diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 0fa3fd20..8b8d7332 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ jobs:
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
         scala: [2.12.15]
         java: [temurin@8]
-        ci: [ciJVM]
+        project: [rootJVM]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout current branch (full)
@@ -57,9 +57,19 @@ jobs:
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-sbt-cache-v2-${{ hashFiles('**/*.sbt') }}-${{ hashFiles('project/build.properties') }}
 
       - name: Check that workflows are up to date
-        run: sbt '++${{ matrix.scala }}' 'project /' githubWorkflowCheck
+        run: sbt 'project ${{ matrix.project }}' '++${{ matrix.scala }}' 'project /' githubWorkflowCheck
 
-      - run: sbt '++${{ matrix.scala }}' '${{ matrix.ci }}'
+      - name: Check headers and formatting
+        run: sbt 'project ${{ matrix.project }}' '++${{ matrix.scala }}' headerCheckAll scalafmtCheckAll 'project /' scalafmtSbtCheck
+
+      - name: Test
+        run: sbt 'project ${{ matrix.project }}' '++${{ matrix.scala }}' test
+
+      - name: Check binary compatibility
+        run: sbt 'project ${{ matrix.project }}' '++${{ matrix.scala }}' mimaReportBinaryIssues
+
+      - name: Generate API documentation
+        run: sbt 'project ${{ matrix.project }}' '++${{ matrix.scala }}' doc
 
       - name: Make target directories
         run: mkdir -p github/target github-actions/target kernel/target versioning/target ci-release/target target .js/target ci-signing/target mima/target .jvm/target .native/target no-publish/target sonatype/target ci/target sonatype-ci-release/target core/target settings/target project/target
@@ -129,4 +139,5 @@ jobs:
           echo "$PGP_PASSPHRASE" | gpg --pinentry-mode loopback --passphrase-fd 0 --import /tmp/signing-key.gpg
           (echo "$PGP_PASSPHRASE"; echo; echo) | gpg --command-fd 0 --pinentry-mode loopback --change-passphrase $(gpg --list-secret-keys --with-colons 2> /dev/null | grep '^sec:' | cut --delimiter ':' --fields 5 | tail -n 1)
 
-      - run: sbt '++${{ matrix.scala }}' tlRelease
+      - name: Publish
+        run: sbt '++${{ matrix.scala }}' tlRelease
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f5d208be..ef0ccf02 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ Instead of using the super-plugins, for finer-grained control you can always add
   - Requires `PGP_SECRET` secret, with your base64-encoded PGP key
   - Optionally set the `PGP_PASSPHRASE` secret, but we do not recommend passphrase-protected keys for new projects. See discussion in [#9](https://github.com/typelevel/sbt-typelevel/discussions/9#discussioncomment-1251774).
 - **sbt-typelevel-ci-release**, `TypelevelCiReleasePlugin`: The super-plugin that sets you up with versioning, mima, signing, and sonatype publishing, all in GitHub actions.
-- **sbt-typelevel**, `TypelevelPlugin`: The super-super-plugin intended for bootstrapping the typical Typelevel project. Sets up CI release, scalac settings, headers, and formatting.
+- **sbt-typelevel**, `TypelevelPlugin`: The super-super-plugin intended for bootstrapping the typical Typelevel project. Sets up CI release including snapshots, scalac settings, headers, and formatting.
   - `tlFatalWarningsInCi` (setting): Convert compiler warnings into errors under CI builds (default: true).
 
