diff --git a/.github/actions/setup-bun-deps/action.yml b/.github/actions/setup-bun-deps/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..56146142
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/setup-bun-deps/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+name: Setup Bun & Node Deps
+description: |
+  Sets up Bun and installs Node dependencies, caching both the global
+  Bun install cache and `node_modules/`. On a `node_modules/` cache hit
+  `bun install` is skipped entirely.
+
+runs:
+  using: composite
+  steps:
+    - name: Setup Bun
+      uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2
+
+    - name: Cache bun global cache
+      uses: actions/cache@v4
+      with:
+        path: ~/.bun/install/cache
+        key: bun-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('bun.lock') }}
+        restore-keys: bun-${{ runner.os }}-
+
+    - name: Cache node_modules
+      id: node-modules-cache
+      uses: actions/cache@v4
+      with:
+        path: node_modules
+        key: node-modules-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('bun.lock') }}
+
+    - name: Install Node Dependencies
+      if: steps.node-modules-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: bun install --frozen-lockfile
diff --git a/.github/actions/setup-php-deps/action.yml b/.github/actions/setup-php-deps/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ae64df11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/setup-php-deps/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+name: Setup PHP & Composer Deps
+description: |
+  Sets up PHP 8.4 and installs Composer dependencies with two layers of cache:
+  the global Composer cache directory and the resolved `vendor/` directory
+  itself. On a `vendor/` cache hit we skip `composer install` entirely.
+
+inputs:
+  php-version:
+    description: PHP version to install
+    required: false
+    default: '8.4'
+  tools:
+    description: Tools to install via shivammathur/setup-php
+    required: false
+    default: 'composer:v2'
+  coverage:
+    description: Coverage driver (xdebug, pcov, none)
+    required: false
+    default: 'none'
+  composer-args:
+    description: Extra args for `composer install` when running
+    required: false
+    default: '--no-interaction --prefer-dist --optimize-autoloader'
+
+runs:
+  using: composite
+  steps:
+    - name: Setup PHP
+      uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
+      with:
+        php-version: ${{ inputs.php-version }}
+        tools: ${{ inputs.tools }}
+        coverage: ${{ inputs.coverage }}
+
+    - name: Get composer cache directory
+      id: composer-cache
+      shell: bash
+      run: echo "dir=$(composer config cache-files-dir)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
+    - name: Cache composer global cache
+      uses: actions/cache@v4
+      with:
+        path: ${{ steps.composer-cache.outputs.dir }}
+        key: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php${{ inputs.php-version }}-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock') }}
+        restore-keys: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php${{ inputs.php-version }}-
+
+    - name: Cache vendor/
+      id: vendor-cache
+      uses: actions/cache@v4
+      with:
+        path: vendor
+        key: vendor-${{ runner.os }}-php${{ inputs.php-version }}-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock') }}
+
+    - name: Install PHP Dependencies
+      if: steps.vendor-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: composer install ${{ inputs.composer-args }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 7680dfa5..d1ee015b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -23,39 +23,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Setup PHP
-        uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
-        with:
-          php-version: 8.4
-          tools: composer:v2
-          coverage: none
+      - name: Setup PHP & Composer Deps
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-php-deps
 
-      - name: Get composer cache directory
-        id: composer-cache
-        run: echo "dir=$(composer config cache-files-dir)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-
-      - name: Cache composer dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ${{ steps.composer-cache.outputs.dir }}
-          key: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-
-
-      - name: Install PHP Dependencies
-        run: composer install --no-interaction --prefer-dist --optimize-autoloader
-
-      - name: Setup Bun
-        uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2
-
-      - name: Cache bun dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ~/.bun/install/cache
-          key: bun-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('bun.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: bun-${{ runner.os }}-
-
-      - name: Install Node Dependencies
-        run: bun install --frozen-lockfile
+      - name: Setup Bun & Node Deps
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-bun-deps
 
       - name: Build Assets
         run: bun run build
@@ -69,7 +41,6 @@ jobs:
 
   tests:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: build-assets
     services:
       mysql:
         image: mysql:8.0
@@ -83,32 +54,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Setup PHP
-        uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
-        with:
-          php-version: 8.4
-          tools: composer:v2
-          coverage: none
-
-      - name: Get composer cache directory
-        id: composer-cache
-        run: echo "dir=$(composer config cache-files-dir)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-
-      - name: Cache composer dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ${{ steps.composer-cache.outputs.dir }}
-          key: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-
-
-      - name: Install Dependencies
-        run: composer install --no-interaction --prefer-dist --optimize-autoloader
-
-      - name: Download Build Artifact
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: build-assets
-          path: public/build
+      - name: Setup PHP & Composer Deps
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-php-deps
 
       - name: Copy Environment File
         run: cp .env.example .env
@@ -117,7 +64,12 @@ jobs:
         run: php artisan key:generate
 
       - name: Tests
-        run: ./vendor/bin/pest --exclude-testsuite=Browser,Performance
+        # --parallel splits the suite across workers via paratest. Each
+        # worker creates its own "testing_test_<N>" database; the mysql
+        # service runs as root which has CREATE on *.* so this Just Works
+        # without extra grants. Performance suite is excluded because
+        # concurrent load skews its timing-based assertions.
+        run: ./vendor/bin/pest --exclude-testsuite=Browser,Performance --parallel --processes=4
         env:
           TESTCONTAINERS: false
           DB_CONNECTION: mysql
@@ -161,29 +113,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Setup PHP
-        uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
-        with:
-          php-version: 8.4
-          tools: composer:v2
+      - name: Setup PHP & Composer Deps
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-php-deps
 
