diff --git a/src/node/db/AuthorManager.ts b/src/node/db/AuthorManager.ts
index 4bcfa2c0d..41fb93251 100644
--- a/src/node/db/AuthorManager.ts
+++ b/src/node/db/AuthorManager.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-const db = require('./DB');
+import db from './DB';
 const CustomError = require('../utils/customError');
 const hooks = require('../../static/js/pluginfw/hooks');
 import padutils, {randomString} from "../../static/js/pad_utils";
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ const mapAuthorWithDBKey = async (mapperkey: string, mapper:string) => {
 
   // there is an author with this mapper
   // update the timestamp of this author
+  // @ts-ignore
   await db.setSub(`globalAuthor:${author}`, ['timestamp'], Date.now());
 
   // return the author
@@ -222,6 +223,7 @@ exports.getAuthor = async (author: string) => await db.get(`globalAuthor:${autho
  * Returns the color Id of the author
  * @param {String} author The id of the author
  */
+// @ts-ignore
 exports.getAuthorColorId = async (author: string) => await db.getSub(`globalAuthor:${author}`, ['colorId']);
 
 /**
@@ -230,12 +232,14 @@ exports.getAuthorColorId = async (author: string) => await db.getSub(`globalAuth
  * @param {String} colorId The color id of the author
  */
 exports.setAuthorColorId = async (author: string, colorId: string) => await db.setSub(
-    `globalAuthor:${author}`, ['colorId'], colorId);
+  // @ts-ignore
+  `globalAuthor:${author}`, ['colorId'], colorId);
 
 /**
  * Returns the name of the author
  * @param {String} author The id of the author
  */
+// @ts-ignore
 exports.getAuthorName = async (author: string) => await db.getSub(`globalAuthor:${author}`, ['name']);
 
 /**
@@ -244,7 +248,8 @@ exports.getAuthorName = async (author: string) => await db.getSub(`globalAuthor:
  * @param {String} name The name of the author
  */
 exports.setAuthorName = async (author: string, name: string) => await db.setSub(
-    `globalAuthor:${author}`, ['name'], name);
+  // @ts-ignore
+  `globalAuthor:${author}`, ['name'], name);
 
 /**
  * Returns an array of all pads this author contributed to
diff --git a/src/node/db/DB.ts b/src/node/db/DB.ts
index 9e70514b0..785f586d4 100644
--- a/src/node/db/DB.ts
+++ b/src/node/db/DB.ts
@@ -24,37 +24,55 @@
 import {Database} from 'ueberdb2';
 import settings from '../utils/Settings';
 import log4js from 'log4js';
-const stats = require('../stats')
+import stats from '../stats';
 
 const logger = log4js.getLogger('ueberDB');
 
 /**
  * The UeberDB Object that provides the database functions
  */
-exports.db = null;
+export let db:Database|null = null;
 
 /**
  * Initializes the database with the settings provided by the settings module
  */
-exports.init = async () => {
-  exports.db = new Database(settings.dbType, settings.dbSettings, null, logger);
-  await exports.db.init();
-  if (exports.db.metrics != null) {
-    for (const [metric, value] of Object.entries(exports.db.metrics)) {
+export const init = async () => {
+  db = new Database(settings.dbType, settings.dbSettings, null, logger);
+  await db.init();
+  if (db.metrics != null) {
+    for (const [metric, value] of Object.entries(db.metrics)) {
       if (typeof value !== 'number') continue;
-      stats.gauge(`ueberdb_${metric}`, () => exports.db.metrics[metric]);
+      stats.gauge(`ueberdb_${metric}`, () => db!.metrics[metric]);
     }
   }
   for (const fn of ['get', 'set', 'findKeys', 'getSub', 'setSub', 'remove']) {
-    const f = exports.db[fn];
-    exports[fn] = async (...args:string[]) => await f.call(exports.db, ...args);
-    Object.setPrototypeOf(exports[fn], Object.getPrototypeOf(f));
-    Object.defineProperties(exports[fn], Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors(f));
+    // @ts-ignore
+    const f = db[fn];
+    // @ts-ignore
+    dbInstance[fn] = async (...args:string[]) => await f.call(db, ...args);
+    // @ts-ignore
+    Object.setPrototypeOf(dbInstance[fn], Object.getPrototypeOf(f));
+    // @ts-ignore
+    Object.defineProperties(dbInstance[fn], Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors(f));
   }
 };
 
