diff --git a/.github/actions/setup-httpbin-server/action.yml b/.github/actions/setup-httpbin-server/action.yml
index 88657b9c6..f2210ce39 100644
--- a/.github/actions/setup-httpbin-server/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/setup-httpbin-server/action.yml
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ runs:
           fi
     - name: Login to GitHub Container Registry
       if: ${{ steps.setup.outputs.push == 'true' }}
-      uses: docker/login-action@v2
+      uses: docker/login-action@v3
       with:
         registry: ghcr.io
         username: ${{ inputs.ghcr_username }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/job-clang-analyzer.yml b/.github/workflows/job-clang-analyzer.yml
index 08d77fa64..49c28e9fe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/job-clang-analyzer.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/job-clang-analyzer.yml
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ jobs:
       - run: make setup
       - run: make
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
+        # if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
         with:
-          name: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.job }}-sha-${{ github.sha }}-run-${{ github.run_number }}
+          name: ${{ github.job }}-sha-${{ github.sha }}-run-${{ github.run_number }}-${{ inputs.ngx != '' && format('nginx-{0}', inputs.ngx) || format('openresty-{0}', inputs.openresty) }}-${{ inputs.runtime }}-${{ inputs.ssl }}-${{ inputs.hup }}-${{ inputs.debug }}
           path: work/scans/*
diff --git a/.github/workflows/job-unit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/job-unit-tests.yml
index 20aa42d49..6353da005 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/job-unit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/job-unit-tests.yml
@@ -157,11 +157,11 @@ jobs:
           files: './lcov.info'
           flags: unit
       - run: rm -f t/servroot/html/nginx.sock
-        if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
+        # if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
+        # if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
         with:
-          name: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.job }}-sha-${{ github.sha }}-run-${{ github.run_number }}-${{ inputs.runtime }}
+          name: ${{ github.job }}-sha-${{ github.sha }}-run-${{ github.run_number }}-${{ inputs.ngx != '' && format('nginx-{0}', inputs.ngx) || format('openresty-{0}', inputs.openresty) }}-${{ inputs.runtime }}-${{ inputs.module_type == 'dynamic' && 'dynamic' || 'static'}}-${{ inputs.ssl }}-${{ inputs.hup }}-${{ inputs.debug }}
           path: |
             work/buildroot/
             t/servroot*
diff --git a/.github/workflows/job-valgrind-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/job-valgrind-tests.yml
index 231efc1d0..1f619e5cc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/job-valgrind-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/job-valgrind-tests.yml
@@ -139,11 +139,11 @@ jobs:
           files: './lcov.info'
           flags: valgrind
       - run: rm -f t/servroot/html/nginx.sock
-        if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
+        # if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
+        # if: ${{ failure() && !env.ACT }}
         with:
-          name: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.job }}-sha-${{ github.sha }}-run-${{ github.run_number }}-${{ inputs.runtime }}
+          name: ${{ github.job }}-sha-${{ github.sha }}-run-${{ github.run_number }}-${{ inputs.ngx != '' && format('nginx-{0}', inputs.ngx) || format('openresty-{0}', inputs.openresty) }}-${{ inputs.runtime }}-${{ inputs.hup }}
           path: |
             work/buildroot/
             t/servroot*
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index c5343de32..2c40858c1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ name: Release
 on:
   schedule:
     - cron: "0 6 * * mon" # 6am UTC, 11pm PST
-  #pull_request:
-  #  branches: '**'
+  pull_request:
+    branches: '**'
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       release_version:
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upload archive
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          name: release-artifacts-${{ github.job }}
           path: dist
           retention-days: ${{ env.RETENTION_DAYS }}
 
