diff --git a/.github/actions/check-links/action.yml b/.github/actions/check-links/action.yml
index 1aab64f3..a66b5d08 100644
--- a/.github/actions/check-links/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/check-links/action.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,14 @@ runs:
   using: "composite"
   steps:
     - name: install-releaser
-      uses: jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser/.github/actions/install-releaser@v1
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
+      id: install-releaser
+      run: |
+        # Install Jupyter Releaser from git unless we are testing Releaser itself
+        if ! command -v jupyter-releaser &> /dev/null
+        then
+            pip install -q git+https://github.com/jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser.git@v1
+        fi
 
     - name: Cache checked links
       uses: actions/cache@v2
diff --git a/.github/actions/check-release/action.yml b/.github/actions/check-release/action.yml
index 6a86ddd9..e35a5610 100644
--- a/.github/actions/check-release/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/check-release/action.yml
@@ -4,45 +4,48 @@ inputs:
   token:
     description: "GitHub access token"
     required: true
-  changelog:
-    description: "Changelog file"
-    default: "CHANGELOG.md"
-    required: false
   version_spec:
     description: "New Version Specifier"
     required: false
     default: ""
+  steps_to_skip:
+    description: "Comma separated list of steps to skip"
+    required: false
 runs:
   using: "composite"
   steps:
-    - name: install-releaser
-      uses: jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser/.github/actions/install-releaser@v1
+    - shell: bash -eux {0}
+      id: install-releaser
+      run: |
+        # Install Jupyter Releaser from git unless we are testing Releaser itself
+        if ! command -v jupyter-releaser &> /dev/null
+        then
+            pip install -q git+https://github.com/jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser.git@v1
+        fi
 
-    - name: draft-changelog
-      uses: jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser/.github/actions/draft-changelog@v1
-      env:
-        RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE: "true"
-      with:
-        dry_run: true
-        token: ${{ inputs.token }}
-        changelog: ${{ inputs.changelog }}
-        version_spec: ${{ inputs.version_spec }}
+    - id: draft-changelog
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
+      run: |
+        export RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE="true"
+        export GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN=${{ inputs.token }}
+        export RH_VERSION_SPEC=${{ inputs.version_spec }}
+        export RH_STEPS_TO_SKIP=${{ inputs.steps_to_skip }}
+        python -m jupyter_releaser.actions.draft_changelog
 
-    - name: draft-release
-      uses: jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser/.github/actions/draft-release@v1
-      env:
-        RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE: "true"
-      with:
-        dry_run: true
-        token: ${{ inputs.token }}
-        changelog: ${{ inputs.changelog }}
-        version_spec: ${{ inputs.version_spec }}
+    - id: draft-release
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
+      run: |
+        export RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE="true"
+        export GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN=${{ inputs.token }}
+        export RH_RELEASE_URL=${{ steps.draft-changelog.outputs.release_url }}
+        export RH_STEPS_TO_SKIP=${{ inputs.steps_to_skip }}
+        python -m jupyter_releaser.actions.draft_release
 
-    - name: publish-release
-      uses: jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser/.github/actions/publish-release@v1
-      env:
-        RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE: "true"
-      with:
-        dry_run: true
-        token: ${{ inputs.token }}
-        release_url: ""
+    - id: publish-release
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
+      run: |
+        export RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE="true"
+        export GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN=${{ inputs.token }}
+        export RH_RELEASE_URL=${{ steps.draft-changelog.outputs.release_url }}
+        export RH_STEPS_TO_SKIP=${{ inputs.steps_to_skip }}
+        python -m jupyter_releaser.actions.publish_release
diff --git a/.github/actions/draft-changelog/action.yml b/.github/actions/draft-changelog/action.yml
index 01bbeb44..0c2d0e35 100644
--- a/.github/actions/draft-changelog/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/draft-changelog/action.yml
@@ -6,53 +6,58 @@ inputs:
     required: true
   version_spec:
     description: "New Version Specifier"
-    required: true
+    default: "next"
+    required: false
+  post_version_spec:
+    description: "Post Version Specifier"
+    required: false
   target:
     description: "The owner/repo GitHub target"
     required: true
   branch:
-    description: The branch to target"
-    required: false
-  changelog:
-    description: "Changelog file"
-    default: "CHANGELOG.md"
+    description: "The branch to target"
     required: false
   dry_run:
     description: "If set, do not make a PR"
     default: "false"
     required: false
   since:
-    description: Use PRs with activity since this date or git reference
+    description: "Use PRs with activity since this date or git reference"
     required: false
   since_last_stable:
-    description: Use PRs with activity since the last stable git tag
+    description: "Use PRs with activity since the last stable git tag"
     required: false
 outputs:
   pr_url:
     description: "The URL of the Changelog Pull Request"
     value: ${{ steps.draft-changelog.outputs.pr_url }}
+  release_url:
+    description: "The html URL of the draft GitHub release"
+    value: ${{ steps.draft-release.outputs.release_url }}
 runs:
   using: "composite"
   steps:
     - name: install-releaser
-      uses: jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser/.github/actions/install-releaser@v1
-
-    - shell: bash
-      id: draft-changelog
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
       run: |
-        set -eux
+        # Install Jupyter Releaser from git unless we are testing Releaser itself
+        if ! command -v jupyter-releaser &> /dev/null
+        then
+            pip install -q git+https://github.com/jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser.git@v1
+        fi
 
-        # Set up env variables
+    - id: draft-changelog
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
+      run: |
         export GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN=${{ inputs.token }}
         export RH_REPOSITORY=${{ inputs.target }}
         if [ ! -z ${{ inputs.branch }} ]; then
           export RH_BRANCH=${{ inputs.branch }}
         fi
         export RH_VERSION_SPEC=${{ inputs.version_spec }}
-        export RH_CHANGELOG=${{ inputs.changelog }}
+        export RH_POST_VERSION_SPEC=${{ inputs.post_version_spec }}
         export RH_DRY_RUN=${{ inputs.dry_run }}
         export RH_SINCE=${{ inputs.since }}
         export RH_SINCE_LAST_STABLE=${{ inputs.since_last_stable }}
 
-        # Draft Changelog
         python -m jupyter_releaser.actions.draft_changelog
diff --git a/.github/actions/draft-release/action.yml b/.github/actions/draft-release/action.yml
index 2b1a9af7..5d795142 100644
--- a/.github/actions/draft-release/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/draft-release/action.yml
@@ -6,28 +6,16 @@ inputs:
     required: true
   target:
     description: "The owner/repo GitHub target"
-    required: true
-  branch:
-    description: The branch to target
-    required: true
-  version_spec:
-    description: "New Version Specifier"
-    required: true
-  post_version_spec:
-    description: "Post Version Specifier"
+    required: false
+  release_url:
+    description: "The full url to the GitHub release page"
     required: false
   dry_run:
     description: "If set, do not push permanent changes"
     default: "false"
     required: false
-  since:
-    description: Use PRs with activity since this date or git reference
-    required: false
-  since_last_stable:
-    description: Use PRs with activity since the last stable git tag
-    required: false
   steps_to_skip:
-    description: Comma separated list of steps to skip
+    description: "Comma separated list of steps to skip"
     required: false
 
 outputs:
@@ -39,25 +27,20 @@ runs:
   using: "composite"
   steps:
     - name: install-releaser
-      uses: jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser/.github/actions/install-releaser@v1
-
-    - shell: bash
-      id: draft-release
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
       run: |
-        set -eux
+        # Install Jupyter Releaser from git unless we are testing Releaser itself
+        if ! command -v jupyter-releaser &> /dev/null
+        then
+            pip install -q git+https://github.com/jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser.git@v1
+        fi
 
-        # Set up env variables
+    - id: draft-release
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
+      run: |
         export GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN=${{ inputs.token }}
         export RH_REPOSITORY=${{ inputs.target }}
-        if [ ! -z ${{ inputs.branch }} ]; then
-          export RH_BRANCH=${{ inputs.branch }}
-        fi
-        export RH_VERSION_SPEC=${{ inputs.version_spec }}
-        export RH_POST_VERSION_SPEC=${{ inputs.post_version_spec }}
         export RH_DRY_RUN=${{ inputs.dry_run }}
-        export RH_SINCE=${{ inputs.since }}
-        export RH_SINCE_LAST_STABLE=${{ inputs.since_last_stable }}
         export RH_STEPS_TO_SKIP=${{ inputs.steps_to_skip }}
-
-        # Draft Release
+        export RH_RELEASE_URL=${{ inputs.release_url }}
         python -m jupyter_releaser.actions.draft_release
diff --git a/.github/actions/publish-release/action.yml b/.github/actions/publish-release/action.yml
index bd8d30a8..bad6b4c6 100644
--- a/.github/actions/publish-release/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/publish-release/action.yml
@@ -4,15 +4,18 @@ inputs:
   token:
     description: "GitHub access token"
     required: true
+  target:
+    description: "The owner/repo GitHub target"
+    required: false
   release_url:
     description: "The full url to the GitHub release page"
-    required: true
+    required: false
   dry_run:
     description: "If set, do not push permanent changes"
     default: "false"
     required: false
   steps_to_skip:
-    description: Comma separated list of steps to skip
+    description: "Comma separated list of steps to skip"
     required: false
 