-exports.shutdown = async (hookName: string, context:any) => {
-  if (exports.db != null) await exports.db.close();
-  exports.db = null;
+export const shutdown = async (hookName: string, context:any) => {
+  if (db != null) await db.close();
+  db = null;
   logger.log('Database closed');
 };
+
+let dbInstance = {} as {
+  get: (key:string) => any;
+  set: (key:string, value:any) => void;
+  findKeys: (key:string) => string[];
+  getSub: (key:string, subkey:string) => any;
+  setSub: (key:string, subkey:string, value:any) => void;
+  remove: (key:string) => void;
+  init: () => Promise<void>;
+}
+
+dbInstance.init = init
+
+export default dbInstance
diff --git a/src/node/db/GroupManager.ts b/src/node/db/GroupManager.ts
index b8cb6db02..9a74eb529 100644
--- a/src/node/db/GroupManager.ts
+++ b/src/node/db/GroupManager.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 const CustomError = require('../utils/customError');
 import {randomString} from "../../static/js/pad_utils";
-const db = require('./DB');
+import db from './DB';
 const padManager = require('./PadManager');
 const sessionManager = require('./SessionManager');
 
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ exports.deleteGroup = async (groupID: string): Promise<void> => {
     // UeberDB's setSub() method atomically reads the record, updates the appropriate property, and
     // writes the result. Setting a property to `undefined` deletes that property (JSON.stringify()
     // ignores such properties).
+    // @ts-ignore
     db.setSub('groups', [groupID], undefined),
     ...Object.keys(group.mappings || {}).map(async (m) => await db.remove(`mapper2group:${m}`)),
   ]);
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ exports.createGroup = async () => {
   // Add the group to the `groups` record after the group's individual record is created so that
   // the state is consistent. Note: UeberDB's setSub() method atomically reads the record, updates
   // the appropriate property, and writes the result.
+  // @ts-ignore
   await db.setSub('groups', [groupID], 1);
   return {groupID};
 };
@@ -121,6 +123,7 @@ exports.createGroupIfNotExistsFor = async (groupMapper: string|object) => {
     // deleted. Although the core Etherpad API does not support multiple mappings for the same
     // group, the database record does support multiple mappings in case a plugin decides to extend
     // the core Etherpad functionality. (It's also easy to implement it this way.)
+    // @ts-ignore
     db.setSub(`group:${result.groupID}`, ['mappings', groupMapper], 1),
   ]);
   return result;
@@ -157,6 +160,7 @@ exports.createGroupPad = async (groupID: string, padName: string, text: string,
   await padManager.getPad(padID, text, authorId);
 
   // create an entry in the group for this pad
+  // @ts-ignore
   await db.setSub(`group:${groupID}`, ['pads', padID], 1);
 
   return {padID};
@@ -176,6 +180,7 @@ exports.listPads = async (groupID: string): Promise<{ padIDs: string[]; }> => {
   }
 
   // group exists, let's get the pads
+  // @ts-ignore
   const result = await db.getSub(`group:${groupID}`, ['pads']);
   const padIDs = Object.keys(result);
 
diff --git a/src/node/db/Pad.ts b/src/node/db/Pad.ts
index efd07b0ba..082f60279 100644
--- a/src/node/db/Pad.ts
+++ b/src/node/db/Pad.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import ChatMessage from '../../static/js/ChatMessage';
 import AttributePool from '../../static/js/AttributePool';
 const Stream = require('../utils/Stream');
 const assert = require('assert').strict;
-const db = require('./DB');
+import db from './DB';
 import settings from '../utils/Settings';
 const authorManager = require('./AuthorManager');
 const padManager = require('./PadManager');
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class Pad {
    *     own database table, or to validate imported pad data before it is written to the database.
    */
   constructor(id:string, database = db) {
+    // @ts-ignore
     this.db = database;
     this.atext = makeAText('\n');
     this.pool = new AttributePool();
@@ -428,6 +429,7 @@ class Pad {
       yield* Stream.range(0, this.chatHead + 1).map((i) => copyRecord(`:chat:${i}`));
       // @ts-ignore
       yield this.copyAuthorInfoToDestinationPad(destinationID);
+      // @ts-ignore
       if (destGroupID) yield db.setSub(`group:${destGroupID}`, ['pads', destinationID], 1);
     }).call(this);
     for (const p of new Stream(promises).batch(100).buffer(99)) await p;
@@ -511,6 +513,7 @@ class Pad {
 
