diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
index d074805ba..52e2e9c81 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
@@ -50,11 +50,6 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         tox -e codestyle
 
-    - name: Lint - sort
-      if: ${{ matrix.python-version == '3.12' }}
-      run: |
-        tox -e sort
-
     - name: Security
       if: ${{ matrix.python-version == '3.12' }}
       run: |
diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 4a3c7b56f..da17ff3a3 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ fixes:
 - docs: fix telegram install command (#1697)
 - chore: add python versions to test (#1705)
 - chore: remove python 3.8 support (#1707)
+- chore: use ruff for formatting (#1706)
 
 v6.2.0 (2024-01-01)
 -------------------
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 3c062fc85..5f7bed142 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@
 # All configuration values have a default; values that are commented out
 # serve to show the default.
 
-import subprocess, sys, os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import os
 sys.path.append(os.path.abspath('_themes'))
 sys.path.append(os.path.abspath('_themes/err'))
 sys.path.append(os.path.abspath('../'))
diff --git a/errbot/__init__.py b/errbot/__init__.py
index 3e4ebab6b..ea2903da5 100644
--- a/errbot/__init__.py
+++ b/errbot/__init__.py
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@
 import logging
 import re
 import shlex
-import sys
 from functools import wraps
-from typing import Any, Callable, List, Optional, Tuple
+from typing import Any, Callable, Optional, Tuple
 
 from .backends.base import AWAY, DND, OFFLINE, ONLINE, Message  # noqa
 from .botplugin import (  # noqa
@@ -16,7 +15,7 @@
     ShlexArgParser,
     ValidationException,
 )
-from .core_plugins.wsview import WebView, route
+from .core_plugins.wsview import route
 from .flow import FLOW_END, BotFlow, Flow, FlowRoot
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/errbot/backend_plugin_manager.py b/errbot/backend_plugin_manager.py
index 5a3a0bba1..ee40bebe1 100644
--- a/errbot/backend_plugin_manager.py
+++ b/errbot/backend_plugin_manager.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class PluginNotFoundException(Exception):
 
 
 def enumerate_backend_plugins(
-    all_plugins_paths: List[Union[str, Path]]
+    all_plugins_paths: List[Union[str, Path]],
 ) -> Iterator[PluginInfo]:
     plugin_places = [Path(root) for root in all_plugins_paths]
     for path in plugin_places:
diff --git a/errbot/backends/base.py b/errbot/backends/base.py
index 757743575..11822eb64 100644
--- a/errbot/backends/base.py
+++ b/errbot/backends/base.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import time
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from collections import defaultdict, deque
-from typing import Any, BinaryIO, List, Mapping, Optional, Sequence, Tuple
+from typing import Any, BinaryIO, List, Mapping, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Type
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ def extras(self) -> Mapping:
         return self._extras
 
     @property
-    def flow(self) -> "errbot.Flow":
+    def flow(self) -> Type["errbot.Flow"]: # noqa: F821
         """
         Get the conversation flow for this message.
 
diff --git a/errbot/backends/irc.py b/errbot/backends/irc.py
index a1755af0f..abc82a4e6 100644
--- a/errbot/backends/irc.py
+++ b/errbot/backends/irc.py
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@
     bg_default=NSC("\x03,"),
     fx_reset=NSC("\x03"),
     fx_bold=NSC("\x02"),
-    fx_italic=NSC("\x1D"),
-    fx_underline=NSC("\x1F"),
-    fx_not_italic=NSC("\x0F"),
-    fx_not_underline=NSC("\x0F"),
-    fx_normal=NSC("\x0F"),
+    fx_italic=NSC("\x1d"),
+    fx_underline=NSC("\x1f"),
+    fx_not_italic=NSC("\x0f"),
+    fx_not_underline=NSC("\x0f"),
+    fx_normal=NSC("\x0f"),
     fixed_width="",
     end_fixed_width="",
     inline_code="",
diff --git a/errbot/backends/telegram_messenger.py b/errbot/backends/telegram_messenger.py
index 6002c4e3e..f66766cdb 100644
--- a/errbot/backends/telegram_messenger.py
+++ b/errbot/backends/telegram_messenger.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import sys
-from typing import Any, BinaryIO, List, Optional, Union
+from typing import Any, BinaryIO, Optional, Union
 
