diff --git a/.github/actions/publish/action.yml b/.github/actions/publish/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a848c553
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/publish/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+---
+name: package and draft GitHub release
+# https://github.com/product-os/flowzone/tree/master/.github/actions
+inputs:
+  json:
+    description: 'JSON stringified object containing all the inputs from the calling workflow'
+    required: true
+  secrets:
+    description: 'JSON stringified object containing all the secrets from the calling workflow'
+    required: true
+  variables:
+    description: 'JSON stringified object containing all the variables from the calling workflow'
+    required: true
+
+  # --- custom environment
+  NODE_VERSION:
+    type: string
+    default: '20.x'
+
+runs:
+  # https://docs.github.com/en/actions/creating-actions/creating-a-composite-action
+  using: 'composite'
+  steps:
+    - name: Setup Node.js
+      uses: actions/setup-node@v3
+      working-directory: ./ui
+      with:
+        node-version: ${{ inputs.NODE_VERSION }}
+        cache: npm
+
+    - name: Install dependencies
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        if [ -e package-lock.json ]; then
+          npm ci
+        else
+          npm i
+        fi
\ No newline at end of file