     // Group pad? Add it to the group's list
     if (destGroupID) {
+      // @ts-ignore
       await db.setSub(`group:${destGroupID}`, ['pads', destinationID], 1);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/node/db/PadManager.ts b/src/node/db/PadManager.ts
index 292261531..487f485f3 100644
--- a/src/node/db/PadManager.ts
+++ b/src/node/db/PadManager.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import {PadType} from "../types/PadType";
 
 const CustomError = require('../utils/customError');
 const Pad = require('../db/Pad');
-const db = require('./DB');
+import db from './DB';
 import settings from '../utils/Settings';
 
 /**
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ const padList = new class {
   async getPads() {
     if (!this._loaded) {
       this._loaded = (async () => {
+        // @ts-ignore
         const dbData = await db.findKeys('pad:*', '*:*:*');
         if (dbData == null) return;
         for (const val of dbData) this.addPad(val.replace(/^pad:/, ''));
diff --git a/src/node/db/ReadOnlyManager.ts b/src/node/db/ReadOnlyManager.ts
index 23639d665..f16d92ad9 100644
--- a/src/node/db/ReadOnlyManager.ts
+++ b/src/node/db/ReadOnlyManager.ts
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
  */
 
 
-const db = require('./DB');
-const randomString = require('../utils/randomstring');
+import db from './DB';
+import randomString from '../utils/randomstring';
 
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/node/db/SessionManager.ts b/src/node/db/SessionManager.ts
index c0e43a659..de2438669 100644
--- a/src/node/db/SessionManager.ts
+++ b/src/node/db/SessionManager.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 const CustomError = require('../utils/customError');
 const promises = require('../utils/promises');
 const randomString = require('../utils/randomstring');
-const db = require('./DB');
+import db from './DB';
 const groupManager = require('./GroupManager');
 const authorManager = require('./AuthorManager');
 
@@ -151,7 +151,9 @@ exports.createSession = async (groupID: string, authorID: string, validUntil: nu
   await Promise.all([
     // UeberDB's setSub() method atomically reads the record, updates the appropriate (sub)object
     // property, and writes the result.
+    // @ts-ignore
     db.setSub(`group2sessions:${groupID}`, ['sessionIDs', sessionID], 1),
+    // @ts-ignore
     db.setSub(`author2sessions:${authorID}`, ['sessionIDs', sessionID], 1),
   ]);
 
@@ -196,7 +198,9 @@ exports.deleteSession = async (sessionID:string) => {
     // UeberDB's setSub() method atomically reads the record, updates the appropriate (sub)object
     // property, and writes the result. Setting a property to `undefined` deletes that property
     // (JSON.stringify() ignores such properties).
+    // @ts-ignore
     db.setSub(`group2sessions:${groupID}`, ['sessionIDs', sessionID], undefined),
+    // @ts-ignore
     db.setSub(`author2sessions:${authorID}`, ['sessionIDs', sessionID], undefined),
   ]);
 
diff --git a/src/node/db/SessionStore.ts b/src/node/db/SessionStore.ts
index 0b398efad..e2b28a7ce 100644
--- a/src/node/db/SessionStore.ts
+++ b/src/node/db/SessionStore.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const DB = require('./DB');
+import DB from './DB';
 const Store = require('@etherpad/express-session').Store;
 const log4js = require('log4js');
 const util = require('util');
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class SessionStore extends Store {
    *     Etherpad is restarted. Use `null` to prevent `touch()` from ever updating the record.
    *     Ignored if the cookie does not expire.
    */
-  constructor(refresh = null) {
+  constructor(refresh:number|null = null) {
     super();
     this._refresh = refresh;
     // Maps session ID to an object with the following properties:
@@ -111,4 +111,4 @@ for (const m of ['get', 'set', 'destroy', 'touch']) {
   SessionStore.prototype[m] = util.callbackify(SessionStore.prototype[`_${m}`]);
 }
 
