diff --git a/.github/CODEOWNERS b/.github/CODEOWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d7e69b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/CODEOWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+* @qbicsoftware/itss
diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 1884871..2cb2dc7 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,20 @@
+# To get started with Dependabot version updates, you'll need to specify which
+# package ecosystems to update and where the package manifests are located.
+# Please see the documentation for all configuration options:
+# https://docs.github.com/github/administering-a-repository/configuration-options-for-dependency-updates
+
 version: 2
-updates_configs:
-    - package_manager: "java:maven"
-      directory: "/"
-      update_schedule: "daily"
-      target-branch: development
-      default_labels: "dependabot"
-      commit-message:
-          prefix: "[DEPENDABOT]"
+updates:
+  - package-ecosystem: "github-actions" # See documentation for possible values
+    directory: "/" # Location of package manifests
+    schedule:
+      interval: "weekly"
+  - package-ecosystem: "maven"
+    directory: "/"
+    schedule:
+      interval: "daily"
+    target-branch: "development"
+    labels:
+      - "dependabot"
+    commit-message:
+      prefix: "[DEPENDABOT]"
diff --git a/.github/labeler.yml b/.github/labeler.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdd0f42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/labeler.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+feature:
+  - any:
+      - head-branch: [ '^feature' ]
+fix:
+  - any:
+      - head-branch: [ '^fix', '^hotfix' ]
+chore:
+  - any:
+      - head-branch: [ '^chore', '^documentation', '^docs', '^ci', '^refactor' ]
+release:
+  - all:
+      - base-branch: [ 'main', 'master' ]
+      - head-branch: [ 'development', 'dev' ]
diff --git a/.github/release.yml b/.github/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a928f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+changelog:
+  exclude:
+    labels:
+      - ignore-for-release
+    authors:
+      - JohnnyQ5
+      - github-actions
+  categories:
+    - title: New Features 🚀
+      labels:
+        - feature
+    - title: Bugfixes 🪲
+      labels:
+        - fix
+    - title: Documentation & CI 🪂
+      labels:
+        - chore
+    - title: Others 🧃
+      labels:
+        - "*"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_package.yml b/.github/workflows/build_package.yml
index 8a28bec..77c5fe5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_package.yml
@@ -1,17 +1,31 @@
 name: Build Maven Package
 
-on: [push]
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - '**'
+  pull_request:
+    # The branches below must be a subset of the branches above
+    branches: [ main, master ]
 
 jobs:
-  build:
+  package:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-      - name: Set up JDK 1.8
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v1
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Set up JDK 8
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
         with:
-          java-version: 1.8
-
+          distribution: 'zulu'
+          java-version: '8'
+      - name: Load local Maven repository cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v3
+        with:
+          path: ~/.m2/repository
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
       - name: Run mvn package
         run: mvn -B package --file pom.xml
diff --git a/.github/workflows/changelog-update.yml b/.github/workflows/changelog-update.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d421f65..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/changelog-update.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-name: "Changelog update"
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened, ready_for_review, labeled, unlabeled]
-
-jobs:
-  # Enforces the update of a changelog file on every pull request
-  changelog:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-      - uses: dangoslen/changelog-enforcer@v2
-        with:
-          changeLogPath: 'CHANGELOG.rst'
-          skipLabels: 'Skip-Changelog'
-          
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml
index 87715df..1b1841d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml
@@ -13,16 +13,15 @@ name: "CodeQL"
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: [ master, development, patch/*, release/*, hotfix/* ]
+    branches: [ main, master, development, release/*, hotfix/* ]
   pull_request:
     # The branches below must be a subset of the branches above
-    branches: [ master ]
+    branches: [ main, master ]
   schedule:
     - cron: '21 1 * * 4'
 
 jobs:
   analyze:
-    name: Analyze
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     permissions:
       actions: read
@@ -37,47 +36,48 @@ jobs:
         # Learn more about CodeQL language support at https://git.io/codeql-language-support
 
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v2
-    - name: Set up JDK 1.8
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v1
-      with:
-        java-version: 1.8
-        settings-path: ${{ github.workspace }}
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Set up JDK 8
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+        with:
+          distribution: 'zulu'
+          java-version: '8'
+          settings-path: ${{ github.workspace }}
 
