+	echo "*** Virtual environment created ***" && \
+	echo && \
+	echo "The makefile targets will activate the venv automatically, but if you want" && \
+	echo "you can manually activate it with: source $(PYTHON_VENV_DIR)/bin/activate" && \
+	echo
+
+install-pypkg: check-venv-exists
+	@source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	maturin develop --locked --release
+
+# ------------------------------------------------
+# Clean targets
+# ------------------------------------------------
+
+.PHONY: clean clean-c-examples clean-tarballs
+
+clean:
+	cargo clean
+	@rm -f qrmi.h
+
+clean-c-examples:
+	@rm -rf examples/qrmi/c/direct_access/build
+	@rm -rf examples/qrmi/c/qiskit_runtime_service/build
+	@rm -rf examples/qrmi/c/pasqal_cloud/build
+	@rm -rf examples/qrmi/c/config/build
+
+clean-tarballs:
+	rm -f $(DIST_DIR)/libqrmi-$(QRMI_VERSION)-el8-x86_64.tar.gz
+	rm -f $(DIST_DIR)/qrmi-$(QRMI_VERSION)-vendor.tar.gz
+
+clean-docs:
+	rm -rf $(DIST_DIR)/html
+
+# ------------------------------------------------
+# Documentation targets
+# ------------------------------------------------
+
+.PHONY: doc doc-pypkg doc-c
+
+doc:
+	cargo doc --no-deps --open
+
+doc-pypkg: check-venv-exists
+	@source $(PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE) && \
+	python -m pydoc -b
+
+doc-c: check-doxygen-installed
+	@doxygen Doxyfile
+	@echo
+	@echo "Open the file $(DIST_DIR)/html/index.html"
 
 # ------------------------------------------------
 # Packaging targets
 # ------------------------------------------------
 
-# Allow disconnected/airgapped builds
+.PHONY: tarball-vendor tarball-libqrmi-el8 clean-tarballs
+
 tarball-vendor:
 	cargo vendor $(DIST_DIR)/vendor
-	@tar czf $(DIST_DIR)/qrmi-$(VERSION)-vendor.tar.gz vendor/
+	@tar czf $(DIST_DIR)/qrmi-$(QRMI_VERSION)-vendor.tar.gz vendor/
 	@rm -rf $(DIST_DIR)/vendor
 	@echo
-	@echo "Created: $(DIST_DIR)/qrmi-$(VERSION)-vendor.tar.gz"
-
-dist-rhel-lib: build
-	TARBALL="$(DIST_DIR)/libqrmi-$(VERSION)-el8-x86_64.tar.gz"; \
-	WORKDIR="$(DIST_DIR)/libqrmi-$(VERSION)"; \
-	mkdir -p $$WORKDIR; \
-	cp target/release/libqrmi.so $$WORKDIR; \
-	cp qrmi.h $$WORKDIR; \
-	cp LICENSE.txt $$WORKDIR; \
-	tar czf $$TARBALL -C $(DIST_DIR) libqrmi-$(VERSION); \
-	rm -rf $$WORKDIR; \
+	@echo "Created: $(DIST_DIR)/qrmi-$(QRMI_VERSION)-vendor.tar.gz"
+
+tarball-libqrmi-el8: build
+	@TARBALL="$(DIST_DIR)/libqrmi-$(QRMI_VERSION)-el8-x86_64.tar.gz" && \
+	WORKDIR="$(DIST_DIR)/libqrmi-$(QRMI_VERSION)" && \
+	mkdir -p $$WORKDIR && \
+	cp target/release/libqrmi.so $$WORKDIR && \
+	cp qrmi.h $$WORKDIR && \
+	cp LICENSE.txt $$WORKDIR && \
+	tar czf $$TARBALL -C $(DIST_DIR) libqrmi-$(QRMI_VERSION) && \
+	rm -rf $$WORKDIR && \
 	echo "Created: $$TARBALL"
 
 # ------------------------------------------------
-# Misc targets
+# Other targets
 # ------------------------------------------------
 
