diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 36828d547..f39d938f8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    runs-on: [ubuntu-latest]
-    
+    runs-on: ubuntu-18.04
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v1
@@ -16,16 +15,28 @@ jobs:
         java-version: '12'
         java-package: jdk
         architecture: x64
-    - run: java -version
+        
     - name: Cache Maven packages
       uses: actions/cache@v1
       with:
         path: ~/.m2
         key: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
-        restore-keys: ${{ runner.os }}-m2
-    - name: Build with Maven
-      run: mvn -B verify --file pom.xml
-      
+        restore-keys: ${{ runner.os }}-m2   
+    - name: read versions
+      run: |
+        set -x
+        CURRENT_VERSION=$(mvn help:evaluate -Dexpression=project.version -q -DforceStdout)
+        RELEASE_VERSION=${CURRENT_VERSION%%-SNAPSHOT}
+        BASE_VERSION=$(echo "$RELEASE_VERSION" | cut -d'.' -f1-2)
+        MINOR_VERSION=$(echo "$RELEASE_VERSION" | cut -d'.' -f3)
+        NEXT_MINOR_VERSION=$(( MINOR_VERSION+1))
+        NEXT_SNAPSHOT="${BASE_VERSION}.${NEXT_MINOR_VERSION}-SNAPSHOT"
+        echo "::set-env name=NEXT_SNAPSHOT::${NEXT_SNAPSHOT}"
+        echo "::set-env name=RELEASE_VERSION::${RELEASE_VERSION}"  
+    - name: prepare_release
+      run: mvn --global-settings deploy.xml --batch-mode clean release:prepare -DdevelopmentVersion=${{ NEXT_SNAPSHOT }} -DreleaseVersion=${{ RELEASE_VERSION }}
+    - name: perform_release
+      run: mvn --global-settings deploy.xml --batch-mode release:perform
     - name: upload artifacts
       run: mkdir staging && cp nb/target/nb.jar nb/appimage/target/nb staging
     - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v1
@@ -39,13 +50,3 @@ jobs:
       with:
         name: guidebook
         path: guidebook
-      
-    - name: test for gpg
-      run: gpg --version
-      
-#     - name: Run a one-line script
-#       run: echo Hello, world!
-#     - name: Run a multi-line script
-#       run: |
-#         echo Add other actions to build,
-#         echo test, and deploy your project.