diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 2d37826ef..5994e4716 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -64,6 +64,16 @@ jobs:
 #          name: nb-logs
 #          path: logfiles.tgz
 
+      - name: generate javadoc
+        run: mvn javadoc:aggregate-jar
+        continue-on-error: false
+
+      - name: upload javadoc
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: javadocs
+          path: target/nosqlbench-*-javadoc.jar
+
       - name: export docs
         if: success()
         run: nb5/target/nb5 export-docs
@@ -91,11 +101,11 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: exported-docs
+          path: build-docs
 
       - name: overlay docs changes and push
         run: |
           set -x
-          mv exported_docs.zip build-docs/.
           cd build-docs
           ./doimport.sh
           rm exported_docs.zip
@@ -109,3 +119,37 @@ jobs:
             git commit -m"docs update for $GITHUB_REF"
             git push
           fi
+
+  javadocs:
+    needs: builddocs
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    if: ${{ github.repository == 'nosqlbench/nosqlbench' && github.event_name == 'pull_request' && github.ref_name == 'main' }}
+    steps:
+
+      - name: checkout javadocs
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: nosqlbench/nosqlbench-javadocs
+          path: javadocs
+
+      - name: download javadocs
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: javadocs
+          path: javadocs
+
+      - name: overlay javadocs changes and push
+        run: |
+          set -x
+          git config --global user.email "${{ secrets.NBDROID_EMAIL }}"
+          git config --global user.name "${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}"
+          cd javadocs
+          ./refresh.sh snapshot
+          git add .
+          CHANGES=$(git status --porcelain 2>/dev/null| wc -l)
+          echo "found $CHANGES to push for javadocs updates"
+          if (( $CHANGES > 0 ))
+          then
+            git commit -m"javadocs update for $GITHUB_REF"
+            git push
+          fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/preview.yml b/.github/workflows/preview.yml
index eb0c1c8e0..23105cad5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/preview.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/preview.yml
@@ -49,13 +49,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: install fuse2
         run: sudo apt install libfuse2
 
-#      - name: Cache Maven packages
-#        uses: actions/cache@v4
-#        with:
-#          path: ~/.m2
-#          key: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
-#          restore-keys: ${{ runner.os }}-m2
-
       - name: read versions
         id: versions
         run: |
@@ -108,15 +101,15 @@ jobs:
           name: binaries
           path: staging
 
-#      - name: generate javadoc
-#        run: mvn javadoc:aggregate-jar
-#        continue-on-error: false
-#
-#      - name: upload javadoc
-#        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
-#        with:
-#          name: javadoc
-#          path: target/nosqlbench-*-javadoc.jar
+      - name: generate javadoc
+        run: mvn javadoc:aggregate-jar
+        continue-on-error: false
+
+      - name: upload javadoc
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: javadocs
+          path: target/nosqlbench-*-javadoc.jar
 
       - name: prepare release summary
         id: prepare_summary
@@ -213,36 +206,65 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         echo "PREVIEW_VERSION=${{ needs.preview-build.outputs.preview_version }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
         echo "DOCKER_TAGS=${{ needs.preview-build.outputs.docker_tags }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-    - name: clone nosqlbench-build-docs
-      run: |
-        git clone https://${{secrets.NBDROID_NAME}}:${{secrets.NBDROID_TOKEN}}@github.com/nosqlbench/nosqlbench-build-docs.git nosqlbench-build-docs
-        cd nosqlbench-build-docs
-        echo "files listing"
-        find .
-        git remote set-url origin https://${{secrets.NBDROID_NAME}}:${{secrets.NBDROID_TOKEN}}@github.com/nosqlbench/nosqlbench-build-docs.git
-        git remote -v
 
-    - name: set CNAME
-      run: |
-        echo "builddocs.nosqlbench.io" > nosqlbench-build-docs/site/static/CNAME
+      - name: checkout build docs
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: nosqlbench/nosqlbench-build-docs
+          path: build-docs
 