 from errbot.backends.base import (
     ONLINE,
diff --git a/errbot/backends/xmpp.py b/errbot/backends/xmpp.py
index f54cc9de0..8e28da034 100644
--- a/errbot/backends/xmpp.py
+++ b/errbot/backends/xmpp.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from datetime import datetime
 from functools import lru_cache
 from time import sleep
-from typing import Callable, List, Optional, Tuple
+from typing import Callable, List, Optional, Tuple, Union
 
 from errbot.backends.base import (
     AWAY,
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 try:
     from slixmpp import JID, ClientXMPP
     from slixmpp.exceptions import IqError
-    from slixmpp.xmlstream import cert, resolver
 
 except ImportError:
     log.exception("Could not start the XMPP backend")
diff --git a/errbot/botplugin.py b/errbot/botplugin.py
index 79b50b009..d7a709a43 100644
--- a/errbot/botplugin.py
+++ b/errbot/botplugin.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def recurse_check_structure(sample: Any, to_check: Any) -> None:
             recurse_check_structure(sample[0], element)
         return
 
-    if sample_type == dict:
+    if sample_type == dict: # noqa: E721
         for key in sample:
             if key not in to_check:
                 raise ValidationException(f"{to_check} doesn't contain the key {key}.")
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.definition = cmd_type(*((function,) + cmd_args), **cmd_kwargs)
 
     def append_args(self, args, kwargs):
-        from errbot import arg_botcmd, update_wrapper
+        from errbot import update_wrapper
 
         if hasattr(self.definition, "_err_command_parser"):
             update_wrapper(self.definition, args, kwargs)
diff --git a/errbot/cli.py b/errbot/cli.py
index 61934501a..8561f68ad 100755
--- a/errbot/cli.py
+++ b/errbot/cli.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 from os import W_OK, access, getcwd, path, sep
 from pathlib import Path
 from platform import system
-from typing import Optional, Union
 
 from errbot.bootstrap import CORE_BACKENDS
 from errbot.logs import root_logger
diff --git a/errbot/core.py b/errbot/core.py
index 390e2ef7b..aee5a160e 100644
--- a/errbot/core.py
+++ b/errbot/core.py
@@ -55,12 +55,8 @@ def __init__(self, bot_config):
             log.debug(
                 "created a thread pool of size %d.", bot_config.BOT_ASYNC_POOLSIZE
             )
-        self.commands = (
-            {}
-        )  # the dynamically populated list of commands available on the bot
-        self.re_commands = (
-            {}
-        )  # the dynamically populated list of regex-based commands available on the bot
+        self.commands = {}  # the dynamically populated list of commands available on the bot
+        self.re_commands = {}  # the dynamically populated list of regex-based commands available on the bot
         self.command_filters = []  # the dynamically populated list of filters
         self.MSG_UNKNOWN_COMMAND = (
             'Unknown command: "%(command)s". '
@@ -287,8 +283,6 @@ def process_message(self, msg: Message) -> bool:
         log.debug("*** username = %s", username)
         log.debug("*** text = %s", text)
 
-        suppress_cmd_not_found = self.bot_config.SUPPRESS_CMD_NOT_FOUND
-
         prefixed = False  # Keeps track whether text was prefixed with a bot prefix
         only_check_re_command = (
             False  # Becomes true if text is determed to not be a regular command
@@ -324,10 +318,6 @@ def process_message(self, msg: Message) -> bool:
                 'Assuming "%s" to be a command because BOT_PREFIX_OPTIONAL_ON_CHAT is True',
                 text,
             )
-            # In order to keep noise down we surpress messages about the command
-            # not being found, because it's possible a plugin will trigger on what
-            # was said with trigger_message.
-            suppress_cmd_not_found = True
         elif not text.startswith(self.bot_config.BOT_PREFIX):
             only_check_re_command = True
         if text.startswith(self.bot_config.BOT_PREFIX):
diff --git a/errbot/core_plugins/chatRoom.py b/errbot/core_plugins/chatRoom.py
index ff1a66ed5..fbf73ffd3 100644
--- a/errbot/core_plugins/chatRoom.py
+++ b/errbot/core_plugins/chatRoom.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 
-from errbot import BotPlugin, SeparatorArgParser, ShlexArgParser, botcmd
+from errbot import BotPlugin, ShlexArgParser, botcmd
 from errbot.backends.base import RoomNotJoinedError
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/errbot/core_plugins/plugins.py b/errbot/core_plugins/plugins.py
index 5fc3be12a..9f09e54e7 100644
--- a/errbot/core_plugins/plugins.py
+++ b/errbot/core_plugins/plugins.py
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ def plugin_config(self, _, args):
         except Exception:
             self.log.exception("Invalid expression for the configuration of the plugin")
             return "Syntax error in the given configuration"
-        if type(real_config_obj) != type(template_obj):
+        if type(real_config_obj) is not type(template_obj):
             return "It looks fishy, your config type is not the same as the template!"
 
