diff --git a/.github/dco.yml b/.github/dco.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..37e411e1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/dco.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+require:
+  members: false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e15a3247f..e34511b86 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -155,7 +155,8 @@ Here is a list of them:
 
 The [issue tracker](https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-petclinic/issues) is the preferred channel for bug reports, feature requests and submitting pull requests.
 
-For pull requests, editor preferences are available in the [editor config](.editorconfig) for easy use in common text editors. Read more and download plugins at <https://editorconfig.org>. If you have not previously done so, please fill out and submit the [Contributor License Agreement](https://cla.pivotal.io/sign/spring).
+For pull requests, editor preferences are available in the [editor config](.editorconfig) for easy use in common text editors. Read more and download plugins at <https://editorconfig.org>. All commits must include a __Signed-off-by__ trailer at the end of each commit message to indicate that the contributor agrees to the Developer Certificate of Origin.
+For additional details, please refer to the blog post [Hello DCO, Goodbye CLA: Simplifying Contributions to Spring](https://spring.io/blog/2025/01/06/hello-dco-goodbye-cla-simplifying-contributions-to-spring).
 
 ## License
 
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 1eef5602b..77ae152cd 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 plugins {
   id 'java'
-  id 'org.springframework.boot' version '3.4.0'
+  id 'org.springframework.boot' version '3.4.2'
   id 'io.spring.dependency-management' version '1.1.6'
   id 'org.graalvm.buildtools.native' version '0.10.3'
   id 'org.cyclonedx.bom' version '1.10.0'
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 7d9ef3048..c69eb9321 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
     <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>3.4.0</version>
-    <relativePath />
+
+    <version>3.4.2</version>
+    <relativePath></relativePath>
   </parent>
 
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/owner/OwnerRepository.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/owner/OwnerRepository.java
index 5d7a40fbb..ab594841c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/owner/OwnerRepository.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/owner/OwnerRepository.java
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import org.springframework.data.domain.Page;
 import org.springframework.data.domain.Pageable;
 import org.springframework.data.jpa.repository.JpaRepository;
 import org.springframework.data.jpa.repository.Query;
-import org.springframework.transaction.annotation.Transactional;
 
 /**
  * Repository class for <code>Owner</code> domain objects All method names are compliant
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/vet/Vet.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/vet/Vet.java
index d8a1fc84d..00c7ec1c8 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/vet/Vet.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/vet/Vet.java
@@ -15,14 +15,13 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.samples.petclinic.vet;
 
-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.Comparator;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
-import org.springframework.beans.support.MutableSortDefinition;
-import org.springframework.beans.support.PropertyComparator;
+import org.springframework.samples.petclinic.model.NamedEntity;
 import org.springframework.samples.petclinic.model.Person;
 
 import jakarta.persistence.Entity;
@@ -59,9 +58,9 @@ public class Vet extends Person {
 
 	@XmlElement
 	public List<Specialty> getSpecialties() {
-		List<Specialty> sortedSpecs = new ArrayList<>(getSpecialtiesInternal());
-		PropertyComparator.sort(sortedSpecs, new MutableSortDefinition("name", true, true));
-		return Collections.unmodifiableList(sortedSpecs);
+		return getSpecialtiesInternal().stream()
+			.sorted(Comparator.comparing(NamedEntity::getName))
+			.collect(Collectors.toList());
 	}
 
 	public int getNrOfSpecialties() {
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/MysqlTestApplication.java b/src/test/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/MysqlTestApplication.java
index 8c7560a19..f98d892d3 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/MysqlTestApplication.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/MysqlTestApplication.java
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ public class MysqlTestApplication {
 	}
 
 	public static void main(String[] args) {
-		SpringApplication.run(PetClinicApplication.class, "--spring.profiles.active=mysql");
+		SpringApplication.run(PetClinicApplication.class, "--spring.profiles.active=mysql",
+				"--spring.docker.compose.enabled=false");
 	}
 
 }