diff --git a/.github/workflows/rust-test-with-style.yml b/.github/workflows/rust-test-with-style.yml
index f8e9499fe2..80ea4a4dbf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rust-test-with-style.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rust-test-with-style.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ jobs:
   test:
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        os: [ubuntu-24.04]
+        os: [ubuntu-24.04, macos-15]
         compiler: [clang]
 
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index a907bfb1db..87a3f1f76c 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ noether-cpu:
     - cd .. && export NEK5K_VERSION=Nek5000-19.0 && { [[ -d $NEK5K_VERSION ]] || { git clone --depth 1 --branch v19.0 https://github.com/Nek5000/Nek5000.git $NEK5K_VERSION && cd $NEK5K_VERSION/tools && ./maketools genbox genmap reatore2 && cd ../..; }; } && export NEK5K_DIR=$PWD/$NEK5K_VERSION && export PATH=$NEK5K_DIR/bin:$PATH MPI=0 && cd libCEED
     - echo "-------------- Nek5000 -------------" && git -C $NEK5K_DIR describe --tags
     - export NPROC_POOL=1
-    - make -k -j$NPROC_CPU BACKENDS="$BACKENDS_CPU" JUNIT_BATCH="cpu" junit search=nek NEK5K_DIR=$NEK5K_DIR
+    - make -B -k -j$NPROC_CPU BACKENDS="$BACKENDS_CPU" JUNIT_BATCH="cpu" junit search=nek NEK5K_DIR=$NEK5K_DIR
     # -- deal.II 8bd5c262f13e15793aa206b6eed8774a9b25ce11
     - BACKENDS_CPU=$(make info-backends-all | grep -o '/cpu[^ ]*' | tr '\n' ' ')
     - export DEAL_II_ROOT_DIR=/projects/dealii DEAL_II_DIR=/projects/dealii/install
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ noether-cuda:
     - cd .. && export NEK5K_VERSION=Nek5000-19.0 && { [[ -d $NEK5K_VERSION ]] || { git clone --depth 1 --branch v19.0 https://github.com/Nek5000/Nek5000.git $NEK5K_VERSION && cd $NEK5K_VERSION/tools && ./maketools genbox genmap reatore2 && cd ../..; }; } && export NEK5K_DIR=$PWD/$NEK5K_VERSION && export PATH=$NEK5K_DIR/bin:$PATH MPI=0 && cd libCEED
     - echo "-------------- Nek5000 -------------" && git -C $NEK5K_DIR describe --tags
     - export NPROC_POOL=1
-    - make -k -j$NPROC_GPU BACKENDS="$BACKENDS_GPU" JUNIT_BATCH="cuda" junit search=nek NEK5K_DIR=$NEK5K_DIR
+    - make -B -k -j$NPROC_GPU BACKENDS="$BACKENDS_GPU" JUNIT_BATCH="cuda" junit search=nek NEK5K_DIR=$NEK5K_DIR
     # -- deal.II 8bd5c262f13e15793aa206b6eed8774a9b25ce11
     - export DEAL_II_ROOT_DIR=/projects/dealii DEAL_II_DIR=/projects/dealii/install
     - echo "-------------- deal.II -------------" && git -C $DEAL_II_ROOT_DIR -c safe.directory=$DEAL_II_ROOT_DIR describe --always
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5ecaecd71a..c282491c56 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ quiet ?= $($(1))
 .PRECIOUS: %/.DIR
 
 
+DARWIN := $(filter Darwin,$(shell uname -s))
+
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------
 # Root directories for backend dependencies
 # ------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@ ifeq (,$(filter-out undefined default,$(origin AR)))
   AR = ar
 endif
 ifeq (,$(filter-out undefined default,$(origin ARFLAGS)))
-  ARFLAGS = crD
+  ARFLAGS = $(if $(DARWIN),cr,crD)
 endif
 NVCC ?= $(CUDA_DIR)/bin/nvcc
 NVCC_CXX ?= $(CXX)
@@ -222,7 +225,6 @@ MFLAGS := -j $(NPROCS) --warn-undefined-variables \
 PYTHON ?= python3
 PROVE ?= prove
 PROVE_OPTS ?= -j $(NPROCS)
-DARWIN := $(filter Darwin,$(shell uname -s))
 SO_EXT := $(if $(DARWIN),dylib,so)
 
 ceed.pc := $(LIBDIR)/pkgconfig/ceed.pc
@@ -486,9 +488,10 @@ MEMCHK_STATUS   = Disabled
 MEMCHK         := $(shell echo "$(HASH)include <valgrind/memcheck.h>" | $(CC) $(CPPFLAGS) -E - >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo 1)
 MEMCHK_BACKENDS = /cpu/self/memcheck/serial /cpu/self/memcheck/blocked
 ifeq ($(MEMCHK),1)
-  MEMCHK_STATUS = Enabled
-  libceed.c += $(ceedmemcheck.c)
+  MEMCHK_STATUS  = Enabled
+  libceed.c     += $(ceedmemcheck.c)
   BACKENDS_MAKE += $(MEMCHK_BACKENDS)
+  CFLAGS        += "-DCEED_USE_MEMCHECK"
 endif
 
