diff --git a/.github/workflows/checkin.yml b/.github/workflows/checkin.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d07bce3..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/checkin.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-name: "PR Checks"
-on: [pull_request, push]
-
-concurrency:
-  # Skip intermediate builds: all builds except for builds on the `master`, `main`, or `release-*` branches
-  # Cancel intermediate builds: only pull request builds
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}-${{ github.ref != 'refs/heads/master' || github.ref != 'refs/heads/main' || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/release-') || github.run_number }}
-  cancel-in-progress: ${{ startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/pull/') }}
-
-jobs:
-  check_pr:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    timeout-minutes: 60
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-      with:
-        node-version-file: '.tool-versions'
-
-    - name: "npm ci"
-      run: npm ci
-
-    - name: "npm run build"
-      run: npm run build
-
-    - name: "npm run test"
-      run: npm run test
-
-    - name: "check for uncommitted changes"
-      # Ensure no changes, but ignore node_modules dir since dev/fresh ci deps installed.
-      run: |
-        git diff --exit-code --stat -- . ':!node_modules' \
-        || (echo "##[error] found changed files after build. please 'npm ci && npm run build'" \
-                 "and check in all changes" \
-            && exit 1)
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr_checks.yml b/.github/workflows/pr_checks.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7582eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr_checks.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+name: PR Checks
+on:
+  pull_request:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - master
+    tags: '*'
+concurrency:
+  # Skip intermediate builds: all builds except for builds on the `master` branch
+  # Cancel intermediate builds: only pull request builds
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}-${{ github.ref != 'refs/heads/master' || github.run_number }}
+  cancel-in-progress: ${{ startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/pull/') }}
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+jobs:
+  finalize-pr-checks:
+    if: always() # this line is important to keep the `finalize` job from being marked as skipped; do not change or delete this line
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 10
+    needs: [
+      checked-in-files,
+      build,
+      npm-run-test,
+      make-targets,
+      stalecheck-npm-install,
+    ]
+    steps:
+      - run: |
+          echo checked-in-files: ${{ needs.checked-in-files.result }}
+          echo build: ${{ needs.build.result }}
+          echo npm-run-test: ${{ needs.npm-run-test.result }}
+          echo make-targets: ${{ needs.make-targets.result }}
+          echo stalecheck-npm-install: ${{ needs.stalecheck-npm-install.result }}
+      # The last line must NOT end with ||
+      # All other lines MUST end with ||
+      - run: exit 1
+        if: |
+          (needs.checked-in-files.result != 'success') ||
+          (needs.build.result != 'success') ||
+          (needs.npm-run-test.result != 'success') ||
+          (needs.make-targets.result != 'success') ||
+          (needs.stalecheck-npm-install.result != 'success')
+  checked-in-files:
+    timeout-minutes: 30
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+    steps:
+      ### Check out the repo:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@692973e3d937129bcbf40652eb9f2f61becf3332
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      ### Cleanall:
+      - run: make cleanall
+      ### Install NodeJS
+      # Unix (non-Windows):
+      - uses: asdf-vm/actions/setup@05e0d2ed97b598bfce82fd30daf324ae0c4570e6
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      - run: make unix-asdf-install
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      # Windows:
+        # Windows does not support asdf, so we have to use `actions/setup-node`
+        # to install asdf:
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@1e60f620b9541d16bece96c5465dc8ee9832be0b
+        if: runner.os == 'Windows'
+        with:
+          node-version-file: '.tool-versions'
+      ### Install the NodeJS packages that we depend on:
+      - run: make install-packages
+      ### Print some debugging info:
+      - name: Print the NodeJS version (for debugging)
+        run: |
+          which -a node
+          node --version
+          which -a npm
+          npm --version
+      ### Build:
+      - run: make pack
+      ### Clean (not cleanall!):
+      - run: make clean
+      ### Make sure there are no uncommited changes
+      - uses: julia-actions/setup-julia@780022b48dfc0c2c6b94cfee6a9284850107d037
