diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/backport.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/backport.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 30619ff965..0000000000
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/backport.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
----
-name: Back-port
-about: Create a back-port issue for a patch that is applied to a previous version
-title: 'Back-port:  Copy-paste the title of the corresponding issue here'
-labels: bug
-assignees: ''
-
----
-
-This issue is for the back-porting of the following issue to a previous feature release:
-
-- [ ] Original issue:  <!-- Copy-paste the corresponding issue title and #123 issue number here -->
-- [ ] Tag this issue with the corresponding milestone.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/feature-release.yml b/.github/workflows/feature-release.yml
index 74af5fe982..4d422635e5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/feature-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/feature-release.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@ name: Feature Release
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      branch:
+        description: 'Branch to run the action on'
+        required: true
+        default: 'unstable'
 
 jobs:  
   feature-release:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/patch-release.yml b/.github/workflows/patch-release.yml
index 0ac936af00..fd792e3bdd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/patch-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/patch-release.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@ name: Patch Release
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      branch:
+        description: 'Branch to run the action on'
+        required: true
+        default: 'master'
 
 jobs:  
   patch-release:
@@ -12,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         id: extract_branch
         run: |
-          echo "BRANCH=${GITHUB_HEAD_REF:-${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "BRANCH=${{ github.event.inputs.branch }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "Branch: " $BRANCH
       - name: checkout patch branch
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/merge_unstable_to_master.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/merge_unstable_to_master.sh
index 48ad8740d6..03b4e9460c 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/merge_unstable_to_master.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/merge_unstable_to_master.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ set -e
 # Check if VERSION variable is set
 if [ -z "$VERSION" ]; then
   echo "VERSION variable is not set."
-  return 1;
+  exit 1
 else
   echo "VERSION is set to: $VERSION"
 fi
@@ -14,44 +14,38 @@ fi
 # Check if NEXT_VERSION variable is set
 if [ -z "$NEXT_VERSION" ]; then
   echo "NEXT_VERSION variable is not set."
-  return 1;
+  exit 1
 else
-  echo "NEXT_VERSION is set to: $VERSION"
+  echo "NEXT_VERSION is set to: $NEXT_VERSION"
 fi
 
 # Check if NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION variable is set
 if [ -z "$NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION" ]; then
   echo "NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION variable is not set."
-  return 1;
+  exit 1
 else
   echo "NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION is set to: $NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION"
 fi
 
-
 # See current branch
-echo "# Current Branch: $(git branch --show-current)"
+echo "Current Branch: $(git branch --show-current)"
 
 # See head of current branch
-echo "# Current Head: "
+echo "Current Head: "
 git log -n 1
 
 # See current origin
-echo "# See remotes: "
+echo "See remotes: "
 git remote -v
 
 # Set git configs
 git config --global user.name "${GITHUB_ACTOR}"
 git config --global user.email "${GITHUB_ACTOR}@users.noreply.github.com"
 
-# Check if the branch exists
-if git rev-parse --verify "$branch_name" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-  exit 1
-else
-  echo "Branch '$branch_name' does not exist."
-fi
-
-git checkout -b $NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION
-git push -f origin $NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION
+# Create and push the new backport branch
+git checkout master
+git checkout -b "$NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION"
+git push origin "$NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION"
 
 # Step 2: Make sure local unstable is up-to-date
 git checkout unstable
@@ -64,11 +58,11 @@ if [ "$current_branch" = "unstable" ]; then
   echo "Current Git branch is unstable."
 else
   echo "Current Git branch is not unstable."
-  return 2;
+  exit 2
 fi
 
 echo "Updating documentation"
-jq --arg ver "$VERSION" '.versions += [$ver]' ./documentation/versions.json >> /tmp/temp.json
+jq --arg ver "$VERSION" '.versions += [$ver]' ./documentation/versions.json > /tmp/temp.json
 mv /tmp/temp.json ./documentation/versions.json
 
 git add .
@@ -77,44 +71,42 @@ echo "Documentation committed"
 
 # Step 3: Create a merge commit and push it
 git merge -s ours master -m "Merge master to unstable"
-echo "# Master merged to unstable"
+echo "Master merged to unstable"
 git push origin unstable
-echo "# Unstable pushed to remote"
-
+echo "Unstable pushed to remote"
 