-clean:
-	cargo clean
+define HELP_TEXT
+Usage: make <target>
+
+Build targets:
+    build                - Build libqrmi (default target)
+    build-rust-examples  - Build rust examples
+    build-c-examples     - Build C examples
+    build-task-runner    - Build task_runner binary
+    build-stubgen        - Build stubgen binary. Requires: create-venv
+    build-pypkg          - Build qrmi python package. Requires: create-venv
+    build-rust-all       - Build libqrmi, rust examples and binaries
+    build-all            - Build everything!
+
+Linting targets:
+    lint                 - Lint libqrmi
+    lint-rust-examples   - Lint rust examples
+    lint-task-runner     - Lint task_runner binary
+    lint-stubgen         - Lint stubgen binary. (Requires: create-venv)
+    lint-pypkg           - Lint qrmi python package installed in the venv. (Requires: create-venv)
+                           The qrmi python package will be built and installed if necessary
+    lint-rust-all        - Lint libqrmi, rust examples and binaries
+    lint-all             - Lint everything!
+
+Unit test targets:
+    test                 - Test libqrmi
+    test-deps            - Test libqrmi dependencies
+    test-doc             - Test libqrmi doctests
+    test-rust-examples   - Test rust examples
+    test-task-runner     - Test task_runner binary
+    test-stubgen         - Test stubgen binary. (Requires: create-venv)
+    test-pypkg           - Test the qrmi python package installed in the venv. (Requires: create-venv)
+                           The qrmi python package will be built and installed if necessary
+    test-rust-all        - Test libqrmi, doctests, rust examples and binaries
+    test-all             - Test everything!
+
+Format check targets:
+    fmt                  - Same as "fmt-rust"
+    fmt-rust             - Format check libqrmi, dependencies, examples and binaries
+    fmt-pypkg            - Format check the ./python directory. (Requires: create-venv)
+    fmt-all              - Format check everything!
+
+Clean targets:
+    clean                - Remove ./target directory and qrmi.h
+    clean-c-examples     - Remove C examples build directories
+    clean-tarballs       - Remove tarballs generated
+    clean-all            - Remove all artifacts built
+
+Documentation targets:
+    doc                  - Generate rust API documentation and open it in a browser
+    doc-pypkg            - Generate python API documentation and open it in a browser. (Requires: create-venv)
+    doc-c                - Generate C API documentation
+
+Setup targets:
+    create-venv          - Create python virtual environment for QRMI using the python version
+                           defined in PYTHON_VERSION (default: "3.12").
+                           Once created, the makefile target will activate the venv automatically.
+    install-pypkg        - Build (if needed) and install the qrmi python package
+
+Packaging targets:
+    tarball-libqrmi-el8  - Create versioned libqrmi tarball with libqrmi.so and qrmi.h
+                           for RHEL8 compatible distributions
+    tarball-vendor       - Create versioned vendor tarball in DIST_DIR (default: ./).
+                           It can be used to build the qrmi version locally without
+                           relying on the vendor crates to be available upstream.
+
+Other targets:
+    check-new-qrmi-version-valid   - Check if the qrmi version returned by "get-qrmi-version"
+                                     has already been released in github.
+    check-python-version-installed - Check if the RHEL 8 required python packages are installed
+    check-venv-exists    - Check if the venv for PYTHON_VERSION (default: "3.12") has already been created
+    get-qrmi-version     - Read the qrmi version from Cargo.toml and print it
+    help                 - Show this help message
+
+endef
+export HELP_TEXT
+
+.PHONY: clean-all help
+
+clean-all: clean clean-c-examples clean-tarballs
 