-module.exports = SessionStore;
+export default SessionStore
diff --git a/src/node/handler/PadMessageHandler.ts b/src/node/handler/PadMessageHandler.ts
index 0ab97bf0e..a12c72113 100644
--- a/src/node/handler/PadMessageHandler.ts
+++ b/src/node/handler/PadMessageHandler.ts
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ const plugins = require('../../static/js/pluginfw/plugin_defs');
 import log4js from 'log4js';
 const messageLogger = log4js.getLogger('message');
 const accessLogger = log4js.getLogger('access');
-const hooks = require('../../static/js/pluginfw/hooks');
-const stats = require('../stats')
+const hooks = require('../../static/js/pluginfw/hooks.js');
+import stats from '../stats';
 const assert = require('assert').strict;
 import {RateLimiterMemory} from 'rate-limiter-flexible';
 import {ChangesetRequest, PadUserInfo, SocketClientRequest} from "../types/SocketClientRequest";
diff --git a/src/node/handler/SocketIORouter.ts b/src/node/handler/SocketIORouter.ts
index 2206dbc7a..abdf73d69 100644
--- a/src/node/handler/SocketIORouter.ts
+++ b/src/node/handler/SocketIORouter.ts
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
 
 import {MapArrayType} from "../types/MapType";
 import {SocketModule} from "../types/SocketModule";
-const log4js = require('log4js');
+import log4js from 'log4js';
 import settings from '../utils/Settings';
-const stats = require('../../node/stats')
+import stats from '../../node/stats';
 
 const logger = log4js.getLogger('socket.io');
 
diff --git a/src/node/hooks/express.ts b/src/node/hooks/express.ts
index ad7df99c2..b0c400fb3 100644
--- a/src/node/hooks/express.ts
+++ b/src/node/hooks/express.ts
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ import expressSession from '@etherpad/express-session';
 import fs from 'fs';
 const hooks = require('../../static/js/pluginfw/hooks');
 import log4js from 'log4js';
-const SessionStore = require('../db/SessionStore');
+import SessionStore from '../db/SessionStore';
 import settings from '../utils/Settings';
-const stats = require('../stats')
+import stats from '../stats';
 import util from 'util';
 const webaccess = require('./express/webaccess');
 
diff --git a/src/node/hooks/express/errorhandling.ts b/src/node/hooks/express/errorhandling.ts
index 2de819b0e..734d915b2 100644
--- a/src/node/hooks/express/errorhandling.ts
+++ b/src/node/hooks/express/errorhandling.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import {ArgsExpressType} from "../../types/ArgsExpressType";
 import {ErrorCaused} from "../../types/ErrorCaused";
 
-const stats = require('../../stats')
+import stats from '../../stats';
 
 exports.expressCreateServer = (hook_name:string, args: ArgsExpressType, cb:Function) => {
   exports.app = args.app;
diff --git a/src/node/security/SecretRotator.ts b/src/node/security/SecretRotator.ts
index ee5bec772..777e32e83 100644
--- a/src/node/security/SecretRotator.ts
+++ b/src/node/security/SecretRotator.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {LegacyParams} from "../types/LegacyParams";
 
 const {Buffer} = require('buffer');
 const crypto = require('./crypto');
-const db = require('../db/DB');
+import db from '../db/DB';
 const log4js = require('log4js');
 
 class Kdf {
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ export class SecretRotator {
     // TODO: This is racy. If two instances start up at the same time and there are no existing
     // matching publications, each will generate and publish their own paramters. In practice this
     // is unlikely to happen, and if it does it can be fixed by restarting both Etherpad instances.
+    // @ts-ignore
     const dbKeys:string[] = await db.findKeys(`${this._dbPrefix}:*`, null) || [];
     let currentParams:any = null;
     let currentId = null;
diff --git a/src/node/server.ts b/src/node/server.ts
index 7393271fc..211388ba8 100755
--- a/src/node/server.ts
+++ b/src/node/server.ts
@@ -69,13 +69,13 @@ NodeVersion.enforceMinNodeVersion(pkg.engines.node.replace(">=", ""));
 NodeVersion.checkDeprecationStatus(pkg.engines.node.replace(">=", ""), '2.1.0');
 
