diff --git a/.github/pr_release_template.md b/.github/pr_release_template.md
deleted file mode 100644
index b6f6acf..0000000
--- a/.github/pr_release_template.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-## Description
-<!--- Please include a summary of the changes. --->
-This PR was created automatically.
-
-
-### Screenshot
-<!--- Include screenshots if the changes are UI-related. --->
-
-
-### Issues Fixed or Closed
-<!--- Close issue example: `- Closes #1` --->
-<!--- Fix bug issue example: `- Fixes #2` --->
-<!--- Resolve issue example: `- Resolves #3` --->
-
-
-## Type of Change
-- [ ] Bug fix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue)
-- [ ] New feature (non-breaking change which adds functionality)
-- [ ] Breaking change (fix or feature that would cause existing functionality to not work as expected)
-- [ ] Dependency update (updates to dependencies)
-- [ ] Documentation update (changes to documentation)
-- [ ] Repository update (changes to repository files, e.g. `.github/...`)
-
-## Branch Updates
-- [x] I want maintainers to keep my branch updated
-
-## Changelog Summary
-<!--- Summarize all the changes in a bulleted list. --->
diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto-create-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/auto-create-pr.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 13705dd..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/auto-create-pr.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
----
-# This action is centrally managed in https://github.com/<organization>/.github/
-# Don't make changes to this file in this repo as they will be overwritten with changes made to the same file in
-# the above-mentioned repo.
-
-# This workflow  creates a PR automatically when anything is merged/pushed into the `nightly` branch. The PR is created
-# against the `master` (default) branch.
-
-name: Auto create PR
-
-on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - 'nightly'
-
-jobs:
-  create_pr:
-    if: startsWith(github.repository, 'LizardByte/')
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Create Pull Request
-        uses: repo-sync/pull-request@v2
-        with:
-          source_branch: ""  # should be "nightly" as it's the triggering branch
-          destination_branch: "master"
-          pr_title: "Pulling ${{ github.ref_name }} into master"
-          pr_template: ".github/pr_release_template.md"
-          pr_assignee: "${{ secrets.GH_BOT_NAME }}"
-          pr_draft: true
-          pr_allow_empty: false
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_BOT_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/automerge.yml b/.github/workflows/automerge.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 04c9f1a..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/automerge.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,64 +0,0 @@
----
-# This action is centrally managed in https://github.com/<organization>/.github/
-# Don't make changes to this file in this repo as they will be overwritten with changes made to the same file in
-# the above-mentioned repo.
-
-# This workflow will, first, automatically approve PRs created by @LizardByte-bot. Then it will automerge relevant PRs.
-
-name: Automerge PR
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    types:
-      - opened
-      - synchronize
-
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-jobs:
-  autoapprove:
-    if: >-
-      contains(fromJson('["LizardByte-bot"]'), github.event.pull_request.user.login) &&
-      contains(fromJson('["LizardByte-bot"]'), github.actor) &&
-      startsWith(github.repository, 'LizardByte/')
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Autoapproving
-        uses: hmarr/auto-approve-action@v4
-        with:
-          github-token: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
-
-      - name: Label autoapproved
-        uses: actions/github-script@v7
-        with:
-          github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_BOT_TOKEN }}
-          script: |
-            github.rest.issues.addLabels({
-              issue_number: context.issue.number,
-              owner: context.repo.owner,
-              repo: context.repo.repo,
-              labels: ['autoapproved', 'autoupdate']
-            })
-
-  automerge:
-    if: startsWith(github.repository, 'LizardByte/')
-    needs: [autoapprove]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Automerging
-        uses: pascalgn/automerge-action@v0.16.3
-        env:
-          BASE_BRANCHES: nightly
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_BOT_TOKEN }}
-          GITHUB_LOGIN: ${{ secrets.GH_BOT_NAME }}
-          MERGE_LABELS: "!dependencies"
-          MERGE_METHOD: "squash"
-          MERGE_COMMIT_MESSAGE: "{pullRequest.title} (#{pullRequest.number})"
-          MERGE_DELETE_BRANCH: true
-          MERGE_ERROR_FAIL: true
-          MERGE_FILTER_AUTHOR: ${{ secrets.GH_BOT_NAME }}
-          MERGE_RETRIES: "240"  # 1 hour
-          MERGE_RETRY_SLEEP: "15000"  # 15 seconds
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-docker.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-docker.yml
index 03f909c..c7b5980 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-docker.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-docker.yml
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ name: CI Docker
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    branches: [master, nightly]
+    branches: [master]
     types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
   push:
-    branches: [master, nightly]
+    branches: [master]
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 concurrency:
@@ -103,8 +103,9 @@ jobs:
       - check_dockerfiles
     outputs:
       publish_release: ${{ steps.setup_release.outputs.publish_release }}
-      release_build: ${{ steps.setup_release.outputs.release_build }}
+      release_body: ${{ steps.setup_release.outputs.release_body }}
       release_commit: ${{ steps.setup_release.outputs.release_commit }}
+      release_generate_release_notes: ${{ steps.setup_release.outputs.release_generate_release_notes }}
       release_tag: ${{ steps.setup_release.outputs.release_tag }}
       release_version: ${{ steps.setup_release.outputs.release_version }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Setup Release
         id: setup_release
-        uses: LizardByte/setup-release-action@v2024.520.181643
+        uses: LizardByte/setup-release-action@v2024.608.210128
         with:
           dotnet: ${{ needs.check_dockerfiles.outputs.dotnet }}
           github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
@@ -211,8 +212,6 @@ jobs:
           if [[ $GITHUB_REF == refs/heads/master ]]; then
             TAGS="${TAGS},${BASE_TAG}:latest${{ matrix.tag }},ghcr.io/${BASE_TAG}:latest${{ matrix.tag }}"
             TAGS="${TAGS},${BASE_TAG}:master${{ matrix.tag }},ghcr.io/${BASE_TAG}:master${{ matrix.tag }}"
-          elif [[ $GITHUB_REF == refs/heads/nightly ]]; then
-            TAGS="${TAGS},${BASE_TAG}:nightly${{ matrix.tag }},ghcr.io/${BASE_TAG}:nightly${{ matrix.tag }}"
           else
             TAGS="${TAGS},${BASE_TAG}:test${{ matrix.tag }},ghcr.io/${BASE_TAG}:test${{ matrix.tag }}"
           fi
@@ -363,12 +362,13 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Create/Update GitHub Release
         if: ${{ needs.setup_release.outputs.publish_release == 'true' && steps.prepare.outputs.artifacts == 'true' }}
-        uses: LizardByte/create-release-action@v2024.520.180003
+        uses: LizardByte/create-release-action@v2024.609.5014
         with:
           allowUpdates: true
           artifacts: "*artifacts/*"
+          body: ${{ needs.setup_release.outputs.release_body }}
           discussionCategory: announcements
-          generateReleaseNotes: true
+          generateReleaseNotes: ${{ needs.setup_release.outputs.release_generate_release_notes }}
           name: ${{ needs.setup_release.outputs.release_tag }}
           prerelease: true
           tag: ${{ needs.setup_release.outputs.release_tag }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index ec4ed25..4ff1502 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ name: "CodeQL"
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: ["master", "nightly"]
+    branches: ["master"]
   pull_request:
-    branches: ["master", "nightly"]
+    branches: ["master"]
   schedule:
     - cron: '00 12 * * 0'  # every Sunday at 12:00 UTC
 