 outputs:
@@ -27,18 +30,19 @@ runs:
   using: "composite"
   steps:
     - name: install-releaser
-      uses: jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser/.github/actions/install-releaser@v1
-
-    - shell: bash
-      id: publish-release
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
+      run: |
+        # Install Jupyter Releaser from git unless we are testing Releaser itself
+        if ! command -v jupyter-releaser &> /dev/null
+        then
+            pip install -q git+https://github.com/jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser.git@v1
+        fi
+    - id: publish-release
+      shell: bash -eux {0}
       run: |
-        set -eux
-
-        # Set up env variables
         export GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN=${{ inputs.token }}
+        export RH_REPOSITORY=${{ inputs.target }}
         export RH_DRY_RUN=${{ inputs.dry_run }}
-        export release_url=${{ inputs.release_url }}
+        export RH_RELEASE_URL=${{ inputs.release_url }}
         export RH_STEPS_TO_SKIP=${{ inputs.steps_to_skip }}
-
-        # Publish release
         python -m jupyter_releaser.actions.publish_release
diff --git a/.github/workflows/draft-changelog.yml b/.github/workflows/draft-changelog.yml
index dedb5b8e..d54d6c4f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/draft-changelog.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/draft-changelog.yml
@@ -2,22 +2,23 @@ name: "Step 1: Draft Changelog"
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
+      version_spec:
+        description: "New Version Specifier"
+        required: true
+      post_version_spec:
+        description: "Post Version Specifier"
+        required: false
       target:
         description: "The owner/repo GitHub target"
         required: true
       branch:
-        description: "The branch to target (defaults to default branch)"
-        required: false
-      version_spec:
-        description: "New Version Spec"
-        default: "next"
+        description: "The branch to target"
         required: false
       since:
         description: "Use PRs with activity since this date or git reference"
         required: false
       since_last_stable:
         description: "Use PRs with activity since the last stable git tag"
-        type: boolean
         required: false
 jobs:
   draft_changelog:
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.ADMIN_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           version_spec: ${{ github.event.inputs.version_spec }}
+          post_version_spec: ${{ github.event.inputs.post_version_spec }}
           target: ${{ github.event.inputs.target }}
           branch: ${{ github.event.inputs.branch }}
           since: ${{ github.event.inputs.since }}
@@ -47,5 +49,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: "** Next Step **"
         run: |
           echo "Review PR: ${{ steps.draft-changelog.outputs.pr_url }}"
+          echo "Optional): Review Draft Release: ${{ steps.draft-changelog.outputs.release_url }}"
           echo "## Next Step" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
           echo "Review PR: ${{ steps.draft-changelog.outputs.pr_url }}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "(Optional): Review Draft Release: ${{ steps.draft-changelog.outputs.release_url }}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
diff --git a/.github/workflows/draft-release.yml b/.github/workflows/draft-release.yml
index 0424456b..58e96ef7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/draft-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/draft-release.yml
@@ -4,27 +4,14 @@ on:
     inputs:
       target:
         description: "The owner/repo GitHub target"
-        required: true
-      branch:
-        description: "The branch to target (defaults to default branch)"
         required: false
-      version_spec:
-        description: "New Version Spec"
-        default: "next"
+      release_url:
+        description: "The URL of the draft GitHub release"
         required: false
-      post_version_spec:
-        description: "Post Version Specifier"
-        required: false
-      since:
-        description: "Use PRs with activity since this date or git reference"
-        required: false
-      since_last_stable:
-        description: "Use PRs with activity since the last stable git tag"
-        required: false
-        type: boolean
       steps_to_skip:
-        description: "Comma separated list of steps to skip"
+        description: "comma-separated list of steps to skip"
         required: false
+
 jobs:
   draft_release:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -32,9 +19,6 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: true
       matrix:
         python-version: ["3.10"]
-    env:
-      VERSION_SPEC: ${{ github.event.inputs.version_spec }}
-      POST_VERSION_SPEC: ${{ github.event.inputs.post_version_spec }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v2
@@ -48,11 +32,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.ADMIN_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           target: ${{ github.event.inputs.target }}
-          branch: ${{ github.event.inputs.branch }}
-          version_spec: ${{ github.event.inputs.version_spec }}
-          post_version_spec: ${{ github.event.inputs.post_version_spec }}
-          since: ${{ github.event.inputs.since }}
-          since_last_stable: ${{ github.event.inputs.since_last_stable }}
+          release_url: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_url }}
           steps_to_skip: ${{ github.event.inputs.steps_to_skip }}
 
       - name: "** Next Step **"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/full-release.yml b/.github/workflows/full-release.yml
index 1e55bdd6..9a08df3a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/full-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/full-release.yml
@@ -4,24 +4,10 @@ on:
     inputs:
       target:
         description: "The owner/repo GitHub target"
-        required: true
-      branch:
-        description: "The branch to target (defaults to default branch)"
         required: false
-      version_spec:
-        description: "New Version Spec"
+      release_url:
+        description: "The URL of the draft GitHub release"
         required: false
-        default: "next"
-      post_version_spec:
-        description: "Post Version Specifier"
-        required: false
-      since:
-        description: "Use PRs with activity since this date or git reference"
-        required: false
-      since_last_stable:
-        description: "Use PRs with activity since the last stable git tag"
-        required: false
-        type: boolean
       steps_to_skip:
         description: "Comma separated list of steps to skip"
         required: false
@@ -33,9 +19,6 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: true
       matrix:
         python-version: ["3.10"]
-    env:
-      VERSION_SPEC: ${{ github.event.inputs.version_spec }}
-      POST_VERSION_SPEC: ${{ github.event.inputs.post_version_spec }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v2
@@ -49,11 +32,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.ADMIN_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           target: ${{ github.event.inputs.target }}
-          branch: ${{ github.event.inputs.branch }}
-          version_spec: ${{ github.event.inputs.version_spec }}
-          post_version_spec: ${{ github.event.inputs.post_version_spec }}
-          since: ${{ github.event.inputs.since }}
-          since_last_stable: ${{ github.event.inputs.since_last_stable }}
+          release_url: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_url }}
           steps_to_skip: ${{ github.event.inputs.steps_to_skip }}
 
       - name: Publish Release
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
index 3c3a0ab3..3c4533dc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@ name: Publish Release
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
+      target:
+        description: "The owner/repo GitHub target"
+        required: false
       release_url:
         description: "The URL of the draft GitHub release"
-        required: true
+        required: false
       steps_to_skip:
         description: "comma-separated list of steps to skip"
         required: false
@@ -28,6 +31,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: ./.github/actions/publish-release
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.ADMIN_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          target: ${{ github.event.inputs.target }}
           release_url: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_url }}
           steps_to_skip: ${{ github.event.inputs.steps_to_skip }}
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index c95f72a2..a0d6e301 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -131,6 +131,42 @@ jobs:
           make html
           popd
 
+  check_local_actions:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+
+      - name: Setup
+        uses: ./.github/actions/common
+
+      - name: draft-changelog
+        uses: ./.github/actions/draft-changelog
+        env:
+          RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE: "true"
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          version_spec: 10.10.10
+          dry_run: true
+
+      - name: draft-release
+        uses: ./.github/actions/draft-release
+        env:
+          RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE: "true"
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          release_url: ${{ steps.draft-changelog.outputs.release_url }}
+          dry_run: true
+
+      - name: publish-release
+        uses: ./.github/actions/publish-release
+        env:
+          RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE: "true"
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          release_url: ${{ steps.draft-changelog.outputs.release_url }}
+          dry_run: true
+
   check: # This job does nothing and is only used for the branch protection
     if: always()
     needs:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a45e52a8..e21279fc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,77 +27,4 @@ See the [adoption docs](https://jupyter-releaser.readthedocs.io/en/latest/how_to
 
 Detailed workflows are available to draft a changelog, draft a release, publish a release, and check a release.
 
-### Draft ChangeLog Workflow
-
-- Manual Github workflow
-  - Inputs are the target repo, branch, and the version spec
-- Bumps the version
-  - By default, uses [tbump](https://github.com/tankerhq/tbump) or [bump2version](https://github.com/c4urself/bump2version) to bump the version based on presence of config files
-    - We recommend `tbump` instead of `bump2version` for most cases because it does not handle patch releases well when using [prereleases](https://github.com/c4urself/bump2version/issues/190).
-- Prepares the environment
-  - Sets up git config and branch
-- Generates a changelog (using [github-activity](https://github.com/executablebooks/github-activity)) using the PRs since the last tag on this branch.
-  - Gets the current version and then does a git checkout to clear state
-  - Adds a new version entry using a HTML comment markers in the changelog file
-  - Optionally resolves [meeseeks](https://github.com/MeeseeksBox/MeeseeksDev) backport PRs to their original PR
-- Creates a PR with the changelog changes
-- Can be re-run using the same version spec. It will add new entries but preserve existing ones (in case they have been hand modified).
-- Note: Pre-release changelog sections are not automatically combined,
-  but you may wish to do so manually.
-
-### Draft Release Workflow
-
-- Manual Github workflow
-  - Inputs are target repository, branch, version spec and optional post version spec
-- Bumps version using the same method as the changelog action
-- Prepares the environment using the same method as the changelog action
-- Checks the changelog entry
-  - Looks for the current entry using the HTML comment markers
-  - Gets the expected changelog values using `github-activity`
-  - Ensures that all PRs are the same between the two
-- For Python packages:
-  - Builds the wheel and source distributions if applicable
-  - Makes sure Python dists can be installed and imported in a virtual environment
-- For npm package(s) (including workspace support):
-  - Builds tarball(s) using `npm pack`
-  - Make sure tarball(s) can be installed and imported in a new npm package
-- Checks the package manifest using [`check-manifest`](https://github.com/mgedmin/check-manifest)
-- Checks the links in Markdown and reStructuredText files
-- Adds a commit that includes the hashes of the dist files
-- Creates an annotated version tag in standard format
-- If given, bumps the version using the post version spec. The post version
-  spec can also be given as a setting, see the [Write Releaser Config Guide](https://jupyter-releaser.readthedocs.io/en/latest/how_to_guides/write_config.html).
-- Pushes the commits and tag to the target `branch`
-- Publishes a draft GitHub release for the tag with the changelog entry as the text
-
-### Publish Release Workflow
-
-- Manual Github workflow
-  - Input is the url of the draft release
-- Downloads the dist assets from the release
-- Verifies shas and integrity of release assets
-- Publishes assets to appropriate registries
-- If the tag is on a backport branch, makes a forwardport PR for the changelog entry
-
-### Check Release Workflow
-
-- Runs on CI in the target repository to verify compatibility and release-ability.
-- Runs the `Draft Changelog` and `Draft Release` actions in dry run mode
-- Publishes to the local PyPI server and/or dry-run `npm publish`.
-- Does not make PRs or push git changes
-
-## FAQs
-
-### My changelog is out of sync
-
-Create a new manual PR to fix the PR and re-orient the changelog entry markers.
-
-### PR is merged to the target branch in the middle of a "Draft Release"
-
-The release will fail to push commits because it will not be up to date. Delete the pushed tags and re-start with "Draft Changelog" to
-pick up the new PR.
-
-## How to keep fork of Jupyter Releaser up to date
-
-The manual workflow files target the `@v1` actions in the source repository, which means that as long as
-the workflow files themselves are up to date, you will always be running the most up to date actions.
+See the [workflow details documentation](https://jupyter-releaser.readthedocs.io/en/latest/background/theory.html#workflow-details) for more information.
diff --git a/docs/source/background/theory.md b/docs/source/background/theory.md
index 6059330b..e9c21ad5 100644
--- a/docs/source/background/theory.md
+++ b/docs/source/background/theory.md
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ Detailed workflows are available to draft a changelog, draft a release, publish
 ### Draft Release Workflow
 