 const UpdateCheck = require('./utils/UpdateCheck');
-const db = require('./db/DB');
+import db from './db/DB';
 const express = require('./hooks/express');
 const hooks = require('../static/js/pluginfw/hooks');
 const pluginDefs = require('../static/js/pluginfw/plugin_defs');
 const plugins = require('../static/js/pluginfw/plugins');
 const {Gate} = require('./utils/promises');
-const stats = require('./stats')
+import stats from './stats';
 
 const logger = log4js.getLogger('server');
 
diff --git a/src/node/stats.ts b/src/node/stats.ts
index f1fc0cccf..79eadf75f 100644
--- a/src/node/stats.ts
+++ b/src/node/stats.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const measured = require('measured-core');
+// @ts-ignore
+import measured from 'measured-core';
 
-module.exports = measured.createCollection();
+const coll = measured.createCollection()
+
+export default coll;
 
 // @ts-ignore
-module.exports.shutdown = async (hookName, context) => {
-  module.exports.end();
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+export const shutdown = async (hookName, context) => {
+  coll.end();
+};
diff --git a/src/node/utils/ImportEtherpad.ts b/src/node/utils/ImportEtherpad.ts
index cf34107c7..492a1e4c6 100644
--- a/src/node/utils/ImportEtherpad.ts
+++ b/src/node/utils/ImportEtherpad.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import AttributePool from '../../static/js/AttributePool';
 const {Pad} = require('../db/Pad');
 const Stream = require('./Stream');
 const authorManager = require('../db/AuthorManager');
-const db = require('../db/DB');
+import db from '../db/DB';
 const hooks = require('../../static/js/pluginfw/hooks');
 import log4js from 'log4js';
 const supportedElems = require('../../static/js/contentcollector').supportedElems;
diff --git a/src/node/utils/Settings.ts b/src/node/utils/Settings.ts
index 89dfbc756..2fee4fccd 100644
--- a/src/node/utils/Settings.ts
+++ b/src/node/utils/Settings.ts
@@ -779,7 +779,7 @@ class Settings {
    *
    * The isSettings variable only controls the error logging.
    */
-  private parseSettings = (settingsFilename: string, isSettings: boolean) => {
+  parseSettings = (settingsFilename: string, isSettings: boolean) => {
     let settingsStr = '';
 
     let settingsType, notFoundMessage, notFoundFunction;
@@ -964,3 +964,4 @@ export default settings
 
 
 
+
diff --git a/src/tests/backend-new/specs/admin_utils.ts b/src/tests/backend-new/specs/admin_utils.ts
index b115a38a6..254accbfc 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend-new/specs/admin_utils.ts
+++ b/src/tests/backend-new/specs/admin_utils.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-'use strict';
-
+import {cleanComments, minify} from "admin/src/utils/utils";
+import {expect, describe, it, beforeAll} from 'vitest'
 
 import {strict as assert} from "assert";
 import {cleanComments, minify} from "admin/src/utils/utils";
diff --git a/src/tests/backend-new/specs/settings.json b/src/tests/backend-new/specs/settings.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..12b4748c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/backend-new/specs/settings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// line comment
+/*
+ * block comment
+ */
+{
+  "trailing commas": {
+    "lists": {
+      "multiple lines": [
+        "",
+      ]
+    },
+    "objects": {
+      "multiple lines": {
+        "key": "",
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "environment variable substitution": {
+    "set": {
+      "true": "${SET_VAR_TRUE}",
+      "false": "${SET_VAR_FALSE}",
+      "null": "${SET_VAR_NULL}",
+      "undefined": "${SET_VAR_UNDEFINED}",
+      "number": "${SET_VAR_NUMBER}",
+      "string": "${SET_VAR_STRING}",
+      "empty string": "${SET_VAR_EMPTY_STRING}"
+    },
+    "unset": {
+      "no default": "${UNSET_VAR}",
+      "true": "${UNSET_VAR:true}",
+      "false": "${UNSET_VAR:false}",
+      "null": "${UNSET_VAR:null}",
+      "undefined": "${UNSET_VAR:undefined}",
+      "number": "${UNSET_VAR:123}",
+      "string": "${UNSET_VAR:foo}",
+      "empty string": "${UNSET_VAR:}"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/tests/backend/specs/settings.ts b/src/tests/backend-new/specs/settings.ts
similarity index 65%
rename from src/tests/backend/specs/settings.ts
rename to src/tests/backend-new/specs/settings.ts
index d6dcaf71a..17fc3c28d 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend/specs/settings.ts
+++ b/src/tests/backend-new/specs/settings.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-'use strict';
+import settingsMod from '../../../node/utils/Settings';
 