 # AVX Backeds
@@ -497,9 +500,10 @@ AVX_FLAG    := $(if $(filter clang,$(CC_VENDOR)),+avx,-mavx)
 AVX         := $(filter $(AVX_FLAG),$(shell $(CC) $(CFLAGS:-M%=) -v -E -x c /dev/null 2>&1))
 AVX_BACKENDS = /cpu/self/avx/serial /cpu/self/avx/blocked
 ifneq ($(AVX),)
-  AVX_STATUS = Enabled
-  libceed.c += $(avx.c)
+  AVX_STATUS     = Enabled
+  libceed.c     += $(avx.c)
   BACKENDS_MAKE += $(AVX_BACKENDS)
+  CFLAGS        += "-DCEED_USE_AVX"
 endif
 
 # Collect list of libraries and paths for use in linking and pkg-config
@@ -522,10 +526,11 @@ ifneq ($(wildcard $(XSMM_DIR)/lib/libxsmm.*),)
     endif
     BLAS_LIB ?= $(MKL_LINK) -Wl,--push-state,--no-as-needed -lmkl_intel_lp64 -lmkl_sequential -lmkl_core -lpthread -lm -ldl -Wl,--pop-state
   endif
-  PKG_LIBS += $(BLAS_LIB)
+  PKG_LIBS  += $(BLAS_LIB)
   libceed.c += $(xsmm.c)
   $(xsmm.c:%.c=$(OBJDIR)/%.o) $(xsmm.c:%=%.tidy) : CPPFLAGS += -I$(XSMM_DIR)/include
   BACKENDS_MAKE += $(XSMM_BACKENDS)
+  CFLAGS        += "-DCEED_USE_XSMM"
 endif
 
 # CUDA Backends
@@ -537,7 +542,7 @@ CUDA_LIB_DIR_STUBS := $(CUDA_LIB_DIR)/stubs
 CUDA_BACKENDS = /gpu/cuda/ref /gpu/cuda/shared /gpu/cuda/gen
 ifneq ($(CUDA_LIB_DIR),)
   $(libceeds) : CPPFLAGS += -I$(CUDA_DIR)/include
-  PKG_LIBS += -L$(abspath $(CUDA_LIB_DIR)) -lcudart -lnvrtc -lcuda -lcublas
+  PKG_LIBS       += -L$(abspath $(CUDA_LIB_DIR)) -lcudart -lnvrtc -lcuda -lcublas
   PKG_STUBS_LIBS += -L$(CUDA_LIB_DIR_STUBS)
   LIBCEED_CONTAINS_CXX = 1
   libceed.c     += interface/ceed-cuda.c
@@ -545,6 +550,7 @@ ifneq ($(CUDA_LIB_DIR),)
   libceed.cpp   += $(cuda-all.cpp)
   libceed.cu    += $(cuda-all.cu)
   BACKENDS_MAKE += $(CUDA_BACKENDS)
+  CFLAGS        += "-DCEED_USE_CUDA"
 endif
 
 # HIP Backends
@@ -563,6 +569,7 @@ ifneq ($(HIP_LIB_DIR),)
   libceed.cpp   += $(hip-all.cpp)
   libceed.hip   += $(hip-all.hip)
   BACKENDS_MAKE += $(HIP_BACKENDS)
+  CFLAGS        += "-DCEED_USE_HIP"
 endif
 
 # SYCL Backends
@@ -576,6 +583,7 @@ ifneq ($(SYCL_LIB_DIR),)
   LIBCEED_CONTAINS_CXX = 1
   libceed.sycl  += $(sycl-core.cpp) $(sycl-ref.cpp) $(sycl-shared.cpp) $(sycl-gen.cpp)
   BACKENDS_MAKE += $(SYCL_BACKENDS)
+  CFLAGS        += "-DCEED_USE_SYCL"
 endif
 
 # MAGMA Backends
@@ -612,6 +620,7 @@ ifneq ($(wildcard $(MAGMA_DIR)/lib/libmagma.*),)
   endif
   LIBCEED_CONTAINS_CXX = 1
   BACKENDS_MAKE += $(MAGMA_BACKENDS)
+  CFLAGS        += "-DCEED_USE_MAGMA"
 endif
 
 BACKENDS ?= $(BACKENDS_MAKE)
@@ -645,17 +654,16 @@ endif
 # Building core library components
 # ------------------------------------------------------------
 
-# File names *-weak.c contain weak symbol definitions, which must be listed last
-# when creating shared or static libraries.
-weak_last = $(filter-out %-weak.o,$(1)) $(filter %-weak.o,$(1))
+FORCE:
+$(OBJDIR)/backends/ceed-backend-register.o: FORCE
 
 libceed.o = $(libceed.c:%.c=$(OBJDIR)/%.o) $(libceed.cpp:%.cpp=$(OBJDIR)/%.o) $(libceed.cu:%.cu=$(OBJDIR)/%.o) $(libceed.hip:%.hip.cpp=$(OBJDIR)/%.o) $(libceed.sycl:%.sycl.cpp=$(OBJDIR)/%.o)
 $(filter %fortran.o,$(libceed.o)) : CPPFLAGS += $(if $(filter 1,$(UNDERSCORE)),-DUNDERSCORE)
 $(libceed.o): | info-backends
-$(libceed.so) : $(call weak_last,$(libceed.o)) | $$(@D)/.DIR
+$(libceed.so) : $(libceed.o) | $$(@D)/.DIR
 	$(call quiet,LINK) $(LDFLAGS) $(CEED_LDFLAGS) -shared -o $@ $^ $(CEED_LDLIBS) $(LDLIBS)
 
-$(libceed.a) : $(call weak_last,$(libceed.o)) | $$(@D)/.DIR
+$(libceed.a) : $(libceed.o) | $$(@D)/.DIR
 	$(call quiet,AR) $(ARFLAGS) $@ $^
 