-      - name: Setup Node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: lts/*
-
-      - name: Setup Bun
-        uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2
-
-      - name: Cache bun dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ~/.bun/install/cache
-          key: bun-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('bun.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: bun-${{ runner.os }}-
-
-      - name: Install Node Dependencies
-        run: bun install --frozen-lockfile
+      - name: Setup Bun & Node Deps
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-bun-deps
 
       - name: Cache Playwright browsers
         id: playwright-cache
@@ -194,27 +128,13 @@ jobs:
           restore-keys: playwright-${{ runner.os }}-
 
       - name: Install Playwright Browsers
-        run: npx playwright install --with-deps
+        run: npx playwright install --with-deps chromium
         if: steps.playwright-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
 
       - name: Install Playwright system deps
-        run: npx playwright install-deps
+        run: npx playwright install-deps chromium
         if: steps.playwright-cache.outputs.cache-hit == 'true'
 
-      - name: Get composer cache directory
-        id: composer-cache
-        run: echo "dir=$(composer config cache-files-dir)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-
-      - name: Cache composer dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ${{ steps.composer-cache.outputs.dir }}
-          key: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-
-
-      - name: Install PHP Dependencies
-        run: composer install --no-interaction --prefer-dist --optimize-autoloader
-
       - name: Download Build Artifact
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
@@ -243,24 +163,10 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Setup PHP
-        uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
+      - name: Setup PHP & Composer Deps
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-php-deps
         with:
-          php-version: '8.4'
-
-      - name: Get composer cache directory
-        id: composer-cache
-        run: echo "dir=$(composer config cache-files-dir)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-
-      - name: Cache composer dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ${{ steps.composer-cache.outputs.dir }}
-          key: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-
-
-      - name: Install PHP Dependencies
-        run: composer install -q --no-ansi --no-interaction --no-scripts --no-progress --prefer-dist
+          composer-args: '-q --no-ansi --no-interaction --no-scripts --no-progress --prefer-dist'
 
       - name: Run PHPStan
         run: vendor/bin/phpstan analyse --memory-limit=512M --no-progress
@@ -270,45 +176,20 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Setup PHP
-        uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
+      - name: Setup PHP & Composer Deps
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-php-deps
         with:
-          php-version: '8.4'
+          composer-args: '-q --no-ansi --no-interaction --no-scripts --no-progress --prefer-dist'
 
-      - name: Setup Bun
-        uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2
-
-      - name: Get composer cache directory
-        id: composer-cache
-        run: echo "dir=$(composer config cache-files-dir)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-
-      - name: Cache composer dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ${{ steps.composer-cache.outputs.dir }}
-          key: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-
-
-      - name: Cache bun dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ~/.bun/install/cache
-          key: bun-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('bun.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: bun-${{ runner.os }}-
-
-      - name: Install Dependencies
-        run: |
-          composer install -q --no-ansi --no-interaction --no-scripts --no-progress --prefer-dist
-          bun install --frozen-lockfile
+      - name: Setup Bun & Node Deps
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-bun-deps
 
       - name: Cache Pint results
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: .pint.cache
-          key: pint-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock', 'pint.json') }}-${{ github.sha }}
-          restore-keys: |
-            pint-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock', 'pint.json') }}-
-            pint-${{ runner.os }}-
+          key: pint-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock', 'pint.json') }}
+          restore-keys: pint-${{ runner.os }}-
 
       - name: Run Pint
         run: vendor/bin/pint --test --parallel --cache-file=.pint.cache
@@ -324,7 +205,6 @@ jobs:
 
   performance-tests:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: build-assets
     services:
       mysql:
         image: mysql:8.0
@@ -338,31 +218,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Setup PHP
-        uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
-        with:
-          php-version: 8.4
-          tools: composer:v2
-
-      - name: Get composer cache directory
-        id: composer-cache
-        run: echo "dir=$(composer config cache-files-dir)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-
-      - name: Cache composer dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ${{ steps.composer-cache.outputs.dir }}
-          key: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-${{ hashFiles('composer.lock') }}
-          restore-keys: composer-${{ runner.os }}-php8.4-
-
-      - name: Install Dependencies
-        run: composer install --no-interaction --prefer-dist --optimize-autoloader
-
-      - name: Download Build Artifact
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: build-assets
-          path: public/build
+      - name: Setup PHP & Composer Deps
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-php-deps
 
       - name: Copy Environment File
         run: cp .env.example .env
diff --git a/tests/Pest.php b/tests/Pest.php
index dd782bd1..2c4b4d28 100644
--- a/tests/Pest.php
+++ b/tests/Pest.php
@@ -29,6 +29,21 @@ pest()->extend(TestCase::class)
 
 pest()->browser()->timeout(15000);
 
+/*
+|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+| Disable Vite globally for non-browser suites
+|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+|
+| Feature/Performance suites render Inertia pages but never assert on
+| the JS bundle. Calling withoutVite() here removes the dependency on a
+| compiled Vite manifest, so these jobs no longer need the build-assets
+| artifact in CI. Browser tests still get a real manifest because the
+| dev server / built assets are required to drive Playwright.
+*/
+pest()->beforeEach(function () {
+    $this->withoutVite();
+})->in('Feature', 'Performance');
+
 /*
 |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 | Expectations