diff --git a/.github/actions/setup-rust/action.yml b/.github/actions/setup-rust/action.yml
index 113ba86c..395c22b5 100644
--- a/.github/actions/setup-rust/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/setup-rust/action.yml
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ runs:
         echo "CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_CODEGEN_UNITS=16" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
 
     - name: Install sccache
-      if: ${{ inputs.sccache == 'true' }}
+      if: ${{ inputs.sccache == 'true' && github.ref_type != 'tag' }}
       uses: mozilla-actions/sccache-action@v0.0.10
 
     - name: Enable sccache
-      if: ${{ inputs.sccache == 'true' }}
+      if: ${{ inputs.sccache == 'true' && github.ref_type != 'tag' }}
       shell: bash
       run: |
         echo "SCCACHE_GHA_ENABLED=true" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmark.yaml b/.github/workflows/benchmark.yaml
index 7454a77a..d5193f19 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/benchmark.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmark.yaml
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 name: Benchmark
 
 on:
-  release:
-    types: [ published ]
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - 'zen-engine-v*'
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 permissions:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/go.yaml b/.github/workflows/go.yaml
index 9b3d9e81..a20f9c79 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/go.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/go.yaml
@@ -4,24 +4,15 @@ env:
   MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET: '10.13'
 
 on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - master
-    tags-ignore:
-      - '**'
-    paths:
-      - 'bindings/c/**'
-      - 'core/**'
-      - 'test-data/**'
-      - '.github/workflows/go.yaml'
   pull_request:
     paths:
       - 'bindings/c/**'
       - 'core/**'
       - 'test-data/**'
       - '.github/workflows/go.yaml'
-  release:
-    types: [published]
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - 'go-v*'
 
 permissions: write-all
 
@@ -112,7 +103,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     environment: release
-    if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'go-v')"
+    if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
     needs:
       - build
       - copy-common
diff --git a/.github/workflows/node.yaml b/.github/workflows/node.yaml
index 5dd84a37..65274ccf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/node.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/node.yaml
@@ -9,34 +9,21 @@ env:
   CARGO_TARGET_APPLIES_TO_HOST: false
 
 on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - master
-    tags-ignore:
-      - '**'
-    paths:
-      - 'bindings/nodejs/**'
-      - 'core/**'
-      - 'test-data/**'
-      - '.github/workflows/node.yaml'
   pull_request:
     paths:
       - 'bindings/nodejs/**'
       - 'core/**'
       - 'test-data/**'
       - '.github/workflows/node.yaml'
-  # Stable publish is driven by the GitHub Release that release-please creates
-  # for the `nodejs` component (tag `nodejs-v<version>`).
-  release:
-    types: [ published ]
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - 'nodejs-v*'
 
 permissions:
   contents: write
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    # On release events, only build for this component's tag.
-    if: "(github.event_name != 'release' || startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'nodejs-v')) && !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip ci')"
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
@@ -282,7 +269,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     environment: release
     # Publishes only on the release-please GitHub Release for the nodejs component.
-    if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'nodejs-v')"
+    if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
     defaults:
       run:
         working-directory: ${{ env.WORKING_DIRECTORY }}
@@ -328,8 +315,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
 
       - name: Lerna publish
-        # Prereleases (release-please beta window) go to the `next` dist-tag, not `latest`.
-        run: yarn lerna publish from-package --dist-tag ${{ github.event.release.prerelease && 'next' || 'latest' }} --no-verify-access --yes
+        run: yarn lerna publish from-package --dist-tag ${{ contains(github.ref, '-beta') && 'beta' || 'latest' }} --no-verify-access --yes
         env:
           NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
           NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/python.yaml b/.github/workflows/python.yaml
index 7bd3fdd4..f448b413 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python.yaml
@@ -3,26 +3,15 @@ env:
   WORKING_DIRECTORY: bindings/python
 