+        with:
+          version: '1'
+      - run: git --no-pager status
+      - run: git --no-pager diff
+      - run: julia ./ci/check_uncommitted_changes.jl
+  build:
+    timeout-minutes: 30
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        os:
+          - ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      ### Check out the repo:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@692973e3d937129bcbf40652eb9f2f61becf3332
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      ### Cleanall:
+      - run: make cleanall
+      ### Install NodeJS
+      # Unix (non-Windows):
+      - uses: asdf-vm/actions/setup@05e0d2ed97b598bfce82fd30daf324ae0c4570e6
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      - run: make unix-asdf-install
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      # Windows:
+        # Windows does not support asdf, so we have to use `actions/setup-node`
+        # to install asdf:
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@1e60f620b9541d16bece96c5465dc8ee9832be0b
+        if: runner.os == 'Windows'
+        with:
+          node-version-file: '.tool-versions'
+      ### Install the NodeJS packages that we depend on:
+      - run: make install-packages
+      ### Print some debugging info:
+      - name: Print the NodeJS version (for debugging)
+        run: |
+          which -a node
+          node --version
+          which -a npm
+          npm --version
+      ### Build:
+      - run: make build
+      - run: make pack
+      ### Make sure some other `make` targets don't bitrot:
+      - name: Run some other `make` targets to ensure that they don't bitrot
+        run: |
+          make clean
+          make cleanall
+      - name: Run all of the "cleaning" `make` targets to ensure that they don't bitrot
+        run: |
+          make clean
+          make cleanall
+  npm-run-test:
+    timeout-minutes: 30
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        os:
+          - ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      ### Check out the repo:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@692973e3d937129bcbf40652eb9f2f61becf3332
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      ### Cleanall:
+      - run: make cleanall
+      ### Install NodeJS
+      # Unix (non-Windows):
+      - uses: asdf-vm/actions/setup@05e0d2ed97b598bfce82fd30daf324ae0c4570e6
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      - run: make unix-asdf-install
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      # Windows:
+        # Windows does not support asdf, so we have to use `actions/setup-node`
+        # to install asdf:
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@1e60f620b9541d16bece96c5465dc8ee9832be0b
+        if: runner.os == 'Windows'
+        with:
+          node-version-file: '.tool-versions'
+      ### Install the NodeJS packages that we depend on:
+      - run: make install-packages
+      ### Print some debugging info:
+      - name: Print the NodeJS version (for debugging)
+        run: |
+          which -a node
+          node --version
+          which -a npm
+          npm --version
+      ### Build:
+      - run: make build
+      - run: make test
+  make-targets: # This is a job to make sure that none of the `make` targets bitrot
+    timeout-minutes: 30
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        os:
+          - ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      ### Check out the repo:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@692973e3d937129bcbf40652eb9f2f61becf3332
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      ### Cleanall:
+      - run: make cleanall
+      ### Install NodeJS
+      # Unix (non-Windows):
+      - uses: asdf-vm/actions/setup@05e0d2ed97b598bfce82fd30daf324ae0c4570e6
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      - run: make unix-asdf-install
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      ### Install the NodeJS packages that we depend on:
+      - run: make install-packages
+      ### Make sure some other `make` targets don't bitrot:
+      - name: Run some other `make` targets to ensure that they don't bitrot
+        run: |
+          make unix-asdf-install
+          make install-packages
+          make build
+          make pack
+          make everything-from-scratch
+      - name: Run all of the "cleaning" `make` targets to ensure that they don't bitrot
+        run: |
+          make clean
+          make cleanall
+  stalecheck-npm-install:
+    # In this job, we are basically trying to check if `package-lock.json` is in
+    # sync with `package-lock.json`.
+    #
+    # So, for example, if someone manually edits the `package.json` file, we want
+    # to make sure that the `package-lock.json` file is not out of sync with the
+    # `package.json` file.