 # Step 4: Fast-forward master to the merge commit
 git checkout master
 git merge unstable
-echo "# unstable merged in master"
+echo "Unstable merged in master"
 
 git push
-echo "# Unstable pushed to remote"
+echo "Master pushed to remote"
 
 # Update package.json
-jq --arg ver "$VERSION" '.version = $ver' package.json >> /tmp/temp.json
+jq --arg ver "$VERSION" '.version = $ver' package.json > /tmp/temp.json
 mv /tmp/temp.json package.json
 
 # Update package-lock.json
-jq --arg ver "$VERSION" '.version = $ver' package-lock.json >> /tmp/temp.json
+jq --arg ver "$VERSION" '.version = $ver' package-lock.json > /tmp/temp.json
 mv /tmp/temp.json package-lock.json
 
-
 # Check if version is updated in package.json
 version_check_package=$(jq -r '.version' package.json)
-if [ -z "$version_check_package" ]; then
-  echo "# Failed to update version in package.json"
-  return 3
+if [ "$version_check_package" != "$VERSION" ]; then
+  echo "Failed to update version in package.json"
+  exit 3
 else
-  echo "# Version updated in package.json"
+  echo "Version updated in package.json"
 fi
 
 # Check if version is updated in package-lock.json
 version_check_package_lock=$(jq -r '.version' package-lock.json)
-if [ -z "$version_check_package_lock" ]; then
-  echo "# Failed to update version in package-lock.json"
-  return 4
+if [ "$version_check_package_lock" != "$VERSION" ]; then
+  echo "Failed to update version in package-lock.json"
+  exit 4
 else
-  echo "# Version updated in package-lock.json"
+  echo "Version updated in package-lock.json"
 fi
 
 # Commit and push the updated version files
@@ -122,35 +114,33 @@ git add package.json package-lock.json
 git commit -m "Update version to $VERSION"
 git push
 
-
-# Update new to new version in unstable
+# Update new version in unstable
 git checkout unstable
 
 # Update package.json
-jq --arg ver "$NEXT_VERSION" '.version = $ver' package.json >> /tmp/temp.json
+jq --arg ver "$NEXT_VERSION" '.version = $ver' package.json > /tmp/temp.json
 mv /tmp/temp.json package.json
 
 # Update package-lock.json
-jq --arg ver "$NEXT_VERSION" '.version = $ver' package-lock.json >> /tmp/temp.json
+jq --arg ver "$NEXT_VERSION" '.version = $ver' package-lock.json > /tmp/temp.json
 mv /tmp/temp.json package-lock.json
 
-
-# Check if version is updated in package.json
+# Check if version is updated in package.json for unstable
 version_check_package_unstable=$(jq -r '.version' package.json)
-if [ -z "$version_check_package_unstable" ]; then
-  echo "# Failed to update version in package.json for unstable"
-  return 3
+if [ "$version_check_package_unstable" != "$NEXT_VERSION" ]; then
+  echo "Failed to update version in package.json for unstable"
+  exit 3
 else
-  echo "# Version updated in package.json for unstable"
+  echo "Version updated in package.json for unstable"
 fi
 
-# Check if version is updated in package-lock.json
+# Check if version is updated in package-lock.json for unstable
 version_check_package_lock_unstable=$(jq -r '.version' package-lock.json)
-if [ -z "$version_check_package_lock_unstable" ]; then
-  echo "# Failed to update version in package-lock.json for unstable"
-  return 4
+if [ "$version_check_package_lock_unstable" != "$NEXT_VERSION" ]; then
+  echo "Failed to update version in package-lock.json for unstable"
+  exit 4
 else
-  echo "# Version updated in package-lock.json for unstable"
+  echo "Version updated in package-lock.json for unstable"
 fi
 
 # Commit and push the updated version files
@@ -158,4 +148,4 @@ git add package.json package-lock.json
 git commit -m "Update version to $NEXT_VERSION"
 git push
 
-git checkout master
+git checkout master
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/new-feature-version.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/new-feature-version.sh
index d6653d3d1f..220d6e8691 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/new-feature-version.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/new-feature-version.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+# Get the current version from package.json
 PREV_VERSION=$(jq -r '.version' package.json)
 echo "Prev Feature Version $PREV_VERSION"
 