-    - name: Load local Maven repository cache
-      uses: actions/cache@v2
-      with:
-        path: ~/.m2/repository
-        key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
-        restore-keys: |
-          ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
+      - name: Load local Maven repository cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v3
+        with:
+          path: ~/.m2/repository
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
 
-    # Initializes the CodeQL tools for scanning.
-    - name: Initialize CodeQL
-      uses: github/codeql-action/init@v1
-      with:
-        languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
-        # If you wish to specify custom queries, you can do so here or in a config file.
-        # By default, queries listed here will override any specified in a config file.
-        # Prefix the list here with "+" to use these queries and those in the config file.
-        # queries: ./path/to/local/query, your-org/your-repo/queries@main
+      # Initializes the CodeQL tools for scanning.
+      - name: Initialize CodeQL
+        uses: github/codeql-action/init@v2
+        with:
+          languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
+          # If you wish to specify custom queries, you can do so here or in a config file.
+          # By default, queries listed here will override any specified in a config file.
+          # Prefix the list here with "+" to use these queries and those in the config file.
+          # queries: ./path/to/local/query, your-org/your-repo/queries@main
 
-    # Autobuild attempts to build any compiled languages  (C/C++, C#, or Java).
-    # If this step fails, then you should remove it and run the build manually (see below)
-    - name: Autobuild
-      uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v1
+      # Autobuild attempts to build any compiled languages  (C/C++, C#, or Java).
+      # If this step fails, then you should remove it and run the build manually (see below)
+      - name: Autobuild
+        uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v2
 
-    # ℹ️ Command-line programs to run using the OS shell.
-    # 📚 https://git.io/JvXDl
+      # ℹ️ Command-line programs to run using the OS shell.
+      # 📚 https://git.io/JvXDl
 
-    # ✏️ If the Autobuild fails above, remove it and uncomment the following three lines
-    #    and modify them (or add more) to build your code if your project
-    #    uses a compiled language
+      # ✏️ If the Autobuild fails above, remove it and uncomment the following three lines
+      #    and modify them (or add more) to build your code if your project
+      #    uses a compiled language
 
-    #- run: |
-    #   make bootstrap
-    #   make release
+      #- run: |
+      #   make bootstrap
+      #   make release
 