-const assert = require('assert').strict;
-const {parseSettings} = require('../../../node/utils/Settings').exportedForTestingOnly;
 import path from 'path';
 import process from 'process';
+import {expect, describe, it, beforeAll} from 'vitest'
 
 describe(__filename, function () {
   describe('parseSettings', function () {
@@ -18,11 +17,11 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       {name: 'empty string', val: '', var: 'SET_VAR_EMPTY_STRING', want: ''},
     ];
 
-    before(async function () {
+    beforeAll(async function () {
       for (const tc of envVarSubstTestCases) process.env[tc.var] = tc.val;
       delete process.env.UNSET_VAR;
-      settings = parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
-      assert(settings != null);
+      settings = settingsMod.parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
+      expect(settings).not.toBe(null);
     });
 
     describe('environment variable substitution', function () {
@@ -31,9 +30,9 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
           it(tc.name, async function () {
             const obj = settings['environment variable substitution'].set;
             if (tc.name === 'undefined') {
-              assert(!(tc.name in obj));
+              expect(obj[tc.name]).toBe(undefined);
             } else {
-              assert.equal(obj[tc.name], tc.want);
+              expect(obj[tc.name]).toBe(tc.want);
             }
           });
         }
@@ -42,16 +41,16 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       describe('unset', function () {
         it('no default', async function () {
           const obj = settings['environment variable substitution'].unset;
-          assert.equal(obj['no default'], null);
+          expect(obj['no default']).toBe(null);
         });
 
         for (const tc of envVarSubstTestCases) {
           it(tc.name, async function () {
             const obj = settings['environment variable substitution'].unset;
             if (tc.name === 'undefined') {
-              assert(!(tc.name in obj));
+              expect(obj[tc.name]).toBe(undefined);
             } else {
-              assert.equal(obj[tc.name], tc.want);
+              expect(obj[tc.name]).toBe(tc.want);
             }
           });
         }
@@ -62,31 +61,31 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
 
   describe("Parse plugin settings", function () {
 
-    before(async function () {
+    beforeAll(async function () {
       process.env["EP__ADMIN__PASSWORD"] = "test"
     })
 
     it('should parse plugin settings', async function () {
-      let settings = parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
-      assert.equal(settings.ADMIN.PASSWORD, "test");
+      let settings = settingsMod.parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
+      expect(settings!.ADMIN.PASSWORD).toBe("test");
     })
 
     it('should bundle settings with same path', async function () {
       process.env["EP__ADMIN__USERNAME"] = "test"
-      let settings = parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
-      assert.deepEqual(settings.ADMIN, {PASSWORD: "test", USERNAME: "test"});
+      let settings = settingsMod.parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
+      expect(settings!.ADMIN).toEqual({PASSWORD: "test", USERNAME: "test"});
     })
 
     it("Can set the ep themes", async function () {
       process.env["EP__ep_themes__default_theme"] = "hacker"
-      let settings = parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
-      assert.deepEqual(settings.ep_themes, {"default_theme": "hacker"});
+      let settings = settingsMod.parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
+      expect(settings!.ep_themes.default_theme).toBe("hacker");
     })
 
