diff --git a/.env-default b/.env-default
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 8794543..f812e7a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -23,4 +23,5 @@ jobs:
           CHANGELOG_FILE: CHANGELOG.md
           BASH_ENV: ./lib.sh
           DRY_RUN: false
+          TAGS_FILE: tags.txt
         run: ./workflows/release/tag.sh
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release_pr.yml b/.github/workflows/release_pr.yml
index deddb4c..e2a8a9f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release_pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release_pr.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ jobs:
         env:
           CHANGELOG_FILE: CHANGELOG.md
           BASH_ENV: ./lib.sh
+          TAGS_FILE: tags.txt
         run: ./workflows/release/changelog.sh "${{ inputs.url }}" "${{ inputs.title }}" "${{ inputs.tag_prefix }}"
 
       - name: Open PR
diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f47a33d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{
+  // - - - - - - - - YAML - - - - - - - - -
+  "prettier.configPath": ".prettierrc.yml",
+  "[yaml]": {
+    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"
+  },
+  // - - - - - - - - BASH - - - - - - - - -
+  "shellformat.flag": "-i 2 -ln bash",
+  "[shellscript]": {
+    "editor.defaultFormatter": "foxundermoon.shell-format"
+  },
+  "shellcheck.customArgs": ["-x"],
+  // - - - - - - - - OSX - - - - - - - - -
+  "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.osx": "bash",
+  // - - - - - - - - CSPELL - - - - - - - - -
+  "cSpell.maxDuplicateProblems": 2,
+  "cSpell.showAutocompleteSuggestions": false,
+  "cSpell.enableFiletypes": ["shellscript"],
+  // "cSpell.spellCheckDelayMs": 2000, // needs to be set in user settings json
+  // - - - - - - - - MISC - - - - - - - - -
+  // https://github.com/github/vscode-github-actions/issues/222
+  "github-actions.use-enterprise": true
+}
diff --git a/go/generate_mocks.sh b/go/generate_mocks.sh
index e24fc81..e5005b0 100755
--- a/go/generate_mocks.sh
+++ b/go/generate_mocks.sh
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ rename_expect() {
 ### script ###
 ##############
 
+if [ ! "${LIB_LOADED:-}" ]; then
+  echo -e "INFO  ($0:$LINENO) BASH_ENV=${BASH_ENV:-}" >&2
+  echo -e "FATAL ($0:$LINENO) lib.sh not found. use 'export BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location>' or 'BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location> $0'" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 if requested_help "$*"; then
   usage
   exit 1
diff --git a/go/lint_fix.sh b/go/lint_fix.sh
index 20691df..427307a 100755
--- a/go/lint_fix.sh
+++ b/go/lint_fix.sh
@@ -76,6 +76,12 @@ lint() {
 ### script ###
 ##############
 
+if [ ! "${LIB_LOADED:-}" ]; then
+  echo -e "INFO  ($0:$LINENO) BASH_ENV=${BASH_ENV:-}" >&2
+  echo -e "FATAL ($0:$LINENO) lib.sh not found. use 'export BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location>' or 'BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location> $0'" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 if requested_help "$*"; then
   usage
   exit 1
diff --git a/migration.sh b/migration.sh
index 165c62c..8a89587 100755
--- a/migration.sh
+++ b/migration.sh
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ EOF
 }
 
 # Description: Validates user input
-# Globals    : MIGRATIONS_DIR (github workflow or .env)
+# Globals    : MIGRATIONS_DIR (github workflow)
 # Args       : $@
 # STDERR     : Might print errors
 # Returns    : 1 if fail
@@ -31,10 +31,8 @@ validate() {
   local name=${1-}
 
   if [ ! "${MIGRATIONS_DIR:-}" ]; then
-    if ! source .env; then
-      err $LINENO "missing MIGRATIONS_DIR env variable"
-      return 1
-    fi
+    err $LINENO "missing MIGRATIONS_DIR env variable"
+    return 1
   fi
 
