diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7a9250
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+name: "pySHiELD tests"
+
+# Run these these whenever ...
+on:
+  pull_request: # ... a PR is opened / updated
+  merge_group: # ... the PR is added to the merge queue
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main # ... when merging into the main branch
+
+# cancel running jobs if theres a newer push
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  integration-tests:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          submodules: 'recursive'
+
+      - name: Setup Python 3.11
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.11'
+
+      - name: Install mpi (MPICH flavor)
+        run: pip install mpich
+
+      - name: Install Python packages
+        run: pip install .[ndsl,pyfv3,test]
+
+      - name: Run integration tests
+        run: pytest tests/integration
+
+  radiation-tests:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          submodules: 'recursive'
+
+      - name: Setup Python 3.11
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.11'
+
+      - name: Install mpi (MPICH flavor)
+        run: pip install mpich
+
+      - name: Install Python packages
+        run: pip install .[ndsl,pyfv3,test]
+
+      - name: Run radiation tests
+        run: pytest tests/rte_rrtmgp
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
diff --git a/examples/notebook/test_rad.ipynb b/examples/notebook/test_rad.ipynb
index 0fa4797..4a0a53f 100644
--- a/examples/notebook/test_rad.ipynb
+++ b/examples/notebook/test_rad.ipynb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   },
   {
    "cell_type": "code",
-   "execution_count": 1,
+   "execution_count": null,
    "id": "e2411282-0778-4af1-83d3-4e3d372ab519",
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
    "source": [
     "import xarray as xr\n",
     "import ndsl.dsl.gt4py_utils as gt_utils\n",
-    "from ndsl import GridSizer, Quantity, QuantityFactory, TileCommunicator, TilePartitioner, NullComm, SubtileGridSizer\n",
+    "from ndsl import GridSizer, Quantity, QuantityFactory, TileCommunicator, TilePartitioner, LocalComm, SubtileGridSizer\n",
     "import ndsl.constants as constants\n",
     "\n",
     "from pyshield.radiation.state import RTE_RRTMGPState\n",
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
     "rank = 0\n",
     "backend = \"numpy\"\n",
     "\n",
-    "comm = NullComm(rank, 1)\n",
+    "comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})\n",
     "communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1,1))\n",
     "\n",
     "sizer = SubtileGridSizer.from_tile_params(\n",
diff --git a/examples/notebook/test_raddriver.ipynb b/examples/notebook/test_raddriver.ipynb
index 9caa47e..3235e2a 100644
--- a/examples/notebook/test_raddriver.ipynb
+++ b/examples/notebook/test_raddriver.ipynb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  "cells": [
   {
    "cell_type": "code",
-   "execution_count": 1,
+   "execution_count": null,
    "id": "ea4d7298-a2bc-4283-a038-b2f5c96d9c20",
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
    "source": [
     "import xarray as xr\n",
     "import ndsl.dsl.gt4py_utils as gt_utils\n",
-    "from ndsl import GridSizer, Quantity, QuantityFactory, TileCommunicator, TilePartitioner, NullComm, SubtileGridSizer\n",
+    "from ndsl import GridSizer, Quantity, QuantityFactory, TileCommunicator, TilePartitioner, LocalComm, SubtileGridSizer\n",
     "import ndsl.constants as constants\n",
     "\n",
     "from pyshield.radiation import RTE_RRTMGPState, RTE_RRTMGPConfig, RTE_RRTMGPDriver\n",
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
     "rank = 0\n",
     "backend = \"numpy\"\n",
     "\n",
-    "comm = NullComm(rank, 1)\n",
+    "comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})\n",
     "communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1,1))\n",
     "\n",
     "sizer = SubtileGridSizer.from_tile_params(\n",
diff --git a/examples/notebook/utilities.py b/examples/notebook/utilities.py
index 4cfe99c..54af229 100644
--- a/examples/notebook/utilities.py
+++ b/examples/notebook/utilities.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import xarray as xr
 