-    - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-      uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v1
+      - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
+        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v2
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-release.yml b/.github/workflows/create-release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed38abf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+name: Create Release
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      versionTag:
+        description: 'Version Tag (semantic version)'
+        required: true
+
+jobs:
+  release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Set up JDK 8
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+        with:
+          distribution: 'zulu'
+          java-version: '8'
+          settings-path: ${{ github.workspace }}
+
+      - name: Load local Maven repository cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v3
+        with:
+          path: ~/.m2/repository
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
+
+      - name: Set up git
+        run: |
+          git config --global user.email "support@qbic.zendesk.com"
+          git config --global user.name "JohnnyQ5"
+
+      - name: Set version in Maven project
+        run:  mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=${{ github.event.inputs.versionTag }}
+
+      - name: Build with Maven
+        run: mvn -B package --file pom.xml
+
+      - name: Create Release Notes
+        if: ${{ !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
+          && !( contains(github.event.inputs.versionTag, 'alpha')
+          || contains(github.event.inputs.versionTag, 'beta')
+          || contains(github.event.inputs.versionTag, 'rc')) }}
+        uses: actions/github-script@v6
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{secrets.JOHNNY_Q5_REPORTS_TOKEN}}
+          script: |
+            await github.request(`POST /repos/${{ github.repository }}/releases`, {
+              tag_name: "${{ github.event.inputs.versionTag }}",
+              generate_release_notes: true
+            });
+
+      - name: Create Pre-Release Notes
+        if: ${{ !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
+          && ( contains(github.event.inputs.versionTag, 'alpha')
+          || contains(github.event.inputs.versionTag, 'beta')
+          || contains(github.event.inputs.versionTag, 'rc')) }}
+        uses: actions/github-script@v6
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{secrets.JOHNNY_Q5_REPORTS_TOKEN}}
+          script: |
+            await github.request(`POST /repos/${{ github.repository }}/releases`, {
+              tag_name: "${{ github.event.inputs.versionTag }}",
+              generate_release_notes: true,
+              prerelease: true
+            });
+
+      - name: Publish artefact to QBiC Nexus Repository
+        run: mvn --quiet --settings $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.github.settings.xml deploy
+        env:
+          MAVEN_REPO_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.NEXUS_USERNAME }}
+          MAVEN_REPO_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.NEXUS_PASSWORD }}
+
+      - name: Switch to new branch
+        run: git checkout -b release/set-version-to-${{ github.event.inputs.versionTag }}
+
+      - name: Set remote branch
+        run: git push --set-upstream origin release/set-version-to-${{ github.event.inputs.versionTag }}
+
+      - name: Checkin commit
+        run: git commit . -m 'Set version to ${{ github.event.inputs.versionTag }}'
+
+      - name: Push to Github
+        run: git push
+
+      - name: Open PR with version bump
+        uses: actions/github-script@v6
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{secrets.JOHNNY_Q5_REPORTS_TOKEN}}
+          script: |
+            await github.request(`POST /repos/${{ github.repository }}/pulls`, {
+              title: 'Update version to ${{ github.event.inputs.versionTag }}',
+              head: 'release/set-version-to-${{ github.event.inputs.versionTag }}',
+              base: 'main'
+            });
diff --git a/.github/workflows/generate-reports.yml b/.github/workflows/generate-reports.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index f1f02bb..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/generate-reports.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-# This workflow will generate surefire reports and API documentation with Maven and publish
-# them on the 'gh-pages' branch of the target Github repository.
-
-name: Generate reports and API documentation
-
-on:
-  release:
-    types: [created]
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - development
-
-jobs:
-  build:
-
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-      - name: Install git
-        run: sudo apt-get install git
-
-      - name: Set up JDK 1.11
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v1
-        with:
-          java-version: 1.11
-          server-id: github # Value of the distributionManagement/repository/id field of the pom.xml
-          settings-path: ${{ github.workspace }}
-
-      - name: Setup Python 3.7
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v2
-        with:
-          python-version: '3.7' # Version range or exact version of a Python version to use, using SemVer's version range syntax
-          architecture: 'x64' # optional x64 or x86. Defaults to x64 if not specified
-
-      - name: Install dependencies
-        run: |
-          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install pygithub
-
-      - name: Load local Maven repository cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v2
-        with:
-          path: ~/.m2/repository
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
-          restore-keys: |
-              ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
-
-      - name: Maven generate reports
-        run: mvn --activate-profiles !development-build,!release-build --settings .github.settings.xml site
-
-      - name: Set up git
-        run: |
-            git config --global user.email "support@qbic.zendesk.com"
-            git config --global user.name "JohnnyQ5"
-
-      - name: Publish reports
-        run: |
-          python .generate-reports.py ${GITHUB_REF##*/} $GITHUB_REPOSITORY "[Github Action] Updated gh-pages"
-        env:
-          REPORTS_GITHUB_ACCESS_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.JOHNNY_Q5_REPORTS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/groovy_checkstyle.yml b/.github/workflows/groovy_checkstyle.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index ea3df6a..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/groovy_checkstyle.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-name: Groovy Checkstyle
-
-on: [push]
-
-jobs:
-  build:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-      - name: setup Node 12
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v1
-        with:
-          node-version: '12.x'
-
-      - name: Install npm-groovy-lint
-        run: npm install -g npm-groovy-lint
-
-      - name: Run npm-groovy-lint
-        run: npm-groovy-lint
diff --git a/.github/workflows/label-pull-requests.yml b/.github/workflows/label-pull-requests.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..931ff6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/label-pull-requests.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+name: Label Pull Requests
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  pull-requests: write
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types: [ opened, edited ]
+
+jobs:
+  Assign-Label-To-Pull-Request:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/labeler@v5.0.0-alpha.1
+        with:
+          repo-token: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nexus-publish-release.yml b/.github/workflows/nexus-publish-release.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 7475117..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/nexus-publish-release.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-# This workflow will build a package using Maven and then publish it to
-# qbic-repo.qbic.uni-tuebingen.de packages when a release is created
-# For more information see: https://github.com/actions/setup-java#apache-maven-with-a-settings-path
-
-name: Nexus Package
-
-on:
-  release:
-    types: [created]
-
-jobs:
-  build:
-
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-    - name: Set up JDK 1.8
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v1
-      with:
-        java-version: 1.8
-        server-id: github # Value of the distributionManagement/repository/id field of the pom.xml
-        settings-path: ${{ github.workspace }}
-
-    -   name: Load local Maven repository cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v2
-        with:
-            path: ~/.m2/repository
-            key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
-            restore-keys: |
-                ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
-
-    -   name: Remove snapshot tags
-        run:  mvn versions:set -DremoveSnapshot
-
-    -   name: Build with Maven
-        run: mvn -B package --file pom.xml
-
-    -   name: Publish artefact to QBiC Nexus Repository
-        run: mvn --quiet --activate-profiles !development-build,release-build --settings $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.github.settings.xml deploy
-        env:
-            MAVEN_REPO_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.NEXUS_USERNAME }}
-            MAVEN_REPO_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.NEXUS_PASSWORD }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nexus-publish.yml b/.github/workflows/nexus-publish-snapshots.yml
similarity index 61%
rename from .github/workflows/nexus-publish.yml
rename to .github/workflows/nexus-publish-snapshots.yml
index be8c619..9d98c35 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nexus-publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nexus-publish-snapshots.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # qbic-repo.qbic.uni-tuebingen.de packages when a release is created
 # For more information see: https://github.com/actions/setup-java#apache-maven-with-a-settings-path
 