 - Manual Github workflow
-  - Inputs are target repository, branch, version spec and optional post version spec
+  - Input is the URL of the draft GitHub Release created in the Draft Changelog
+    workflow.
 - Bumps version using the same method as the changelog action
 - Prepares the environment using the same method as the changelog action
 - Checks the changelog entry
@@ -60,17 +61,23 @@ Detailed workflows are available to draft a changelog, draft a release, publish
 - If given, bumps the version using the post version spec. he post version
   spec can also be given as a setting, [Write Releaser Config Guide](../how_to_guides/write_config.html#automatic-dev-versions).
 - Pushes the commits and tag to the target `branch`
-- Publishes a draft GitHub release for the tag with the changelog entry as the text
+- Updates the draft GitHub release for the tag with the changelog entry as the text
 
 ### Publish Release Workflow
 
 - Manual Github workflow
-  - Input is the url of the draft release
+  - Input is the url of the draft GitHub release
 - Downloads the dist assets from the release
 - Verifies shas and integrity of release assets
 - Publishes assets to appropriate registries
 - If the tag is on a backport branch, makes a forwardport PR for the changelog entry
 
+### Full Release Workflow
+
+- Combines the Draft and Publish workflows into a single workflow.
+- If this workflow fails during the publish step, you can address any
+  credential errors and run the Publish Release Workflow to publish assets.
+
 ### Check Release Workflow
 
 - Runs on CI in the target repository to verify compatibility and release-ability.
diff --git a/docs/source/get_started/making_first_release.md b/docs/source/get_started/making_first_release.md
index 2dc7fb5c..2296e026 100644
--- a/docs/source/get_started/making_first_release.md
+++ b/docs/source/get_started/making_first_release.md
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ already uses Jupyter Releaser.
 ## Draft Changelog
 
 - Go to the "Actions" tab in your fork of `jupyter_releaser`
-- Select the "Draft Changelog" workflow on the left
+- Select the "Step 1: Draft Changelog" workflow on the left
 - Click on the "Run workflow" dropdown button on the right
 - Fill in the appropriate parameters
 
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ already uses Jupyter Releaser.
     instead.
   - Use the "since" field to select PRs prior to the latest tag to include in the release
   - Type "true" in the "since the last stable git tag" if you would like to include PRs since the last non-prerelease version tagged on the target repository and branch.
+  - The additional "Post Version Spec" field should be used if your repo uses a dev version (e.g. 0.7.0.dev0)
   - The workflow will use the GitHub API to find the relevant pull requests and make an appropriate changelog entry.
   - The workflow will create a pull request to the target
     repository and branch. It will print the link in the "\*\* Next Step \*\*" job step.
@@ -72,13 +73,11 @@ already uses Jupyter Releaser.
 - Click on the "Actions" tab
 - Select the "Full Release" workflow on the left
 - Click on the "Run workflow" button on the right
-- Fill in the entries as prompted by the automated changelog text
+- Fill in draft GitHub Release URL given by the Changelog PR.
 
   ![Full Release Workflow Dialog](../images/draft_release.png)
 
-  - The additional "Post Version Spec" field should be used if your repo uses a dev version (e.g. 0.7.0.dev0)
-
-- The workflow will draft a GitHub release, publish assets to the appropriate registries.
+- The workflow will finish the GitHub release and publish assets to the appropriate registries.
 - If the workflow is not targeting the default branch, it will also generate a forward-port pull request for the changelog entry to the default branch.
 - When the workflow finishes it will print a link to the GitHub release and the forward-port PR (if appropriate) in the "\*\* Next Step \*\*" output.
 
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/actions/common.py b/jupyter_releaser/actions/common.py
index 2a155685..e3f95f9c 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/actions/common.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/actions/common.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-import os
-import tempfile
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
-from jupyter_releaser.util import ensure_mock_github
+from jupyter_releaser.util import prepare_environment
 from jupyter_releaser.util import run as _run
 
 
@@ -14,29 +12,8 @@ def make_group(name):
 
 
 def setup():
-    with make_group("Common Setup"):
-        # Set up env variables
-        os.environ.setdefault("RH_REPOSITORY", os.environ["GITHUB_REPOSITORY"])
-        os.environ.setdefault("RH_REF", os.environ["GITHUB_REF"])
-
-        check_release = os.environ.get("RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE", "").lower() == "true"
-        if not os.environ.get("RH_BRANCH") and check_release:
-            if os.environ.get("GITHUB_BASE_REF"):
-                base_ref = os.environ.get("GITHUB_BASE_REF", "")
-                print(f"Using GITHUB_BASE_REF: ${base_ref}")
-                os.environ["RH_BRANCH"] = base_ref
-
-            else:
-                # e.g refs/head/foo or refs/tag/bar
-                ref = os.environ["GITHUB_REF"]
-                print(f"Using GITHUB_REF: {ref}")
-                os.environ["RH_BRANCH"] = "/".join(ref.split("/")[2:])
-
-        if os.environ.get("RH_DRY_RUN", "").lower() == "true":
-            static_dir = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), "gh_static")
-            os.makedirs(static_dir, exist_ok=True)
-            os.environ["RH_GITHUB_STATIC_DIR"] = static_dir
-            ensure_mock_github()
+    with make_group("Prepare Environment"):
+        prepare_environment()
 
 
 def run_action(target, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/actions/draft_changelog.py b/jupyter_releaser/actions/draft_changelog.py
index 9729d478..9235d823 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/actions/draft_changelog.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/actions/draft_changelog.py
@@ -1,28 +1,16 @@
 # Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
-import os
-
 from jupyter_releaser.actions.common import make_group, run_action, setup
-from jupyter_releaser.util import CHECKOUT_NAME, get_latest_tag, log
+from jupyter_releaser.util import handle_since
 
 setup()
 
 run_action("jupyter-releaser prep-git")
 
-
-# Capture the "since" argument in case we add tags befor checking changelog
-# Do this before bumping the version
+# Capture the "since" variable in case we add tags before checking changelog
+# Do this before bumping the version.
 with make_group("Handle RH_SINCE"):
-    if not os.environ.get("RH_SINCE"):
-        curr_dir = os.getcwd()
-        os.chdir(CHECKOUT_NAME)
-        since_last_stable_env = os.environ.get("RH_SINCE_LAST_STABLE")
-        since_last_stable = since_last_stable_env == "true"
-        since = get_latest_tag(os.environ.get("RH_BRANCH"), since_last_stable)
-        if since:
-            log(f"Capturing {since} in RH_SINCE variable")
-            os.environ["RH_SINCE"] = since
-        os.chdir(curr_dir)
+    handle_since()
 
 run_action("jupyter-releaser bump-version")
 run_action("jupyter-releaser build-changelog")
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/actions/draft_release.py b/jupyter_releaser/actions/draft_release.py
index 5cfd58e6..1cf3df85 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/actions/draft_release.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/actions/draft_release.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
+
 import os
 import shutil
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -7,7 +8,7 @@
 
 from jupyter_releaser.actions.common import make_group, run_action, setup
 from jupyter_releaser.changelog import extract_current
-from jupyter_releaser.util import CHECKOUT_NAME, get_latest_tag, log, run
+from jupyter_releaser.util import CHECKOUT_NAME, log, run
 
 setup()
 
@@ -36,23 +37,6 @@
 
 
 run_action("jupyter-releaser prep-git")
-
-
-with make_group("Handle RH_SINCE"):
-    # Capture the "since" argument in case we add tags befor checking changelog
-    # Do this before bumping the version
-    if not os.environ.get("RH_SINCE"):
-        curr_dir = os.getcwd()
-        os.chdir(CHECKOUT_NAME)
-        since_last_stable_env = os.environ.get("RH_SINCE_LAST_STABLE")
-        since_last_stable = since_last_stable_env == "true"
-        since = get_latest_tag(os.environ.get("RH_BRANCH"), since_last_stable)
-        if since:
-            log(f"Capturing {since} in RH_SINCE variable")
-            os.environ["RH_SINCE"] = since
-        os.chdir(curr_dir)
-
-
 run_action("jupyter-releaser bump-version")
 
 with make_group("Handle Check Release"):
@@ -63,6 +47,7 @@
         Path(changelog_location).write_text(changelog_text)
         log(extract_current(changelog_location))
 