-    - name: commit changes
-      run: |
-        cd nosqlbench-build-docs
-        git add exported_docs.zip
+      - name: download exported_docs
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: exported-docs
+          path: build-docs
 
-    - name: tag-preview-build
-      run: |
-        cd nosqlbench-build-docs
-        git tag -f ${{ env.PREVIEW_VERSION }}
+      - name: overlay docs changes and push
+        run: |
+          set -x
+          cd build-docs
+          ./doimport.sh
+          rm exported_docs.zip
+          git config --global user.email "${{ secrets.NBDROID_EMAIL }}"
+          git config --global user.name "${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}"
+          git add .
+          git tag -f ${{ env.PREVIEW_VERSION }}
+          git commit -m"docs update for ${{ env.PREVIEW_VERSION }}"
+          git push
 
-    - name: push changes
-      env:
-        NBDROID_NAME: ${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}
-        NBDROID_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NBDROID_TOKEN }}
-      run: |
-        set -x
-        cd nosqlbench-build-docs
-        CHANGES=$(git status --porcelain 2>/dev/null| wc -l)
-        git push -f --tags
-        echo "push completed"
+  javadocs:
+    needs: preview-docs
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    steps:
+      - name: import env vars
+        run: |
+          echo "PREVIEW_VERSION=${{ needs.preview-build.outputs.preview_version }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "DOCKER_TAGS=${{ needs.preview-build.outputs.docker_tags }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: checkout javadocs
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: nosqlbench/nosqlbench-javadocs
+          path: javadocs
+
+      - name: download javadocs
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: javadocs
+          path: javadocs
+
+      - name: overlay javadocs changes and push
+        run: |
+          set -x
+          git config --global user.email "${{ secrets.NBDROID_EMAIL }}"
+          git config --global user.name "${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}"
+          cd javadocs
+          ./refresh.sh preview
+          git add .
+          CHANGES=$(git status --porcelain 2>/dev/null| wc -l)
+          echo "found $CHANGES to push for javadocs updates"
+          if (( $CHANGES > 0 ))
+          then
+            git commit -m"javadocs update for ${{ env.PREVIEW_VERSION }}"
+            git push
+          fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index d7d0d941a..87427907f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -15,11 +15,13 @@ on:
     tags:
       - "[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+-release"
 
-
-
 jobs:
   release-build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    outputs:
+      release_version: ${{ steps.versions.outputs.RELEASE_VERSION }}
+      release_version_numeric: ${{ steps.versions.outputs.RELEASE_VERSION_NUMERIC }}
+      docker_tags: ${{ steps.versions.outputs.DOCKER_TAGS }}
     steps:
 
       - name: checkout repo
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ jobs:
           restore-keys: ${{ runner.os }}-m2
 
       - name: read versions
+        id: versions
         run: |
           set -x
           RELEASE_VERSION=$(scripts/get-release-version.sh)
@@ -107,15 +110,15 @@ jobs:
           name: binaries
           path: staging
 
-      #      - name: generate javadoc
-      #        run: mvn javadoc:aggregate-jar
-      #        continue-on-error: false
-      #
-      #      - name: upload javadoc
-      #        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-      #        with:
-      #          name: javadoc
-      #          path: target/nosqlbench-*-javadoc.jar
+      - name: generate javadoc
+        run: mvn javadoc:aggregate-jar
+        continue-on-error: false
+
+      - name: upload javadoc
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: javadocs
+          path: target/nosqlbench-*-javadoc.jar
 
       - name: bump minor version
         run: |
@@ -191,79 +194,74 @@ jobs:
           path: |
             [a-zA-Z]**/logs/*
 