         self._bot.plugin_manager.set_plugin_configuration(plugin_name, real_config_obj)
diff --git a/errbot/plugin_manager.py b/errbot/plugin_manager.py
index e49ede6d4..fda47bc02 100644
--- a/errbot/plugin_manager.py
+++ b/errbot/plugin_manager.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-""" Logic related to plugin loading and lifecycle """
+"""Logic related to plugin loading and lifecycle"""
 
 import logging
 import os
diff --git a/errbot/rendering/xhtmlim.py b/errbot/rendering/xhtmlim.py
index 3a07b8d77..fc760a2fe 100644
--- a/errbot/rendering/xhtmlim.py
+++ b/errbot/rendering/xhtmlim.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ def _replace_charref(s):
         if num in _invalid_charrefs:
             return _invalid_charrefs[num]
         if 0xD800 <= num <= 0xDFFF or num > 0x10FFFF:
-            return "\uFFFD"
+            return "\ufffd"
         if num in _invalid_codepoints:
             return ""
         return chr(num)
diff --git a/errbot/repo_manager.py b/errbot/repo_manager.py
index 165159331..9aebf133b 100644
--- a/errbot/repo_manager.py
+++ b/errbot/repo_manager.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from os import path
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Dict, Generator, List, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Union
+from typing import Dict, Generator, List, Optional, Sequence, Tuple
 from urllib.error import HTTPError, URLError
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 from urllib.request import Request, urlopen
diff --git a/errbot/storage/__init__.py b/errbot/storage/__init__.py
index c63ecf0de..595ebcb12 100644
--- a/errbot/storage/__init__.py
+++ b/errbot/storage/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import logging
-import types
 from collections.abc import MutableMapping
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ def open_storage(self, storage_plugin, namespace):
 
     def close_storage(self):
         if not self.is_open_storage():
-            raise StoreNotOpenError(f"Storage does not appear to have been opened yet")
+            raise StoreNotOpenError("Storage does not appear to have been opened yet")
         self._store.close()
         self._store = None
         log.debug("Closed storage '%s'", self.namespace)
diff --git a/tests/borken_plugin/broken.py b/tests/borken_plugin/broken.py
index ae325114a..a48f8ae99 100644
--- a/tests/borken_plugin/broken.py
+++ b/tests/borken_plugin/broken.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-import borken  # fails on purpose
-
 from errbot import BotPlugin, botcmd
 
+import borken  # fails on purpose # noqa: F401
 
 class Broken(BotPlugin):
     @botcmd
diff --git a/tests/cascade_dependent_plugins/child1.py b/tests/cascade_dependent_plugins/child1.py
index de3c68c73..f4b676475 100644
--- a/tests/cascade_dependent_plugins/child1.py
+++ b/tests/cascade_dependent_plugins/child1.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from errbot import BotPlugin, botcmd
+from errbot import BotPlugin
 
 
 class Child1(BotPlugin):
diff --git a/tests/cascade_dependent_plugins/child2.py b/tests/cascade_dependent_plugins/child2.py
index 68464a38f..5b0643acb 100644
--- a/tests/cascade_dependent_plugins/child2.py
+++ b/tests/cascade_dependent_plugins/child2.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from errbot import BotPlugin, botcmd
+from errbot import BotPlugin
 
 
 class Child2(BotPlugin):
diff --git a/tests/core_test.py b/tests/core_test.py
index 77430116e..843f970a2 100755
--- a/tests/core_test.py
+++ b/tests/core_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 """Test _admins_to_notify wrapper functionality"""
 