+# TODO: make this compare files changed since the sha in the metadata.
 run_action("jupyter-releaser check-changelog")
 
 # Make sure npm comes before python in case it produces
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/actions/publish_release.py b/jupyter_releaser/actions/publish_release.py
index 679ebd50..1a0e06c0 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/actions/publish_release.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/actions/publish_release.py
@@ -2,15 +2,17 @@
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 import os
 
-from jupyter_releaser.actions.common import run_action
+from jupyter_releaser.actions.common import run_action, setup
 
-release_url = os.environ["release_url"]
+setup()
+
+release_url = os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"]
 
 if release_url:
-    run_action(f"jupyter-releaser extract-release {release_url}")
+    run_action("jupyter-releaser extract-release")
 
-run_action(f"jupyter-releaser publish-assets {release_url}")
+run_action("jupyter-releaser publish-assets")
 
 if release_url:
-    run_action(f"jupyter-releaser forwardport-changelog {release_url}")
-    run_action(f"jupyter-releaser publish-release {release_url}")
+    run_action("jupyter-releaser forwardport-changelog")
+    run_action("jupyter-releaser publish-release")
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/cli.py b/jupyter_releaser/cli.py
index 67b831b5..912529c7 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/cli.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/cli.py
@@ -140,6 +140,22 @@ def main(force):
     )
 ]
 
+
+post_version_spec_options = [
+    click.option(
+        "--post-version-spec",
+        envvar="RH_POST_VERSION_SPEC",
+        default="",
+        help="The post release version (usually dev)",
+    ),
+    click.option(
+        "--post-version-message",
+        default="Bumped version to {post_version}",
+        envvar="RH_POST_VERSION_MESSAGE",
+        help="The post release message",
+    ),
+]
+
 version_cmd_options = [
     click.option("--version-cmd", envvar="RH_VERSION_COMMAND", help="The version command")
 ]
@@ -194,6 +210,11 @@ def main(force):
 git_url_options = [click.option("--git-url", help="A custom url for the git repository")]
 
 
+release_url_options = [
+    click.option("--release-url", envvar="RH_RELEASE_URL", help="A draft GitHub release url")
+]
+
+
 changelog_path_options = [
     click.option(
         "--changelog-path",
@@ -337,6 +358,7 @@ def build_changelog(
 @add_options(auth_options)
 @add_options(changelog_path_options)
 @add_options(dry_run_options)
+@add_options(post_version_spec_options)
 @use_checkout_dir()
 def draft_changelog(
     version_spec,
@@ -348,6 +370,8 @@ def draft_changelog(
     auth,
     changelog_path,
     dry_run,
+    post_version_spec,
+    post_version_message,
 ):
     """Create a changelog entry PR"""
     lib.draft_changelog(
@@ -359,6 +383,8 @@ def draft_changelog(
         auth,
         changelog_path,
         dry_run,
+        post_version_spec,
+        post_version_message,
     )
 
 
@@ -529,33 +555,25 @@ def tag_release(dist_dir, release_message, tag_format, tag_message, no_git_tag_w
 
 @main.command()
 @add_options(branch_options)
+@add_options(version_cmd_options)
 @add_options(auth_options)
 @add_options(changelog_path_options)
-@add_options(version_cmd_options)
 @add_options(dist_dir_options)
 @add_options(dry_run_options)
-@click.option(
-    "--post-version-spec",
-    envvar="RH_POST_VERSION_SPEC",
-    help="The post release version (usually dev)",
-)
-@click.option(
-    "--post-version-message",
-    default="Bumped version to {post_version}",
-    envvar="RH_POST_VERSION_MESSAGE",
-    help="The post release message",
-)
+@add_options(release_url_options)
+@add_options(post_version_spec_options)
 @click.argument("assets", nargs=-1)
 @use_checkout_dir()
 def draft_release(
     ref,
     branch,
     repo,
+    version_cmd,
     auth,
     changelog_path,
-    version_cmd,
     dist_dir,
     dry_run,
+    release_url,
     post_version_spec,
     post_version_message,
     assets,
@@ -565,11 +583,12 @@ def draft_release(
         ref,
         branch,
         repo,
+        version_cmd,
         auth,
         changelog_path,
-        version_cmd,
         dist_dir,
         dry_run,
+        release_url,
         post_version_spec,
         post_version_message,
         assets,
@@ -579,7 +598,7 @@ def draft_release(
 @main.command()
 @add_options(auth_options)
 @add_options(dry_run_options)
-@click.argument("release-url", nargs=1)
+@add_options(release_url_options)
 @use_checkout_dir()
 def delete_release(auth, dry_run, release_url):
     """Delete a draft GitHub release by url to the release page"""
@@ -593,7 +612,7 @@ def delete_release(auth, dry_run, release_url):
 @add_options(npm_install_options)
 @add_options(pydist_check_options)
 @add_options(check_imports_options)
-@click.argument("release-url", nargs=1)
+@add_options(release_url_options)
 def extract_release(
     auth,
     dist_dir,
@@ -646,7 +665,7 @@ def extract_release(
 )
 @add_options(dry_run_options)
 @add_options(python_packages_options)
-@click.argument("release-url", nargs=1, required=False)
+@add_options(release_url_options)
 @use_checkout_dir()
 def publish_assets(
     dist_dir,
@@ -677,7 +696,7 @@ def publish_assets(
 @main.command()
 @add_options(auth_options)
 @add_options(dry_run_options)
-@click.argument("release-url", nargs=1)
+@add_options(release_url_options)
 @use_checkout_dir()
 def publish_release(auth, dry_run, release_url):
     """Publish GitHub release"""
@@ -690,7 +709,7 @@ def publish_release(auth, dry_run, release_url):
 @add_options(username_options)
 @add_options(changelog_path_options)
 @add_options(dry_run_options)
-@click.argument("release-url")
+@add_options(release_url_options)
 @use_checkout_dir()
 def forwardport_changelog(auth, ref, branch, repo, username, changelog_path, dry_run, release_url):
     """Forwardport Changelog Entries to the Default Branch"""
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/lib.py b/jupyter_releaser/lib.py
index 8e97c57e..187a3997 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/lib.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/lib.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 # Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
+import json
 import os
 import os.path as osp
 import re
 import shutil
 import sys
+import tempfile
 import typing as t
 import uuid
 from datetime import datetime
@@ -106,12 +108,24 @@ def check_links(ignore_glob, ignore_links, cache_file, links_expire):
 
 
 def draft_changelog(
-    version_spec, branch, repo, since, since_last_stable, auth, changelog_path, dry_run
+    version_spec,
+    branch,
+    repo,
+    since,
+    since_last_stable,
+    auth,
+    changelog_path,
+    dry_run,
+    post_version_spec,
+    post_version_message,
 ):
     """Create a changelog entry PR"""
     repo = repo or util.get_repo()
     branch = branch or util.get_branch()
     version = util.get_version()
+    prerelease = util.is_prerelease(version)
+
+    current_sha = util.run("git rev-parse HEAD")
 
     # Check for multiple versions
     npm_versions = None
@@ -137,6 +151,30 @@ def draft_changelog(
     commit_message = f'git commit -a -m "{title}"'
     body = title
 
+    util.log(f"Creating draft GitHub release for {version}")
+    owner, repo_name = repo.split("/")
+    gh = util.get_gh_object(dry_run=dry_run, owner=owner, repo=repo_name, token=auth)
+
+    data = dict(
+        version_spec=version_spec,
+        branch=branch,
+        repo=repo,
+        since=since,
+        since_last_stable=since_last_stable,
+        version=version,
+        post_version_spec=post_version_spec,
+        post_version_message=post_version_message,
+        current_sha=current_sha,
+    )
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as d:
+        metadata_path = Path(d) / "metadata.json"
+        with open(metadata_path, "w") as fid:
+            json.dump(data, fid)
+
+        release = gh.create_release(
+            f"v{version}", branch, f"v{version}", body, True, prerelease, files=[metadata_path]
+        )
+
     if npm_versions:
         body += f"\n```{npm_versions}\n```"
 
@@ -144,9 +182,7 @@ def draft_changelog(
     body += f"""
 | Input  | Value |
 | ------------- | ------------- |
-| Target | {repo}  |
-| Branch  | {branch}  |
-| Version Spec | {version_spec} |
+| Draft Release | {release.html_url}  |
 """
     if since_last_stable:
         body += "| Since Last Stable | true |"
@@ -154,8 +190,22 @@ def draft_changelog(
         body += f"| Since | {since} |"
     util.log(body)
 
+    # Remove draft releases over a day old
+    if bool(os.environ.get("GITHUB_ACTIONS")):
+        for rel in gh.repos.list_releases():
+            if str(rel.draft).lower() == "false":
+                continue
+            created = rel.created_at
+            d_created = datetime.strptime(created, r"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
+            delta = datetime.utcnow() - d_created
+            if delta.days > 0:
+                gh.repos.delete_release(rel.id)
+
     make_changelog_pr(auth, branch, repo, title, commit_message, body, dry_run=dry_run)
 
+    # Set the GitHub action output for the release url.
+    util.actions_output("release_url", release.html_url)
+
 
 def make_changelog_pr(auth, branch, repo, title, commit_message, body, dry_run=False):
     repo = repo or util.get_repo()
@@ -226,24 +276,25 @@ def draft_release(
     ref,
     branch,
     repo,
+    version_cmd,
     auth,
     changelog_path,
-    version_cmd,
     dist_dir,
     dry_run,
+    release_url,
     post_version_spec,
     post_version_message,
     assets,
 ):
     """Publish Draft GitHub release and handle post version bump"""
     branch = branch or util.get_branch()
-    repo = repo or util.get_repo()
     assets = assets or glob(f"{dist_dir}/*")
-    version = util.get_version()
     body = changelog.extract_current(changelog_path)
-    prerelease = util.is_prerelease(version)
 