-#  javadocs:
-#    needs: release
-#    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
-#    steps:
-#      - name: set git username
-#        run: git config --global user.email "${{ secrets.NBDROID_EMAIL }}"
-#      - name: set git email
-#        run: git config --global user.name "${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}"
-#      - name: download javadocs
-#        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-#        with:
-#          name: javadoc
-#      - run: ls -la
-#      - name: unpackage javadoc
-#        run: unzip nosqlbench-*-javadoc.jar
-#      - run: ls -la
-#      - name: Push javadocs
-#        uses: ad-m/github-push-action@master
-#        with:
-#          repository: nosqlbench/nosqlbench-javadoc
-#          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-#          branch: main
-#
-#
-#  docs:
-#    needs: release
-#    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
-#    steps:
-#
-#      - name: set git username
-#        run: git config --global user.email "${{ secrets.NBDROID_EMAIL }}"
-#
-#      - name: set git email
-#        run: git config --global user.name "${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}"
-#
-#      - name: download guidebook
-#        uses: actions/download-artifact@v1
-#        with:
-#          name: guidebook
-#          path: guidebook
-#
-#      - run: ls -la
-#
-#      - name: clone nosqlbench-docs
-#        env:
-#          NBDROID_NAME: ${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}
-#          NBDROID_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NBDROID_TOKEN }}
-#        run: |
-#          git clone https://${{secrets.NBDROID_NAME}}:${{secrets.NBDROID_TOKEN}}@github.com/nosqlbench/nosqlbench-docs.git nosqlbench-docs
-#          cd nosqlbench-docs
-#          echo "files listing"
-#          find .
-#          git remote set-url origin https://${{secrets.NBDROID_NAME}}:${{secrets.NBDROID_TOKEN}}@github.com/nosqlbench/nosqlbench-docs.git
-#          git remote -v
-#
-#      Disabling this because it will be replaced soon.
-#      - name: push changes
-#        env:
-#          NBDROID_NAME: ${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}
-#          NBDROID_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NBDROID_TOKEN }}
-#        run: |
-#          rsync -av --delete guidebook/guidebook/ nosqlbench-docs/docs/
-#          echo "docs.nosqlbench.io" > nosqlbench-docs/docs/CNAME
-#          cd nosqlbench-docs
-#          git add docs
-#          git add -u
-#          CHANGES=$(git status --porcelain 2>/dev/null| wc -l)
-#          echo "found $CHANGES to push for doc updates"
-#          if (( $CHANGES > 0 ))
-#          then
-#            git commit -m"docs update for $GITHUB_REF"
-#            git push
-#          fi
+  release-docs:
+    needs: release
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    steps:
+      - name: import env vars
+        run: |
+          echo "RELEASE_VERSION=${{ needs.release-build.outputs.release_version }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "DOCKER_TAGS=${{ needs.release-build.outputs.docker_tags }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
+      - name: checkout build docs
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: nosqlbench/nosqlbench-build-docs
+          path: build-docs
 
+      - name: download exported_docs
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: exported-docs
+          path: build-docs
 
+      - name: overlay docs changes and push
+        run: |
+          set -x
+          cd build-docs
+          ./doimport.sh
+          rm exported_docs.zip
+          git config --global user.email "${{ secrets.NBDROID_EMAIL }}"
+          git config --global user.name "${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}"
+          git add .
+          git tag -f ${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}
+          git commit -m"docs update for ${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
+          git push
+
+  javadocs:
+    needs: release-docs
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    steps:
+
+      - name: import env vars
+        run: |
+          echo "RELEASE_VERSION=${{ needs.release-build.outputs.release_version }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "DOCKER_TAGS=${{ needs.release-build.outputs.docker_tags }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: checkout javadocs
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: nosqlbench/nosqlbench-javadocs
+          path: javadocs
+
+      - name: download javadocs
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: javadocs
+          path: javadocs
+
+      - name: overlay javadocs changes and push
+        run: |
+          set -x
+          git config --global user.email "${{ secrets.NBDROID_EMAIL }}"
+          git config --global user.name "${{ secrets.NBDROID_NAME }}"
+          cd javadocs
+          ./refresh.sh release
+          git add .
+          CHANGES=$(git status --porcelain 2>/dev/null| wc -l)
+          echo "found $CHANGES to push for javadocs updates"
+          if (( $CHANGES > 0 ))
+          then
+            git commit -m"javadocs update for ${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
+            git push
+          fi