diff --git a/.github/scripts/local.init.gradle.kts b/.github/scripts/local.init.gradle.kts
index 0b8ec23a0fcc..ff27a92de3e8 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/local.init.gradle.kts
+++ b/.github/scripts/local.init.gradle.kts
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+settingsEvaluated {
+  settings.pluginManagement {
+    repositories {
+      mavenLocal()
+      removeIf { it.name == "sonatype" }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 allprojects {
   repositories {
     mavenLocal()
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index ef3771c337e3..294b365c8081 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ jobs:
           path: ~/.gradle/wrapper
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-wrapper-cache-${{ hashFiles('gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties') }}
 
-      - name: Publish snapshot
+      - name: Build and publish artifact snapshots
         env:
           S3_BUILD_CACHE_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.S3_BUILD_CACHE_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
           S3_BUILD_CACHE_SECRET_KEY: ${{ secrets.S3_BUILD_CACHE_SECRET_KEY }}
@@ -324,3 +324,13 @@ jobs:
           GPG_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
           GPG_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSWORD }}
         run: ./gradlew snapshot
+
+      - name: Build and publish gradle plugin snapshots
+        env:
+          SONATYPE_USER: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_USER }}
+          SONATYPE_KEY: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_KEY }}
+          GPG_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+          GPG_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSWORD }}
+        run: ../gradlew build publishToSonatype
+        working-directory: gradle-plugins
+        run: ./gradlew snapshot
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gradle-plugins-release.yml b/.github/workflows/gradle-plugins-release.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 98dc4a8bdc58..000000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/gradle-plugins-release.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-name: Publish Gradle plugins to Gradle Plugin Portal
-
-on:
-  workflow_dispatch:
-
-jobs:
-  publish:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2.3.4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-
-      - name: Set up JDK 11 for running Gradle
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v2
-        with:
-          distribution: adopt
-          java-version: 11
-
-      - name: Cache Gradle Wrapper
-        uses: actions/cache@v2
-        with:
-          path: ~/.gradle/wrapper
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-wrapper-cache-${{ hashFiles('gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties') }}
-
-      - name: Publish plugins
-        env:
-          GRADLE_PUBLISH_KEY: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_PUBLISH_KEY }}
-          GRADLE_PUBLISH_SECRET: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_PUBLISH_SECRET }}
-        run: ../gradlew build publishPlugins
-        working-directory: gradle-plugins
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gradle-plugins-snapshot.yml b/.github/workflows/gradle-plugins-snapshot.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 7e122152f1c4..000000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/gradle-plugins-snapshot.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-name: Publish Gradle plugin snapshots
-
-on:
-  push:
-    paths:
-      - 'gradle-plugins/**'
-      - '.github/workflows/gradle-plugins-snapshot.yml'
-    branches:
-      - main
-  workflow_dispatch:
-
-jobs:
-  snapshot:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2.3.4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-
-      - name: Set up JDK 11 for running Gradle
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v2
-        with:
-          distribution: adopt
-          java-version: 11
-
-      - name: Cache Gradle Wrapper
-        uses: actions/cache@v2
-        with:
-          path: ~/.gradle/wrapper
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-wrapper-cache-${{ hashFiles('gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties') }}
-
-      - name: Publish snapshot
-        env:
-          SONATYPE_USER: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_USER }}
-          SONATYPE_KEY: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_KEY }}
-          GPG_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-          GPG_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSWORD }}
-        run: ../gradlew build publishToSonatype
-        working-directory: gradle-plugins
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/patch-release-build.yml b/.github/workflows/patch-release-build.yml
index 74e30918c260..dbf5b7ab4022 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/patch-release-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/patch-release-build.yml
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           job-id: jdk11
           remote-build-cache-proxy-enabled: false
-          arguments: assemble final closeAndReleaseSonatypeStagingRepository -Prelease.version=${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
+          arguments: assemble final closeAndReleaseSonatypeStagingRepository
         env:
           SONATYPE_USER: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_USER }}
           SONATYPE_KEY: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_KEY }}
@@ -257,6 +257,14 @@ jobs:
           GPG_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
           GPG_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSWORD }}
 