-from ndsl import NullComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, TileCommunicator
+from ndsl import LocalComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, TileCommunicator
 from ndsl.boilerplate import get_factories_single_tile
 from ndsl.grid import (
     AngleGridData,
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def setup_infrastructure(
         nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz, nhalo=nhalo, backend=backend
     )
     rank = 0
-    comm = NullComm(rank, 1)
+    comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})
     communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1, 1))
 
     metric_terms = MetricTerms(
diff --git a/test_data/RESTART/eta91.nc b/test_data/RESTART/eta91.nc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..10efe21
Binary files /dev/null and b/test_data/RESTART/eta91.nc differ
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_all.py b/tests/integration/test_all.py
index 80850ad..827a2d2 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_all.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_all.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 import ndsl.constants as constants
 import pyshield.constants as physcons
-from ndsl import NullComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
+from ndsl import LocalComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
 from ndsl.boilerplate import get_factories_single_tile
 from ndsl.grid import (
     AngleGridData,
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def setup_infrastructure(
         nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nzsoil, nhalo=nhalo, backend=backend
     )
     rank = 0
-    comm = NullComm(rank, 1)
+    comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})
     communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1, 1))
 
     metric_terms = MetricTerms(
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_gfdl_cld_mp.py b/tests/integration/test_gfdl_cld_mp.py
index d8f6e61..ac9f091 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_gfdl_cld_mp.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_gfdl_cld_mp.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 import ndsl.constants as constants
 import pyshield.constants as physcons
-from ndsl import NullComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
+from ndsl import LocalComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
 from ndsl.boilerplate import get_factories_single_tile
 from ndsl.grid import (
     AngleGridData,
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def setup_infrastructure(
         nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz, nhalo=nhalo, backend=backend
     )
     rank = 0
-    comm = NullComm(rank, 1)
+    comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})
     communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1, 1))
 
     metric_terms = MetricTerms(
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_gfs_mp.py b/tests/integration/test_gfs_mp.py
index 148ca65..7945b95 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_gfs_mp.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_gfs_mp.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 import ndsl.constants as constants
 import pyshield.constants as physcons
-from ndsl import NullComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
+from ndsl import LocalComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
 from ndsl.boilerplate import get_factories_single_tile
 from ndsl.grid import (
     AngleGridData,
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def setup_infrastructure(
         nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz, nhalo=nhalo, backend=backend
     )
     rank = 0
-    comm = NullComm(rank, 1)
+    comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})
     communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1, 1))
 
     metric_terms = MetricTerms(
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_radiation_driver.py b/tests/integration/test_radiation_driver.py
index 547a118..7239b43 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_radiation_driver.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_radiation_driver.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import pytest
 import xarray as xr
 
-from ndsl import NullComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, TileCommunicator
+from ndsl import LocalComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, TileCommunicator
 from ndsl.boilerplate import get_factories_single_tile
 from ndsl.grid import (
     AngleGridData,
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def setup_infrastructure(
         nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz, nhalo=nhalo, backend=backend
     )
     rank = 0
-    comm = NullComm(rank, 1)
+    comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})
     communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1, 1))
 
     metric_terms = MetricTerms(
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_samfshalconv.py b/tests/integration/test_samfshalconv.py
index 9f43368..0564e48 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_samfshalconv.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_samfshalconv.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 import ndsl.constants as constants
 import pyshield.constants as physcons
-from ndsl import NullComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
+from ndsl import LocalComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
 from ndsl.boilerplate import get_factories_single_tile
 from ndsl.grid import (
     AngleGridData,
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def setup_infrastructure(
         nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz, nhalo=nhalo, backend=backend
     )
     rank = 0
-    comm = NullComm(rank, 1)
+    comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})
     communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1, 1))
 
     metric_terms = MetricTerms(
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_satmedmf.py b/tests/integration/test_satmedmf.py
index e9468e8..7ea47ef 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_satmedmf.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_satmedmf.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 import ndsl.constants as constants
 import pyshield.constants as physcons
-from ndsl import NullComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
+from ndsl import LocalComm, Quantity, QuantityFactory, StencilFactory, TileCommunicator
 from ndsl.boilerplate import get_factories_single_tile
 from ndsl.grid import (
     AngleGridData,
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def setup_infrastructure(
         nx=nx, ny=ny, nz=nz, nhalo=nhalo, backend=backend
     )
     rank = 0
-    comm = NullComm(rank, 1)
+    comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})
     communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1, 1))
 
     metric_terms = MetricTerms(
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_sfc.py b/tests/integration/test_sfc.py
index 43005a9..8904f6d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_sfc.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_sfc.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from ndsl import (
     CompilationConfig,
     GridIndexing,
-    NullComm,
+    LocalComm,
     Quantity,
     QuantityFactory,
     StencilConfig,
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def setup_infrastructure(nx: Int, ny: Int, nz: Int, nzsoil: Int, etafile: Path):
     rank = 0
     backend = "numpy"
 
-    comm = NullComm(rank, 1)
+    comm = LocalComm(rank, total_ranks=1, buffer_dict={})
     communicator = TileCommunicator.from_layout(comm=comm, layout=(1, 1))
 
     sizer = SubtileGridSizer.from_tile_params(