@@ -10,23 +11,27 @@ echo "New Master Version $VERSION"
 # Split the version number into major, minor, and patch components
 IFS='.' read -ra VERSION_ARRAY <<< "$VERSION"
 
+# Extract the minor and patch components
 MINOR_VERSION="${VERSION_ARRAY[1]}"
 PATCH_VERSION="${VERSION_ARRAY[2]}"
 
+# Decrement the minor version for backport branch
 ((MINOR_VERSION--))
 
 # Increment patch for new backport branch
 NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION="${VERSION_ARRAY[0]}.${MINOR_VERSION}.x"
 
+# Increment the minor component for the new unstable version
 ((MINOR_VERSION++))
 ((MINOR_VERSION++))
 
-# Increment the minor component and construct the new version
+# Construct the new unstable version
 NEXT_VERSION="${VERSION_ARRAY[0]}.${MINOR_VERSION}.0-unstable"
 
 echo "Next Unstable Version: $NEXT_VERSION"
 echo "Next Backport Version: $NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION"
 
-echo "VERSION=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-echo "NEXT_VERSION=$NEXT_VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-echo "NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION=$NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+# Export the versions to the GitHub Actions environment
+echo "VERSION=$VERSION" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+echo "NEXT_VERSION=$NEXT_VERSION" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+echo "NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION=$NEXT_BACK_PORT_VERSION" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/new-patch-version.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/new-patch-version.sh
index 1b08ed14cf..bc41b84f3d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/new-patch-version.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/new-patch-version.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+# Get the current version from package.json
 PREV_VERSION=$(jq -r '.version' package.json)
 echo "Prev Patch Version $PREV_VERSION"
 
@@ -7,27 +8,31 @@ echo "Prev Patch Version $PREV_VERSION"
 IFS='.' read -a VERSION_ARRAY <<< "$PREV_VERSION"
 echo "SPLITTING COMPLETED"
 
-major=${VERSION_ARRAY[0]}
-minor=${VERSION_ARRAY[1]}
-patch=${VERSION_ARRAY[2]}
-echo "CURRENT PATCH VERSION" $patch
+major="${VERSION_ARRAY[0]}"
+minor="${VERSION_ARRAY[1]}"
+patch="${VERSION_ARRAY[2]}"
+echo "CURRENT PATCH VERSION $patch"
 
+# Increment the patch version
 patch=$((patch + 1))
-echo "UPDATED PATCH VERSION" $patch
+echo "UPDATED PATCH VERSION $patch"
 
+# Form the new version string
 VERSION="$major.$minor.$patch"
 
-# Split the version number into major, minor, and patch components
+# Split the new version number into major, minor, and patch components to validate
 IFS='.' read -a VERSION_ARRAY_2 <<< "$VERSION"
 if [[ ${#VERSION_ARRAY_2[@]} -lt 3 ]]; then
     echo "Error: Invalid new version format"
     exit 1
 fi
 
-if [ $BRANCH != "refs/heads/master" ]; then
+# Set the branch name if it's not the master branch
+if [ "$BRANCH" != "refs/heads/master" ]; then
     BRANCH="${VERSION_ARRAY[0]}.${VERSION_ARRAY[1]}.x"
 fi
 
 echo "Version $VERSION"
 
-echo "VERSION=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+# Export the new version to the GitHub Actions environment
+echo "VERSION=$VERSION" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/pre_release_test.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/pre_release_test.sh
index a6f45f9809..c3ca7f147b 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/pre_release_test.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/pre_release_test.sh
@@ -1,43 +1,43 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 # Make script exit on first failure
-# set -e
+set -e
 
 # Check if VERSION variable is set
 if [ -z "$VERSION" ]; then
   echo "VERSION variable is not set."
-  exit 1;
+  exit 1
 else
   echo "VERSION is set to: $VERSION"
 fi
 
-# Check if current Git branch is named "master"
+# Check if current Git branch is named "master" or the provided branch name
 current_branch=$(git symbolic-ref --short HEAD 2>/dev/null)
 
 if [ "$current_branch" = "$1" ]; then
   echo "Current Git branch is $1."
 else
   echo "Current Git branch is not $1."
-  return 2;
+  exit 2
 fi
 