+        # TODO (trask) cache gradle wrapper?
+      - name: Build and publish gradle plugins
+        env:
+          GRADLE_PUBLISH_KEY: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_PUBLISH_KEY }}
+          GRADLE_PUBLISH_SECRET: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_PUBLISH_SECRET }}
+        run: ../gradlew build publishPlugins
+        working-directory: gradle-plugins
+
       - name: Push cherry-picked changes to the release branch
         run: git push
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr.yml b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
index 7e9d7d5aacf4..ce457894efb4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
@@ -253,8 +253,6 @@ jobs:
 
   examples:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    # When we make PR against pre-release branch examples may point to yet-unpublished version
-    if: github.base_ref == 'main'
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2.3.4
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-build.yml b/.github/workflows/release-build.yml
index 796f821f6f42..dfc06cfbd24c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-build.yml
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           job-id: jdk11
           remote-build-cache-proxy-enabled: false
-          arguments: assemble final closeAndReleaseSonatypeStagingRepository -Prelease.version=${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
+          arguments: assemble final closeAndReleaseSonatypeStagingRepository
         env:
           SONATYPE_USER: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_USER }}
           SONATYPE_KEY: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_KEY }}
@@ -168,6 +168,14 @@ jobs:
           GPG_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
           GPG_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSWORD }}
 
+        # TODO (trask) cache gradle wrapper?
+      - name: Build and publish gradle plugins
+        env:
+          GRADLE_PUBLISH_KEY: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_PUBLISH_KEY }}
+          GRADLE_PUBLISH_SECRET: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_PUBLISH_SECRET }}
+        run: ../gradlew build publishPlugins
+        working-directory: gradle-plugins
+
       - name: Create Release
         id: create_release
         uses: actions/create-release@v1.1.4
diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
index 431c6e798cdc..017f400198a3 100644
--- a/RELEASING.md
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ next _minor_ release version. This means version `vX.(Y+1).0-SNAPSHOT`.
 
 ## Starting the Release
 
+Before making the release:
+
+* Update `CHANGELOG.md`
+* Update the version (remove `-SNAPSHOT`) in these files:
+  * version.gradle.kts
+  * examples/distro/build.gradle
+  * examples/extension/build.gradle
+
 Open the release build workflow in your browser [here](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/actions/workflows/release-build.yml).
 
 You will see a button that says "Run workflow". Press the button, enter the version number you want
@@ -23,6 +31,13 @@ to release in the input field that pops up, and then press "Run workflow".
 This triggers the release process, which builds the artifacts, publishes the artifacts, and creates
 and pushes a git tag with the version number.
 
+After making the release:
+
+* Update the version (bump and add `-SNAPSHOT`) in these files:
+  * version.gradle.kts
+  * examples/distro/build.gradle
+  * examples/extension/build.gradle
+
 ## Announcement
 
 Once the GitHub workflow completes, go to Github [release
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 53901f62e893..5748016f206f 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import nebula.plugin.release.git.opinion.Strategies
 import java.time.Duration
 
 plugins {
@@ -6,17 +5,10 @@ plugins {
 
   id("com.github.ben-manes.versions")
   id("io.github.gradle-nexus.publish-plugin")
-  id("nebula.release")
   id("otel.spotless-conventions")
 }
 
-release {
-  defaultVersionStrategy = Strategies.getSNAPSHOT()
-}
-
-nebulaRelease {
-  addReleaseBranchPattern("""v\d+\.\d+\.x""")
-}
+apply(from = "version.gradle.kts")
 
 nexusPublishing {
   packageGroup.set("io.opentelemetry")
diff --git a/conventions/build.gradle.kts b/conventions/build.gradle.kts
index c912447f065c..89f4c5f9b409 100644
--- a/conventions/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/conventions/build.gradle.kts
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ dependencies {
   implementation(gradleApi())
   implementation(localGroovy())
 