+    timeout-minutes: 30
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+    steps:
+      ### Check out the repo:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@692973e3d937129bcbf40652eb9f2f61becf3332
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      ### Install NodeJS
+      # Unix (non-Windows):
+      - uses: asdf-vm/actions/setup@05e0d2ed97b598bfce82fd30daf324ae0c4570e6
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      - run: make unix-asdf-install
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+      ### Run the master commands for this job:
+      - run: make clean
+      - run: npm ci
+      # - run: npm install --package-lock-only
+      - run: npm install
+      ### Make sure there are no uncommited changes
+      - uses: julia-actions/setup-julia@780022b48dfc0c2c6b94cfee6a9284850107d037
+        with:
+          version: '1'
+      - run: git --no-pager status
+      - run: git --no-pager diff
+      - run: julia ./ci/check_uncommitted_changes.jl
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index bb7cf0b..692e74b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,2 @@
 node_modules/
 __tests__/runner/*
-dist/
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff69f83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+.NOTPARALLEL:
+
+# This is the default target:
+.PHONY: pack
+pack: build
+	npm run pack
+
+# ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+
+.PHONY: everything-from-scratch
+everything-from-scratch: cleanall install-packages build pack clean
+
+# build does `npm run build`, but does not run `npm run pack`
+.PHONY: build
+build:
+	npm run build
+
+.PHONY: test
+test:
+	npm run test
+
+.PHONY: install-packages
+install-packages:
+	rm -rf node_modules/
+	# Note: we use `npm ci` instead of `npm install`, because we want to make sure
+	# that we respect the versions in the `package-lock.json` lockfile.
+	npm ci
+
+# ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+
+.PHONY: clean
+clean:
+	rm -rf node_modules/
+
+.PHONY: cleanall
+cleanall: clean
+	rm -rf lib/
+	rm -rf dist/
+
+# ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+
+# asdf does not support Windows.
+# On Windows, users need to install the correct version of NodeJS themselves.
+.PHONY: unix-asdf-install
+unix-asdf-install:
+	asdf plugin add nodejs # update this list when we add more tools to `.tool-versions`
+	asdf install
+
+# +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
diff --git a/ci/check_uncommitted_changes.jl b/ci/check_uncommitted_changes.jl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c677a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci/check_uncommitted_changes.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+const cmd = `git --no-pager diff --exit-code --stat`
+
+const proc = run(pipeline(cmd; stdin, stdout, stderr); wait = false)
+
+wait(proc)
+
+@info "" success(proc) proc.exitcode
+
+if !success(proc)
+    recommended_cmd = "make everything-from-scratch"
+    msg = "##[error] found changed files after build. " *
+           "Please run `$(recommended_cmd)` and " *
+           "then check in all changes."
+    println(stderr, msg)
+    exit(1)
+end
diff --git a/devdocs/local_setup.md b/devdocs/local_setup.md
index 01597b2..20ddbd8 100644
--- a/devdocs/local_setup.md
+++ b/devdocs/local_setup.md
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ First, `cd` to your clone of the repo. Now you can run the following commands:
 npm ci
 
 npm run build
+
+npm run pack
 ```
 
 When you are ready, you can commit your changes and push them to your PR.
diff --git a/devdocs/making_a_new_release.md b/devdocs/making_a_new_release.md
index dc5fd5e..135c6f3 100644
--- a/devdocs/making_a_new_release.md
+++ b/devdocs/making_a_new_release.md
@@ -1,128 +1,56 @@
 # Making a new release of this action (requires commit access)
 
-If you have commit access to this repo, you can make a new release.
+In this guide, as an example, `v2.2.0` refers to the version number of the new release that you want to make.
 
-Here are the instructions.
+## Part 1: Use the Git CLI to create and push the Git tags
 
-## Step 1: Clone a fresh copy of the repo
-
-We intentionally work in a brand-new copy of the repo.
+Step 1: Create a new lightweight tag of the form `vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`.
 
 ```bash
 git clone git@github.com:julia-actions/setup-julia.git
 cd setup-julia
-git checkout master
-git submodule init
-git submodule update
+git fetch --all --tags
+
+git checkout main
+
+git --no-pager log -1
+# Take note of the commit hash here.
+
+# Now, create a new lightweight tag of the form `vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`.
+#
+# Replace `commit_hash` with the commit hash that you obtained from the
+# `git log -1` step.
+#
+# Replace `v2.2.0` with the actual version number that you want to use.
+git tag v2.2.0 commit_hash
 ```
 
-## Step 2: Make sure you have the right version of NodeJS
-
-If you use [`asdf`](https://asdf-vm.com/), this is as simple as:
+Step 2: Once you've created the new release, you need to update the `v2` tag to point to the new release. For example, suppose that the previous release was `v2.1.0`, and suppose that you just created the new release `v2.2.0`. You need to update the `v2` tag so that it points to `v2.2.0`. Here are the commands:
 
 ```bash
-asdf plugin add nodejs
-asdf install
+# Create/update the new v2 tag locally, where the new v2 tag will point to the
+# release that you created in the previous step.