 help:
-	@echo "Rust targets:"
-	@echo
-	@echo "  all    - same as \"make build\" (default)"
-	@echo "  build  - Build libqrmi"
-	@echo
-	@echo "Packaging targets:"
-	@echo
-	@echo "  tarball-vendor  - Create vendor tarball in DIST_DIR (default: ./)"
-	@echo "  dist-rhel-lib   - Create libqrmi tarball with libqrmi.so and qrmi.h"
-	@echo
-	@echo "Misc targets:"
-	@echo
-	@echo "  clean  - Remove build artifacts"
-	@echo "  help   - Show this help message"
-	
\ No newline at end of file
+	@echo "$$HELP_TEXT"
diff --git a/Makefile_common.mk b/Makefile_common.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6026e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile_common.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+# (C) Copyright IBM Corporation 2026
+
+ifndef MAKEFILE_COMMON_MK_INCLUDED
+
+.PHONY: get-qrmi-version check-new-qrmi-version-valid check-python-version-installed check-venv-exists
+
+# Get QRMI version from Cargo.toml
+QRMI_VERSION := $(shell grep -m1 '^version' Cargo.toml | sed 's/.*"\(.*\)".*/\1/')
+# Python version to be used
+PYTHON_VERSION ?= 3.12
+
+PYTHON_VENV_SUFFIX = $(shell echo "py$(PYTHON_VERSION)" | sed 's/\.//')
+PYTHON_VENV_DIR = ".venv_$(PYTHON_VENV_SUFFIX)"
+PYTHON_VENV_ACTIVATE = $(PYTHON_VENV_DIR)/bin/activate
+
+MAKEFLAGS += --no-print-directory
+
+# Single source of truth to get the qrmi version.
+get-qrmi-version:
+	@echo "$(QRMI_VERSION)"
+
+# Before releasing a new qrmi version, we check if the current version was not released yet
+check-new-qrmi-version-valid:
+	@NEW_QRMI_VERSION=$$($(MAKE) get-qrmi-version); \
+	if [ -z "$${NEW_QRMI_VERSION}" ]; then \
+		echo "Error: Failed to get QRMI version from Cargo.toml"; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi; \
+	HTTP_CODE=$$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" "https://api.github.com/repos/qiskit-community/qrmi/releases/tags/v$${NEW_QRMI_VERSION}"); \
+	if [ "$${HTTP_CODE}" = "200" ]; then \
+		echo "Error: Release v$${NEW_QRMI_VERSION} already exists in GitHub releases"; \
+		echo "Please update the version in Cargo.toml and try again"; \
+		exit 1; \
+	elif [ "$${HTTP_CODE}" != "404" ]; then \
+		echo "Error: Failed to check GitHub releases (HTTP $${HTTP_CODE})"; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi; \
+	echo "New QRMI version v$${NEW_QRMI_VERSION} is valid"
+
+check-python-version-installed:
+	@if ! command -v python$(PYTHON_VERSION) >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then \
+		echo "Error: python$(PYTHON_VERSION) not found"; \
+		echo "Please install the package python$(PYTHON_VERSION)"; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi; \
+	if ! command -v python$(PYTHON_VERSION)-config >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then \
+		echo "Error: python$(PYTHON_VERSION) library and headers not found"; \
+		echo "Please install the package python$(PYTHON_VERSION)-devel"; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi
+
+check-doxygen-installed:
+	@if ! command -v doxygen >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then \
+		echo "Error: doxygen not found"; \
+		echo "Please install the package doxygen"; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi
+
+check-venv-exists: check-python-version-installed
+	@if [ ! -d "$(PYTHON_VENV_DIR)" ]; then \
+	  echo "Error: $(PYTHON_VENV_DIR) not found. Run: make create-venv"; \
+	  exit 1; \
+	fi
+
+MAKEFILE_COMMON_MK_INCLUDED := true
+endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Makefile_helpers.mk b/Makefile_helpers.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 4f0f341..0000000
--- a/Makefile_helpers.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-# (C) Copyright IBM Corporation 2026
-
-.PHONY: get-qrmi-version check-new-qrmi-version-valid
-
-MAKEFLAGS += --no-print-directory
-
-# Single source of truth to get the qrmi version.
-get-qrmi-version:
-	@grep -m1 '^version' Cargo.toml | sed 's/.*"\(.*\)".*/\1/'
-
-# Before releasing a new qrmi version, we check if the current version was not released yet
-check-new-qrmi-version-valid:
-	@NEW_QRMI_VERSION=$$($(MAKE) get-qrmi-version); \
-	if [ -z "$${NEW_QRMI_VERSION}" ]; then \
-		echo "Error: Failed to get QRMI version from Cargo.toml"; \
-		exit 1; \
-	fi; \
-	HTTP_CODE=$$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" "https://api.github.com/repos/qiskit-community/qrmi/releases/tags/v$${NEW_QRMI_VERSION}"); \
-	if [ "$${HTTP_CODE}" = "200" ]; then \
-		echo "Error: Release v$${NEW_QRMI_VERSION} already exists in GitHub releases"; \
-		echo "Please update the version in Cargo.toml and try again"; \
-		exit 1; \
-	elif [ "$${HTTP_CODE}" != "404" ]; then \
-		echo "Error: Failed to check GitHub releases (HTTP $${HTTP_CODE})"; \
-		exit 1; \
-	fi; \
-	echo "New QRMI version v$${NEW_QRMI_VERSION} is valid"