-  implementation("io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-generation:io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-generation.gradle.plugin:0.8.0")
-  implementation("io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-check:io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-check.gradle.plugin:0.8.0")
+  implementation("io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-generation:io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-generation.gradle.plugin")
+  implementation("io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-check:io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-check.gradle.plugin")
 
   implementation("org.eclipse.aether:aether-connector-basic:1.1.0")
   implementation("org.eclipse.aether:aether-transport-http:1.1.0")
diff --git a/conventions/src/main/kotlin/otel.publish-conventions.gradle.kts b/conventions/src/main/kotlin/otel.publish-conventions.gradle.kts
index 5d08da336c3b..75a8be439eca 100644
--- a/conventions/src/main/kotlin/otel.publish-conventions.gradle.kts
+++ b/conventions/src/main/kotlin/otel.publish-conventions.gradle.kts
@@ -19,12 +19,6 @@ publishing {
         }
       }
 
-      if (findProperty("otel.stable") != "true") {
-        val versionParts = version.split('-').toMutableList()
-        versionParts[0] += "-alpha"
-        version = versionParts.joinToString("-")
-      }
-
       afterEvaluate {
         val mavenGroupId: String? by project
         if (mavenGroupId != null) {
@@ -85,10 +79,6 @@ fun artifactPrefix(p: Project, archivesBaseName: String): String {
   return "opentelemetry-"
 }
 
-rootProject.tasks.named("release").configure {
-  finalizedBy(tasks["publishToSonatype"])
-}
-
 // Sign only if we have a key to do so
 val signingKey: String? = System.getenv("GPG_PRIVATE_KEY")
 // Stub out entire signing block off of CI since Gradle provides no way of lazy configuration of
diff --git a/examples/distro/build.gradle b/examples/distro/build.gradle
index 68044fe74e80..6908679949ef 100644
--- a/examples/distro/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/distro/build.gradle
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ subprojects {
 
   repositories {
     mavenCentral()
-    mavenLocal()
     maven {
       name = "sonatype"
       url = uri("https://oss.sonatype.org/content/repositories/snapshots")
diff --git a/examples/distro/settings.gradle b/examples/distro/settings.gradle
index c0c40708a6ff..20d00c93547a 100644
--- a/examples/distro/settings.gradle
+++ b/examples/distro/settings.gradle
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+pluginManagement {
+  repositories {
+    gradlePluginPortal()
+    maven {
+      name = "sonatype"
+      url = uri("https://oss.sonatype.org/content/repositories/snapshots")
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 rootProject.name = 'opentelemetry-java-instrumentation-distro-demo'
 
 include "agent"
diff --git a/examples/extension/build.gradle b/examples/extension/build.gradle
index a38d36ef751e..3440617f725e 100644
--- a/examples/extension/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/extension/build.gradle
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ plugins {
    */
   id "com.github.johnrengelman.shadow" version "6.1.0"
 
-  id "io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-generation" version "0.8.0"
-  id "io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-check" version "0.8.0"
+  id "io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-generation" version "1.8.0-alpha-SNAPSHOT"
+  id "io.opentelemetry.instrumentation.muzzle-check" version "1.8.0-alpha-SNAPSHOT"
 }
 
 group 'io.opentelemetry.example'
diff --git a/examples/extension/settings.gradle b/examples/extension/settings.gradle
index 763ae16c856b..531daf64fe34 100644
--- a/examples/extension/settings.gradle
+++ b/examples/extension/settings.gradle
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 pluginManagement {
   repositories {
-    mavenLocal()
     gradlePluginPortal()
     maven {
+      name = "sonatype"
       url = uri("https://oss.sonatype.org/content/repositories/snapshots")
     }
   }
diff --git a/gradle-plugins/build.gradle.kts b/gradle-plugins/build.gradle.kts
index ce39ab78f81d..bf4b2eb8b507 100644
--- a/gradle-plugins/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/gradle-plugins/build.gradle.kts
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 group = "io.opentelemetry.instrumentation"
-version = "0.8.0"
+
+apply(from = "../version.gradle.kts")
 
 repositories {
   mavenCentral()
diff --git a/version.gradle.kts b/version.gradle.kts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..91a0e0234081
--- /dev/null
+++ b/version.gradle.kts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+allprojects {
+  if (findProperty("otel.stable") != "true") {
+    version = "1.8.0-alpha-SNAPSHOT"
+  } else {
+    version = "1.8.0-SNAPSHOT"
+  }
+}