 FILE=./documentation/versions.json
 if [ -f "$FILE" ]; then
-    echo "$FILE exists."
+  echo "$FILE exists."
 else 
-  echo "$FILE doesn't exists. Exiting..."
+  echo "$FILE doesn't exist. Exiting..."
   exit 1
 fi
-  
+
 npm run release
 
-if [ "$current_branch" = "unstable"] || ["$current_branch" = "master"]; then 
+if [ "$current_branch" = "unstable" ] || [ "$current_branch" = "master" ]; then 
   echo "Starting to check changed files"
 
-  # List the files  to check
-  files_to_check=("documentation/index.html" "documentation/js/cytoscape.min.js" "documentation/versions.json")
+  # List the files to check
+  files_to_check=("documentation/index.html" "documentation/js/cytoscape.min.js" "dist/cytoscape.umd.js")
 
-  echo "files initialised"
+  echo "Files initialized"
 
   git status
 
@@ -46,13 +46,20 @@ if [ "$current_branch" = "unstable"] || ["$current_branch" = "master"]; then
   do
       echo "Checking $file"
 
-      git status -s $file
+      # Check if the file exists in the local FS
+      if [ -e "$file" ]; then
+          echo "The file $file exists in the locally-built files."
+      else
+          echo "The file $file does not exist in the locally-built files."
+          exit 1
+      fi
 
       # Check if the file has changed
       output="$(git status -s $file)"
 
       echo "For $file, $output"
 
+      # Check if the file has changed
       if [ -z "$output" ]; then
           echo "The file $file has not changed."
           exit 1
@@ -66,7 +73,7 @@ git add . && git commit -m "Build $VERSION"
 
 git log -n 1
 
-npm version $VERSION --allow-same-version
+npm version "$VERSION" --allow-same-version
 
 git push && git push --tags
 
@@ -74,4 +81,4 @@ git remote -v
 
 git remote set-url origin git@github.com:cytoscape/cytoscape.js.git
 
-exit 0
+exit 0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 30b38623ea..c8b7fc8d43 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -136,14 +136,37 @@ The default test scripts run directly against the source code.  Tests can altern
 
 ## Release instructions
 
-- [Manual Release](.github/workflows/md/Manual_Release.md)
-- [Feature Release](.github/workflows/md/Feature_Release.md)
-- [Backport/Patch Release](.github/workflows/md/Patch_Backport_Release.md)
+### Background
 
-**IMP: The releases should be made atleast 5 min apart for the zenodo to pick the new release.**
-**IMP: Amend Github Action in all branches for consistent results across branches**
+- Ensure that a milestone exists for the release you want to make, with all the issues for that release assigned in the milestone.
+- Bug fixes should be applied to both the `master` and `unstable` branches.  PRs can go on either branch, with the patch applied to the other branch after merging.
+- When a patch release is made concurrently with a feature release, the patch release should be made first.  Wait 5 minutes after the patch release completes before starting the feature release -- otherwise Zenodo doesn't pick up releases properly.
 
-- Repository Setup for Github Actions: [Repository Setup](.github/workflows/md/repo-setup.md)
+### Patch version
+
+1. Go to [Actions > Feature release](https://github.com/cytoscape/cytoscape.js/actions/workflows/patch-release.yml)
+1. Go to the 'Run workflow' dropdown
+1. [Optional] The 'master' branch should be preselected for you
+1. Press the green 'Run workflow' button
+1. Close the milestone for the release
+
+<img style="width: 300px; height: auto;" src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cytoscape/cytoscape.js/unstable/documentation/img/preview-patch.png" width="300">
+
+### Feature version
+
+1. Go to [Actions > Feature release](https://github.com/cytoscape/cytoscape.js/actions/workflows/feature-release.yml)
+1. Go to the 'Run workflow' dropdown
+1. [Optional] The 'unstable' branch should be preselected for you
+1. Press the green 'Run workflow' button
+1. Close the milestone for the release
+1. Make the release announcement [on the blog](https://github.com/cytoscape/cytoscape.js-blog)
+
+<img style="width: 300px; height: auto;" src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cytoscape/cytoscape.js/unstable/documentation/img/preview-feature.png" width="300">
+
+### Notes on GitHub Actions UI
+
+- 'Use workflow from' in the GitHub UI selects the branch from which the workflow YML file is selected.  Since the workflow files should usually be the same on the master and unstable branches, it shouldn't matter what's selected.
+- 'Branch to run the action on' in the GitHub UI is preselected for you.  You don't need to change it.
 