 $(OBJDIR)/%.o : $(CURDIR)/%.c | $$(@D)/.DIR
diff --git a/backends/avx/ceed-avx-blocked.c b/backends/avx/ceed-avx-blocked.c
index 8452fd8591..9cf1c59a10 100644
--- a/backends/avx/ceed-avx-blocked.c
+++ b/backends/avx/ceed-avx-blocked.c
@@ -10,12 +10,13 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-avx.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Avx(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Avx_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed ceed_ref;
 
   CeedCheck(!strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/avx") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/avx/blocked"), ceed,
@@ -32,8 +33,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Avx(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Avx_Blocked(void) { return CeedRegister("/cpu/self/avx/blocked", CeedInit_Avx, 30); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/avx/ceed-avx-serial.c b/backends/avx/ceed-avx-serial.c
index 06ed5f9fdb..38dbefb3e4 100644
--- a/backends/avx/ceed-avx-serial.c
+++ b/backends/avx/ceed-avx-serial.c
@@ -10,12 +10,13 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-avx.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Avx(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Avx_Serial(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed ceed_ref;
 
   CeedCheck(!strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/avx/serial"), ceed, CEED_ERROR_BACKEND,
@@ -32,8 +33,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Avx(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Avx_Serial(void) { return CeedRegister("/cpu/self/avx/serial", CeedInit_Avx, 35); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/blocked/ceed-blocked.c b/backends/blocked/ceed-blocked.c
index f50d2fc91e..735439c177 100644
--- a/backends/blocked/ceed-blocked.c
+++ b/backends/blocked/ceed-blocked.c
@@ -5,17 +5,18 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-blocked.h"
-
 #include <ceed.h>
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
+#include "ceed-blocked.h"
+
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Ref_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed ceed_ref;
 
   CeedCheck(!strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/ref/blocked"), ceed, CEED_ERROR_BACKEND,
@@ -32,8 +33,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Ref_Blocked(void) { return CeedRegister("/cpu/self/ref/blocked", CeedInit_Blocked, 55); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/ceed-backend-init.h b/backends/ceed-backend-init.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b68da262ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/ceed-backend-init.h
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2017-2025, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other CEED contributors.
+// All Rights Reserved. See the top-level LICENSE and NOTICE files for details.
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+//
+// This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
+#pragma once
+
+#include <ceed/backend.h>
+
+#undef CEED_BACKEND
+#define CEED_BACKEND(name, ...) CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_##name(const char *resource, Ceed ceed);
+#include "../backends/ceed-backend-list.h"
+#undef CEED_BACKEND
diff --git a/backends/ceed-backend-list.h b/backends/ceed-backend-list.h
index 017d8a76a0..bca4b167fd 100644
--- a/backends/ceed-backend-list.h
+++ b/backends/ceed-backend-list.h
@@ -7,28 +7,72 @@
 
 // This header does not have guards because it is included multiple times.
 