-    # Bump to post version if given
+    match = util.parse_release_url(release_url)
+    owner, repo_name = match["owner"], match["repo"]
+
+    # Bump to post version if given.
     if post_version_spec:
         post_version = bump_version(
             post_version_spec, version_cmd=version_cmd, changelog_path=changelog_path
@@ -251,35 +302,28 @@ def draft_release(
         util.log(post_version_message.format(post_version=post_version))
         util.run(f'git commit -a -m "Bump to {post_version}"')
 
-    owner, repo_name = repo.split("/")
     gh = util.get_gh_object(dry_run=dry_run, owner=owner, repo=repo_name, token=auth)
-
-    # Remove draft releases over a day old
-    if bool(os.environ.get("GITHUB_ACTIONS")):
-        for release in gh.repos.list_releases():
-            if str(release.draft).lower() == "false":
-                continue
-            created = release.created_at
-            d_created = datetime.strptime(created, r"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
-            delta = datetime.utcnow() - d_created
-            if delta.days > 0:
-                gh.repos.delete_release(release.id)
+    release = util.release_for_url(gh, release_url)
 
     remote_name = util.get_remote_name(dry_run)
     remote_url = util.run(f"git config --get remote.{remote_name}.url")
     if not os.path.exists(remote_url):
         util.run(f"git push {remote_name} HEAD:{branch} --follow-tags --tags")
 
-    util.log(f"Creating release for {version}")
-    util.log(f"With assets: {assets}")
-    release = gh.create_release(
-        f"v{version}",
-        branch,
-        f"v{version}",
+    # Upload the assets to the draft release.
+    util.log(f"Uploading assets: {assets}")
+    for fpath in assets:
+        gh.upload_file(release, fpath)
+
+    # Set the body of the release with the changelog contents.
+    gh.repos.update_release(
+        release.id,
+        release.tag_name,
+        release.target_commitish,
+        release.name,
         body,
         True,
-        prerelease,
-        files=assets,
+        release.prerelease,
     )
 
     # Set the GitHub action output
@@ -312,7 +356,7 @@ def extract_release(
     python_imports,
 ):
     """Download and verify assets from a draft GitHub release"""
-    match = parse_release_url(release_url)
+    match = util.parse_release_url(release_url)
     owner, repo = match["owner"], match["repo"]
 
     gh = util.get_gh_object(dry_run=dry_run, owner=owner, repo=repo, token=auth)
@@ -369,6 +413,7 @@ def extract_release(
 
     # Skip sha validation for dry runs since the remote tag will not exist
     if dry_run:
+        os.chdir(orig_dir)
         return
 
     tag_name = release.tag_name
@@ -404,15 +449,6 @@ def extract_release(
     os.chdir(orig_dir)
 
 
-def parse_release_url(release_url):
-    """Parse a release url into a regex match"""
-    match = re.match(util.RELEASE_HTML_PATTERN, release_url)
-    match = match or re.match(util.RELEASE_API_PATTERN, release_url)
-    if not match:
-        raise ValueError(f"Release url is not valid: {release_url}")
-    return match
-
-
 def publish_assets(
     dist_dir,
     npm_token,
@@ -441,7 +477,7 @@ def publish_assets(
     else:
         python_package_name = ""
 
-    if len(glob(f"{dist_dir}/*.whl")):
+    if release_url and len(glob(f"{dist_dir}/*.whl")):
         twine_token = python.get_pypi_token(release_url, python_package_path)
 
     if dry_run:
@@ -459,6 +495,7 @@ def publish_assets(
     found = False
     for path in sorted(glob(f"{dist_dir}/*.*")):
         name = Path(path).name
+        util.log(f"Handling dist file {path}")
         suffix = Path(path).suffix
         if suffix in [".gz", ".whl"]:
             if suffix == ".gz":
@@ -471,12 +508,12 @@ def publish_assets(
                 env["TWINE_PASSWORD"] = twine_token
                 # NOTE: Do not print the env since a twine token extracted from
                 # a PYPI_TOKEN_MAP will not be sanitized in output
-                util.retry(f"{twine_cmd} {name}", cwd=dist_dir, env=env)
+                util.retry(f"{twine_cmd} {name}", cwd=dist_dir, env=env, echo=True)
                 found = True
         elif suffix == ".tgz":
             # Ignore already published versions
             try:
-                util.run(f"{npm_cmd} {name}", cwd=dist_dir, quiet=True, quiet_error=True)
+                util.run(f"{npm_cmd} {name}", cwd=dist_dir, quiet=True, quiet_error=True, echo=True)
             except CalledProcessError as e:
                 stderr = e.stderr
                 if "EPUBLISHCONFLICT" in stderr or "previously published versions" in stderr:
@@ -493,7 +530,7 @@ def publish_release(auth, dry_run, release_url):
     """Publish GitHub release"""
     util.log(f"Publishing {release_url}")
 
-    match = parse_release_url(release_url)
+    match = util.parse_release_url(release_url)
 
     # Take the release out of draft
     gh = util.get_gh_object(dry_run=dry_run, owner=match["owner"], repo=match["repo"], token=auth)
@@ -619,7 +656,7 @@ def prep_git(ref, branch, repo, auth, username, url):
 def forwardport_changelog(auth, ref, branch, repo, username, changelog_path, dry_run, release_url):
     """Forwardport Changelog Entries to the Default Branch"""
     # Set up the git repo with the branch
-    match = parse_release_url(release_url)
+    match = util.parse_release_url(release_url)
 
     gh = util.get_gh_object(dry_run=dry_run, owner=match["owner"], repo=match["repo"], token=auth)
     release = util.release_for_url(gh, release_url)
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/mock_github.py b/jupyter_releaser/mock_github.py
index 44c85892..ce32aee3 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/mock_github.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/mock_github.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import atexit
 import datetime
+import json
 import os
-import pickle
 import tempfile
 import uuid
 from typing import Dict, List
@@ -24,24 +24,31 @@
 app.mount("/static", StaticFiles(directory=static_dir), name="static")
 
 
-def load_from_pickle(name):
-    source_file = os.path.join(static_dir, name + ".pkl")
+def load_from_file(name, klass):
+    source_file = os.path.join(static_dir, name + ".json")
     if not os.path.exists(source_file):
         return {}
-    with open(source_file, "rb") as fid:
-        return pickle.load(fid)
-
-
-def write_to_pickle(name, data):
-    source_file = os.path.join(static_dir, name + ".pkl")
-    with open(source_file, "wb") as fid:
-        pickle.dump(data, fid)
-
-
-releases: Dict[int, "Release"] = load_from_pickle("releases")
-pulls: Dict[int, "PullRequest"] = load_from_pickle("pulls")
-release_ids_for_asset: Dict[int, int] = load_from_pickle("release_ids_for_asset")
-tag_refs: Dict[str, "Tag"] = load_from_pickle("tag_refs")
+    with open(source_file) as fid:
+        data = json.load(fid)
+        results = {}
+        for key in data:
+            if issubclass(klass, BaseModel):
+                results[key] = klass(**data[key])
+            else:
+                results[key] = data[key]
+    return results
+
+
+def write_to_file(name, data):
+    source_file = os.path.join(static_dir, name + ".json")
+    result = {}
+    for key in data:
+        value = data[key]
+        if isinstance(value, BaseModel):
+            value = json.loads(value.json())
+        result[key] = value
+    with open(source_file, "w") as fid:
+        json.dump(result, fid)
 
 
 class Asset(BaseModel):
@@ -102,6 +109,12 @@ class Tag(BaseModel):
     object: TagObject
 
 
+releases: Dict[str, "Release"] = load_from_file("releases", Release)
+pulls: Dict[str, "PullRequest"] = load_from_file("pulls", PullRequest)
+release_ids_for_asset: Dict[str, str] = load_from_file("release_ids_for_asset", int)
+tag_refs: Dict[str, "Tag"] = load_from_file("tag_refs", Tag)
+
+
 @app.get("/")
 def read_root():
     return {"Hello": "World"}
@@ -118,8 +131,8 @@ async def create_a_release(owner: str, repo: str, request: Request) -> Release:
     """https://docs.github.com/en/rest/releases/releases#create-a-release"""
     release_id = uuid.uuid4().int
     data = await request.json()
-    url = f"https://github.com/repos/{owner}/{repo}/releases/{release_id}"
-    html_url = f"https://github.com/{owner}/{repo}/releases/tag/{data['tag_name']}"
+    url = f"{MOCK_GITHUB_URL}/repos/{owner}/{repo}/releases/{release_id}"
+    html_url = f"{MOCK_GITHUB_URL}/{owner}/{repo}/releases/tag/{data['tag_name']}"
     upload_url = f"{MOCK_GITHUB_URL}/repos/{owner}/{repo}/releases/{release_id}/assets"
     fmt_str = r"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ"
     created_at = datetime.datetime.utcnow().strftime(fmt_str)
@@ -132,8 +145,8 @@ async def create_a_release(owner: str, repo: str, request: Request) -> Release:
         created_at=created_at,
         **data,
     )
-    releases[model.id] = model
-    write_to_pickle("releases", releases)
+    releases[str(model.id)] = model
+    write_to_file("releases", releases)
     return model
 
 
@@ -141,17 +154,17 @@ async def create_a_release(owner: str, repo: str, request: Request) -> Release:
 async def update_a_release(owner: str, repo: str, release_id: int, request: Request) -> Release:
     """https://docs.github.com/en/rest/releases/releases#update-a-release"""
     data = await request.json()
-    model = releases[release_id]
+    model = releases[str(release_id)]
     for name, value in data.items():
         setattr(model, name, value)
-    write_to_pickle("releases", releases)
+    write_to_file("releases", releases)
     return model
 