@@ -140,13 +140,13 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Login to GitHub Container Registry
-        uses: docker/login-action@v2
+        uses: docker/login-action@v3
         with:
           registry: ghcr.io
           username: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
           password: ${{ secrets.TOKEN_GITHUB }}
       - name: Setup QEMU
-        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v2
+        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3
       - name: Setup Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
       - name: ${{ matrix.name }}
@@ -174,18 +174,18 @@ jobs:
         username: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
         password: ${{ secrets.TOKEN_GITHUB }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - name: Build binary
         run: ./util/release.sh ${{ needs.setup.outputs.release_name }} --bin
         env:
           GITHUB_OAUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_BOT_TOKEN }}
       - name: Upload binary
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          name: release-artifacts-${{ github.job }}
           path: dist
           retention-days: ${{ env.RETENTION_DAYS }}
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         if: failure()
         with:
           name: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.job }}-sha-${{ github.sha }}-run-${{ github.run_number }}
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upload binary
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          name: release-artifacts-${{ github.job }}
           path: dist
           retention-days: ${{ env.RETENTION_DAYS }}
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upload binary
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          name: release-artifacts-${{ github.job }}
           path: dist
           retention-days: ${{ env.RETENTION_DAYS }}
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
@@ -263,9 +263,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Setup QEMU
-        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v2
+        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3
       - name: Login to GitHub Container Registry
-        uses: docker/login-action@v2
+        uses: docker/login-action@v3
         with:
           registry: ghcr.io
           username: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upload binary
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          name: release-artifacts-${{ github.job }}
           path: dist
           retention-days: ${{ env.RETENTION_DAYS }}
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
@@ -310,18 +310,18 @@ jobs:
         username: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
         password: ${{ secrets.TOKEN_GITHUB }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - name: Build binary
         run: ./util/release.sh ${{ needs.setup.outputs.release_name }} --bin
         env:
           GITHUB_OAUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_BOT_TOKEN }}
       - name: Upload binary
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          name: release-artifacts-${{ github.job }}
           path: dist
           retention-days: ${{ env.RETENTION_DAYS }}
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         if: failure()
         with:
           name: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.job }}-sha-${{ github.sha }}-run-${{ github.run_number }}
@@ -336,6 +336,7 @@ jobs:
       WASMTIME_VER: ${{ needs.setup.outputs.wasmtime_ver }}
       WASMER_VER: ${{ needs.setup.outputs.wasmer_ver }}
       V8_VER: ${{ needs.setup.outputs.v8_ver }}
+      CC: gcc
     container:
       image: ghcr.io/kong/wasmx-build-centos:8
       credentials:
@@ -350,7 +351,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upload binary
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          name: release-artifacts-${{ github.job }}
           path: dist
           retention-days: ${{ env.RETENTION_DAYS }}
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
@@ -382,7 +383,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upload binary
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          name: release-artifacts-${{ github.job }}
           path: dist
           retention-days: ${{ env.RETENTION_DAYS }}
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
@@ -411,12 +412,12 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GITHUB_OAUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_BOT_TOKEN }}
       - name: Upload binary
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          name: release-artifacts-${{ github.job }}
           path: dist
           retention-days: ${{ env.RETENTION_DAYS }}
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         if: failure()
         with:
           name: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.job }}-sha-${{ github.sha }}-run-${{ github.run_number }}
@@ -428,12 +429,17 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: ${{ fromJSON(vars.GHA_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT) }}
     steps:
-      - name: Retrieve sibling release artifacts
+      - name: Retrieve sibling release artifacts (legacy upload-artifact)
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v3
+      - name: Retrieve sibling release artifacts
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
-          name: release-artifacts
+          pattern: release-artifacts-*
+          merge-multiple: true
       - name: Drop Wasmer binaries
         run: find . -name '*wasmer*' | xargs rm -f
+      - name: List all collected assets
+        run: find . -name '*.tar.gz'
         # Channel: nightly
       - name: Nightly release
         uses: marvinpinto/action-automatic-releases@latest
diff --git a/assets/release/Dockerfiles/Dockerfile.amd64.centos8 b/assets/release/Dockerfiles/Dockerfile.amd64.centos8
index 9f374b4dc..606c5c248 100644
--- a/assets/release/Dockerfiles/Dockerfile.amd64.centos8
+++ b/assets/release/Dockerfiles/Dockerfile.amd64.centos8
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ RUN sed -i 's/mirrorlist/#mirrorlist/g' /etc/yum.repos.d/CentOS-Linux-* && \
     sed -i 's|#baseurl=http://mirror.centos.org|baseurl=http://vault.centos.org|g' /etc/yum.repos.d/CentOS-Linux-* && \
     dnf update -y && \
     dnf --enablerepo=powertools install -y \
+        scl-utils \
+        gcc-toolset-11 \
+        gcc-toolset-11-gcc-c++ \
+        gcc-toolset-11-libatomic-devel \
         ninja-build \
         clang \
         cmake \
         make \
-        gcc \
-        libstdc++-devel \
         libatomic \
         perl \
         python39 \
diff --git a/assets/release/Dockerfiles/Dockerfile.amd64.ubuntu-18.04 b/assets/release/Dockerfiles/Dockerfile.amd64.ubuntu-18.04
index cc51dc32c..b1cb3e741 100644
--- a/assets/release/Dockerfiles/Dockerfile.amd64.ubuntu-18.04
+++ b/assets/release/Dockerfiles/Dockerfile.amd64.ubuntu-18.04
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ ARG DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
 RUN apt-get update && \
     apt-get install -y software-properties-common && \
     add-apt-repository -y ppa:deadsnakes/ppa && \
+    add-apt-repository -y ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test && \
     apt-get update && \
     apt-get install -y python3.8 && \
     ln -nfs $(which python3.8) /usr/bin/python3
@@ -16,8 +17,8 @@ RUN apt-get update && \
         ca-certificates \
         build-essential \
         ninja-build \
-        gcc-8 \
-        libstdc++-8-dev \
+        gcc-11 \
+        libstdc++-11-dev \
         git \
         pkg-config \
         libglib2.0-dev \
diff --git a/config b/config
index dd13bc15d..c7b6822e3 100644
--- a/config
+++ b/config
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ case $ngx_wasm_runtime_name in
         ngx_wasm_runtime_srcs="$ngx_addon_dir/src/wasm/wrt/ngx_wrt_v8.c"
         ngx_wasm_runtime_lib_name="wee8"
         ngx_wasm_runtime_pre_libs="-lv8bridge"
-        ngx_wasm_runtime_post_libs="-ldl -lm -lpthread -lstdc++"
+        ngx_wasm_runtime_post_libs="-ldl -lm -lpthread -lstdc++ -latomic"
+
+        if [ "$NGX_SYSTEM" = "Darwin" ]; then
+            ngx_wasm_runtime_post_libs="-ldl -lm -lpthread -lstdc++"
+        fi
 