-// List each backend registration function once here.
-// This will be expanded inside CeedRegisterAll() to call each registration function in the order listed, and also to define weak symbol aliases for
-// backends that are not configured.
-
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Avx_Blocked, 1, "/cpu/self/avx/blocked")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Avx_Serial, 1, "/cpu/self/avx/serial")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Cuda, 1, "/gpu/cuda/ref")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Cuda_Gen, 1, "/gpu/cuda/gen")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Cuda_Shared, 1, "/gpu/cuda/shared")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Hip, 1, "/gpu/hip/ref")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Hip_Gen, 1, "/gpu/hip/gen")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Hip_Shared, 1, "/gpu/hip/shared")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Sycl, 1, "/gpu/sycl/ref")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Sycl_Shared, 1, "/gpu/sycl/shared")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Sycl_Gen, 1, "/gpu/sycl/gen")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Magma, 2, "/gpu/cuda/magma", "/gpu/hip/magma")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Magma_Det, 2, "/gpu/cuda/magma/det", "/gpu/hip/magma/det")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Memcheck_Blocked, 1, "/cpu/self/memcheck/blocked")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Memcheck_Serial, 1, "/cpu/self/memcheck/serial")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Opt_Blocked, 1, "/cpu/self/opt/blocked")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Opt_Serial, 1, "/cpu/self/opt/serial")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Ref, 1, "/cpu/self/ref/serial")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Ref_Blocked, 1, "/cpu/self/ref/blocked")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Xsmm_Blocked, 1, "/cpu/self/xsmm/blocked")
-CEED_BACKEND(CeedRegister_Xsmm_Serial, 1, "/cpu/self/xsmm/serial")
+// List each backend function suffix once here.
+// The CEED_BACKEND(name, suffix, is_enabled, num_prefixes, prefix_0, priority_0, ...) macro is used in several places.
+//
+// This list will be expanded inside ceed-backend-init.h to declare all initialization functions of the form CeedInit_##name(resource, ceed).
+// These functions must be defined in their respective backends.
+//
+// This list will be expanded inside ceed-backend-register.h to declare all initialization functions of the form CeedRegister_##name##suffix(void).
+// These functions are defined ceed-register.c.
+//
+// In ceed-register.c, if the backend is enabled, then CeedRegister_##name##suffix(void) registers each prefix with the corresponding priority and uses CeedInit_##name.
+// If the backend is not enabled, then CeedRegister_##name##suffix(void) registers each prefix with an initialization function that gives an error message.
+//
+// This list is expanded inside CeedRegisterAll() to call each registration function in the order listed.
+
+CEED_BACKEND(Ref_Serial, , true, 1, "/cpu/self/ref/serial", 50)
+CEED_BACKEND(Ref_Blocked, , true, 1, "/cpu/self/ref/blocked", 55)
+CEED_BACKEND(Opt_Serial, , true, 1, "/cpu/self/opt/serial", 40)
+CEED_BACKEND(Opt_Blocked, , true, 1, "/cpu/self/opt/blocked", 45)
+
+#ifndef CEED_USE_MEMCHECK
+#define CEED_USE_MEMCHECK false
+#endif
+CEED_BACKEND(Memcheck_Serial, , CEED_USE_MEMCHECK, 1, "/cpu/self/memcheck/serial", 100)
+CEED_BACKEND(Memcheck_Blocked, , CEED_USE_MEMCHECK, 1, "/cpu/self/memcheck/blocked", 110)
+
+#ifndef CEED_USE_AVX
+#define CEED_USE_AVX false
+#endif
+CEED_BACKEND(Avx_Serial, , CEED_USE_AVX, 1, "/cpu/self/avx/serial", 30)
+CEED_BACKEND(Avx_Blocked, , CEED_USE_AVX, 1, "/cpu/self/avx/blocked", 30)
+
+#ifndef CEED_USE_XSMM
+#define CEED_USE_XSMM false
+#endif
+CEED_BACKEND(Xsmm_Serial, , CEED_USE_XSMM, 1, "/cpu/self/xsmm/serial", 20)
+CEED_BACKEND(Xsmm_Blocked, , CEED_USE_XSMM, 1, "/cpu/self/xsmm/blocked", 25)
+
+#ifndef CEED_USE_CUDA
+#define CEED_USE_CUDA false
+#endif
+CEED_BACKEND(Cuda_Ref, , CEED_USE_CUDA, 1, "/gpu/cuda/ref", 40)
+CEED_BACKEND(Cuda_Shared, , CEED_USE_CUDA, 1, "/gpu/cuda/shared", 30)
+CEED_BACKEND(Cuda_Gen, , CEED_USE_CUDA, 1, "/gpu/cuda/gen", 20)
+
+#ifndef CEED_USE_HIP
+#define CEED_USE_HIP false
+#endif
+CEED_BACKEND(Hip_Ref, , CEED_USE_HIP, 1, "/gpu/hip/ref", 40)
+CEED_BACKEND(Hip_Shared, , CEED_USE_HIP, 1, "/gpu/hip/shared", 30)
+CEED_BACKEND(Hip_Gen, , CEED_USE_HIP, 1, "/gpu/hip/gen", 20)
+
+#ifndef CEED_USE_SYCL
+#define CEED_USE_SYCL false
+#endif
+CEED_BACKEND(Sycl_Ref, , CEED_USE_SYCL, 2, "/gpu/sycl/ref", 40, "/cpu/sycl/ref", 45)
+CEED_BACKEND(Sycl_Shared, , CEED_USE_SYCL, 2, "/gpu/sycl/shared", 30, "/cpu/sycl/shared", 35)
+CEED_BACKEND(Sycl_Gen, , CEED_USE_SYCL, 1, "/gpu/sycl/gen", 20)
+
+#ifndef CEED_MAGMA_USE_CUDA
+#define CEED_MAGMA_USE_CUDA false
+#endif
+CEED_BACKEND(Magma, _Cuda, CEED_MAGMA_USE_CUDA, 1, "/gpu/cuda/magma", 120)
+CEED_BACKEND(Magma_Det, _Cuda, CEED_MAGMA_USE_CUDA, 1, "/gpu/cuda/magma/det", 125)
+
+#ifndef CEED_MAGMA_USE_HIP
+#define CEED_MAGMA_USE_HIP false
+#endif
+CEED_BACKEND(Magma, _Hip, CEED_MAGMA_USE_HIP, 1, "/gpu/hip/magma", 120)
+CEED_BACKEND(Magma_Det, _Hip, CEED_MAGMA_USE_HIP, 1, "/gpu/hip/magma/det", 125)
diff --git a/backends/ceed-backend-register.c b/backends/ceed-backend-register.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..242cc41194
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/ceed-backend-register.c
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2017-2025, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other CEED contributors.
+// All Rights Reserved. See the top-level LICENSE and NOTICE files for details.
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+//
+// This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
+
+#include "ceed-backend-register.h"
+#include <ceed.h>
+#include "ceed-backend-init.h"
+
+#define CEED_PRIORITY_UNCOMPILED 1024  // Revisit if we ever use 4 digit priority values
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Backend register functions
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// LCOV_EXCL_START
+// This function provides error messages on initialization attempt for uncompiled backends
+static int CeedInit_Uncompiled(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+  return CeedError(ceed, CEED_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED, "Backend not currently compiled: %s\nConsult the installation instructions to compile this backend",
+                   resource);
+}
+// LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+
+// This function registers uncompiled backends
+static int CeedRegister_Uncompiled(int (*f)(const char *, struct Ceed_private *), int num_prefixes, ...) {
+  va_list prefixes;
+  int     ierr;
+
+  va_start(prefixes, num_prefixes);
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_prefixes; i++) {
+    const char *prefix   = va_arg(prefixes, const char *);
+    const int   priority = va_arg(prefixes, int);
+
+    CeedDebugEnv("Weak Register : %s, %d", prefix, priority);
+    ierr = CeedRegisterImpl(prefix, CeedInit_Uncompiled, CEED_PRIORITY_UNCOMPILED);
+    if (ierr) {
+      va_end(prefixes);  // Prevent leak on error
+      return ierr;
+    }
+  }
+  va_end(prefixes);
+  return CEED_ERROR_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+// This function registers compiled backends
+static int CeedRegister_Compiled(int (*f)(const char *, struct Ceed_private *), int num_prefixes, ...) {
+  va_list prefixes;
+  int     ierr;
+
+  va_start(prefixes, num_prefixes);
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_prefixes; i++) {
+    const char *prefix   = va_arg(prefixes, const char *);
+    const int   priority = va_arg(prefixes, int);
+
+    ierr = CeedRegister(prefix, f, priority);
+    if (ierr) {
+      va_end(prefixes);  // Prevent leak on error
+      return ierr;
+    }
+  }
+  va_end(prefixes);
+  return CEED_ERROR_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+// This macro creates a wrapper registration function that calls the compiled/uncompiled registration function
+#define CEED_BACKEND(name, suffix, is_enabled, num_prefixes, ...)               \
+  CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_##name##suffix(void) {                           \
+    if (is_enabled) {                                                           \
+      return CeedRegister_Compiled(CeedInit_##name, num_prefixes, __VA_ARGS__); \
+    } else {                                                                    \
+      return CeedRegister_Uncompiled(NULL, num_prefixes, __VA_ARGS__);          \
+    }                                                                           \
+  }
+#include "../backends/ceed-backend-list.h"
+#undef CEED_BACKEND
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/ceed-backend-register.h b/backends/ceed-backend-register.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..04759b0e31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/ceed-backend-register.h
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2017-2025, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other CEED contributors.
+// All Rights Reserved. See the top-level LICENSE and NOTICE files for details.
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+//
+// This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
+#pragma once
+
+#include <ceed/backend.h>
+
+#undef CEED_BACKEND
+#define CEED_BACKEND(name, suffix, ...) CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_##name##suffix(void);
+#include "../backends/ceed-backend-list.h"
+#undef CEED_BACKEND
diff --git a/backends/ceed-backend-weak.c b/backends/ceed-backend-weak.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 81abd45a3d..0000000000
--- a/backends/ceed-backend-weak.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2017-2026, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other CEED contributors.
-// All Rights Reserved. See the top-level LICENSE and NOTICE files for details.
-//
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
-//
-// This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
-
-#include <ceed.h>
-#include <ceed/backend.h>
-#include <stdarg.h>
-
-// LCOV_EXCL_START
-// This function provides improved error messages for uncompiled backends
-static int CeedInit_Weak(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
-  return CeedError(ceed, CEED_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED, "Backend not currently compiled: %s\nConsult the installation instructions to compile this backend",
-                   resource);
-}
-
-// This function provides a debug target for weak symbols
-static int CeedRegister_Weak(const char *name, int num_prefixes, ...) {
-  va_list prefixes;
-  int     ierr;
-
-  va_start(prefixes, num_prefixes);
-  for (int i = 0; i < num_prefixes; i++) {
-    const char *prefix = va_arg(prefixes, const char *);
-
-    CeedDebugEnv("Weak Register   : %s", prefix);
-    ierr = CeedRegisterImpl(prefix, CeedInit_Weak, CEED_MAX_BACKEND_PRIORITY);
-    if (ierr) {
-      va_end(prefixes);  // Prevent leak on error
-      return ierr;
-    }
-  }
-  va_end(prefixes);
-  return CEED_ERROR_SUCCESS;
-}
-// LCOV_EXCL_STOP
-
-#define CEED_BACKEND(name, num_prefixes, ...)       \
-  CEED_INTERN int name(void) __attribute__((weak)); \
-  int             name(void) { return CeedRegister_Weak(__func__, num_prefixes, __VA_ARGS__); }
-#include "ceed-backend-list.h"
-#undef CEED_BACKEND
diff --git a/backends/cuda-gen/ceed-cuda-gen.c b/backends/cuda-gen/ceed-cuda-gen.c
index 799c35fd1e..0824752287 100644
--- a/backends/cuda-gen/ceed-cuda-gen.c
+++ b/backends/cuda-gen/ceed-cuda-gen.c
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-cuda-gen.h"
-
 #include <ceed.h>
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "../cuda/ceed-cuda-common.h"
+#include "ceed-cuda-gen.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Cuda_gen(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Cuda_Gen(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   char      *resource_root;
   Ceed       ceed_shared, ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Cuda *data;
@@ -47,8 +47,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Cuda_gen(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Register backend
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Cuda_Gen(void) { return CeedRegister("/gpu/cuda/gen", CeedInit_Cuda_gen, 20); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/cuda-ref/ceed-cuda-ref.c b/backends/cuda-ref/ceed-cuda-ref.c
index 0937b0ce17..1fade9cdad 100644
--- a/backends/cuda-ref/ceed-cuda-ref.c
+++ b/backends/cuda-ref/ceed-cuda-ref.c
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-cuda-ref.h"
-
 #include <ceed.h>
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "../cuda/ceed-cuda-common.h"
+#include "ceed-cuda-ref.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // CUDA preferred MemType
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ int CeedGetCublasHandle_Cuda(Ceed ceed, cublasHandle_t *handle) {
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Cuda_ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Cuda_Ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed_Cuda *data;
   char      *resource_root;
 