 
 @app.post("/repos/{owner}/{repo}/releases/{release_id}/assets")
 async def upload_a_release_asset(owner: str, repo: str, release_id: int, request: Request) -> None:
     """https://docs.github.com/en/rest/releases/assets#upload-a-release-asset"""
-    model = releases[release_id]
+    model = releases[str(release_id)]
     asset_id = uuid.uuid4().int
     name = request.query_params["name"]
     with open(f"{static_dir}/{asset_id}", "wb") as fid:
@@ -166,45 +179,45 @@ async def upload_a_release_asset(owner: str, repo: str, release_id: int, request
         url=url,
         content_type=headers["content-type"],
     )
-    release_ids_for_asset[asset_id] = release_id
+    release_ids_for_asset[str(asset_id)] = str(release_id)
     model.assets.append(asset)
-    write_to_pickle("releases", releases)
-    write_to_pickle("release_ids_for_asset", release_ids_for_asset)
+    write_to_file("releases", releases)
+    write_to_file("release_ids_for_asset", release_ids_for_asset)
 
 
 @app.delete("/repos/{owner}/{repo}/releases/assets/{asset_id}")
 async def delete_a_release_asset(owner: str, repo: str, asset_id: int) -> None:
     """https://docs.github.com/en/rest/releases/assets#delete-a-release-asset"""
-    release = releases[release_ids_for_asset[asset_id]]
+    release = releases[release_ids_for_asset[str(asset_id)]]
     os.remove(f"{static_dir}/{asset_id}")
     release.assets = [a for a in release.assets if a.id != asset_id]
-    del release_ids_for_asset[asset_id]
-    write_to_pickle("releases", releases)
-    write_to_pickle("release_ids_for_asset", release_ids_for_asset)
+    del release_ids_for_asset[str(asset_id)]
+    write_to_file("releases", releases)
+    write_to_file("release_ids_for_asset", release_ids_for_asset)
 
 
 @app.delete("/repos/{owner}/{repo}/releases/{release_id}")
 def delete_a_release(owner: str, repo: str, release_id: int) -> None:
     """https://docs.github.com/en/rest/releases/releases#delete-a-release"""
-    del releases[release_id]
-    write_to_pickle("releases", releases)
+    del releases[str(release_id)]
+    write_to_file("releases", releases)
 
 
 @app.get("/repos/{owner}/{repo}/pulls/{pull_number}")
 def get_a_pull_request(owner: str, repo: str, pull_number: int) -> PullRequest:
     """https://docs.github.com/en/rest/pulls/pulls#get-a-pull-request"""
-    if pull_number not in pulls:
-        pulls[pull_number] = PullRequest()
-    write_to_pickle("pulls", pulls)
-    return pulls[pull_number]
+    if str(pull_number) not in pulls:
+        pulls[str(pull_number)] = PullRequest()
+    write_to_file("pulls", pulls)
+    return pulls[str(pull_number)]
 
 
 @app.post("/repos/{owner}/{repo}/pulls")
 def create_a_pull_request(owner: str, repo: str) -> PullRequest:
     """https://docs.github.com/en/rest/pulls/pulls#create-a-pull-request"""
     pull = PullRequest()
-    pulls[pull.number] = pull
-    write_to_pickle("releases", releases)
+    pulls[str(pull.number)] = pull
+    write_to_file("pulls", pulls)
     return pull
 
 
@@ -214,12 +227,15 @@ def add_labels_to_an_issue(owner: str, repo: str, issue_number: int) -> BaseMode
     return BaseModel()
 
 
-@app.post("/create_tag_ref/{tag_ref}/{sha}")
-def create_tag_ref(tag_ref: str, sha: str) -> None:
-    """Create a remote tag ref object for testing"""
+@app.post("/repos/{owner}/{repo}/git/refs")
+async def create_tag_ref(owner: str, repo: str, request: Request) -> None:
+    """https://docs.github.com/en/rest/git/refs#create-a-reference"""
+    data = await request.json()
+    tag_ref = data["ref"]
+    sha = data["sha"]
     tag = Tag(ref=f"refs/tags/{tag_ref}", object=TagObject(sha=sha))
     tag_refs[tag_ref] = tag
-    write_to_pickle("tag_refs", tag_refs)
+    write_to_file("tag_refs", tag_refs)
 
 
 @app.get("/repos/{owner}/{repo}/git/matching-refs/tags/{tag_ref}")
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/python.py b/jupyter_releaser/python.py
index 8502ff65..ac5e7c55 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/python.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/python.py
@@ -102,7 +102,11 @@ def get_pypi_token(release_url, python_package):
     twine_pwd = os.environ.get("PYPI_TOKEN", "")
     pypi_token_map = os.environ.get("PYPI_TOKEN_MAP", "").replace(r"\n", "\n")
     if pypi_token_map and release_url:
-        parts = release_url.replace("https://github.com/", "").split("/")
+        parts = (
+            release_url.replace(util.MOCK_GITHUB_URL + "/", "")
+            .replace("https://github.com/", "")
+            .split("/")
+        )
         repo_name = f"{parts[0]}/{parts[1]}"
         if python_package != ".":
             repo_name += f"/{python_package}"
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/tests/conftest.py b/jupyter_releaser/tests/conftest.py
index f2e3f5b1..b1f33e7e 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/tests/conftest.py
@@ -3,9 +3,13 @@
 import json
 import os
 import os.path as osp
+import tempfile
+import time
+import uuid
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from click.testing import CliRunner
+from ghapi.core import GhApi
 from pytest import fixture
 
 from jupyter_releaser import cli, util
@@ -195,3 +199,33 @@ def mock_github():
     if proc:
         proc.kill()
         proc.wait()
+
+
+@fixture
+def draft_release(mock_github):
+    gh = GhApi(owner="foo", repo="bar")
+    tag = uuid.uuid4().hex
+    data = dict(
+        version_spec="foo",
+        branch="bar",
+        repo="fizz",
+        since="buzz",
+        since_last_stable=False,
+        version=tag,
+        post_version_spec="dev",
+        post_version_message="hi",
+    )
+
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as d:
+        metadata_path = Path(d) / "metadata.json"
+        with open(metadata_path, "w") as fid:
+            json.dump(data, fid)
+
+        # Ensure this is the latest release.
+        time.sleep(1)
+        release = gh.create_release(tag, "bar", tag, "hi", True, True, files=[metadata_path])
+    yield release.html_url
+    try:
+        gh.repos.delete_release(release.id)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(e)
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_cli.py b/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_cli.py
index f0f41305..3b094249 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ def test_list_envvars(runner):
 python-packages: RH_PYTHON_PACKAGES
 ref: RH_REF
 release-message: RH_RELEASE_MESSAGE
+release-url: RH_RELEASE_URL
 repo: RH_REPOSITORY
 resolve-backports: RH_RESOLVE_BACKPORTS
 since: RH_SINCE
@@ -503,7 +504,7 @@ def test_tag_release(py_package, runner, build_mock, git_prep):
     assert "after-tag-release" in log
 
 
-def test_draft_release_dry_run(py_dist, mocker, runner, git_prep):
+def test_draft_release_dry_run(py_dist, mocker, runner, git_prep, draft_release):
     # Publish the release - dry run
     runner(
         [
@@ -513,6 +514,8 @@ def test_draft_release_dry_run(py_dist, mocker, runner, git_prep):
             "1.1.0.dev0",
             "--post-version-message",
             "haha",
+            "--release-url",
+            draft_release,
         ]
     )
 
@@ -521,26 +524,22 @@ def test_draft_release_dry_run(py_dist, mocker, runner, git_prep):
     assert "after-draft-release" in log
 
 
-def test_draft_release_final(npm_dist, runner, mock_github, git_prep):
+def test_draft_release_final(npm_dist, runner, mock_github, git_prep, draft_release):
     # Publish the release
     os.environ["GITHUB_ACTIONS"] = "true"
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = draft_release
     runner(["draft-release"])
 
 
-def test_delete_release(npm_dist, runner, mock_github, git_prep):
+def test_delete_release(npm_dist, runner, mock_github, git_prep, draft_release):
     # Publish the release
     # Mimic being on GitHub actions so we get the magic output
     os.environ["GITHUB_ACTIONS"] = "true"
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = draft_release
     result = runner(["draft-release"])
 
-    url = ""
-    for line in result.output.splitlines():
-        match = re.match(r"::set-output name=release_url::(.*)", line)
-        if match:
-            url = match.groups()[0]
-
     # Delete the release
-    runner(["delete-release", url])
+    runner(["delete-release"])
 
     log = get_log()
     assert "before-delete-release" in log
@@ -568,7 +567,8 @@ def test_extract_dist_py(py_package, runner, mocker, mock_github, tmp_path, git_
     release = create_draft_release(ref, glob(f"{dist_dir}/*.*"))
     shutil.rmtree(f"{util.CHECKOUT_NAME}/dist")
 
-    runner(["extract-release", release.html_url])
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = release.html_url
+    runner(["extract-release"])
 
     log = get_log()
     assert "before-extract-release" not in log
@@ -601,10 +601,12 @@ def test_extract_dist_multipy(py_multipackage, runner, mocker, mock_github, tmp_
 
     # Create the release.
     dist_dir = os.path.join(util.CHECKOUT_NAME, "dist")
-    release = create_draft_release(ref, files)
+    release = create_draft_release(ref, glob(f"{dist_dir}/*.*"))
+
     shutil.rmtree(f"{util.CHECKOUT_NAME}/dist")
 
-    runner(["extract-release", release.html_url])
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = release.html_url
+    runner(["extract-release"])
 
     log = get_log()
     assert "before-extract-release" not in log
@@ -616,7 +618,6 @@ def test_extract_dist_multipy(py_multipackage, runner, mocker, mock_github, tmp_
     reason="See https://bugs.python.org/issue26660",
 )
 def test_extract_dist_npm(npm_dist, runner, mocker, mock_github, tmp_path):
-
     # Create a tag ref
     ref = create_tag_ref()
 