 ### Dependency diagram
diff --git a/ci-signing/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelCiSigningPlugin.scala b/ci-signing/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelCiSigningPlugin.scala
index aa22069a..c6ffed9b 100644
--- a/ci-signing/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelCiSigningPlugin.scala
+++ b/ci-signing/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelCiSigningPlugin.scala
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ object TypelevelCiSigningPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
       "PGP_SECRET" -> s"$${{ secrets.PGP_SECRET }}",
       "PGP_PASSPHRASE" -> s"$${{ secrets.PGP_PASSPHRASE }}"
     ),
-    githubWorkflowPublishPreamble ++= Seq(
+    githubWorkflowPublishPreamble := Seq(
       WorkflowStep.Run( // if your key is not passphrase-protected
         List("echo $PGP_SECRET | base64 -d | gpg --import"),
         name = Some("Import signing key"),
diff --git a/ci/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/CrossRootProject.scala b/ci/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/CrossRootProject.scala
index 7483ed8e..d9362bcf 100644
--- a/ci/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/CrossRootProject.scala
+++ b/ci/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/CrossRootProject.scala
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ package org.typelevel.sbt
 
 import sbt._
 import org.typelevel.sbt.gha.GenerativePlugin.autoImport._
-import TypelevelCiPlugin.ciCommands
-import TypelevelKernelPlugin.mkCommand
 
 /**
  * Simultaneously creates a `root`, `rootJVM`, `rootJS`, and `rootNative` project, and
@@ -113,12 +111,8 @@ object TypelevelCiCrossPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
   override def requires = TypelevelCiPlugin
 
   override def buildSettings = Seq(
-    githubWorkflowBuild ~= { steps =>
-      // remove the usual ci step and replace with matrix ci
-      steps.diff(Seq(WorkflowStep.Sbt(List("ci")))) :+
-        WorkflowStep.Sbt(List(s"$${{ matrix.ci }}"))
-    },
-    githubWorkflowBuildMatrixAdditions += "ci" -> Nil
+    githubWorkflowBuildSbtStepPreamble ~= { s"project $${{ matrix.project }}" +: _ },
+    githubWorkflowBuildMatrixAdditions += "project" -> Nil
   )
 }
 
@@ -127,56 +121,66 @@ object TypelevelCiCrossPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
 object TypelevelCiJVMPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
   override def requires = TypelevelCiCrossPlugin
 
-  override def buildSettings: Seq[Setting[_]] =
-    addCommandAlias("ciJVM", mkCommand(ciJVMCommands)) ++ Seq(
-      githubWorkflowBuildMatrixAdditions ~= { matrix =>
-        matrix.updated("ci", matrix("ci") ::: "ciJVM" :: Nil)
-      }
-    )
-
-  val ciJVMCommands = "project rootJVM" :: ciCommands.tail
+  override def buildSettings: Seq[Setting[_]] = Seq(
+    githubWorkflowBuildMatrixAdditions ~= { matrix =>
+      matrix.updated("project", matrix("project") ::: "rootJVM" :: Nil)
+    }
+  )
 }
 
 object TypelevelCiJSPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
   override def requires = TypelevelCiCrossPlugin
 
-  override def buildSettings: Seq[Setting[_]] =
-    addCommandAlias("ciJS", mkCommand(ciJSCommands)) ++ Seq(
-      githubWorkflowBuildMatrixAdditions ~= { matrix =>
-        matrix.updated("ci", matrix("ci") ::: "ciJS" :: Nil)
-      },
-      githubWorkflowBuildMatrixExclusions ++= {
-        githubWorkflowJavaVersions
-          .value
-          .tail
-          .map(java => MatrixExclude(Map("ci" -> "ciJS", "java" -> java.render)))
+  override def buildSettings: Seq[Setting[_]] = Seq(
+    githubWorkflowBuildMatrixAdditions ~= { matrix =>
+      matrix.updated("project", matrix("project") ::: "rootJS" :: Nil)
+    },
+    githubWorkflowBuildMatrixExclusions ++= {
+      githubWorkflowJavaVersions
+        .value
+        .tail
+        .map(java => MatrixExclude(Map("project" -> "rootJS", "java" -> java.render)))
+    },
+    githubWorkflowBuild ~= { steps =>
+      steps.flatMap {
+        case testStep @ WorkflowStep.Sbt(List("test"), _, _, _, _, _) =>
+          val fastOptStep = WorkflowStep.Sbt(
+            List("Test/fastOptJS"),
+            name = Some("fastOptJS"),
+            cond = Some("matrix.project == 'rootJS'")
+          )
+          List(fastOptStep, testStep)
+        case step => List(step)
       }
-    )
+    }
+  )
 
