Worked on stabilizing the MNIST build in the zml/zml repository by addressing persistent build errors through targeted upgrades of Bazel and rules_cc. Focused on build system management and dependency management, the approach involved updating Bazel to version 8.1.1 and rules_cc to 0.1.1, which resolved version conflicts and enabled successful builds of the MNIST example. Adjusted workspace and dependency configurations to reflect these changes, improving CI reproducibility and reducing maintenance risk. The work enhanced the reliability and maintainability of the build system, supporting smoother contributor onboarding and ensuring that future dependency updates can be managed with greater confidence.