     it("can set the ep_webrtc settings", async function () {
       process.env["EP__ep_webrtc__enabled"] = "true"
-      let settings = parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
-      assert.deepEqual(settings.ep_webrtc, {"enabled": true});
+      let settings = settingsMod.parseSettings(path.join(__dirname, 'settings.json'), true);
+      expect(settings!.ep_webrtc.enabled).toBe(true);
     })
   })
 });
diff --git a/src/tests/backend/common.ts b/src/tests/backend/common.ts
index 9c7eb67a6..bae3f2aaf 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend/common.ts
+++ b/src/tests/backend/common.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ const io = require('socket.io-client');
 const log4js = require('log4js');
 import padutils from '../../static/js/pad_utils';
 const process = require('process');
-const server = require('../../node/server');
+const server = require('../../node/server')
 const setCookieParser = require('set-cookie-parser');
 import settings from '../../node/utils/Settings';
 import supertest from 'supertest';
diff --git a/src/tests/backend/specs/ImportEtherpad.ts b/src/tests/backend/specs/ImportEtherpad.ts
index b9ac9baaf..969346bbb 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend/specs/ImportEtherpad.ts
+++ b/src/tests/backend/specs/ImportEtherpad.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {MapArrayType} from "../../../node/types/MapType";
 
 const assert = require('assert').strict;
 const authorManager = require('../../../node/db/AuthorManager');
-const db = require('../../../node/db/DB');
+import db from '../../../node/db/DB';
 const importEtherpad = require('../../../node/utils/ImportEtherpad');
 const padManager = require('../../../node/db/PadManager');
 const plugins = require('../../../static/js/pluginfw/plugin_defs');
diff --git a/src/tests/backend/specs/SecretRotator.ts b/src/tests/backend/specs/SecretRotator.ts
index d95b6dba1..d06975f73 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend/specs/SecretRotator.ts
+++ b/src/tests/backend/specs/SecretRotator.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import {strict} from "assert";
 const common = require('../common');
 const crypto = require('../../../node/security/crypto');
-const db = require('../../../node/db/DB');
+import db from '../../../node/db/DB';
 const SecretRotator = require("../../../node/security/SecretRotator").SecretRotator;
 
 const logger = common.logger;
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
     if (sr != null) sr.stop();
     sr = null;
     await Promise.all(
-        (await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null)).map(async (dbKey: string) => await db.remove(dbKey)));
+      // @ts-ignore
+      (await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null)).map(async (dbKey: string) => await db.remove(dbKey)));
   });
 
   describe('constructor', function () {
@@ -163,6 +164,7 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       sr = newRotator();
       const fc = setFakeClock(sr);
       await sr.start();
+      // @ts-ignore
       const dbKeys = await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null);
       strict.equal(dbKeys.length, 1);
       const [id] = dbKeys;
@@ -196,12 +198,14 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       const fc = setFakeClock(sr);
       await sr.start();
       const {secrets} = sr;
+      // @ts-ignore
       const dbKeys = await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null);
       sr.stop();
       sr = newRotator();
       setFakeClock(sr, fc);
       await sr.start();
       strict.deepEqual(sr.secrets, secrets);
+      // @ts-ignore
       strict.deepEqual(await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null), dbKeys);
     });
 
@@ -209,6 +213,7 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       sr = newRotator();
       const fc = setFakeClock(sr);
       await sr.start();
+      // @ts-ignore
       const [oldId] = await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null);
       strict(oldId != null);
       sr.stop();
@@ -217,6 +222,7 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       sr = newRotator();
       setFakeClock(sr, fc);
       await sr.start();
+      // @ts-ignore
       const ids = await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null);
       strict.equal(ids.length, 1);
       const [newId] = ids;
@@ -229,6 +235,7 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       await sr.start();
       const [, , future] = sr.secrets;
       sr.stop();
+      // @ts-ignore
       const [origId] = await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null);
       const p = await db.get(origId);
       await fc.advance(p.end + p.lifetime + p.interval - 1);
@@ -237,6 +244,7 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       await sr.start();
       strict(sr.secrets.slice(1).includes(future));
       // It should have created a new publication, not extended the life of the old publication.
+      // @ts-ignore
       strict.equal((await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null)).length, 2);
       strict.deepEqual(await db.get(origId), p);
     });
@@ -247,10 +255,12 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       await sr.start();
       strict.equal(fc.timeouts.size, 1);
       const secrets = [...sr.secrets];
+      // @ts-ignore
       const dbKeys = await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null);
       await sr.start();
       strict.equal(fc.timeouts.size, 1);
       strict.deepEqual(sr.secrets, secrets);
+      // @ts-ignore
       strict.deepEqual(await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null), dbKeys);
     });
 