+#
+# Make sure to change `v2.2.0` to the actual value for the tag that you just
+# created in the previous step.
+#
+# The `-f` flag forcibly overwrites the old
+# `v2` tag (if it exists).
+git tag -f v2 v2.2.0
 ```
 
-If you don't use `asdf`, then you need to:
-1. Open the `./tool-versions` file in the root of the repo.
-2. Make note of the NodeJS version listed in the `.tool-versions` file.
-3. Install that same version of NodeJS on your machine.
-4. Make sure that you are currently using that version of NodeJS (i.e. it is at the front of your PATH).
-
-## Step 3: Edit the `version` field in `package.json`
+Step 3: Now you need to push the tags:
 
 ```bash
-vim package.json
+# Regular-push the new `v2.2.0` tag:
+git push origin tag v2.2.0
 
-# Edit the `version` number (should be line 2)
-# Save your changes in Vim. Then exit Vim.
-
-# For the remaining of this guide, let MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH refer
-# to the new version number that you set.
-
-git add package.json
-
-# No need to commit yet.
-# The release script will run `git commit`.
+# Force-push the new v2 tag:
+git push origin tag v2 --force
 ```
 
-## Step 4: Remove the `dist/` line from the `.gitignore` file
+## Part 2: Create the GitHub Release
 
-```bash
-vim .gitignore
-# Delete the line that says `dist/` (it should be line 3)
-# Save your changes in Vim. Then exit Vim.
+Go to the [Releases](https://github.com/julia-actions/setup-julia/releases) section of this repo and create a new release (using the GitHub web interface).
 
-git add .gitignore
-
-# No need to commit yet.
-# The release script will run `git commit`.
-```
-
-## Step 5: Make sure you have the necessary dependencies
-
-The `build-release.sh` script requires the following dependencies:
-
-1. Bash
-2. `curl`
-3. `git`
-4. `jq`
-5. `sed`
-
-## Step 6: Run the `build-release.sh` script
-
-```bash
-ls -l bin/build-release.sh
-chmod +x bin/build-release.sh
-ls -l bin/build-release.sh
-
-./bin/build-release.sh julia-actions/setup-julia
-```
-
-Wait a minute or two. The script will build everything and will create a new release branch named `releases/vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`.
-
-## Step 7: Push ONLY the `releases/vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` branch
-
-Only push the `releases/` branch. Do NOT push any tags yet.
-
-```bash
-git push origin releases/vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
-```
-
-Now you need to go to https://github.com/julia-actions/setup-julia/tree/releases/vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH and wait for CI to finish running.
-
-Do NOT proceed to the next step until CI is all green on the `releases/vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` branch.
-
-## Step 8: Push the tags (only after CI is all green)
-
-Once CI is all green on the `releases/vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` branch, you can push the tags.
-
-You need to force-push.
-
-```bash
-git push --tags --force
-```
-
-## Step 9: Use the GitHub web UI to create a new GitHub Release
-
-Go to https://github.com/julia-actions/setup-julia/releases  and create a new release for the now-existant `vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` tag using the GitHub web interface.
-
-## Step 10: Clean up your local repo
-
-```bash
-git submodule deinit --force .
-git submodule update --init
-git fetch --all --prune
-git checkout master
-git reset --hard origin/master
-```
-
-## Step 11: Delete your local repo
-
-```bash
-cd ..
-ls setup-julia
-rm -rf setup-julia
-```
+For the "choose a tag" drop-down field, select the `v2.2.0` tag that you created and pushed in Part 1 of this guide.
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 8e15912..8d29510 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 {
   "name": "setup-julia",
-  "version": "2.3.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "setup-julia",
-      "version": "2.3.0",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@actions/core": "^1.10.1",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ce3547e..ffa390b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "setup-julia",
-  "version": "2.4.0",
   "private": true,
   "description": "setup Julia action",
   "main": "lib/setup-julia.js",