fix: resolve all high priority issues

[stefankudev]

Summary

Related Issues

Type of Change

• Bug fix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue)
• New feature (non-breaking change which adds functionality)
• Breaking change (fix or feature that would cause existing functionality to not work as expected)
• Documentation update
• Refactoring

Checklist

• My code follows the style guidelines of this project.
• I have performed a self-review of my own code.
• I have commented my code, particularly in hard-to-understand areas.
• I have made corresponding changes to the documentation.
• My changes generate no new warnings.
• I have added tests that prove my fix is effective or that my feature works.
• New and existing unit tests pass locally with my changes.