   if [ ! "$name" ]; then
@@ -45,7 +43,7 @@ validate() {
 }
 
 # Description: Create a new timestamped migration file
-# Globals    : MIGRATIONS_DIR (github workflow or .env)
+# Globals    : MIGRATIONS_DIR (github workflow)
 # Args       : 1=(up | down) 2=name
 # STDOUT     : Path to the new file
 # Sideeffects: Creates a new file
diff --git a/workflows/main/commit_lint.sh b/workflows/main/commit_lint.sh
index d9b705a..7febbb2 100755
--- a/workflows/main/commit_lint.sh
+++ b/workflows/main/commit_lint.sh
@@ -122,6 +122,12 @@ EOF
 ### script ###
 ##############
 
+if [ ! "${LIB_LOADED:-}" ]; then
+  echo -e "INFO  ($0:$LINENO) BASH_ENV=${BASH_ENV:-}" >&2
+  echo -e "FATAL ($0:$LINENO) lib.sh not found. use 'export BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location>' or 'BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location> $0'" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 validate
 lint_title
 lint_log
diff --git a/workflows/release/changelog.sh b/workflows/release/changelog.sh
index 105bb1d..7c02f16 100755
--- a/workflows/release/changelog.sh
+++ b/workflows/release/changelog.sh
@@ -16,15 +16,13 @@ trap 'err $LINENO' ERR
 ##########################
 
 # Description: Validates user input
-# Globals    : CHANGELOG_FILE (github workflow or .env)
+# Globals    : CHANGELOG_FILE (github workflow)
 # Returns    : 1 if fail
 # Example    : validate
 validate() {
   if [ ! "${CHANGELOG_FILE-}" ]; then
-    if ! source .env; then
-      err $LINENO "missing CHANGELOG_FILE env variable"
-      return 1
-    fi
+    err $LINENO "missing CHANGELOG_FILE env variable"
+    return 1
   fi
 
   if [ ! -f "$CHANGELOG_FILE" ]; then
@@ -34,7 +32,7 @@ validate() {
 }
 
 # Description: Calls changelog tool and updates CHANGELOG_FILE
-# Globals    : CHANGELOG_FILE, TAGS_FILE (github workflow or .env)
+# Globals    : CHANGELOG_FILE, TAGS_FILE (github workflow)
 # Args       : 1=url 2=title 3=prefixes
 # STDERR     : Might print errors
 # Returns    : 1 if fail
@@ -64,5 +62,11 @@ update_changelog() {
 ### script ###
 ##############
 
+if [ ! "${LIB_LOADED:-}" ]; then
+  echo -e "INFO  ($0:$LINENO) BASH_ENV=${BASH_ENV:-}" >&2
+  echo -e "FATAL ($0:$LINENO) lib.sh not found. use 'export BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location>' or 'BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location> $0'" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 validate
 update_changelog "$@"
diff --git a/workflows/release/tag.sh b/workflows/release/tag.sh
index ad058e3..412ba43 100755
--- a/workflows/release/tag.sh
+++ b/workflows/release/tag.sh
@@ -15,19 +15,25 @@ trap 'err $LINENO' ERR
 ##########################
 
 # Description: Exit the script if main head is doesn't match a release commit
-# Globals    : CHANGELOG_FILE (github workflow or .env)
+# Globals    : CHANGELOG_FILE, TAGS_FILE, DRY_RUN (github workflow)
 # STDERR     : Logs
-# Returns    : 1 if fail
-# Sideeffects: Might exit the script with success
+# Sideeffects: Might exit the script with success or failure
 # Example    : validate
 validate() {
-  local main_head release_re="chore:[[:blank:]]+release"
+  local main_head release_re="^chore:[[:blank:]]+release"
 