         ngx_wasm_cargo_lib_name=ngx_wasm_rs
         ngx_wasm_cargo_lib_dir=$ngx_addon_dir/lib/ngx-wasm-rs
diff --git a/util/release.sh b/util/release.sh
index 3c31b76c2..ff131537d 100755
--- a/util/release.sh
+++ b/util/release.sh
@@ -376,12 +376,21 @@ release_bin() {
 
     notice "Building $arch binary..."
 
-    if [ "$(get_distro)" = "centos7" ]; then
-        notice "Enabling devtoolset-11 for CentOS..."
-        source /opt/rh/devtoolset-11/enable
-        gcc --version
-        export CC=gcc
-    fi
+    case "$(get_distro)" in
+        centos7)
+            notice "Enabling devtoolset-11 for CentOS 7..."
+            source /opt/rh/devtoolset-11/enable
+            gcc --version
+            export CC=gcc
+            ;;
+
+        centos8)
+            notice "Enabling gcc-toolset-11 for CentOS 8..."
+            source scl_source enable gcc-toolset-11
+            gcc --version
+            export CC=gcc
+            ;;
+    esac
 
     if [ -n "$WASMTIME_VER" ]; then
         build_with_runtime wasmtime $WASMTIME_VER $arch "libwasmtime.a"
diff --git a/util/runtimes/v8.sh b/util/runtimes/v8.sh
index f8c4adea5..5196d5443 100755
--- a/util/runtimes/v8.sh
+++ b/util/runtimes/v8.sh
@@ -218,16 +218,20 @@ build_v8bridge() {
         make -C "$NGX_WASM_DIR/lib/v8bridge" clean
     fi
 
-    # Use the same V8 clang toolchain to build v8bridge - C++ ABI compatibility
-    local v8_cxx="$DIR_LIBWEE8/repos/v8/third_party/llvm-build/Release+Asserts/bin/clang"
+    local v8_cxx="$CC"
 
-    if [[ "$(uname -s)" = "Darwin" ]]; then
-        # On macOS builds, use the system-provided clang to avoid header issues
-        v8_cxx="clang"
+    if [ "$v8_cxx" = "clang" ]; then
+        # Use the same V8 clang toolchain to build v8bridge - C++ ABI compatibility
+        v8_cxx="$DIR_LIBWEE8/repos/v8/third_party/llvm-build/Release+Asserts/bin/clang"
 
-    elif [[ "$(uname -m)" = "aarch64" ]]; then
-        # V8 clang is built for x86_64; if running on arm64 defaults to gcc
-        v8_cxx="gcc"
+        if [[ "$(uname -s)" = "Darwin" ]]; then
+            # On macOS builds, use the system-provided clang to avoid header issues
+            v8_cxx="clang"
+
+        elif [[ "$(uname -m)" = "aarch64" ]]; then
+            # V8 clang is built for x86_64; if running on arm64 defaults to gcc
+            v8_cxx="gcc"
+        fi
     fi
 
     make -C "$NGX_WASM_DIR/lib/v8bridge" \