diff --git a/.github/workflows/pipeline.yml b/.github/workflows/pipeline.yml
index 1c838d3d..f1a768e4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pipeline.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pipeline.yml
@@ -25,14 +25,30 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - name: Docker Compose Action
         uses: isbang/compose-action@v1.5.1
-      - name: Set up JDK 17
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+      - name: Set up JDK 21 for building and testing
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
-          java-version: '17'
+          java-version: '21'
           distribution: 'temurin'
           cache: maven
-      - name: Build with Maven
+      - name: Build and test with Maven java 21
         run: mvn -B package --file pom.xml
+      - name: Set up JDK 17 for testing
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          java-version: '17'
+          distribution: 'temurin'
+          cache: maven
+      - name: Test with Maven java 17
+        run: mvn test
+      - name: Setup JDK 11 for testing
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          java-version: '11'
+          distribution: 'temurin'
+          cache: maven
+      - name: Test with Maven java 11
+        run: mvn test
 
       # Optional: Uploads the full dependency graph to GitHub to improve the quality of Dependabot alerts this repository can receive
       - name: Update dependency graph
@@ -45,20 +61,21 @@ jobs:
     needs: build-and-test
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Docker Compose Action
-        uses: isbang/compose-action@v1.5.1
       - name: Set up JDK 17 and Set up Maven Central Repository
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
-          java-version: '17'
+          java-version: '21'
           distribution: 'temurin'
           server-id: ossrh
           server-username: MAVEN_USERNAME
           server-password: MAVEN_TOKEN
           gpg-private-key: ${{ secrets.GPG_SIGNING_KEY }}
           gpg-passphrase: MAVEN_GPG_PASSPHRASE
+      - name: Set version
+        run: mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
       - name: publish to maven central
-        run: mvn -P release --batch-mode -Dgpg.passphrase=${{ secrets.GPG_SIGNING_KEY_PASSWORD }} deploy
+        #skipping tests, since they have already run in the previous job
+        run: mvn -P release --batch-mode deploy -DskipTests
         env:
           MAVEN_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.OSSRH_USERNAME }}
           MAVEN_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.OSSRH_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/core/pom.xml b/core/pom.xml
index 6e1e6f55..ff390a04 100644
--- a/core/pom.xml
+++ b/core/pom.xml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.sql2o</groupId>
         <artifactId>sql2o-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.7.0</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
     <artifactId>sql2o</artifactId>
     <packaging>jar</packaging>
diff --git a/extensions/db2/pom.xml b/extensions/db2/pom.xml
index 09d635ad..23878703 100644
--- a/extensions/db2/pom.xml
+++ b/extensions/db2/pom.xml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.sql2o.extensions</groupId>
         <artifactId>extensions-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.7.0</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <dependencies>
diff --git a/extensions/oracle-joda-time/pom.xml b/extensions/oracle-joda-time/pom.xml
index ffaa8c0d..9d0f2f27 100644
--- a/extensions/oracle-joda-time/pom.xml
+++ b/extensions/oracle-joda-time/pom.xml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.sql2o.extensions</groupId>
         <artifactId>extensions-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.7.0</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <dependencies>
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.sql2o.extensions</groupId>
             <artifactId>sql2o-oracle</artifactId>
-            <version>1.7.0</version>
+            <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
 
diff --git a/extensions/oracle/pom.xml b/extensions/oracle/pom.xml
index bac4c54e..211b4f6c 100644
--- a/extensions/oracle/pom.xml
+++ b/extensions/oracle/pom.xml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.sql2o.extensions</groupId>
         <artifactId>extensions-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.7.0</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <dependencies>
diff --git a/extensions/pom.xml b/extensions/pom.xml
index 77b97cee..ca44b7b8 100644
--- a/extensions/pom.xml
+++ b/extensions/pom.xml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.sql2o</groupId>
         <artifactId>sql2o-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.7.0</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modules>
diff --git a/extensions/postgres/pom.xml b/extensions/postgres/pom.xml
index 27edf9b7..4fe76fb8 100644
--- a/extensions/postgres/pom.xml
+++ b/extensions/postgres/pom.xml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.sql2o.extensions</groupId>
         <artifactId>extensions-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.7.0</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <dependencies>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 19266bb5..3997f4cd 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     <groupId>org.sql2o</groupId>
     <artifactId>sql2o-parent</artifactId>
     <name>Sql2o parent</name>
-    <version>1.7.0</version>
+    <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     <description>
         Easy database query library
     </description>