-  val ciJSCommands = "project rootJS" :: ciCommands.tail.flatMap {
-    case "test" => List("Test/fastOptJS", "test")
-    case x => List(x)
-  }
 }
 
 object TypelevelCiNativePlugin extends AutoPlugin {
   override def requires = TypelevelCiCrossPlugin
 
-  override def buildSettings: Seq[Setting[_]] =
-    addCommandAlias("ciNative", mkCommand(ciNativeCommands)) ++ Seq(
-      githubWorkflowBuildMatrixAdditions ~= { matrix =>
-        matrix.updated("ci", matrix("ci") ::: "ciNative" :: Nil)
-      },
-      githubWorkflowBuildMatrixExclusions ++= {
-        githubWorkflowJavaVersions
-          .value
-          .tail
-          .map(java => MatrixExclude(Map("ci" -> "ciNative", "java" -> java.render)))
+  override def buildSettings: Seq[Setting[_]] = Seq(
+    githubWorkflowBuildMatrixAdditions ~= { matrix =>
+      matrix.updated("project", matrix("project") ::: "rootNative" :: Nil)
+    },
+    githubWorkflowBuildMatrixExclusions ++= {
+      githubWorkflowJavaVersions
+        .value
+        .tail
+        .map(java => MatrixExclude(Map("project" -> "rootNative", "java" -> java.render)))
+    },
+    githubWorkflowBuild ~= { steps =>
+      steps.flatMap {
+        case testStep @ WorkflowStep.Sbt(List("test"), _, _, _, _, _) =>
+          val nativeLinkStep = WorkflowStep.Sbt(
+            List("Test/nativeLink"),
+            name = Some("nativeLink"),
+            cond = Some("matrix.project == 'rootNative'")
+          )
+          List(nativeLinkStep, testStep)
+        case step => List(step)
       }
-    )
-
-  val ciNativeCommands = "project rootNative" :: ciCommands.tail.flatMap {
-    case "test" => List("Test/nativeLink", "test")
-    case x => List(x)
-  }
+    }
+  )
 }
diff --git a/ci/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelCiPlugin.scala b/ci/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelCiPlugin.scala
index b4ee0391..4df6c20e 100644
--- a/ci/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelCiPlugin.scala
+++ b/ci/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelCiPlugin.scala
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import org.typelevel.sbt.gha.GenerativePlugin
 import org.typelevel.sbt.gha.GitHubActionsPlugin
 import org.typelevel.sbt.gha.GenerativePlugin.autoImport._
 import com.typesafe.tools.mima.plugin.MimaPlugin
-import TypelevelKernelPlugin.mkCommand
 
 object TypelevelCiPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
 
@@ -32,18 +31,17 @@ object TypelevelCiPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
     def tlCrossRootProject: CrossRootProject = CrossRootProject()
   }
 
-  override def buildSettings =
-    addCommandAlias("ci", mkCommand(ciCommands)) ++ Seq(
-      githubWorkflowPublishTargetBranches := Seq(),
-      githubWorkflowBuild := Seq(WorkflowStep.Sbt(List("ci"))),
-      githubWorkflowJavaVersions := Seq(JavaSpec.temurin("8"))
-    )
-
-  val ciCommands = List(
-    "project /",
-    "clean",
-    "test",
-    "mimaReportBinaryIssues"
+  override def buildSettings = Seq(
+    githubWorkflowPublishTargetBranches := Seq(),
+    githubWorkflowBuild := Seq(
+      WorkflowStep.Sbt(List("test"), name = Some("Test")),
+      WorkflowStep.Sbt(
+        List("mimaReportBinaryIssues"),
+        name = Some("Check binary compatibility")
+      ),
+      WorkflowStep.Sbt(List("doc"), name = Some("Generate API documentation"))
+    ),
+    githubWorkflowJavaVersions := Seq(JavaSpec.temurin("8"))
   )
 