@@ -67,8 +67,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Cuda_ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Cuda(void) { return CeedRegister("/gpu/cuda/ref", CeedInit_Cuda_ref, 40); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/cuda-shared/ceed-cuda-shared.c b/backends/cuda-shared/ceed-cuda-shared.c
index 1224032995..a77cf2d7a2 100644
--- a/backends/cuda-shared/ceed-cuda-shared.c
+++ b/backends/cuda-shared/ceed-cuda-shared.c
@@ -5,19 +5,19 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-cuda-shared.h"
-
 #include <ceed.h>
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "../cuda/ceed-cuda-common.h"
+#include "ceed-cuda-shared.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Cuda_shared(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Cuda_Shared(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed       ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Cuda *data;
   char      *resource_root;
@@ -42,8 +42,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Cuda_shared(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Register backend
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Cuda_Shared(void) { return CeedRegister("/gpu/cuda/shared", CeedInit_Cuda_shared, 25); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/hip-gen/ceed-hip-gen.c b/backends/hip-gen/ceed-hip-gen.c
index 8b3ead0db7..e8d2f61751 100644
--- a/backends/hip-gen/ceed-hip-gen.c
+++ b/backends/hip-gen/ceed-hip-gen.c
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-hip-gen.h"
-
 #include <ceed.h>
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "../hip/ceed-hip-common.h"
+#include "ceed-hip-gen.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Hip_gen(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Hip_Gen(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   char     *resource_root;
   Ceed      ceed_shared, ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Hip *data;
@@ -47,8 +47,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Hip_gen(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Register backend
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Hip_Gen(void) { return CeedRegister("/gpu/hip/gen", CeedInit_Hip_gen, 20); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/hip-ref/ceed-hip-ref.c b/backends/hip-ref/ceed-hip-ref.c
index f22f3a16e7..1670665718 100644
--- a/backends/hip-ref/ceed-hip-ref.c
+++ b/backends/hip-ref/ceed-hip-ref.c
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-hip-ref.h"
-
 #include <ceed.h>
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "../hip/ceed-hip-common.h"
+#include "ceed-hip-ref.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // HIP preferred MemType
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ int CeedGetHipblasHandle_Hip(Ceed ceed, hipblasHandle_t *handle) {
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Hip_ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Hip_Ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed_Hip *data;
   char     *resource_root;
 