@@ -625,7 +626,8 @@ def test_extract_dist_npm(npm_dist, runner, mocker, mock_github, tmp_path):
     release = create_draft_release(ref, glob(f"{dist_dir}/*.*"))
     shutil.rmtree(f"{util.CHECKOUT_NAME}/dist")
 
-    runner(["extract-release", release.html_url])
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = release.html_url
+    runner(["extract-release"])
 
     log = get_log()
     assert "before-extract-release" not in log
@@ -641,7 +643,7 @@ def test_publish_assets_py(py_package, runner, mocker, git_prep, mock_github):
     orig_run = util.run
     called = 0
 
-    os.environ["PYPI_TOKEN_MAP"] = "snuffy/test,foo-token\nfizz/buzz,bar"
+    os.environ["PYPI_TOKEN_MAP"] = "foo/bar,foo-token\nfizz/buzz,bar"
 
     def wrapped(cmd, **kwargs):
         nonlocal called
@@ -654,7 +656,8 @@ def wrapped(cmd, **kwargs):
 
     dist_dir = py_package / util.CHECKOUT_NAME / "dist"
     release = create_draft_release()
-    runner(["publish-assets", "--dist-dir", dist_dir, "--dry-run", release.html_url])
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = release.html_url
+    runner(["publish-assets", "--dist-dir", dist_dir, "--dry-run"])
     assert called == 2, called
 
     log = get_log()
@@ -680,7 +683,8 @@ def wrapped(cmd, **kwargs):
     assert called == 3, called
 
 
-def test_publish_assets_npm_exists(npm_dist, runner, mocker, mock_github):
+def test_publish_assets_npm_exists(npm_dist, runner, mocker, mock_github, draft_release):
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = draft_release
     dist_dir = npm_dist / util.CHECKOUT_NAME / "dist"
     called = 0
 
@@ -694,7 +698,6 @@ def wrapped(cmd, **kwargs):
                 raise err
 
     mock_run = mocker.patch("jupyter_releaser.util.run", wraps=wrapped)
-    release = create_draft_release()
     runner(
         [
             "publish-assets",
@@ -704,14 +707,14 @@ def wrapped(cmd, **kwargs):
             "npm publish --dry-run",
             "--dist-dir",
             dist_dir,
-            release.html_url,
         ]
     )
 
     assert called == 3, called
 
 
-def test_publish_assets_npm_all_exists(npm_dist, runner, mocker, mock_github):
+def test_publish_assets_npm_all_exists(npm_dist, runner, mocker, mock_github, draft_release):
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = draft_release
     dist_dir = npm_dist / util.CHECKOUT_NAME / "dist"
     called = 0
 
@@ -724,7 +727,6 @@ def wrapped(cmd, **kwargs):
             raise err
 
     mocker.patch("jupyter_releaser.util.run", wraps=wrapped)
-    release = create_draft_release()
     runner(
         [
             "publish-assets",
@@ -734,16 +736,15 @@ def wrapped(cmd, **kwargs):
             "npm publish --dry-run",
             "--dist-dir",
             dist_dir,
-            release.html_url,
         ]
     )
 
     assert called == 3, called
 
 
-def test_publish_release(npm_dist, runner, mocker, mock_github):
-    release = create_draft_release("bar")
-    runner(["publish-release", release.html_url])
+def test_publish_release(npm_dist, runner, mocker, mock_github, draft_release):
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = draft_release
+    runner(["publish-release"])
 
     log = get_log()
     assert "before-publish-release" in log
@@ -823,6 +824,7 @@ def wrapped(cmd, **kwargs):
 
 def test_forwardport_changelog_no_new(npm_package, runner, mocker, mock_github, git_prep):
     release = create_draft_release("bar")
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = release.html_url
 
     # Create a branch with a changelog entry
     util.run("git checkout -b backport_branch", cwd=util.CHECKOUT_NAME)
@@ -832,7 +834,7 @@ def test_forwardport_changelog_no_new(npm_package, runner, mocker, mock_github,
     util.run(f"git tag v{VERSION_SPEC}", cwd=util.CHECKOUT_NAME)
 
     # Run the forwardport workflow against default branch
-    runner(["forwardport-changelog", release.html_url])
+    runner(["forwardport-changelog"])
 
     log = get_log()
     assert "before-forwardport-changelog" in log
@@ -841,6 +843,7 @@ def test_forwardport_changelog_no_new(npm_package, runner, mocker, mock_github,
 
 def test_forwardport_changelog_has_new(npm_package, runner, mocker, mock_github, git_prep):
     release = create_draft_release("bar")
+    os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = release.html_url
 
     current = util.run("git branch --show-current", cwd=util.CHECKOUT_NAME)
 
@@ -866,7 +869,7 @@ def test_forwardport_changelog_has_new(npm_package, runner, mocker, mock_github,
     # Run the forwardport workflow against default branch
     url = osp.abspath(npm_package)
     os.chdir(npm_package)
-    runner(["forwardport-changelog", release.html_url, "--branch", current])
+    runner(["forwardport-changelog", "--branch", current])
 
     util.run(f"git checkout {current}", cwd=npm_package)
 
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_functions.py b/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_functions.py
index a15dfc6d..b0aa4b13 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_functions.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_functions.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import json
 import os
 import shutil
+import time
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
@@ -340,5 +341,62 @@ def test_get_latest_draft_release(mock_github):
         True,
         files=[],
     )
-    latest = util.lastest_draft_release(gh)
+    latest = util.latest_draft_release(gh)
     assert latest.name == "v1.0.0"
+
+    # Ensure a different timestamp.
+    time.sleep(1)
+    gh.create_release(
+        "v1.1.0",
+        "bob",
+        "v1.1.0",
+        "body",
+        True,
+        True,
+        files=[],
+    )
+    latest = util.latest_draft_release(gh)
+    assert latest.name == "v1.1.0"
+    latest = util.latest_draft_release(gh, "main")
+    assert latest.name == "v1.0.0"
+
+
+def test_parse_release_url():
+    match = util.parse_release_url("https://github.com/foo/bar/releases/tag/fizz")
+    assert match.groupdict() == {"owner": "foo", "repo": "bar", "tag": "fizz"}
+    match = util.parse_release_url("https://api.github.com/repos/fizz/buzz/releases/tags/foo")
+    assert match.groupdict() == {"owner": "fizz", "repo": "buzz", "tag": "foo"}
+    match = util.parse_release_url(
+        "https://github.com/foo/bar/releases/tag/untagged-8a3c19f85a0a51d3ea66"
+    )
+    assert match.groupdict() == {
+        "owner": "foo",
+        "repo": "bar",
+        "tag": "untagged-8a3c19f85a0a51d3ea66",
+    }
+
+
+def test_extract_metadata_from_release_url(mock_github, draft_release):
+    gh = GhApi(owner="foo", repo="bar")
+    data = util.extract_metadata_from_release_url(gh, draft_release, "")
+    assert os.environ["RH_BRANCH"] == data["branch"]
+
+
+def test_prepare_environment(mock_github, draft_release):
+    os.environ["GITHUB_REPOSITORY"] = "foo/bar"
+    tag = draft_release.split("/")[-1]
+    os.environ["GITHUB_REF"] = f"refs/tag/{tag}"
+    os.environ["RH_DRY_RUN"] = "true"
+    data = util.prepare_environment()
+    assert os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] == draft_release
+    assert data["version_spec"] == os.environ["RH_VERSION_SPEC"]
+
+
+def test_handle_since(npm_package, runner):
+    runner(["prep-git", "--git-url", npm_package])
+    since = util.handle_since()
+    assert not since
+
+    run("git tag v1.0.1", cwd=util.CHECKOUT_NAME)
+    since = util.handle_since()
+    assert since == "v1.0.1"
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_mock_github.py b/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_mock_github.py
index 393dc286..f9ec3790 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_mock_github.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/tests/test_mock_github.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 import requests
 from ghapi.core import GhApi
 
+from jupyter_releaser.mock_github import Asset, Release, load_from_file, write_to_file
+
 
 def test_mock_github(mock_github):
     owner = "foo"
@@ -47,7 +49,38 @@ def test_mock_github(mock_github):
             for _ in r.iter_content(chunk_size=8192):
                 pass
 
+    gh.git.create_ref("v1.1.0", "aaaa")
+    tags = gh.list_tags("v1.1.0")
+    assert tags[0]["object"]["sha"] == "aaaa"
+
     gh.repos.delete_release(release.id)
 
     pull = gh.pulls.create("title", "head", "base", "body", True, False, None)
     gh.issues.add_labels(pull.number, ["documentation"])
+
+
+def test_cache_storage():
+    asset = Asset(
+        id=1,
+        name="hi",
+        size=122,
+        url="hi",
+        content_type="hi",
+    )
+    model = Release(
+        id=1,
+        url="hi",
+        html_url="ho",
+        assets=[asset],
+        upload_url="hi",
+        created_at="1",
+        draft=False,
+        prerelease=False,
+        target_commitish="1",
+        tag_name="1",
+    )
+    write_to_file("releases", dict(test=model))
+    data = load_from_file("releases", Release)
+    assert isinstance(data["test"], Release)
+    assert isinstance(data["test"].assets[0], Asset)
+    assert data["test"].assets[0].url == asset.url
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/tests/util.py b/jupyter_releaser/tests/util.py
index aa2db2b3..9b7731bc 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/tests/util.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/tests/util.py
@@ -4,11 +4,10 @@
 import shutil
 from pathlib import Path
 
-import requests
 from ghapi.core import GhApi
 
 from jupyter_releaser import changelog, cli, util
-from jupyter_releaser.util import MOCK_GITHUB_URL, get_latest_tag, run
+from jupyter_releaser.util import get_latest_tag, run
 