-name: Nexus Package
+name: Deploy Snapshot
 
 on:
   push:
@@ -10,25 +10,33 @@ on:
       - development
 
 jobs:
-  build:
+  publish_snapshot:
 
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-      - name: Set up JDK 1.8
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v1
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Set up JDK 8
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
         with:
-          java-version: 1.8
+          distribution: 'zulu'
+          java-version: '8'
           settings-path: ${{ github.workspace }}
-      
+
       - name: Load local Maven repository cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v2
+        uses: actions/cache@v3
         with:
           path: ~/.m2/repository
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
           restore-keys: |
             ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
+      # Remove existing snapshot tags which are not supposed to be present
+      - name: Remove snapshot tags
+        run: mvn versions:set -DremoveSnapshot
+      # Set the SNAPSHOT for this build and deployment
+      - name: Set version in Maven project
+        run:  mvn versions:set -DnewVersion='${project.version}-SNAPSHOT'
 
       - name: Build with Maven
         run: mvn -B package --file pom.xml
@@ -38,4 +46,3 @@ jobs:
         env:
           MAVEN_REPO_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.NEXUS_USERNAME }}
           MAVEN_REPO_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.NEXUS_PASSWORD }}
-        
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr_to_master_from_hotfix_release_only.yml b/.github/workflows/pr_to_master_from_hotfix_release_only.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 41b9ee5..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/pr_to_master_from_hotfix_release_only.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-name: PR to master branch from patch/release branch only
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    branches:
-    - master
-
-jobs:
-  test:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      # PRs to the repository master branch are only ok if coming from any patch or release branch
-      - name: Check PRs
-        run: |
-          { [[ $GITHUB_HEAD_REF = *"release"* ]]; } || [[ $GITHUB_HEAD_REF == *"hotfix"* ]]
-
-
-      # If the above check failed, post a comment on the PR explaining the failure
-      # NOTE - this may not work if the PR is coming from a fork, due to limitations in GitHub actions secrets
-      - name: Post PR comment
-        if: failure()
-        uses: mshick/add-pr-comment@v1
-        with:
-          message: |
-            Hi @${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }},
-
-            It looks like this pull-request is has been made against the ${{github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name}} `master` branch.
-            The `master` branch should always contain code from the latest release.
-            Because of this, PRs to `master` are only allowed if they come from any ${{github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name}} `release` or `hotfix` branch.
-
-            You do not need to close this PR, you can change the target branch to `development` by clicking the _"Edit"_ button at the top of this page.
-
-            Thanks again for your contribution!
-          repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          allow-repeats: false
-
diff --git a/.github/workflows/run_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/run_tests.yml
index c9660cc..a5e3281 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run_tests.yml
@@ -1,20 +1,29 @@
 name: Run Maven Tests
 
-on: [push]
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - '**'
+  pull_request:
+    # The branches below must be a subset of the branches above
+    branches: [ main, master ]
 
 jobs:
-  build:
+  test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-      - name: Set up JDK 1.8
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v1
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Set up JDK 8
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
         with:
-          java-version: 1.8
+          distribution: 'zulu'
+          java-version: '8'
+          settings-path: ${{ github.workspace }}
 
       - name: Load local Maven repository cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v2
+        uses: actions/cache@v3
         with:
           path: ~/.m2/repository
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}