@@ -70,8 +70,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Hip_ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Hip(void) { return CeedRegister("/gpu/hip/ref", CeedInit_Hip_ref, 40); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/hip-shared/ceed-hip-shared.c b/backends/hip-shared/ceed-hip-shared.c
index afb39e8bde..37b6eaa94f 100644
--- a/backends/hip-shared/ceed-hip-shared.c
+++ b/backends/hip-shared/ceed-hip-shared.c
@@ -5,19 +5,19 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-hip-shared.h"
-
 #include <ceed.h>
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "../hip/ceed-hip-common.h"
+#include "ceed-hip-shared.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Hip_shared(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Hip_Shared(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed      ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Hip *data;
   char     *resource_root;
@@ -42,8 +42,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Hip_shared(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Register backend
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Hip_Shared(void) { return CeedRegister("/gpu/hip/shared", CeedInit_Hip_shared, 25); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/magma/ceed-magma-det.c b/backends/magma/ceed-magma-det.c
index 081cb6e7d9..23287e3798 100644
--- a/backends/magma/ceed-magma-det.c
+++ b/backends/magma/ceed-magma-det.c
@@ -10,12 +10,13 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-magma-common.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Magma_Det(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Magma_Det(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed        ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Magma *data;
   const int   nrc = 18;  // number of characters in resource
@@ -42,14 +43,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Magma_Det(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Magma_Det(void) {
-#ifdef CEED_MAGMA_USE_HIP
-  return CeedRegister("/gpu/hip/magma/det", CeedInit_Magma_Det, 125);
-#else
-  return CeedRegister("/gpu/cuda/magma/det", CeedInit_Magma_Det, 125);
-#endif
-}
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/magma/ceed-magma.c b/backends/magma/ceed-magma.c
index 9908dd55da..448cb28d29 100644
--- a/backends/magma/ceed-magma.c
+++ b/backends/magma/ceed-magma.c
@@ -5,19 +5,19 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-magma.h"
-
 #include <ceed.h>
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-magma-common.h"
+#include "ceed-magma.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Magma(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Magma(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed        ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Magma *data;
   const int   nrc = 14;  // number of characters in resource
@@ -47,14 +47,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Magma(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Magma(void) {
-#ifdef CEED_MAGMA_USE_HIP
-  return CeedRegister("/gpu/hip/magma", CeedInit_Magma, 120);
-#else
-  return CeedRegister("/gpu/cuda/magma", CeedInit_Magma, 120);
-#endif
-}
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/memcheck/ceed-memcheck-blocked.c b/backends/memcheck/ceed-memcheck-blocked.c
index 009c9e4601..59d2d0330f 100644
--- a/backends/memcheck/ceed-memcheck-blocked.c
+++ b/backends/memcheck/ceed-memcheck-blocked.c
@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-memcheck.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Memcheck(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Memcheck_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed ceed_ref;
 
   CeedCheck(!strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/memcheck/blocked"), ceed, CEED_ERROR_BACKEND, "Valgrind Memcheck backend cannot use resource: %s", resource);
@@ -34,8 +35,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Memcheck(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Memcheck_Blocked(void) { return CeedRegister("/cpu/self/memcheck/blocked", CeedInit_Memcheck, 110); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/memcheck/ceed-memcheck-serial.c b/backends/memcheck/ceed-memcheck-serial.c
index a0140fbd75..eafa84caed 100644
--- a/backends/memcheck/ceed-memcheck-serial.c
+++ b/backends/memcheck/ceed-memcheck-serial.c
@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-memcheck.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Memcheck(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Memcheck_Serial(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed ceed_ref;
 