 }
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelPlugin.scala b/core/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelPlugin.scala
index 40146f3b..fe83865a 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelPlugin.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelPlugin.scala
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ import sbt._, Keys._
 import org.typelevel.sbt.gha.GenerativePlugin
 import org.typelevel.sbt.gha.GitHubActionsPlugin
 import de.heikoseeberger.sbtheader.AutomateHeaderPlugin
-import TypelevelCiPlugin.ciCommands
-import TypelevelKernelPlugin.mkCommand
 
 object TypelevelPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
 
@@ -39,7 +37,6 @@ object TypelevelPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
   }
 
   import autoImport._
-  import TypelevelKernelPlugin.autoImport._
   import TypelevelSettingsPlugin.autoImport._
   import TypelevelSonatypeCiReleasePlugin.autoImport._
   import GenerativePlugin.autoImport._
@@ -62,38 +59,15 @@ object TypelevelPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
         scala <- githubWorkflowScalaVersions.value.init
         java <- githubWorkflowJavaVersions.value.tail
       } yield MatrixExclude(Map("scala" -> scala, "java" -> java.render))
+    },
+    githubWorkflowBuild ~= { steps =>
+      WorkflowStep.Sbt(
+        List("headerCheckAll", "scalafmtCheckAll", "project /", "scalafmtSbtCheck"),
+        name = Some("Check headers and formatting")
+      ) +: steps
     }
-  ) ++ tlReplaceCommandAlias("ci", mkCommand(fmtCheckCommands ::: ciCommands.tail))
+  )
 
   override def projectSettings = AutomateHeaderPlugin.projectSettings
 
-  val fmtCheckCommands =
-    List("project /", "headerCheckAll", "scalafmtCheckAll", "scalafmtSbtCheck")
-}
-
-import TypelevelKernelPlugin.autoImport._
-import TypelevelPlugin.fmtCheckCommands
-import TypelevelCiJVMPlugin.ciJVMCommands
-import TypelevelCiJSPlugin.ciJSCommands
-import TypelevelCiNativePlugin.ciNativeCommands
-
-object TypelevelJVMPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
-  override def requires = TypelevelCiJVMPlugin
-  override def trigger = allRequirements
-  override def buildSettings =
-    tlReplaceCommandAlias("ciJVM", mkCommand(fmtCheckCommands ++ ciJVMCommands))
-}
-
-object TypelevelJSPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
-  override def requires = TypelevelCiJSPlugin
-  override def trigger = allRequirements
-  override def buildSettings =
-    tlReplaceCommandAlias("ciJS", mkCommand(fmtCheckCommands ++ ciJSCommands))
-}
-
-object TypelevelNativePlugin extends AutoPlugin {
-  override def requires = TypelevelCiNativePlugin
-  override def trigger = allRequirements
-  override def buildSettings =
-    tlReplaceCommandAlias("ciNative", mkCommand(fmtCheckCommands ++ ciNativeCommands))
 }
diff --git a/sonatype-ci-release/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelSonatypeCiReleasePlugin.scala b/sonatype-ci-release/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelSonatypeCiReleasePlugin.scala
index 99e73cc8..abf17803 100644
--- a/sonatype-ci-release/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelSonatypeCiReleasePlugin.scala
+++ b/sonatype-ci-release/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/sbt/TypelevelSonatypeCiReleasePlugin.scala
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ object TypelevelSonatypeCiReleasePlugin extends AutoPlugin {
     },
     githubWorkflowTargetTags += "v*",
     githubWorkflowPublish := Seq(
-      WorkflowStep.Sbt(List("tlRelease"))
+      WorkflowStep.Sbt(List("tlRelease"), name = Some("Publish"))
     )
   )
 }