diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index c16d688b..d48765ff 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ test_build:
   resource_group: test
   # when: manual
 
+# Actual release -- triggered by pushing a new version tag
+
 release_job:
   stage: release
   image: registry.gitlab.com/gitlab-org/release-cli:latest
@@ -177,3 +179,143 @@ delete_build_machines:
     - bash scripts/cicd/build-orchestration/build-machine-ctrl.sh delete amd64-rpm
   rules:
     - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG =~ /v\d.+/'
+
+# Dryrun release -- triggered by changes in .gitlab-ci.yml or CICD scripts
+
+dryrun_create_build_machines:
+  stage: build_packages
+  tags:
+    - build-orchestration
+  script:
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-orchestration/build-machine-ctrl.sh create amd64-deb
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-orchestration/build-machine-ctrl.sh create arm64-deb
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-orchestration/build-machine-ctrl.sh create amd64-rpm
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      changes:
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+        - scripts/cicd/**/*
+  
+dryrun_package_amd64_deb:
+  stage: build_packages
+  needs:
+    - dryrun_create_build_machines
+  tags:
+    - build-amd64-deb
+  script:
+    - earthly bootstrap
+    - earthly +package-linux-amd64-deb
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-machine/scp-to-orchestrator.sh
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      changes:
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+        - scripts/cicd/**/*
+
+dryrun_package_arm64_deb:
+  stage: build_packages
+  needs:
+    - dryrun_create_build_machines
+  tags:
+    - build-arm64-deb
+  script:
+    - earthly bootstrap
+    - earthly +package-linux-arm64-deb
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-machine/scp-to-orchestrator.sh
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      changes:
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+        - scripts/cicd/**/*
+
+dryrun_package_amd64_rpm:
+  stage: build_packages
+  needs:
+    - dryrun_create_build_machines
+  tags:
+    - build-amd64-rpm
+  script:
+    - earthly bootstrap
+    - earthly +package-linux-amd64-rpm
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-machine/scp-to-orchestrator.sh
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      changes:
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+        - scripts/cicd/**/*
+
+dryrun_publish_crates:
+  stage: build_packages
+  needs:
+    - dryrun_create_build_machines
+  tags:
+    - build-amd64-deb
+  script:
+    - vlt login
+    - vlt run --command="cargo publish -p veilid-tools --dry-run"
+    - vlt run --command="cargo publish -p veilid-core --dry-run"
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      changes:
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+        - scripts/cicd/**/*
+
+dryrun_publish_python:
+  stage: build_packages
+  needs:
+    - dryrun_create_build_machines
+  tags:
+    - build-amd64-deb
+  script:
+    - vlt login
+    - cd veilid-python && /home/gitlab-runner/.local/bin/poetry build
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      changes:
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+        - scripts/cicd/**/*
+
+dryrun_build_repositories:
+  stage: distribute
+  tags:
+    - build-orchestration
+  variables:
+    SECURE_FILES_DOWNLOAD_PATH: './'
+  script:
+    - cp scripts/cicd/build-orchestration/generate-release.sh ~
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-orchestration/distribute-packages.sh
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      changes:
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+        - scripts/cicd/**/*
+
+dryrun_deploy_repos:
+  stage: distribute
+  needs:
+    - dryrun_build_repositories
+  tags: 
+    - repo-server
+  script: 
+    - ls -al repo.tar
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      changes:
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+        - scripts/cicd/**/*
+
+dryrun_delete_build_machines:
+  stage: distribute
+  needs:
+    - dryrun_deploy_repos
+  tags:
+    - build-orchestration
+  script:
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-orchestration/build-machine-ctrl.sh delete amd64-deb
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-orchestration/build-machine-ctrl.sh delete arm64-deb
+    - bash scripts/cicd/build-orchestration/build-machine-ctrl.sh delete amd64-rpm
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      changes:
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+        - scripts/cicd/**/*
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