   CeedCheck(!strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/memcheck") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/memcheck/serial"), ceed, CEED_ERROR_BACKEND,
@@ -35,8 +36,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Memcheck(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Memcheck_Serial(void) { return CeedRegister("/cpu/self/memcheck/serial", CeedInit_Memcheck, 100); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/opt/ceed-opt-blocked.c b/backends/opt/ceed-opt-blocked.c
index e8980c3ba9..768bb8c7a9 100644
--- a/backends/opt/ceed-opt-blocked.c
+++ b/backends/opt/ceed-opt-blocked.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-opt.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ static int CeedDestroy_Opt(Ceed ceed) {
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Opt_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Opt_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed      ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Opt *data;
 
@@ -51,8 +52,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Opt_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Opt_Blocked(void) { return CeedRegister("/cpu/self/opt/blocked", CeedInit_Opt_Blocked, 40); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/opt/ceed-opt-serial.c b/backends/opt/ceed-opt-serial.c
index 1e3517b44a..38612d0d23 100644
--- a/backends/opt/ceed-opt-serial.c
+++ b/backends/opt/ceed-opt-serial.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-opt.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ static int CeedDestroy_Opt(Ceed ceed) {
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Opt_Serial(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Opt_Serial(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed      ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Opt *data;
 
@@ -51,8 +52,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Opt_Serial(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Opt_Serial(void) { return CeedRegister("/cpu/self/opt/serial", CeedInit_Opt_Serial, 45); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/ref/ceed-ref.c b/backends/ref/ceed-ref.c
index 46af219839..ef8571b58d 100644
--- a/backends/ref/ceed-ref.c
+++ b/backends/ref/ceed-ref.c
@@ -5,16 +5,17 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-ref.h"
-
 #include <ceed.h>
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
+#include "ceed-ref.h"
+
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Ref_Serial(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   CeedCheck(!strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/ref") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/ref/serial"), ceed,
             CEED_ERROR_BACKEND, "Ref backend cannot use resource: %s", resource);
   CeedCallBackend(CeedSetDeterministic(ceed, true));
@@ -36,13 +37,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Ref(void) {
-  return
-      //! [Register]
-      CeedRegister("/cpu/self/ref/serial", CeedInit_Ref, 50);
-  //! [Register]
-}
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/sycl-gen/ceed-sycl-gen.sycl.cpp b/backends/sycl-gen/ceed-sycl-gen.sycl.cpp
index 1d67da7e0a..87594ae39c 100644
--- a/backends/sycl-gen/ceed-sycl-gen.sycl.cpp
+++ b/backends/sycl-gen/ceed-sycl-gen.sycl.cpp
@@ -5,19 +5,19 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-sycl-gen.hpp"
-
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <ceed/ceed.h>
-
 #include <string>
 #include <string_view>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
+#include "ceed-sycl-gen.hpp"
+
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Sycl_gen(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Sycl_gen(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed       ceed_shared, ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Sycl *data;
   char      *resource_root;
@@ -48,8 +48,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Sycl_gen(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Register backend
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Sycl_Gen(void) { return CeedRegister("/gpu/sycl/gen", CeedInit_Sycl_gen, 20); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/sycl-ref/ceed-sycl-ref.sycl.cpp b/backends/sycl-ref/ceed-sycl-ref.sycl.cpp
index ffa5a78d7d..54ee07079d 100644
--- a/backends/sycl-ref/ceed-sycl-ref.sycl.cpp
+++ b/backends/sycl-ref/ceed-sycl-ref.sycl.cpp
@@ -6,14 +6,14 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-sycl-ref.hpp"
-
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <ceed/ceed.h>
-
 #include <string>
 #include <sycl/sycl.hpp>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
+#include "ceed-sycl-ref.hpp"
+
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // SYCL preferred MemType
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ static int CeedGetPreferredMemType_Sycl(CeedMemType *mem_type) {
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Sycl_ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Sycl_Ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed_Sycl *data;
   char      *resource_root;
 
@@ -53,12 +53,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Sycl_ref(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Sycl(void) {
-  CeedCallBackend(CeedRegister("/gpu/sycl/ref", CeedInit_Sycl_ref, 40));
-  CeedCallBackend(CeedRegister("/cpu/sycl/ref", CeedInit_Sycl_ref, 50));
-  return CEED_ERROR_SUCCESS;
-}
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/sycl-shared/ceed-sycl-shared.sycl.cpp b/backends/sycl-shared/ceed-sycl-shared.sycl.cpp
index a563a73626..48939ef2e3 100644
--- a/backends/sycl-shared/ceed-sycl-shared.sycl.cpp
+++ b/backends/sycl-shared/ceed-sycl-shared.sycl.cpp
@@ -5,19 +5,19 @@
 //
 // This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
 
-#include "ceed-sycl-shared.hpp"
-
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <ceed/ceed.h>
-
 #include <sstream>
 #include <string>
 #include <string_view>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
+#include "ceed-sycl-shared.hpp"
+
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Sycl_shared(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Sycl_Shared(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed       ceed_ref;
   Ceed_Sycl *data;
   char      *resource_root;
@@ -50,12 +50,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Sycl_shared(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Register backend
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Sycl_Shared(void) {
-  CeedCallBackend(CeedRegister("/gpu/sycl/shared", CeedInit_Sycl_shared, 25));
-  CeedCallBackend(CeedRegister("/cpu/sycl/shared", CeedInit_Sycl_shared, 35));
-  return CEED_ERROR_SUCCESS;
-}
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/xsmm/ceed-xsmm-blocked.c b/backends/xsmm/ceed-xsmm-blocked.c
index 2abaa247c1..eabbb82411 100644
--- a/backends/xsmm/ceed-xsmm-blocked.c
+++ b/backends/xsmm/ceed-xsmm-blocked.c
@@ -10,12 +10,13 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-xsmm.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Xsmm_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Xsmm_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed ceed_ref;
 
