diff --git a/dev/releases/create_stable_branch.py b/dev/releases/create_stable_branch.py
index 78b3b5c7bd..e07b931095 100755
--- a/dev/releases/create_stable_branch.py
+++ b/dev/releases/create_stable_branch.py
@@ -14,81 +14,107 @@
 # TODO: implement parts of the steps described in
 # <https://github.com/gap-system/gap-distribution/blob/master/DistributionUpdate/STABLE_BRANCH_CHECKLIST.md>
 
-from utils import *
+from utils import error, notice, warning, patchfile
+import utils
 
 import subprocess
+import sys
 
 # Insist on Python >= 3.6 for f-strings and other goodies
-if sys.version_info < (3,6):
+if sys.version_info < (3, 6):
     error("Python 3.6 or newer is required")
 
-notice("Checking prerequisites")
-verify_command_available("git")
-verify_git_repo()
-verify_git_clean()
 
-# TODO: verify that we are on `master`, and that we are up-to-date (`git pull`)
+def usage(name: str) -> None:
+    print(f"Usage: `{name} MINOR`  creates the branch `stable-4.MINOR`")
+    sys.exit(1)
 
-# TODO: verify that `./configure && make` were already run
 
-gap_minor_version = 12  # TODO: this should be an argument or so?
-gapversion = f"4.{gap_minor_version}"
-nextgapversion = f"4.{gap_minor_version+1}"
-stable_branch = "stable-" + gapversion # TODO: how to specify this? probably have the version as argument?
+def main(gap_minor_version_str: str) -> None:
+    gap_minor_version = int(gap_minor_version_str)
+    gapversion = f"4.{gap_minor_version}"
+    nextgapversion = f"4.{gap_minor_version+1}"
+    stable_branch = "stable-" + gapversion
 
-# TODO: error out if the branch already exists
+    notice("Checking prerequisites")
+    utils.verify_command_available("git")
+    utils.verify_git_repo()
+    utils.verify_git_clean()
 
-# TODO: Create a pair of labels for GitHub issues called backport-to-X.Y and backport-to-X.Y-DONE.
+    notice(f"Switching to master branch")
+    subprocess.run(["git", "switch", "master"], check=True)
 
-# TODO: Create a GitHub milestone for GAP X.Y.0 release.
+    notice(f"Ensure branch is up-to-date")
+    subprocess.run(["git", "pull", "--ff-only"], check=True)
 
-notice(f"Creating branch {stable_branch}")
-subprocess.run(["git", "branch", stable_branch], check=True)
+    # create the new branch now, before we add a commit to master
+    notice(f"Creating branch {stable_branch}")
+    subprocess.run(["git", "branch", stable_branch], check=True)
 
-
-# list of files which (potentially) are updated
-files = [
+    # list of files which (potentially) are updated
+    files = [
         "CITATION",
         "configure.ac",
         "doc/versiondata",
+    ]
+
+    notice("Updating version to {nextgapversion} on master branch")
+    for f in files:
+        notice("  patching " + f)
+        patchfile(f, gapversion + "dev", nextgapversion + "dev")
+
+    notice("Commit master branch updates")
+    subprocess.run(
+        ["git", "commit", "-m", f"Start work on GAP {nextgapversion}", *files],
+        check=True,
+    )
+
+    notice(f"Tag master with v{nextgapversion}dev")
+    subprocess.run(
+        [
+            "git",
+            "tag",
+            "-m",
+            f"Start work on GAP {nextgapversion}",
+            f"v{nextgapversion}dev",
+        ],
+        check=True,
+    )
+
+    notice(f"Switching to {stable_branch} branch")
+    subprocess.run(["git", "switch", stable_branch], check=True)
+
+    notice("Patching files")
+    patchfile("Makefile.rules", "PKG_BRANCH = master", "PKG_BRANCH = " + stable_branch)
+    # adjust the CI and code coverage badges in README.md
+    patchfile("README.md", "master", stable_branch)
+
+    notice(f"Create start commit for {stable_branch} branch")
+    files = [
         "Makefile.rules",
         "README.md",
-        ]
-
-notice("Updating configure.ac on master branch")
-patchfile("configure.ac", r"m4_define\(\[gap_version\],[^\n]+", r"m4_define([gap_version], ["+nextgapversion+"dev])")
-
-notice("Regenerate some files")
-run_with_log(["make", "CITATION", "doc/versiondata"], "make")
-
-notice("Commit master branch updates")
-subprocess.run(["git", "commit", "-m", f"Start work on GAP {nextgapversion}", *files], check=True)
-
-notice(f"Tag master with v{nextgapversion}dev")
-subprocess.run(["git", "tag", "-m", f"Start work on GAP {nextgapversion}", f"v{nextgapversion}dev"], check=True)
-
-# TODO: push tags/commits? actually, we disabled direct pushes to
-# master, so perhaps we should have created the above commit on a pull
-# request, and create the tag only after it is merged?!? but then the
-# sha changes ... so perhaps better is that an admin temporarily
-# disables the branch protection rule so they can push
-subprocess.run(["git", "push"], check=True)
-subprocess.run(["git", "push", "--tags"], check=True)
+    ]
+    subprocess.run(
+        ["git", "commit", "-m", f"Create {stable_branch} branch", *files], check=True
+    )
 
+    # push to the server
+    input(
+        f"Please 'git push master {stable_branch} v{nextgapversion}dev' now (you may have to temporarily change branch protection rules), then press ENTER"
+    )
 
-notice(f"Updating {stable_branch} branch")
-subprocess.run(["git", "switch", stable_branch], check=True)
+    input(
+        f"Please create GitHub labels backport-to-{gapversion} and backport-to-{gapversion}-DONE, then press ENTER"
+    )
 
-notice("Patching files")
-patchfile("Makefile.rules", r"PKG_BRANCH = master", r"PKG_BRANCH = "+stable_branch)
-patchfile("README.md", r"master", r""+stable_branch)
+    input(
+        f"Please create a GitHub milestone for GAP {nextgapversion}.0 , then press ENTER"
+    )
 
-notice("Regenerate some files")
-run_with_log(["make", "CITATION", "doc/versiondata"], "make")
 
-notice(f"Create start commit for {stable_branch} branch")
-subprocess.run(["git", "commit", "-m", f"Create {stable_branch} branch", *files], check=True)
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    # the argument is the new version
+    if len(sys.argv) != 2:
+        usage(sys.argv[0])
 
-# push to the server
-#
-#subprocess.run(["git", "push", "--set-upstream", "origin", stable_branch], check=True)
+    main(sys.argv[1])