 ## Tests
 
diff --git a/documentation/img/preview-feature.png b/documentation/img/preview-feature.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f27f2710e2
Binary files /dev/null and b/documentation/img/preview-feature.png differ
diff --git a/documentation/img/preview-patch.png b/documentation/img/preview-patch.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..99c85a15ec
Binary files /dev/null and b/documentation/img/preview-patch.png differ
diff --git a/documentation/md/getting-started.md b/documentation/md/getting-started.md
index 38770dcfdb..1e03f25fdc 100644
--- a/documentation/md/getting-started.md
+++ b/documentation/md/getting-started.md
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ The available files are available under [`cytoscape/dist/`](https://github.com/c
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | `cytoscape.min.js` | yes | [UMD] <small>(Universal Module Definition)</small> | For use with globals or `require()`. |
 | `cytoscape.umd.js` | no | [UMD] |  For debugging with globals or `require()`. |
-| `cytoscape.esm.min.js` | yes | [ESM] <small>(ECMAScript, uses `import` / `export`)</small> | For use with modern `import`/`export`, i.e. `import cytoscape from 'cytoscape'`. |
+| `cytoscape.esm.min.mjs` | yes | [ESM] <small>(ECMAScript, uses `import` / `export`)</small> | For use with modern `import`/`export`, i.e. `import cytoscape from 'cytoscape'`. |
 | `cytoscape.cjs.js` | no | [CJS] <small>(CommonJS, used by [Node.js])</small> | Intended to be consumed automatically by [Node.js] or a bundler like [Webpack] via `require('cytoscape')`. |
-| `cytoscape.esm.js` | no | [ESM] | Intended to be consumed automatically by [Node.js] or a bundler like [Webpack] via `import cytoscape from 'cytoscape'`.  This file may alternatively be used for manually debugging ESM builds or pages that use ESM. |
+| `cytoscape.esm.mjs` | no | [ESM] | Intended to be consumed automatically by [Node.js] or a bundler like [Webpack] via `import cytoscape from 'cytoscape'`.  This file may alternatively be used for manually debugging ESM builds or pages that use ESM. |
 
 <span class="important-indicator"></span> Note that Cytoscape.js uses the dimensions of your HTML DOM element container for layouts and rendering at initialisation.  Thus, it is very important to place your CSS stylesheets in the `<head>` before any Cytoscape.js-related code.  Otherwise, dimensions may be sporadically reported incorrectly, resulting in undesired behaviour.
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 6455d445e7..043f6f86d2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
     "build:min": "cross-env FILE=min rollup -c",
     "clean": "rimraf build/*",
     "copyright": "node -r esm license-update",
-    "dist:copy": "cpy build/cytoscape.umd.js build/cytoscape.min.js build/cytoscape.cjs.js build/cytoscape.esm.mjs build/cytoscape.esm.min.mjs dist",
+    "dist:copy": "cpy --flat build/cytoscape.umd.js build/cytoscape.min.js build/cytoscape.cjs.js build/cytoscape.esm.mjs build/cytoscape.esm.min.mjs dist",
     "dist": "cross-env NODE_ENV=production run-s build dist:*",
     "release": "run-s copyright dist docs",
     "watch": "run-s watch:fast",
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
     "test:modules:debug": "mocha inspect -r esm test/modules",
     "travis": "run-s build test:build test:modules lint",
     "docs": "run-s docs:build docs:js",
-    "docs:js": "cpy build/cytoscape.min.js documentation/js",
+    "docs:js": "cpy --flat build/cytoscape.min.js documentation/js",
     "docs:build": "node documentation/docmaker.js",
     "docs:push": "gh-pages -d documentation",
     "benchmark": "run-s benchmark:all",