   CeedCheck(!strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/xsmm") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/xsmm/blocked"), ceed,
@@ -32,8 +33,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Xsmm_Blocked(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Xsmm_Blocked(void) { return CeedRegister("/cpu/self/xsmm/blocked", CeedInit_Xsmm_Blocked, 20); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backends/xsmm/ceed-xsmm-serial.c b/backends/xsmm/ceed-xsmm-serial.c
index 7892e845be..8e7ca36103 100644
--- a/backends/xsmm/ceed-xsmm-serial.c
+++ b/backends/xsmm/ceed-xsmm-serial.c
@@ -10,12 +10,13 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "../ceed-backend-init.h"
 #include "ceed-xsmm.h"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Backend Init
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static int CeedInit_Xsmm_Serial(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
+CEED_INTERN int CeedInit_Xsmm_Serial(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
   Ceed ceed_ref;
 
   CeedCheck(!strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self") || !strcmp(resource, "/cpu/self/xsmm/serial"), ceed, CEED_ERROR_BACKEND,
@@ -32,8 +33,3 @@ static int CeedInit_Xsmm_Serial(const char *resource, Ceed ceed) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backend Register
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CEED_INTERN int CeedRegister_Xsmm_Serial(void) { return CeedRegister("/cpu/self/xsmm/serial", CeedInit_Xsmm_Serial, 25); }
-
-//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/doc/sphinx/source/libCEEDapi.md b/doc/sphinx/source/libCEEDapi.md
index 66caa15688..dec562027f 100644
--- a/doc/sphinx/source/libCEEDapi.md
+++ b/doc/sphinx/source/libCEEDapi.md
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ To illustrate how the user can declare a {ref}`CeedQFunction` via the gallery of
 LibCEED is intended to be extensible via backends that are packaged with the library and packaged separately (possibly as a binary containing proprietary code).
 Backends are registered by calling
 
-```{literalinclude} ../../../backends/ref/ceed-ref.c
+```{literalinclude} ../../../backends/ceed-backend-list.c
 :end-before: //! [Register]
 :language: c
 :start-after: //! [Register]
diff --git a/gallery/ceed-gallery-weak.c b/gallery/ceed-gallery-weak.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 8744f75d8f..0000000000
--- a/gallery/ceed-gallery-weak.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2017-2026, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other CEED contributors.
-// All Rights Reserved. See the top-level LICENSE and NOTICE files for details.
-//
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
-//
-// This file is part of CEED:  http://github.com/ceed
-
-#include <ceed/backend.h>
-#include <ceed/types.h>
-
-// This function provides a debug target for weak symbols
-// LCOV_EXCL_START
-static int CeedQFunctionRegister_Weak(const char *name) {
-  CeedDebugEnv("** Weak Register: %s", name);
-  return CEED_ERROR_SUCCESS;
-}
-// LCOV_EXCL_STOP
-
-#define CEED_GALLERY_QFUNCTION(name)                \
-  CEED_INTERN int name(void) __attribute__((weak)); \
-  int             name(void) { return CeedQFunctionRegister_Weak(__func__); }
-#include "ceed-gallery-list.h"
-#undef CEED_GALLERY_QFUNCTION
diff --git a/interface/ceed-register.c b/interface/ceed-register.c
index 759a6463fb..8d5f7179e2 100644
--- a/interface/ceed-register.c
+++ b/interface/ceed-register.c
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@
 #include <ceed/backend.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
-static bool register_all_called;
+#include "../backends/ceed-backend-register.h"
 
-#define CEED_BACKEND(name, ...) CEED_INTERN int name(void);
-#include "../backends/ceed-backend-list.h"
-#undef CEED_BACKEND
+static bool register_all_called;
 
 /**
   @brief Register all pre-configured backends.
@@ -33,8 +31,8 @@ int CeedRegisterAll(void) {
   CeedPragmaCritical(CeedRegisterAll) {
     if (!register_all_called) {
       CeedDebugEnv256(CEED_DEBUG_COLOR_SUCCESS, "\n---------- Registering Backends ----------\n");
-#define CEED_BACKEND(name, ...) \
-  if (!ierr) ierr = name();
+#define CEED_BACKEND(name, suffix, ...) \
+  if (!ierr) ierr = CeedRegister_##name##suffix();
 #include "../backends/ceed-backend-list.h"
 #undef CEED_BACKEND
       register_all_called = true;
diff --git a/interface/ceed.c b/interface/ceed.c
index f53d92c4e4..ca5503436d 100644
--- a/interface/ceed.c
+++ b/interface/ceed.c
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ int CeedSetHostCeedScalarArray(const CeedScalar *source_array, CeedCopyMode copy
   @ref Backend
 **/
 int CeedRegister(const char *prefix, int (*init)(const char *, Ceed), unsigned int priority) {
-  CeedDebugEnv("Backend Register: %s", prefix);
+  CeedDebugEnv("Backend Register: %s, %d", prefix, priority);
   CeedRegisterImpl(prefix, init, priority);
   return CEED_ERROR_SUCCESS;
 }