added testing for older python versions

.gitlab-ci.yml

-image: python:3.10  # Or python:3.11 if required
-
 stages:
   - test
   - build
@@ -24,10 +22,46 @@ before_script:
 
 test_default:
   stage: test
+  image: python:3.8
   script:
     - source venv/bin/activate  # Ensure venv is active
     - pytest --junitxml=report.xml --cov=dccXMLJSONConv --ignore=tests/test_RestServer.py  # Ignore the web test
 
+test_python_39:
+  stage: test
+  image: python:3.9
+  script:
+    - source venv/bin/activate  # Ensure venv is active
+    - pytest --junitxml=report_python_39.xml --cov=dccXMLJSONConv --ignore=tests/test_RestServer.py
+
+test_python_310:
+  stage: test
+  image: python:3.10
+  script:
+    - source venv/bin/activate  # Ensure venv is active
+    - pytest --junitxml=report_python_310.xml --cov=dccXMLJSONConv --ignore=tests/test_RestServer.py
+
+test_python_311:
+  stage: test
+  image: python:3.11
+  script:
+    - source venv/bin/activate  # Ensure venv is active
+    - pytest --junitxml=report_python_311.xml --cov=dccXMLJSONConv --ignore=tests/test_RestServer.py
+
+test_python_312:
+  stage: test
+  image: python:3.12
+  script:
+    - source venv/bin/activate  # Ensure venv is active
+    - pytest --junitxml=report_python_312.xml --cov=dccXMLJSONConv --ignore=tests/test_RestServer.py
+
+test_python_313:
+  stage: test
+  image: python:3.13
+  script:
+    - source venv/bin/activate  # Ensure venv is active
+    - pytest --junitxml=report_python_313.xml --cov=dccXMLJSONConv --ignore=tests/test_RestServer.py
+
 test_web:
   stage: test
   script:
@@ -43,4 +77,4 @@ build:
   artifacts:
     paths:
       - dist/
-    expire_in: 1 week
\ No newline at end of file
+    expire_in: 1 week