-import pytest
-
 extra_config = {"BOT_ADMINS_NOTIFICATIONS": "zoni@localdomain"}
 
 
diff --git a/tests/flow_plugin/flowtest_flows.py b/tests/flow_plugin/flowtest_flows.py
index dd981f218..6f8e3c699 100644
--- a/tests/flow_plugin/flowtest_flows.py
+++ b/tests/flow_plugin/flowtest_flows.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# ruff: noqa: F841
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 from errbot import BotFlow, FlowRoot, botflow
diff --git a/tests/link_test.py b/tests/link_test.py
index 695156170..80b1b4d02 100644
--- a/tests/link_test.py
+++ b/tests/link_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # coding=utf-8
 from os import path
 
-import pytest
 
 extra_plugin_dir = path.join(path.dirname(path.realpath(__file__)), "test_link")
 
diff --git a/tests/matchall_test.py b/tests/matchall_test.py
index c0edd1740..8f99a374e 100644
--- a/tests/matchall_test.py
+++ b/tests/matchall_test.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # coding=utf-8
 from os import path
 
-import pytest
-
 extra_plugin_dir = path.join(path.dirname(path.realpath(__file__)), "matchall_plugin")
 
 
diff --git a/tests/template_plugin/test.py b/tests/template_plugin/test.py
index a6614ccf7..be0bac526 100644
--- a/tests/template_plugin/test.py
+++ b/tests/template_plugin/test.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
-from errbot import BotPlugin, arg_botcmd, botcmd, re_botcmd
+from errbot import BotPlugin, arg_botcmd, botcmd
 
 
 class Test(BotPlugin):
diff --git a/tests/utils_test.py b/tests/utils_test.py
index 858ee7d69..fb15c71e9 100644
--- a/tests/utils_test.py
+++ b/tests/utils_test.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 # coding=utf-8
+import logging
+import sys
+
 from datetime import timedelta
 
 import pytest
@@ -8,7 +11,7 @@
 from errbot.bootstrap import CORE_STORAGE, bot_config_defaults
 from errbot.storage import StoreMixin
 from errbot.storage.base import StoragePluginBase
-from errbot.utils import *
+from errbot.utils import version2tuple, format_timedelta, split_string_after
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/tests/webhooks_test.py b/tests/webhooks_test.py
index 62ae6135a..de32e6b03 100644
--- a/tests/webhooks_test.py
+++ b/tests/webhooks_test.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 import pytest
 import requests
 
-from errbot.backends.test import FullStackTest, testbot
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/tools/plugin-gen.py b/tools/plugin-gen.py
index e83ede752..2f8e3de0f 100755
--- a/tools/plugin-gen.py
+++ b/tools/plugin-gen.py
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ def check_repo(repo):
             repo_entry[name] = plugin
             plugins[repo_name] = repo_entry
             log.debug("Catalog added plugin %s.", plugin["name"])
-        except:
+        except Exception:
             log.error("Invalid syntax in %s, skipping...", plug["path"])
             continue
 
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 1decf8245..ac40f09c1 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [tox]
-envlist = py39,py310,py311,py312,py312,codestyle,dist-check,sort,security,docs
+envlist = py39,py310,py311,py312,py312,codestyle,dist-check,security,docs
 skip_missing_interpreters = True
 
 [testenv]
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ commands = pytest -v tests/
 recreate = true
 
 [testenv:codestyle]
-deps = black
+deps = ruff
 commands =
-    black --check errbot/ tests/ tools/
+    ruff check errbot/ tests/ tools/
 
 [testenv:dist-check]
 deps =
@@ -22,11 +22,6 @@ commands =
   python setup.py sdist
   twine check {toxinidir}/dist/*
 
-[testenv:sort]
-deps =
-    isort
-commands = isort --check-only errbot/
-
 [testenv:security]
 deps =
     bandit