@@ -140,9 +140,12 @@ jobs:
           submodules: recursive
 
       - name: Setup msys2
-        if: runner.os == 'Windows'
+        if: >-
+          runner.os == 'Windows' &&
+          matrix.language == 'cpp'
         uses: msys2/setup-msys2@v2
         with:
+          msystem: ucrt64
           update: true
 
       # Initializes the CodeQL tools for scanning.
@@ -157,6 +160,10 @@ jobs:
           # yamllint disable-line rule:line-length
           # For more details on CodeQL's query packs, refer to: https://docs.github.com/en/code-security/code-scanning/automatically-scanning-your-code-for-vulnerabilities-and-errors/configuring-code-scanning#using-queries-in-ql-packs
           # queries: security-extended,security-and-quality
+          config: |
+            paths-ignore:
+              - node_modules
+              - third-party
 
       # Pre autobuild
       # create a file named .codeql-prebuild-${{ matrix.language }}.sh in the root of your repository
@@ -180,3 +187,26 @@ jobs:
         uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v3
         with:
           category: "/language:${{matrix.language}}"
+          output: sarif-results
+          upload: failure-only
+
+      - name: filter-sarif
+        uses: advanced-security/filter-sarif@v1
+        with:
+          input: sarif-results/${{ matrix.language }}.sarif
+          output: sarif-results/${{ matrix.language }}.sarif
+          patterns: |
+            -node_modules/**
+            -third\-party/**
+
+      - name: Upload SARIF
+        uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@v3
+        with:
+          sarif_file: sarif-results/${{ matrix.language }}.sarif
+
+      - name: Upload loc as a Build Artifact
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: sarif-results-${{ matrix.language }}-${{ runner.os }}
+          path: sarif-results
+          retention-days: 1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-flake8.yml b/.github/workflows/python-flake8.yml
index e08ab10..61e23f7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-flake8.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-flake8.yml
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ name: flake8
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    branches: [master, nightly]
+    branches: [master]
     types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
 
 concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
+  group: "${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}"
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
 jobs:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-notifier.yml b/.github/workflows/release-notifier.yml
index 5735465..6060839 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-notifier.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-notifier.yml
@@ -9,15 +9,15 @@ name: Release Notifications
 
 on:
   release:
-    types: [published]
-    # https://docs.github.com/en/actions/learn-github-actions/workflow-syntax-for-github-actions#onevent_nametypes
+    types:
+      - released  # this triggers when a release is published, but does not include prereleases or drafts
 
