diff --git a/.ci/scripts/check_release.py b/.ci/scripts/check_release.py
index 1ae7713d..0ff2e147 100755
--- a/.ci/scripts/check_release.py
+++ b/.ci/scripts/check_release.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def main():
         "--branches",
         default="supported",
         help="A comma separated list of branches to check for releases. Can also use keyword: "
-        "'supported'. Defaults to 'supported', see `ci_update_branches` in "
+        "'supported'. Defaults to 'supported', see `supported_release_branches` in "
         "`plugin_template.yml`.",
     )
     opts = parser.parse_args()
@@ -46,12 +46,15 @@ def main():
         if branches == "supported":
             with open(f"{d}/template_config.yml", mode="r") as f:
                 tc = yaml.safe_load(f)
-                branches = tc["ci_update_branches"]
-            branches.append(DEFAULT_BRANCH)
+                branches = set(tc["supported_release_branches"])
+            latest_release_branch = tc["latest_release_branch"]
+            if latest_release_branch is not None:
+                branches.add(latest_release_branch)
+            branches.add(DEFAULT_BRANCH)
         else:
-            branches = branches.split(",")
+            branches = set(branches.split(","))
 
-        if diff := set(branches) - set(available_branches):
+        if diff := branches - set(available_branches):
             print(f"Supplied branches contains non-existent branches! {diff}")
             exit(1)
 
diff --git a/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py b/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py
index 3c8c3f22..4a7aae7b 100755
--- a/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py
+++ b/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@
 CHANGELOG_FILE = tc_settings.get("filename", "NEWS.rst")
 START_STRING = tc_settings.get(
     "start_string",
-    "<!-- towncrier release notes start -->\n"
-    if CHANGELOG_FILE.endswith(".md")
-    else ".. towncrier release notes start\n",
+    (
+        "<!-- towncrier release notes start -->\n"
+        if CHANGELOG_FILE.endswith(".md")
+        else ".. towncrier release notes start\n"
+    ),
 )
 TITLE_FORMAT = tc_settings.get("title_format", "{name} {version} ({project_date})")
 
diff --git a/.github/template_gitref b/.github/template_gitref
index bff7b993..6cfa2261 100644
--- a/.github/template_gitref
+++ b/.github/template_gitref
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2021.08.26-301-g83f0607
+2021.08.26-312-ge121aa6
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-branch.yml b/.github/workflows/create-branch.yml
index 2472f0aa..1ae1a6a1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-branch.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-branch.yml
@@ -71,6 +71,19 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           find CHANGES -type f -regex ".*\.\(bugfix\|doc\|feature\|misc\|deprecation\|removal\)" -exec git rm {} +
 
+      - name: Checkout plugin template
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          repository: pulp/plugin_template
+          path: plugin_template
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Update CI branches in template_config
+        working-directory: plugin_template
+        run: |
+          python3 ./plugin-template pulp_file --github --latest-release-branch "${NEW_BRANCH}"
+          git add -A
+
       - name: Make a PR with version bump and without CHANGES/*
         uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v4
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f74995ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,322 @@
+# WARNING: DO NOT EDIT!
+#
+# This file was generated by plugin_template, and is managed by it. Please use
+# './plugin-template --github pulp_file' to update this file.
+#
+# For more info visit https://github.com/pulp/plugin_template
+
+---
+name: "File Publish Release"
+on:
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - "[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+"
+
+defaults:
+  run:
+    working-directory: "pulp_file"
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    uses: "./.github/workflows/build.yml"
+
+  build-bindings-docs:
+    needs:
+      - "build"
+    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
+    # Install scripts expect TEST to be set, 'docs' is most appropriate even though we don't run tests
+    env:
+      TEST: "docs"
+    steps:
+      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 1
+          path: "pulp_file"
+
+      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 1
+          repository: "pulp/pulp-openapi-generator"
+          path: "pulp-openapi-generator"
+
+      - uses: "actions/setup-python@v4"
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.8"
+
+      - uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
+        with:
+          name: "plugin_package"
+          path: "pulp_file/dist/"
+      - uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
+        with:
+          ruby-version: "2.6"
+
+      - name: "Install python dependencies"
+        run: |
+          echo ::group::PYDEPS
+          pip install towncrier twine wheel httpie docker netaddr boto3 ansible mkdocs
+          echo "HTTPIE_CONFIG_DIR=$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/pulp_file/.ci/assets/httpie/" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo ::endgroup::
+
+      # Building the bindings and docs requires accessing the OpenAPI specs endpoint, so we need to
+      # setup the Pulp instance.
+      - name: "Before Install"
+        run: |
+          .github/workflows/scripts/before_install.sh
+        shell: "bash"
+        env:
+          PY_COLORS: "1"
+          ANSIBLE_FORCE_COLOR: "1"
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
+          GITHUB_CONTEXT: "${{ github.event.pull_request.commits_url }}"
+
+      - name: "Install"
+        run: |
+          .github/workflows/scripts/install.sh
+        shell: "bash"
+        env:
+          PY_COLORS: "1"
+          ANSIBLE_FORCE_COLOR: "1"
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
+          GITHUB_CONTEXT: "${{ github.event.pull_request.commits_url }}"
+
+      - name: "Install Python client"
+        run: |
+          .github/workflows/scripts/install_python_client.sh
+        shell: "bash"
+      - name: "Install Ruby client"
+        run: |
+          .github/workflows/scripts/install_ruby_client.sh
+        shell: "bash"
+      - name: "Upload python client packages"
+        uses: "actions/upload-artifact@v3"
+        with:
+          name: "python-client.tar"
+          path: "pulp_file/file-python-client.tar"
+          if-no-files-found: "error"
+
+      - name: "Upload python client docs"
+        uses: "actions/upload-artifact@v3"
+        with:
+          name: "python-client-docs.tar"
+          path: "pulp_file/file-python-client-docs.tar"
+          if-no-files-found: "error"
+      - name: "Upload ruby client packages"
+        uses: "actions/upload-artifact@v3"
+        with:
+          name: "ruby-client.tar"
+          path: "pulp_file/file-ruby-client.tar"
+          if-no-files-found: "error"
+      - name: Build docs
+        run: |
+          export DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=pulpcore.app.settings
+          export PULP_SETTINGS=$PWD/.ci/ansible/settings/settings.py
+          make -C docs/ PULP_URL="https://pulp" diagrams html
+          tar -cvf docs/docs.tar docs/_build
+
+      - name: "Upload built docs"
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+        with:
+          name: "docs.tar"
+          path: "pulp_file/docs/docs.tar"
+
+      - name: "Logs"
+        if: always()
+        run: |
+          echo "Need to debug? Please check: https://github.com/marketplace/actions/debugging-with-tmate"
+          http --timeout 30 --check-status --pretty format --print hb "https://pulp${PULP_API_ROOT}api/v3/status/" || true
+          docker images || true
+          docker ps -a || true
+          docker logs pulp || true
+          docker exec pulp ls -latr /etc/yum.repos.d/ || true
+          docker exec pulp cat /etc/yum.repos.d/* || true
+          docker exec pulp bash -c "pip3 list && pip3 install pipdeptree && pipdeptree"
+  publish-package:
+    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
+    needs:
+      - "build-bindings-docs"
+
+    env:
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 1
+          path: "pulp_file"
+
+      - uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
+        with:
+          name: "plugin_package"
+          path: "pulp_file/dist/"
+
+      - uses: "actions/setup-python@v4"
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.8"
+
+      - name: "Install python dependencies"
+        run: |
+          echo ::group::PYDEPS
+          pip install twine
+          echo ::endgroup::
+
+      - name: "Setting secrets"
+        run: |
+          python3 .github/workflows/scripts/secrets.py "$SECRETS_CONTEXT"
+        env:
+          SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
+
+      - name: "Deploy plugin to pypi"
+        run: |
+          .github/workflows/scripts/publish_plugin_pypi.sh ${{ github.ref_name }}
+  publish-python-bindings:
+    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
+    needs:
+      - "build-bindings-docs"
+
+    env:
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 1
+          path: "pulp_file"
+
+      - name: "Download Python client"
+        uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
+        with:
+          name: "python-client.tar"
+          path: "pulp_file/"
+
+      - name: "Untar python client packages"
+        run: |
+          tar -xvf file-python-client.tar
+
+      - uses: "actions/setup-python@v4"
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.8"
+
+      - name: "Install python dependencies"
+        run: |
+          echo ::group::PYDEPS
+          pip install twine
+          echo ::endgroup::
+
+      - name: "Setting secrets"
+        run: |
+          python3 .github/workflows/scripts/secrets.py "$SECRETS_CONTEXT"
+        env:
+          SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
+
+      - name: "Publish client to pypi"
+        run: |
+          bash .github/workflows/scripts/publish_client_pypi.sh ${{ github.ref_name }}
+  publish-ruby-bindings:
+    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
+    needs:
+      - "build-bindings-docs"
+
+    env:
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 1
+          path: "pulp_file"
+
+      - name: "Download Ruby client"
+        uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
+        with:
+          name: "ruby-client.tar"
+          path: "pulp_file/"
+
+      - name: "Untar Ruby client packages"
+        run: |
+          tar -xvf file-ruby-client.tar
+
+      - uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
+        with:
+          ruby-version: "2.6"
+
+      - name: "Setting secrets"
+        run: |
+          python3 .github/workflows/scripts/secrets.py "$SECRETS_CONTEXT"
+        env:
+          SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
+
+      - name: "Publish client to rubygems"
+        run: |
+          bash .github/workflows/scripts/publish_client_gem.sh ${{ github.ref_name }}
+  publish-docs:
+    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
+    needs:
+      - "build-bindings-docs"
+
+    env:
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 1
+          path: "pulp_file"
+
+      - uses: "actions/setup-python@v4"
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.8"
+
+      - name: "Install python dependencies"
+        run: |
+          echo ::group::PYDEPS
+          pip install 'packaging~=21.3' requests
+          echo ::endgroup::
+
+      - name: "Setting secrets"
+        run: |
+          python3 .github/workflows/scripts/secrets.py "$SECRETS_CONTEXT"
+        env:
+          SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
+
+      - name: "Download built docs"
+        uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
+        with:
+          name: "docs.tar"
+          path: "pulp_file/"
+
+      - name: "Download Python client docs"
+        uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
+        with:
+          name: "python-client-docs.tar"
+          path: "pulp_file/"
+
+      - name: "Publish docs to pulpproject.org"
+        run: |
+          tar -xvf docs.tar
+          .github/workflows/scripts/publish_docs.sh tag ${{ github.ref_name }}
+
+  create-gh-release:
+    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
+    needs:
+      - "build-bindings-docs"
+      - "publish-package"
+      - "publish-python-bindings"
+      - "publish-ruby-bindings"
+      - "publish-docs"
+
+    steps:
+      - name: "Create release on GitHub"
+        uses: "actions/github-script@v7"
+        env:
+          TAG_NAME: "${{ github.ref_name }}"
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const { TAG_NAME } = process.env;
+
+            await github.rest.repos.createRelease({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+              tag_name: TAG_NAME,
+              make_latest: "legacy",
+            });
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index caca339c..74548017 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@
 name: File Release Pipeline
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
-    inputs:
-      release:
-        description: "Release tag (e.g. 3.2.1)"
 
 defaults:
   run:
@@ -29,6 +26,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           path: "pulp_file"
+          token: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: "actions/setup-python@v4"
         with:
@@ -37,7 +35,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: "Install python dependencies"
         run: |
           echo ::group::PYDEPS
-          pip install 'packaging~=21.3' bump2version gitpython towncrier wheel requests
+          pip install bump2version towncrier
           echo ::endgroup::
 
       - name: "Configure Git with pulpbot name and email"
@@ -51,363 +49,12 @@ jobs:
         env:
           SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
 
-      - name: "Create the release commit, tag it, create a post-release commit, and build plugin package"
+      - name: "Tag the release"
         run: |
-          python .github/workflows/scripts/release.py ${{ github.event.inputs.release }}
-
-      - name: "Upload Package whl"
-        uses: "actions/upload-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "plugin_package"
-          path: "pulp_file/dist/"
-          if-no-files-found: "error"
-
-      - name: "Tar files"
-        run: |
-          tar -cvf pulp_file.tar .
-
-      - name: "Upload Artifact"
-        uses: "actions/upload-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "pulp_file.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/pulp_file.tar"
-
-
-  build-bindings-docs:
-    needs:
-      - "build-artifacts"
-    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
-    # Install scripts expect TEST to be set, 'docs' is most appropriate even though we don't run tests
-    env:
-      TEST: "docs"
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "pulp_file.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/"
-
-      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 1
-          repository: "pulp/pulp-openapi-generator"
-          path: "pulp-openapi-generator"
-
-      - uses: "actions/setup-python@v4"
-        with:
-          python-version: "3.8"
-      - uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
-        with:
-          ruby-version: "2.6"
-
-      - name: "Untar repository"
-        run: |
-          tar -xf pulp_file.tar
-
-      - name: "Install python dependencies"
-        run: |
-          echo ::group::PYDEPS
-          pip install towncrier twine wheel httpie docker netaddr boto3 ansible mkdocs
-          echo "HTTPIE_CONFIG_DIR=$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/pulp_file/.ci/assets/httpie/" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          echo ::endgroup::
-
-      # Building the bindings and docs requires accessing the OpenAPI specs endpoint, so we need to
-      # setup the Pulp instance.
-      - name: "Before Install"
-        run: |
-          .github/workflows/scripts/before_install.sh
+          .github/workflows/scripts/release.sh
         shell: "bash"
         env:
           PY_COLORS: "1"
           ANSIBLE_FORCE_COLOR: "1"
           GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
           GITHUB_CONTEXT: "${{ github.event.pull_request.commits_url }}"
-
-      - name: "Install"
-        run: |
-          .github/workflows/scripts/install.sh
-        shell: "bash"
-        env:
-          PY_COLORS: "1"
-          ANSIBLE_FORCE_COLOR: "1"
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
-          GITHUB_CONTEXT: "${{ github.event.pull_request.commits_url }}"
-
-      - name: "Install Python client"
-        run: |
-          .github/workflows/scripts/install_python_client.sh
-        shell: "bash"
-      - name: "Install Ruby client"
-        run: |
-          .github/workflows/scripts/install_ruby_client.sh
-        shell: "bash"
-      - name: "Upload python client packages"
-        uses: "actions/upload-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "python-client.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/file-python-client.tar"
-          if-no-files-found: "error"
-
-      - name: "Upload python client docs"
-        uses: "actions/upload-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "python-client-docs.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/file-python-client-docs.tar"
-          if-no-files-found: "error"
-      - name: "Upload ruby client packages"
-        uses: "actions/upload-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "ruby-client.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/file-ruby-client.tar"
-          if-no-files-found: "error"
-      - name: Build docs
-        run: |
-          export DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=pulpcore.app.settings
-          export PULP_SETTINGS=$PWD/.ci/ansible/settings/settings.py
-          make -C docs/ PULP_URL="https://pulp" diagrams html
-          tar -cvf docs/docs.tar docs/_build
-
-      - name: "Upload built docs"
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
-        with:
-          name: "docs.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/docs/docs.tar"
-
-      - name: "Logs"
-        if: always()
-        run: |
-          echo "Need to debug? Please check: https://github.com/marketplace/actions/debugging-with-tmate"
-          http --timeout 30 --check-status --pretty format --print hb "https://pulp${PULP_API_ROOT}api/v3/status/" || true
-          docker images || true
-          docker ps -a || true
-          docker logs pulp || true
-          docker exec pulp ls -latr /etc/yum.repos.d/ || true
-          docker exec pulp cat /etc/yum.repos.d/* || true
-          docker exec pulp bash -c "pip3 list && pip3 install pipdeptree && pipdeptree"
-
-
-  publish-tag:
-    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
-    needs:
-      - "build-bindings-docs"
-
-    env:
-      GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "pulp_file.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/"
-
-      - name: "Untar repository"
-        run: |
-          tar -xf pulp_file.tar
-
-      - name: "Configure Git with pulpbot name and email"
-        run: |
-          git config --global user.name 'pulpbot'
-          git config --global user.email 'pulp-infra@redhat.com'
-
-      - name: "Setting secrets"
-        run: |
-          python3 .github/workflows/scripts/secrets.py "$SECRETS_CONTEXT"
-        env:
-          SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
-
-      - name: "Push branch and tag to GitHub"
-        run: |
-          bash .github/workflows/scripts/push_branch_and_tag_to_github.sh ${{ github.event.inputs.release }}
-  publish-package:
-    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
-    needs:
-      - "build-bindings-docs"
-      - "publish-tag"
-
-    env:
-      GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 1
-          path: "pulp_file"
-
-      - uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "plugin_package"
-          path: "pulp_file/dist/"
-
-      - uses: "actions/setup-python@v4"
-        with:
-          python-version: "3.8"
-
-      - name: "Install python dependencies"
-        run: |
-          echo ::group::PYDEPS
-          pip install twine
-          echo ::endgroup::
-
-      - name: "Setting secrets"
-        run: |
-          python3 .github/workflows/scripts/secrets.py "$SECRETS_CONTEXT"
-        env:
-          SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
-
-      - name: "Deploy plugin to pypi"
-        run: |
-          .github/workflows/scripts/publish_plugin_pypi.sh ${{ github.event.inputs.release }}
-  publish-python-bindings:
-    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
-    needs:
-      - "build-bindings-docs"
-      - "publish-tag"
-    env:
-      GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 1
-          path: "pulp_file"
-
-      - name: "Download Python client"
-        uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "python-client.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/"
-
-      - name: "Untar python client packages"
-        run: |
-          tar -xvf file-python-client.tar
-
-      - uses: "actions/setup-python@v4"
-        with:
-          python-version: "3.8"
-
-      - name: "Install python dependencies"
-        run: |
-          echo ::group::PYDEPS
-          pip install twine
-          echo ::endgroup::
-
-      - name: "Setting secrets"
-        run: |
-          python3 .github/workflows/scripts/secrets.py "$SECRETS_CONTEXT"
-        env:
-          SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
-
-      - name: "Publish client to pypi"
-        run: |
-          bash .github/workflows/scripts/publish_client_pypi.sh ${{ github.event.inputs.release }}
-  publish-ruby-bindings:
-    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
-    needs:
-      - "build-bindings-docs"
-      - "publish-tag"
-
-    env:
-      GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 1
-          path: "pulp_file"
-
-      - name: "Download Ruby client"
-        uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "ruby-client.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/"
-
-      - name: "Untar Ruby client packages"
-        run: |
-          tar -xvf file-ruby-client.tar
-
-      - uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
-        with:
-          ruby-version: "2.6"
-
-      - name: "Setting secrets"
-        run: |
-          python3 .github/workflows/scripts/secrets.py "$SECRETS_CONTEXT"
-        env:
-          SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
-
-      - name: "Publish client to rubygems"
-        run: |
-          bash .github/workflows/scripts/publish_client_gem.sh ${{ github.event.inputs.release }}
-  publish-docs:
-    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
-    needs:
-      - "build-bindings-docs"
-      - "publish-tag"
-
-    env:
-      GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: "actions/checkout@v4"
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 1
-          path: "pulp_file"
-
-      - uses: "actions/setup-python@v4"
-        with:
-          python-version: "3.8"
-
-      - name: "Install python dependencies"
-        run: |
-          echo ::group::PYDEPS
-          pip install 'packaging~=21.3' requests
-          echo ::endgroup::
-
-      - name: "Setting secrets"
-        run: |
-          python3 .github/workflows/scripts/secrets.py "$SECRETS_CONTEXT"
-        env:
-          SECRETS_CONTEXT: "${{ toJson(secrets) }}"
-
-      - name: "Download built docs"
-        uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "docs.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/"
-
-      - name: "Download Python client docs"
-        uses: "actions/download-artifact@v3"
-        with:
-          name: "python-client-docs.tar"
-          path: "pulp_file/"
-
-      - name: "Publish docs to pulpproject.org"
-        run: |
-          tar -xvf docs.tar
-          .github/workflows/scripts/publish_docs.sh tag ${{ github.event.inputs.release }}
-
-  create-gh-release:
-    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
-    needs:
-      - "build-bindings-docs"
-      - "publish-tag"
-      - "publish-package"
-      - "publish-python-bindings"
-      - "publish-ruby-bindings"
-      - "publish-docs"
-
-    steps:
-      - name: "Create release on GitHub"
-        uses: "actions/github-script@v7"
-        env:
-          TAG_NAME: "${{ inputs.release }}"
-        with:
-          script: |
-            const { TAG_NAME } = process.env;
-
-            await github.rest.repos.createRelease({
-              owner: context.repo.owner,
-              repo: context.repo.repo,
-              tag_name: TAG_NAME,
-              make_latest: "legacy",
-            });
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/install_python_client.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/install_python_client.sh
index ab8bf6da..c6603f91 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/install_python_client.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/install_python_client.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ cd "$(dirname "$(realpath -e "$0")")"/../../..
 
 source .github/workflows/scripts/utils.sh
 
-export PULP_URL="${PULP_URL:-https://pulp}"
+PULP_URL="${PULP_URL:-https://pulp}"
+export PULP_URL
+PULP_API_ROOT="${PULP_API_ROOT:-/pulp/}"
+export PULP_API_ROOT
 
 REPORTED_STATUS="$(pulp status)"
 REPORTED_VERSION="$(echo "$REPORTED_STATUS" | jq --arg plugin "file" -r '.versions[] | select(.component == $plugin) | .version')"
@@ -22,7 +25,15 @@ VERSION="$(echo "$REPORTED_VERSION" | python -c 'from packaging.version import V
 
 pushd ../pulp-openapi-generator
 rm -rf pulp_file-client
-./generate.sh pulp_file python "$VERSION"
+
+if pulp debug has-plugin --name "core" --specifier ">=3.44.0.dev"
+then
+  curl --fail-with-body -k -o api.json "${PULP_URL}${PULP_API_ROOT}api/v3/docs/api.json?bindings&component=file"
+  USE_LOCAL_API_JSON=1 ./generate.sh pulp_file python "$VERSION"
+else
+  ./generate.sh pulp_file python "$VERSION"
+fi
+
 pushd pulp_file-client
 python setup.py sdist bdist_wheel --python-tag py3
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/install_ruby_client.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/install_ruby_client.sh
index a2f980b7..73f38b06 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/install_ruby_client.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/install_ruby_client.sh
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ cd "$(dirname "$(realpath -e "$0")")"/../../..
 
 source .github/workflows/scripts/utils.sh
 
-export PULP_URL="${PULP_URL:-https://pulp}"
-
+PULP_URL="${PULP_URL:-https://pulp}"
+export PULP_URL
+PULP_API_ROOT="${PULP_API_ROOT:-/pulp/}"
+export PULP_API_ROOT
 
 REPORTED_STATUS="$(pulp status)"
 REPORTED_VERSION="$(echo "$REPORTED_STATUS" | jq --arg plugin "file" -r '.versions[] | select(.component == $plugin) | .version')"
@@ -23,7 +25,15 @@ VERSION="$(echo "$REPORTED_VERSION" | python -c 'from packaging.version import V
 
 pushd ../pulp-openapi-generator
 rm -rf pulp_file-client
-./generate.sh pulp_file ruby "$VERSION"
+
+if pulp debug has-plugin --name "core" --specifier ">=3.44.0.dev"
+then
+  curl --fail-with-body -k -o api.json "${PULP_URL}${PULP_API_ROOT}api/v3/docs/api.json?bindings&component=file"
+  USE_LOCAL_API_JSON=1 ./generate.sh pulp_file ruby "$VERSION"
+else
+  ./generate.sh pulp_file ruby "$VERSION"
+fi
+
 pushd pulp_file-client
 gem build pulp_file_client
 gem install --both "./pulp_file_client-$VERSION.gem"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/release.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/release.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..9525f229
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/release.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -eu -o pipefail
+
+BRANCH=$(git branch --show-current)
+
+if ! [[ "${BRANCH}" =~ ^[0-9]+\.[0-9]+$ ]]
+then
+  echo ERROR: This is not a release branch!
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+NEW_VERSION="$(bump2version --dry-run --list release | sed -ne 's/^new_version=//p')"
+echo "Release ${NEW_VERSION}"
+
+if ! [[ "${NEW_VERSION}" == "${BRANCH}"* ]]
+then
+  echo ERROR: Version does not match release branch
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+towncrier build --yes --version "${NEW_VERSION}"
+bump2version release --commit --message "Release {new_version}" --tag --tag-name "{new_version}" --tag-message "Release {new_version}" --allow-dirty
+bump2version patch --commit
+
+git push origin "${BRANCH}" "${NEW_VERSION}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/script.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/script.sh
index 15d1687a..4ea9c680 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/script.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/script.sh
@@ -51,32 +51,68 @@ password password
 # Some commands like ansible-galaxy specifically require 600
 cmd_prefix bash -c "chmod 600 ~pulp/.netrc"
 
-# Infer the client name from the package name by replacing "-" with "_".
-# Use the component to infer the package name on older versions of pulpcore.
-
-if [ "$(echo "$REPORTED_STATUS" | jq -r '.domain_enabled')" = "true" ]
+# Generate and install binding
+pushd ../pulp-openapi-generator
+if pulp debug has-plugin --name "core" --specifier ">=3.44.0.dev"
 then
-  # Workaround: Domains are not supported by the published bindings.
-  # Generate new bindings for all packages.
-  pushd ../pulp-openapi-generator
-  for item in $(echo "$REPORTED_STATUS" | jq -r '.versions[]|(.package // ("pulp_" + .component)|sub("pulp_core"; "pulpcore"))|sub("-"; "_")')
-  do
-    ./generate.sh "${item}" python
-    cmd_prefix pip3 install "/root/pulp-openapi-generator/${item}-client"
-    sudo rm -rf "./${item}-client"
-  done
-  popd
+  # Use app_label to generate api.json and package to produce the proper package name.
+
+  if [ "$(jq -r '.domain_enabled' <<<"$REPORTED_STATUS")" = "true" ]
+  then
+    # Workaround: Domains are not supported by the published bindings.
+    # Generate new bindings for all packages.
+    for item in $(jq -r '.versions[] | tojson' <<<"$REPORTED_STATUS")
+    do
+      echo $item
+      COMPONENT="$(jq -r '.component' <<<"$item")"
+      VERSION="$(jq -r '.version' <<<"$item")"
+      MODULE="$(jq -r '.module' <<<"$item")"
+      PACKAGE="${MODULE%%.*}"
+      curl --fail-with-body -k -o api.json "${PULP_URL}${PULP_API_ROOT}api/v3/docs/api.json?bindings&component=$COMPONENT"
+      USE_LOCAL_API_JSON=1 ./generate.sh "${PACKAGE}" python "${VERSION}"
+      cmd_prefix pip3 install "/root/pulp-openapi-generator/${PACKAGE}-client"
+      sudo rm -rf "./${PACKAGE}-client"
+    done
+  else
+    # Sadly: Different pulpcore-versions aren't either...
+    for item in $(jq -r '.versions[]| select(.component!="file")| tojson' <<<"$REPORTED_STATUS")
+    do
+      echo $item
+      COMPONENT="$(jq -r '.component' <<<"$item")"
+      VERSION="$(jq -r '.version' <<<"$item")"
+      MODULE="$(jq -r '.module' <<<"$item")"
+      PACKAGE="${MODULE%%.*}"
+      curl --fail-with-body -k -o api.json "${PULP_URL}${PULP_API_ROOT}api/v3/docs/api.json?bindings&component=$COMPONENT"
+      USE_LOCAL_API_JSON=1 ./generate.sh "${PACKAGE}" python "${VERSION}"
+      cmd_prefix pip3 install "/root/pulp-openapi-generator/${PACKAGE}-client"
+      sudo rm -rf "./${PACKAGE}-client"
+    done
+  fi
 else
-  # Sadly: Different pulpcore-versions aren't either...
-  pushd ../pulp-openapi-generator
-  for item in $(echo "$REPORTED_STATUS" | jq -r '.versions[]|select(.component!="file")|(.package // ("pulp_" + .component)|sub("pulp_core"; "pulpcore"))|sub("-"; "_")')
-  do
-    ./generate.sh "${item}" python
-    cmd_prefix pip3 install "/root/pulp-openapi-generator/${item}-client"
-    sudo rm -rf "./${item}-client"
-  done
-  popd
+  # Infer the client name from the package name by replacing "-" with "_".
+  # Use the component to infer the package name on older versions of pulpcore.
+
+  if [ "$(echo "$REPORTED_STATUS" | jq -r '.domain_enabled')" = "true" ]
+  then
+    # Workaround: Domains are not supported by the published bindings.
+    # Generate new bindings for all packages.
+    for item in $(echo "$REPORTED_STATUS" | jq -r '.versions[]|(.package // ("pulp_" + .component)|sub("pulp_core"; "pulpcore"))|sub("-"; "_")')
+    do
+      ./generate.sh "${item}" python
+      cmd_prefix pip3 install "/root/pulp-openapi-generator/${item}-client"
+      sudo rm -rf "./${item}-client"
+    done
+  else
+    # Sadly: Different pulpcore-versions aren't either...
+    for item in $(echo "$REPORTED_STATUS" | jq -r '.versions[]|select(.component!="file")|(.package // ("pulp_" + .component)|sub("pulp_core"; "pulpcore"))|sub("-"; "_")')
+    do
+      ./generate.sh "${item}" python
+      cmd_prefix pip3 install "/root/pulp-openapi-generator/${item}-client"
+      sudo rm -rf "./${item}-client"
+    done
+  fi
 fi
+popd
 
 # At this point, this is a safeguard only, so let's not make too much fuzz about the old status format.
 echo "$REPORTED_STATUS" | jq -r '.versions[]|select(.package)|(.package|sub("_"; "-")) + "-client==" + .version' > bindings_requirements.txt
@@ -93,14 +129,14 @@ echo "Checking for uncommitted migrations..."
 cmd_user_prefix bash -c "django-admin makemigrations file --check --dry-run"
 
 # Run unit tests.
-cmd_user_prefix bash -c "PULP_DATABASES__default__USER=postgres pytest -v -r sx --color=yes -p no:pulpcore --pyargs pulp_file.tests.unit"
+cmd_user_prefix bash -c "PULP_DATABASES__default__USER=postgres pytest -v -r sx --color=yes --suppress-no-test-exit-code -p no:pulpcore --pyargs pulp_file.tests.unit"
 
 # Run functional tests
 if [[ "$TEST" == "performance" ]]; then
   if [[ -z ${PERFORMANCE_TEST+x} ]]; then
-    cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -vv -r sx --color=yes --pyargs --capture=no --durations=0 pulp_file.tests.performance"
+    cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -vv -r sx --color=yes --suppress-no-test-exit-code --capture=no --durations=0 --pyargs pulp_file.tests.performance"
   else
-    cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -vv -r sx --color=yes --pyargs --capture=no --durations=0 pulp_file.tests.performance.test_${PERFORMANCE_TEST}"
+    cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -vv -r sx --color=yes --suppress-no-test-exit-code --capture=no --durations=0 --pyargs pulp_file.tests.performance.test_${PERFORMANCE_TEST}"
   fi
   exit
 fi
@@ -108,15 +144,14 @@ fi
 if [ -f "$FUNC_TEST_SCRIPT" ]; then
   source "$FUNC_TEST_SCRIPT"
 else
-    if [[ "$GITHUB_WORKFLOW" == "File Nightly CI/CD" ]]
-    then
-        cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -v -r sx --color=yes --suppress-no-test-exit-code --pyargs pulp_file.tests.functional -m parallel -n 8 --nightly"
-        cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -v -r sx --color=yes --pyargs pulp_file.tests.functional -m 'not parallel' --nightly"
-
-    else
-        cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -v -r sx --color=yes --suppress-no-test-exit-code --pyargs pulp_file.tests.functional -m parallel -n 8"
-        cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -v -r sx --color=yes --pyargs pulp_file.tests.functional -m 'not parallel'"
-    fi
+  if [[ "$GITHUB_WORKFLOW" =~ "Nightly" ]]
+  then
+    cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -v -r sx --color=yes --suppress-no-test-exit-code --pyargs pulp_file.tests.functional -m parallel -n 8 --nightly"
+    cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -v -r sx --color=yes --suppress-no-test-exit-code --pyargs pulp_file.tests.functional -m 'not parallel' --nightly"
+  else
+    cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -v -r sx --color=yes --suppress-no-test-exit-code --pyargs pulp_file.tests.functional -m parallel -n 8"
+    cmd_user_prefix bash -c "pytest -v -r sx --color=yes --suppress-no-test-exit-code --pyargs pulp_file.tests.functional -m 'not parallel'"
+  fi 
 fi
 export PULP_FIXTURES_URL="http://pulp-fixtures:8080"
 pushd ../pulp-cli
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/update_backport_labels.py b/.github/workflows/scripts/update_backport_labels.py
index 854ff077..8cccd498 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/update_backport_labels.py
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/update_backport_labels.py
@@ -32,10 +32,14 @@ def random_color():
 assert response.status_code == 200
 old_labels = set([x["name"] for x in response.json() if x["name"].startswith("backport-")])
 
-# get ci_update_branches from template_config.yml
+# get list of branches from template_config.yml
 with open("./template_config.yml", "r") as f:
     plugin_template = yaml.safe_load(f)
-new_labels = set(["backport-" + x for x in plugin_template["ci_update_branches"]])
+branches = set(plugin_template["supported_release_branches"])
+latest_release_branch = plugin_template["latest_release_branch"]
+if latest_release_branch is not None:
+    branches.add(latest_release_branch)
+new_labels = {"backport-" + x for x in branches}
 
 # delete old labels that are not in new labels
 for label in old_labels.difference(new_labels):
diff --git a/functest_requirements.txt b/functest_requirements.txt
index b28163da..21029a3b 100644
--- a/functest_requirements.txt
+++ b/functest_requirements.txt
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ pulp-smash @ git+https://github.com/pulp/pulp-smash.git
 pulpcore-client
 pulp-file-client
 pulp-certguard-client
-pytest
+pytest<8
diff --git a/lint_requirements.txt b/lint_requirements.txt
index c710c3c3..cb7bb6ed 100644
--- a/lint_requirements.txt
+++ b/lint_requirements.txt
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # For more info visit https://github.com/pulp/plugin_template
 
 # python packages handy for developers, but not required by pulp
-black
+black==23.12.1
 check-manifest
 flake8
 flake8-black
diff --git a/template_config.yml b/template_config.yml
index 88e1b441..bd2bf883 100644
--- a/template_config.yml
+++ b/template_config.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 # This config represents the latest values used when running the plugin-template. Any settings that
 # were not present before running plugin-template have been added with their default values.
 
-# generated with plugin_template@2021.08.26-301-g83f0607
+# generated with plugin_template@2021.08.26-312-ge121aa6
 
-additional_repos:
-- branch: main
-  name: pulp-certguard
 api_root: /pulp/
 black: true
 check_commit_message: true
@@ -14,11 +11,7 @@ check_manifest: true
 check_stray_pulpcore_imports: true
 ci_env: {}
 ci_trigger: '{pull_request: {branches: [''*'']}}'
-ci_update_branches:
-- '1.10'
-- '1.11'
 ci_update_docs: false
-ci_update_release_behavior: null
 cli_package: pulp-cli
 cli_repo: https://github.com/pulp/pulp-cli.git
 core_import_allowed: []
@@ -36,6 +29,7 @@ flake8_ignore: []
 github_org: pulp
 issue_tracker: github
 kanban: true
+latest_release_branch: null
 lint_requirements: true
 noissue_marker: '[noissue]'
 parallel_test_workers: 8
@@ -78,6 +72,9 @@ stalebot: true
 stalebot_days_until_close: 30
 stalebot_days_until_stale: 90
 stalebot_limit_to_pulls: true
+supported_release_branches:
+- '1.10'
+- '1.11'
 sync_ci: true
 test_azure: true
 test_cli: true
diff --git a/unittest_requirements.txt b/unittest_requirements.txt
index c4380ab7..421e7ba7 100644
--- a/unittest_requirements.txt
+++ b/unittest_requirements.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 mock
 pytest-django
+pytest<8