 on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - master
-    tags-ignore:
-      - '**'
-    paths:
-      - 'bindings/python/**'
-      - 'core/**'
-      - 'test-data/**'
-      - '.github/workflows/python.yaml'
   pull_request:
     paths:
       - 'bindings/python/**'
       - 'core/**'
       - 'test-data/**'
       - '.github/workflows/python.yaml'
-  # Stable publish is driven by the GitHub Release that release-please creates
-  # for the `python` component (tag `python-v<version>`).
-  release:
-    types: [ published ]
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - 'python-v*'
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
@@ -31,7 +20,6 @@ jobs:
   # The build jobs skip on release events for other components (release-please fires
   # one `release` event per component; only `python-v*` should build/publish here).
   wheels:
-    if: "github.event_name != 'release' || startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'python-v')"
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -82,7 +70,6 @@ jobs:
           path: dist
 
   sdist:
-    if: "github.event_name != 'release' || startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'python-v')"
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -106,7 +93,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     environment: release
     # Publishes only on the release-please GitHub Release for the python component.
-    if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'python-v')"
+    if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
     needs: [ wheels, sdist ]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
diff --git a/.github/workflows/rust.yaml b/.github/workflows/rust.yaml
index 66e733eb..e9ef7f2b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rust.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rust.yaml
@@ -11,19 +11,8 @@ on:
       - '.github/workflows/python.yaml'
       - '.github/workflows/node.yaml'
   push:
-    branches:
-      - master
-    tags-ignore:
-      - '**'
-    paths-ignore:
-      - 'bindings/**'
-      - 'examples/**'
-      - '.github/workflows/python.yaml'
-      - '.github/workflows/node.yaml'
-  # Crates.io publish is driven by the GitHub Release that release-please
-  # creates for the linked `core` group (anchored on tag `zen-engine-v<version>`).
-  release:
-    types: [published]
+    tags:
+      - 'zen-engine-v*'
 
 env:
   RUST_BACKTRACE: 1
@@ -72,8 +61,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Cargo Release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     environment: release
-    # Publishes only on the release-please GitHub Release for the core group.
-    if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'zen-engine-v')"
+    if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
     needs:
       - test
       - fmt
diff --git a/.github/workflows/uniffi.yaml b/.github/workflows/uniffi.yaml
index 212147f0..7b6654b0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/uniffi.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/uniffi.yaml
@@ -3,30 +3,18 @@ env:
   UNIFFI_DIRECTORY: bindings/uniffi
 
 on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - master
-    tags-ignore:
-      - '**'
-    paths:
-      - 'bindings/uniffi/**'
-      - 'core/**'
-      - 'test-data/**'
-      - '.github/workflows/uniffi.yaml'
   pull_request:
     paths:
       - 'bindings/uniffi/**'
       - 'core/**'
       - 'test-data/**'
       - '.github/workflows/uniffi.yaml'
-  # Stable publish is driven by the GitHub Release that release-please creates
-  # for the `uniffi` component (tag `uniffi-v<version>`).
-  release:
-    types: [published]
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - 'uniffi-v*'
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    if: "!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip ci')"
     env:
       OUTPUT_NAME: zen_uniffi
 
@@ -100,7 +88,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     environment: release
     needs: [ build ]
-    if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'uniffi-v')"
+    if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
     defaults:
       run:
         working-directory: ${{ env.UNIFFI_DIRECTORY }}
@@ -176,7 +164,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [ build ]
     permissions:
       id-token: write  # Required for OIDC
-    if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'uniffi-v')"
+    if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
     defaults:
       run:
         working-directory: ${{ env.UNIFFI_DIRECTORY }}
@@ -255,7 +243,6 @@ jobs:
             --skip-duplicate
 
   build-ios:
-    if: "!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip ci')"
     env:
       OUTPUT_NAME: zen_uniffi
       IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET: '16.0'
@@ -306,7 +293,6 @@ jobs:
   create-xcframework:
     runs-on: macos-latest
     needs: [ build-ios ]
-    if: "!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip ci')"
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -401,7 +387,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: macos-latest
     environment: release
     needs: [ create-xcframework ]
-    if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'uniffi-v')"
+    if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout zen-ios
@@ -478,7 +464,6 @@ jobs:
             --base "master"
 
   build-android:
-    if: "!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip ci')"
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
       OUTPUT_NAME: zen_uniffi
@@ -504,7 +489,7 @@ jobs:
           add-to-path: true
 