 jobs:
   discord:
     if: >-
       startsWith(github.repository, 'LizardByte/') &&
-      not(github.event.release.prerelease) &&
-      not(github.event.release.draft)
+      !github.event.release.prerelease &&
+      !github.event.release.draft
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: discord
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ jobs:
   facebook_group:
     if: >-
       startsWith(github.repository, 'LizardByte/') &&
-      not(github.event.release.prerelease) &&
-      not(github.event.release.draft)
+      !github.event.release.prerelease &&
+      !github.event.release.draft
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: facebook-post-action
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ jobs:
   facebook_page:
     if: >-
       startsWith(github.repository, 'LizardByte/') &&
-      not(github.event.release.prerelease) &&
-      not(github.event.release.draft)
+      !github.event.release.prerelease &&
+      !github.event.release.draft
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: facebook-post-action
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ jobs:
   reddit:
     if: >-
       startsWith(github.repository, 'LizardByte/') &&
-      not(github.event.release.prerelease) &&
-      not(github.event.release.draft)
+      !github.event.release.prerelease &&
+      !github.event.release.draft
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: reddit
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ jobs:
   twitter:
     if: >-
       startsWith(github.repository, 'LizardByte/') &&
-      not(github.event.release.prerelease) &&
-      not(github.event.release.draft)
+      !github.event.release.prerelease &&
+      !github.event.release.draft
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: twitter
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-changelog.yml b/.github/workflows/update-changelog.yml
index d5bbed6..99d2793 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-changelog.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-changelog.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Update Changelog
-        uses: LizardByte/update-changelog-action@v2024.520.183314
+        uses: LizardByte/update-changelog-action@v2024.609.4705
         with:
           changelogBranch: changelog
           changelogFile: CHANGELOG.md
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/update-docs.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1212f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-docs.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+---
+# This action is centrally managed in https://github.com/<organization>/.github/
+# Don't make changes to this file in this repo as they will be overwritten with changes made to the same file in
+# the above-mentioned repo.
+
+# Use the `rtd` repository label to identify repositories that should trigger have this workflow.
+# If the project slug is not the repository name, add a repository variable named `READTHEDOCS_SLUG` with the value of
+# the ReadTheDocs project slug.
+
+# Update readthedocs on release events.
+
+name: Update docs
+
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [created, edited, deleted]
+
+concurrency:
+  group: "${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}"
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  update-docs:
+    env:
+      RTD_SLUG: ${{ vars.READTHEDOCS_SLUG }}
+      RTD_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.READTHEDOCS_TOKEN }}
+      TAG: ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
+    if: >-
+      !github.event.release.draft
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Get RTD_SLUG
+        run: |
+          # if the RTD_SLUG is not set, use the repository name in lowercase
+          if [ -z "${RTD_SLUG}" ]; then
+              RTD_SLUG=$(echo "${{ github.event.repository.name }}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
+          fi
+          echo "RTD_SLUG=${RTD_SLUG}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Deactivate deleted release
+        if: >-
+          github.event_name == 'release' &&
+          github.event.action == 'deleted'
+        run: |
+          json_body=$(jq -n \
+            --arg active "false" \
+            --arg hidden "false" \
+            --arg privacy_level "public" \
+            '{active: $active, hidden: $hidden, privacy_level: $privacy_level}')
+
+          curl \
+            -X PATCH \
+            -H "Authorization: Token ${RTD_TOKEN}" \
+              https://readthedocs.org/api/v3/projects/${RTD_SLUG}/versions/${TAG}/ \
+            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            -d "$json_body"
+
+      - name: Check if edited release is latest GitHub release
+        id: check
+        if: >-
+          github.event_name == 'release' &&
+          github.event.action == 'edited'
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const latestRelease = await github.rest.repos.getLatestRelease({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo
+            });
+
+            core.setOutput('isLatestRelease', latestRelease.data.tag_name === context.payload.release.tag_name);
+
+      - name: Update RTD project
+        # changing the default branch in readthedocs makes "latest" point to that branch/tag
+        # we can also update other properties like description, etc.
+        if: >-
+          steps.check.outputs.isLatestRelease == 'true'
+        run: |
+          json_body=$(jq -n \
+            --arg default_branch "${TAG}" \
+            --arg description "${{ github.event.repository.description }}" \
+            '{default_branch: $default_branch}')
+
+          curl \
+            -X PATCH \
+            -H "Authorization: Token ${RTD_TOKEN}" \
+              https://readthedocs.org/api/v3/projects/${RTD_SLUG}/ \
+            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            -d "$json_body"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/yaml-lint.yml b/.github/workflows/yaml-lint.yml
index 7e1fd46..023b836 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/yaml-lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/yaml-lint.yml
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ name: yaml lint
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    branches: [master, nightly]
+    branches: [master]
     types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
 
 concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
+  group: "${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}"
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
 jobs: