diff --git a/.github/workflows/close-duplicates.yml b/.github/workflows/close-duplicates.yml
index 246ddfb746..ffdb3750b3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/close-duplicates.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/close-duplicates.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
   close_duplicates:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: github/command@v1.2.2
+      - uses: github/command@v1.3.0
         id: command
         with:
           allowed_contexts: "issue"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 3be0d1f164..9a95c7c7aa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -4,9 +4,13 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       version:
-        description: 'Release "v1.2.3" or "develop"'
+        description: 'Release "v1.2.3" or "develop" or "branch-abc"'
         required: true
         default: 'develop'
+      phpversion:
+        description: 'PHP version'
+        required: true
+        default: '8.3'
   schedule:
     - cron: '0 3 * * MON'
 
@@ -23,6 +27,11 @@ jobs:
           if [[ "develop" == "$version" ]]; then
             git checkout --track origin/develop
             git pull
+          elif [[ "$version" == branch* ]]; then
+            PULLBRANCH=${version:7}
+            echo "The branch is '$PULLBRANCH' ($version)"
+            git checkout --track origin/$PULLBRANCH
+            git pull
           else
             git config user.name github-actions
             git config user.email 41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com
@@ -36,7 +45,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup PHP
         uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
         with:
-          php-version: '8.3'
+          php-version: ${{ github.event.inputs.phpversion }}
           extensions: mbstring, intl, zip, bcmath
       - name: crowdin action
         uses: crowdin/github-action@v2
@@ -133,7 +142,7 @@ jobs:
           rm -rf vendor composer.lock
           composer update --no-dev --no-scripts --no-plugins -q
           sudo chown -R runner:docker resources/lang
-          .ci/phpcs.sh
+          .ci/phpcs.sh || true
       - name: Import GPG key
         uses: crazy-max/ghaction-import-gpg@v6
         with:
@@ -166,6 +175,16 @@ jobs:
             tarName=FireflyIII-develop.tar.gz
           fi
 
+          # if this is a branch build, also slightly different variable names.
+          if [[ "$version" == branch* ]]; then
+            [[ -z $(git status --untracked-files=normal --porcelain) ]] && echo "this branch is clean, no need to push..." && exit 0;
+            # branch builds overrule develop
+            releaseName=$version-$(date +'%Y%m%d')
+            originalName=$releaseName
+            zipName=FireflyIII-$version.zip
+            tarName=FireflyIII-$version.tar.gz
+          fi
+
           # in both cases, if the release or tag already exists, add ".1" until it no longer exists.
           tagFound=true
           tagCount=1
@@ -207,12 +226,13 @@ jobs:
           gpg --armor --detach-sign $zipName
           gpg --armor --detach-sign $tarName
 
-          # create a development (nightly) release:
+          # describe the development release.
           if [[ "develop" == "$version" ]]; then
             echo 'Develop release.'
-            # add text to output.txt (instructions)
             rm output.txt
-            echo "Bi-weekly development release of Firefly III with the latest fixes, translations and features. Docker users can find this release under the \`develop\` tag." >> output.txt
+            touch output.txt
+            sudo chown -R runner:docker output.txt
+            echo "Weekly development release of Firefly III with the latest fixes, translations and features. Docker users can find this release under the \`develop\` tag." >> output.txt
             echo "" >> output.txt
             echo "This release was created on **$(date +'%Y-%m-%d')** and may contain unexpected bugs. Data loss is rare but is not impossible. The releases are signed, and you can verify them using the [Firefly III releases PGP key](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/explanation/more-information/signatures/)." >> output.txt
             echo "" >> output.txt
@@ -220,15 +240,62 @@ jobs:
             echo "* Or read the upgrade instructions for [Docker](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/docker/), [Kubernetes](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/kubernetes/) or [self-managed servers](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/self-managed/)" >> output.txt
             echo "" >> output.txt
             echo ":warning: Please be careful with this pre-release, as it may not work as expected." >> output.txt
+          fi
+          # describe a branch release
+          if [[ "$version" == branch* ]]; then
+            echo 'Branch release.'
+            rm output.txt
+            touch output.txt
+            sudo chown -R runner:docker output.txt
+            echo "Irregular BRANCH release of Firefly III. This release contains specific features or changes. Docker users can find this release under the \`$version\` tag." >> output.txt
+            echo "" >> output.txt
+            echo "This release was created on **$(date +'%Y-%m-%d')** and may contain unexpected bugs. Data loss is rare but is not impossible. The releases are signed, and you can verify them using the [Firefly III releases PGP key](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/explanation/more-information/signatures/)." >> output.txt
+            echo "" >> output.txt
+            echo "* Please read the installation instructions for [Docker](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/docker/), [Portainer](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/portainer/), [Kubernetes](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/kubernetes/) or [self-managed servers](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/self-managed/)" >> output.txt
+            echo "* Or read the upgrade instructions for [Docker](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/docker/), [Kubernetes](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/kubernetes/) or [self-managed servers](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/self-managed/)" >> output.txt
+            echo "" >> output.txt
+            echo ":warning: Please be careful with this branch pre-release, as it may not work as expected." >> output.txt
+          fi
+          # describe the main release
+          if [[ "develop" != "$version" ]] && [[ "$version" != branch* ]]; then
+            sudo chown -R runner:docker output.txt
+            echo 'Main release.'
+            echo '' >> output.txt
+            echo '### Instructions' >> output.txt
+            echo '' >> output.txt
+            echo "* Installation instructions for [Docker](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/docker/), [Portainer](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/portainer/), [Kubernetes](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/kubernetes/) or [self-managed servers](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/self-managed/)" >> output.txt
+            echo "* Or read the upgrade instructions for [Docker](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/docker/), [Kubernetes](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/kubernetes/) or [self-managed servers](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/self-managed/)" >> output.txt
+            echo "* The releases are signed, and you can verify them using the [Firefly III releases PGP key](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/explanation/more-information/signatures/)." >> output.txt
 
+          fi
+
+          # create a development release:
+          if [[ "develop" == "$version" ]]; then
             # create the release:
-            echo "Create nightly release."
-            git tag -a $releaseName -m "Nightly development release '$version' on $(date +'%Y-%m-%d')"
+            echo "Create develop release."
+            git tag -a $releaseName -m "Development release '$version' on $(date +'%Y-%m-%d')"
+
             git push origin $releaseName
             gh release create $releaseName -p --verify-tag \
               -t "Development release for $(date +'%Y-%m-%d')" \
               -F output.txt
+          fi
 
+          # create a branch release:
+          if [[ "$version" == branch* ]]; then
+
+            # create the release:
+            echo "Create branch release."
+            git tag -a $releaseName -m "Branch release '$version' on $(date +'%Y-%m-%d')"
+
+            git push origin $releaseName
+            gh release create $releaseName -p --verify-tag \
+              -t "Branch release for $(date +'%Y-%m-%d')" \
+              -F output.txt
+          fi
+
+          # create a development (nightly) release:
+          if [[ "develop" == "$version" ]] || [[ "$version" == branch* ]]; then
             # add zip file to release.
             gh release upload $releaseName $zipName
             gh release upload $releaseName $tarName
@@ -247,16 +314,6 @@ jobs:
             gh release upload $releaseName HEAD.txt
           else
             echo 'MAIN (real) release'
-            sudo chown -R runner:docker output.txt
-            # add text to output.txt (more instructions)
-            echo '' >> output.txt
-            echo '### Instructions' >> output.txt
-            echo '' >> output.txt
-            echo "* Installation instructions for [Docker](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/docker/), [Portainer](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/portainer/), [Kubernetes](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/kubernetes/) or [self-managed servers](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/installation/self-managed/)" >> output.txt
-            echo "* Or read the upgrade instructions for [Docker](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/docker/), [Kubernetes](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/kubernetes/) or [self-managed servers](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/how-to/firefly-iii/upgrade/self-managed/)" >> output.txt
-            echo "* The releases are signed, and you can verify them using the [Firefly III releases PGP key](https://docs.firefly-iii.org/explanation/more-information/signatures/)." >> output.txt
-
-            echo "Create default release."
             git tag -a $releaseName -m "Here be changelog"
             git push origin $releaseName
             gh release create $releaseName -F output.txt -t "$releaseName" --verify-tag
diff --git a/composer.lock b/composer.lock
index 3c3e58f09d..88f6734b8c 100644
--- a/composer.lock
+++ b/composer.lock
@@ -13558,7 +13558,7 @@
     ],
     "aliases": [],
     "minimum-stability": "stable",
-    "stability-flags": {},
+    "stability-flags": [],
     "prefer-stable": false,
     "prefer-lowest": false,
     "platform": {
@@ -13579,6 +13579,6 @@
         "ext-xml": "*",
         "ext-xmlwriter": "*"
     },
-    "platform-dev": {},
+    "platform-dev": [],
     "plugin-api-version": "2.6.0"
 }