       - name: Add Rust Android targets (all)
-        if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'uniffi-v')"
+        if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
         run: |
           rustup target add aarch64-linux-android
           rustup target add armv7-linux-androideabi
@@ -512,12 +497,12 @@ jobs:
           rustup target add x86_64-linux-android
 
       - name: Add Rust Android targets (arm64 only)
-        if: "github.event_name != 'release' || !startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'uniffi-v')"
+        if: "github.ref_type != 'tag'"
         run: |
           rustup target add aarch64-linux-android
 
       - name: Build for Android (all targets)
-        if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'uniffi-v')"
+        if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
         env:
           ANDROID_NDK_ROOT: ${{ steps.setup-ndk.outputs.ndk-path }}
         run: |
@@ -527,7 +512,7 @@ jobs:
            build -p zen-uniffi --release --locked --features bindgen
 
       - name: Build for Android (arm64 only)
-        if: "github.event_name != 'release' || !startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'uniffi-v')"
+        if: "github.ref_type != 'tag'"
         env:
           ANDROID_NDK_ROOT: ${{ steps.setup-ndk.outputs.ndk-path }}
         run: |
@@ -546,7 +531,6 @@ jobs:
   prepare-android-bindings:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: [ build ]
-    if: "!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip ci')"
 
     defaults:
       run:
@@ -584,7 +568,6 @@ jobs:
   package-android-aar:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: [ build-android, prepare-android-bindings ]
-    if: "!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip ci')"
     defaults:
       run:
         working-directory: ${{ env.UNIFFI_DIRECTORY }}
@@ -683,7 +666,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     environment: release
     needs: [ package-android-aar ]
-    if: "github.event_name == 'release' && startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'uniffi-v')"
+    if: "github.ref_type == 'tag'"
     defaults:
       run:
         working-directory: ${{ env.UNIFFI_DIRECTORY }}
diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index d1907bb1..d5fc96cd 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
   "core/types": "1.0.0-beta.0",
   "core/template": "1.0.0-beta.0",
   "core/macros": "1.0.0-beta.0",
-  "core/expression_repl": "1.0.0-beta.0",
   "bindings/nodejs": "1.0.0-beta.0",
   "bindings/python": "1.0.0-beta.0",
   "bindings/uniffi": "1.0.0-beta.0",
diff --git a/core/engine/README.md b/core/engine/README.md
index 9cdba3d3..9fb8632c 100644
--- a/core/engine/README.md
+++ b/core/engine/README.md
@@ -133,4 +133,4 @@ impl DecisionLoader for MemoryLoader {
         }
     }
 }
-```
\ No newline at end of file
+```
diff --git a/release-please-config.json b/release-please-config.json
index e3fcfbbc..79f51585 100644
--- a/release-please-config.json
+++ b/release-please-config.json
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
   "tag-separator": "-",
   "pull-request-title-pattern": "chore(release): publish${component}",
   "group-pull-request-title-pattern": "chore(release): publish${component}",
-  "release-as": "1.0.0-beta.1",
   "prerelease": true,
   "prerelease-type": "beta",
   "versioning": "prerelease",
@@ -26,8 +25,7 @@
         "zen-expression",
         "zen-types",
         "zen-tmpl",
-        "zen-macros",
-        "expression_repl"
+        "zen-macros"
       ]
     }
   ],
@@ -37,7 +35,6 @@
     "core/types": { "release-type": "rust", "component": "zen-types" },
     "core/template": { "release-type": "rust", "component": "zen-tmpl" },
     "core/macros": { "release-type": "rust", "component": "zen-macros" },
-    "core/expression_repl": { "release-type": "rust", "component": "expression_repl" },
     "bindings/nodejs": {
       "release-type": "rust",
       "component": "nodejs",