-  if [ ! "${CHANGELOG_FILE-}" ]; then
-    if ! source .env; then
-      err $LINENO "missing CHANGELOG_FILE env variable"
-      return 1
-    fi
+  if [ "${DRY_RUN:-}" == "true" ]; then
+    DRY_RUN="echo"
+  else
+    DRY_RUN=""
+  fi
+
+  if [ ! "${CHANGELOG_FILE:-}" ]; then
+    fatal $LINENO "missing CHANGELOG_FILE env variable"
+  fi
+
+  if [ ! "${TAGS_FILE:-}" ]; then
+    fatal $LINENO "missing TAGS_FILE env variable"
   fi
 
   while read -r commit_line; do
@@ -43,39 +49,22 @@ validate() {
   fi
 }
 
-# Description: Parses tags from changelog
-# Globals    : CHANGELOG_FILE (github workflow or .env)
+# Description: Parses tags from TAGS_FILE
+# Globals    : TAGS_FILE (github workflow)
 # STDOUT     : Parsed tags
 # Returns    : Parsed tags
-# Example    : tags="$(parse_changelog_tags)"
-parse_changelog_tags() {
-  local tags=() newest_date tag date
-  # https://regex101.com/r/67rzeb/6
-  local changelog_h1_re="#[[:blank:]]+([a-zA-Z0-9 !%&*()-+]+:)?[[:blank:]]*([a-zA-Z0-9\/.]+)[[:blank:]]+[*_]\(([[:digit:]]+-[[:digit:]]+-[[:digit:]]+)"
+# Example    : tags="$(parse_tags)"
+parse_tags() {
+  local tags=() line
 
   while read -r line; do
-    if ! [[ "$line" =~ $changelog_h1_re ]]; then
-      # want only release lines, h1 in md
-      # one or more lines with tags
+    if [[ "$line" =~ ^# ]]; then
+      # skip doc lines
       continue
     fi
 
-    tag="${BASH_REMATCH[2]}"
-    date="${BASH_REMATCH[3]}"
-
-    if [ ! "${newest_date:-}" ]; then
-      # want to push tags for the newest release only
-      # which will be in the top of the changelog
-      newest_date=$date
-    fi
-
-    if [ "$date" != "$newest_date" ]; then
-      # newest release is over
-      break
-    fi
-
-    tags+=("$tag")
-  done <"$CHANGELOG_FILE"
+    tags+=("$line")
+  done <"$TAGS_FILE"
 
   printf %s "${tags[*]}"
 }
@@ -101,19 +90,13 @@ validate_tags() {
 }
 
 # Description: Creates and pushes git tags
-# Globals    : DRY_RUN bool
+# Globals    : DRY_RUN (github workflow)
 # Args       : words separated by spaces
 # STDOUT     : Prints each tag created, plus git output
 # STDERR     : Git might output
 # Sideeffects: Pushes git tags
-# Example    : tag_and_push foo/v1.1.1. bar/v1.2.3
+# Example    : tag_and_push v1.1.1. foo/v1.2.3
 tag_and_push() {
-  if [ "${DRY_RUN:-}" == "true" ]; then
-    DRY_RUN="echo"
-  else
-    DRY_RUN=""
-  fi
-
   for tag in "$@"; do
     msgln "$tag"
     $DRY_RUN git tag "$tag" HEAD
@@ -126,9 +109,15 @@ tag_and_push() {
 ### script ###
 ##############
 
+if [ ! "${LIB_LOADED:-}" ]; then
+  echo -e "INFO  ($0:$LINENO) BASH_ENV=${BASH_ENV:-}" >&2
+  echo -e "FATAL ($0:$LINENO) lib.sh not found. use 'export BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location>' or 'BASH_ENV=<lib.sh location> $0'" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 validate
 
-parsed_tags="$(parse_changelog_tags)"
+parsed_tags="$(parse_tags)"
 # shellcheck disable=SC2068 # intentional splitting
 validate_tags ${parsed_tags[@]}
 # shellcheck disable=SC2068 # intentional splitting