@@ -335,6 +345,7 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       await sr.start();
       strict.equal(sr.secrets.length, 4); // 1 for the legacy secret, 3 for past, current, future
       strict(sr.secrets.slice(1).includes('legacy')); // Should not be the current secret.
+      // @ts-ignore
       const ids = await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null);
       const params = (await Promise.all(ids.map(async (id:string) => await db.get(id))))
           .sort((a, b) => a.algId - b.algId);
@@ -380,6 +391,7 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       await sr.start();
       strict.equal(sr.secrets.length, 5); // s0 through s3 and the legacy secret.
       strict.deepEqual(sr.secrets, [s2, s1, s0, sr.secrets[3], 'legacy']);
+      // @ts-ignore
       const ids = await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null);
       const params = (await Promise.all(ids.map(async (id:string) => await db.get(id))))
           .sort((a, b) => a.algId - b.algId);
@@ -425,6 +437,7 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       await sr.start();
       strict.deepEqual(sr.secrets, [...new Set(sr.secrets)]);
       // There shouldn't be multiple publications for the same legacy secret.
+      // @ts-ignore
       strict.equal((await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null)).length, 2);
     });
 
@@ -511,8 +524,10 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
       sr = newRotator();
       setFakeClock(sr, fc);
       await sr.start();
+      // @ts-ignore
       strict.equal((await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null)).length, 2);
       await fc.advance(lifetime + (3 * origInterval));
+      // @ts-ignore
       strict.equal((await db.findKeys(`${dbPrefix}:*`, null)).length, 1);
     });
 
diff --git a/src/tests/backend/specs/SessionStore.ts b/src/tests/backend/specs/SessionStore.ts
index 5dfc44ff2..010ff7b65 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend/specs/SessionStore.ts
+++ b/src/tests/backend/specs/SessionStore.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const SessionStore = require('../../../node/db/SessionStore');
+import SessionStore from '../../../node/db/SessionStore';
 import {strict as assert} from 'assert';
 const common = require('../common');
-const db = require('../../../node/db/DB');
+import db from '../../../node/db/DB';
 import util from 'util';
 
 type Session = {
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ type Session = {
 }
 
 describe(__filename, function () {
-  let ss: Session|null;
+  let ss: SessionStore|null;
   let sid: string|null;
 
   const set = async (sess: string|null) => await util.promisify(ss!.set).call(ss, sid, sess);
diff --git a/src/tests/backend/specs/api/sessionsAndGroups.ts b/src/tests/backend/specs/api/sessionsAndGroups.ts
index a7e85fbe9..b6d20e17c 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend/specs/api/sessionsAndGroups.ts
+++ b/src/tests/backend/specs/api/sessionsAndGroups.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {agent, generateJWTToken, init, logger} from "../../common";
 import TestAgent from "supertest/lib/agent";
 import supertest from "supertest";
 const assert = require('assert').strict;
-const db = require('../../../../node/db/DB');
+import db from '../../../../node/db/DB';
 
 let apiVersion = 1;
 let groupID = '';
diff --git a/src/tests/backend/specs/regression-db.ts b/src/tests/backend/specs/regression-db.ts
index ba50e5240..ca5117aa2 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend/specs/regression-db.ts
+++ b/src/tests/backend/specs/regression-db.ts
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
 
 const AuthorManager = require('../../../node/db/AuthorManager');
 import {strict as assert} from "assert";
-const common = require('../common');
-const db = require('../../../node/db/DB');
+import {init} from '../common';
+import db from '../../../node/db/DB';
 
 describe(__filename, function () {
   let setBackup: Function;
 
   before(async function () {
-    await common.init();
+    await init();
     setBackup = db.set;
 
     db.set = async (...args:any) => {
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
   });
 
   after(async function () {
-    db.set = setBackup;
+    db.set = setBackup as any;
   });
 
   it('regression test for missing await in createAuthor (#5000)', async function () {