 VERSION_SPEC = "1.0.1"
 
@@ -284,7 +283,7 @@ def write_files(git_repo, sub_packages=None, package_name="foo", module_name=Non
 
 
 def create_draft_release(ref="bar", files=None):
-    gh = GhApi("snuffy", "test")
+    gh = GhApi("foo", "bar")
     return gh.create_release(
         ref,
         "bar",
@@ -301,7 +300,7 @@ def create_tag_ref():
     os.chdir(util.CHECKOUT_NAME)
     ref = get_latest_tag(None)
     sha = run("git rev-parse HEAD")
-    url = f"{MOCK_GITHUB_URL}/create_tag_ref/{ref}/{sha}"
-    requests.post(url)
+    gh = GhApi("foo", "bar")
+    gh.git.create_ref(ref, sha)
     os.chdir(curr_dir)
     return ref
diff --git a/jupyter_releaser/util.py b/jupyter_releaser/util.py
index 727d8982..2d787ea0 100644
--- a/jupyter_releaser/util.py
+++ b/jupyter_releaser/util.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import warnings
 from datetime import datetime
 from glob import glob
+from io import BytesIO
 from pathlib import Path
 from subprocess import PIPE, CalledProcessError, check_output
 
@@ -44,9 +45,8 @@
 
 CHECKOUT_NAME = ".jupyter_releaser_checkout"
 
-RELEASE_HTML_PATTERN = (
-    "https://github.com/(?P<owner>[^/]+)/(?P<repo>[^/]+)/releases/tag/(?P<tag>.*)"
-)
+MOCK_GITHUB_URL = "http://127.0.0.1:8000"
+RELEASE_HTML_PATTERN = f"(?:https://github.com|{MOCK_GITHUB_URL})/(?P<owner>[^/]+)/(?P<repo>[^/]+)/releases/tag/(?P<tag>.*)"
 RELEASE_API_PATTERN = (
     "https://api.github.com/repos/(?P<owner>[^/]+)/(?P<repo>[^/]+)/releases/tags/(?P<tag>.*)"
 )
@@ -57,8 +57,6 @@
 
 GIT_FETCH_CMD = "git fetch origin --filter=blob:none --quiet"
 
-MOCK_GITHUB_URL = "http://127.0.0.1:8000"
-
 
 def run(cmd, **kwargs):
     """Run a command as a subprocess and get the output as a string"""
@@ -72,7 +70,7 @@ def run(cmd, **kwargs):
         if show_cwd:
             prefix += f" (in '{os.getcwd()}')"
         prefix += ":"
-        print(f"{prefix} {cmd}", file=sys.stderr)
+        log(f"{prefix} {cmd}")
 
     if sys.platform.startswith("win"):
         # Async subprocesses do not work well on Windows, use standard
@@ -177,7 +175,7 @@ def get_version():
         try:
             return run("python setup.py --version").split("\n")[-1]
         except CalledProcessError as e:
-            print(e)
+            log(e)
 
     # Build the wheel and extract the version.
     if PYPROJECT.exists():
@@ -336,20 +334,20 @@ def release_for_url(gh, url):
     return release
 
 
-def lastest_draft_release(gh):
+def latest_draft_release(gh, branch=None):
     """Get the latest draft release for a given repo"""
     newest_time = None
     newest_release = None
     for release in gh.repos.list_releases():
         if str(release.draft).lower() == "false":
             continue
+        if branch and release.target_commitish != branch:
+            continue
         created = release.created_at
         d_created = datetime.strptime(created, r"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
         if newest_time is None or d_created > newest_time:
             newest_time = d_created
             newest_release = release
-    if not newest_release:
-        raise ValueError("No draft releases found")
     return newest_release
 
 
@@ -357,7 +355,7 @@ def actions_output(name, value):
     "Print the special GitHub Actions `::set-output` line for `name::value`"
     log(f"\n\nSetting output {name}={value}")
     if "GITHUB_ACTIONS" in os.environ:
-        print(f"::set-output name={name}::{value}")
+        log(f"::set-output name={name}::{value}")
 
 
 def get_latest_tag(source, since_last_stable=False):
@@ -424,6 +422,125 @@ def read_config():
     return config
 
 
+def parse_release_url(release_url):
+    """Parse a release url into a regex match"""
+    match = re.match(RELEASE_HTML_PATTERN, release_url)
+    match = match or re.match(RELEASE_API_PATTERN, release_url)
+    if not match:
+        raise ValueError(f"Release url is not valid: {release_url}")
+    return match
+
+
+def extract_metadata_from_release_url(gh, release_url, auth):
+    log(f"Extracting metadata for release: {release_url}")
+    release = release_for_url(gh, release_url)
+
+    data = None
+    for asset in release.assets:
+        if asset.name != "metadata.json":
+            continue
+
+        log(f"Fetching {asset.name}...")
+        url = asset.url
+        headers = dict(Authorization=f"token {auth}", Accept="application/octet-stream")
+
+        sink = BytesIO()
+        with requests.get(url, headers=headers, stream=True) as r:
+            r.raise_for_status()
+            for chunk in r.iter_content(chunk_size=8192):
+                sink.write(chunk)
+        sink.seek(0)
+        data = json.loads(sink.read().decode("utf-8"))
+
+    if data is None:
+        raise ValueError(f'Could not find "metadata.json" file in draft release {release_url}')
+
+    # Update environment variables.
+    if "post_version_spec" in data:
+        os.environ["RH_POST_VERSION_SPEC"] = data["post_version_spec"]
+    if "post_version_message" in data:
+        os.environ["RH_POST_VERSION_MESSAGE"] = data["post_version_message"]
+    if "version_spec" in data:
+        os.environ["RH_VERSION_SPEC"] = data["version_spec"]
+    if "branch" in data:
+        os.environ["RH_BRANCH"] = data["branch"]
+    if "since" in data:
+        os.environ["RH_SINCE"] = data["since"]
+    if "since_last_stable" in data:
+        os.environ["RH_SINCE_LAST_STABLE"] = str(data["since_last_stable"])
+
+    return data
+
+
+def prepare_environment():
+    """Prepare the environment variables, for use when running one of the
+    action scripts."""
+    # Set up env variables
+    os.environ.setdefault("RH_REPOSITORY", os.environ["GITHUB_REPOSITORY"])
+    os.environ.setdefault("RH_REF", os.environ["GITHUB_REF"])
+
+    check_release = os.environ.get("RH_IS_CHECK_RELEASE", "").lower() == "true"
+    if not os.environ.get("RH_DRY_RUN") and check_release:
+        os.environ["RH_DRY_RUN"] = "true"
+    dry_run = os.environ.get("RH_DRY_RUN", "").lower() == "true"
+
+    # Set the branch when using check release.
+    if not os.environ.get("RH_BRANCH") and check_release:
+        if os.environ.get("GITHUB_BASE_REF"):
+            base_ref = os.environ.get("GITHUB_BASE_REF", "")
+            log(f"Using GITHUB_BASE_REF: ${base_ref}")
+            os.environ["RH_BRANCH"] = base_ref
+
+        else:
+            # e.g refs/head/foo or refs/tag/bar
+            ref = os.environ["GITHUB_REF"]
+            log(f"Using GITHUB_REF: {ref}")
+            os.environ["RH_BRANCH"] = "/".join(ref.split("/")[2:])
+
+    # Start the mock GitHub server if in a dry run.
+    if dry_run:
+        static_dir = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), "gh_static")
+        os.makedirs(static_dir, exist_ok=True)
+        os.environ["RH_GITHUB_STATIC_DIR"] = static_dir
+        ensure_mock_github()
+
+    # Set up GitHub object.
+    branch = os.environ.get("RH_BRANCH")
+    owner, repo_name = os.environ["GITHUB_REPOSITORY"].split("/")
+    auth = os.environ.get("GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN", "")
+    gh = get_gh_object(dry_run=dry_run, owner=owner, repo=repo_name, token=auth)
+
+    # Get the latest draft release if none is given.
+    release_url = os.environ.get("RH_RELEASE_URL")
+    log(f"Environment release url was {release_url}")
+    if not release_url:
+        release = latest_draft_release(gh, branch)
+        if release:
+            release_url = release.html_url
+
+    if release_url:
+        os.environ["RH_RELEASE_URL"] = release_url
+
+        # Extract the metadata from the release url.
+        return extract_metadata_from_release_url(gh, release_url, auth)
+
+
+def handle_since():
+    """Capture the "since" argument in case we add tags before checking changelog."""
+    if os.environ.get("RH_SINCE"):
+        return
+    curr_dir = os.getcwd()
+    os.chdir(CHECKOUT_NAME)
+    since_last_stable_env = os.environ.get("RH_SINCE_LAST_STABLE")
+    since_last_stable = since_last_stable_env == "true"
+    since = get_latest_tag(os.environ.get("RH_BRANCH"), since_last_stable)
+    if since:
+        log(f"Capturing {since} in RH_SINCE variable")
+        os.environ["RH_SINCE"] = since
+    os.chdir(curr_dir)
+    return since
+
+
 def get_gh_object(dry_run=False, **kwargs):
     """Get a properly configured GhAPi object"""
     if dry_run:
@@ -459,7 +576,7 @@ def get_remote_name(dry_run):
 def ensure_mock_github():
     """Check for or start a mock github server."""
     core.GH_HOST = MOCK_GITHUB_URL
-
+    log("Ensuring mock GitHub")
     # First see if it is already running.
     try:
         requests.get(MOCK_GITHUB_URL)
@@ -483,6 +600,7 @@ def ensure_mock_github():
             raise ValueError(f"mock_github failed with {proc.returncode}")
     except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
         pass
+    log("Mock GitHub started")
     atexit.register(proc.kill)
 
     while 1: