diff --git a/.github/workflows/image-build.yml b/.github/workflows/image-build.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..672916a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/image-build.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+name: Build and push docker image
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+    paths:
+      - tools/docker/Dockerfile
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+    build-push:
+      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+      steps:
+        - name: Checkout repository
+          uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+        - name: Docker hub login
+          uses: docker/login-action@v3
+          with:
+            username: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}
+            password: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+        - name: Build and push
+          uses: docker/build-push-action@v6
+          with:
+            context: tools/docker
+            push: true
+            tags: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}/${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_REPOSITORY }}:latest
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b1e95f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+name: Release
+
+on:
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - v*
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
+jobs:
+  release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Create release
+        id: create_release
+        uses: actions/create-release@v1
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        with:
+          tag_name: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+          release_name: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+          draft: false
+          prerelease: false
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..97e8888
--- /dev/null
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+name: Build and send diploma thesis
+description: GitHub action to build and send a diploma thesis using the corresponding docker image from school HTL Leoben
+author: bitsneak
+branding:
+  icon: mail
+  color: yellow
+
+inputs:
+  thesis-path:
+    description: The path to the filled out diploma thesis folder. If not set it will default to Diplomarbeit
+    default: Diplomarbeit
+    required: false
+  smtp-server:
+    description: The smtp server of your sending email
+    required: true
+  smtp-port:
+    description: The smtp server port of your sending emai'
+    required: true
+  mail-address:
+    description: The sending email address
+    required: true
+  mail-address-password:
+    description: The password for the sending email address
+    required: true
+  teams-mail:
+    description: The email address of the teams channel the diploma thesis is sent to
+    required: true
+
+runs:
+  using: composite
+  
+  steps:
+    - name: Checkout repository
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+    - name: Cache Docker image
+      id: cache-docker
+      uses: actions/cache@v4
+      with:
+        path: /tmp/.docker
+        key: ${{ runner.os }}-docker-${{ hashFiles('**/HTLLE-DA-Vorlage/tools/docker/Dockerfile') }}
+        restore-keys: | 
+          ${{ runner.os }}-docker-
+
+    - name: Create Docker cache directory
+      if: steps.cache-docker.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: mkdir -p /tmp/.docker
+
+    - name: Load cached Docker image
+      if: steps.cache-docker.outputs.cache-hit == 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: docker load -i /tmp/.docker/image.tar
+
+    - name: Pull Docker image
+      if: steps.cache-docker.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        docker pull ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}/${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_REPOSITORY }}
+        docker save ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}/${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_REPOSITORY }} -o /tmp/.docker/image.tar
+
+    - name: Build diploma thesis
+      shell: bash
+      run: docker run -v ${{ github.workspace }}/${{ inputs.thesis-path }}:/workspace ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}/${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_REPOSITORY }}
+
+    - name: Send diploma thesis
+      uses: dawidd6/action-send-mail@v4
+      with:
+        server_address: ${{ inputs.smtp-server }}
+        server_port: ${{ inputs.smtp-port }}
+        username: ${{ inputs.mail-address }}
+        password: ${{ inputs.mail-address-password }}
+        subject: "Diploma thesis"
+        body: " "
+        to: ${{ inputs.teams-mail }}
+        from: ${{ inputs.mail-address }}
+        attachments: ${{ inputs.thesis-path }}/diplomarbeit.pdf
diff --git a/tools/README.md b/tools/README.md
index 48b6168..ae20f55 100644
--- a/tools/README.md
+++ b/tools/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 # docker tools
 
-The provided Dockerfile allows one to create a docker container taht builds the diploma thesis.
+The provided Dockerfile allows one to create a docker container that builds the diploma thesis.
+
+# github tools
+
+The provided GitHub action allow one to build the diploma thesis in an automated workflow.
diff --git a/tools/github/README.md b/tools/github/README.md
index 673b280..4816f49 100644
--- a/tools/github/README.md
+++ b/tools/github/README.md
@@ -1,23 +1,8 @@
-# Github tools
-
-## General
+# GitHub actions
 
 The workflow `Build and send diploma thesis` allows the user to build the diploma thesis via a github workflow and send it to a Microsoft Teams channel.
 
-## Setup
-
-### Microsoft Teams
-
-1. Create a new channel in your Team named `build`.
-2. Go to the channel settings of `build` and go to `Get email address`.
-
-![Github Headbar](img/teams-channel-settings.png)
-
-3. Copy the email address which is inside of the sharp brackets.
-
-### GitHub
-
-#### Settings
+## Create GitHub secrets
 
 In your GitHub repository you first need to create the secrets the action needs. For that, go to the `Settings` Tab of your repository and under the section `Security` go to `Secrets and variables` and choose to the option `Actions`.
 
@@ -41,7 +26,47 @@ Now it should look like this:
 
 ![Github action secret overview](img/github-action-secret-overview.png)
 
-#### Repo
+## Setup with published action
+
+In the repo that should use this workflow create a file `.github/workflows/thesis.yml` and paste following contents into it. Do not forget to create the secrets.
+
+```yml
+name: Build and send diploma thesis
+
+on: 
+  push:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+  build-and-send:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Build and send diploma thesis
+        uses: bitsneak/TestingDABuild@v0.1.3
+        with:
+          # if the folder where the template is filled out has a different name than 'Diplomarbeit'
+          #thesis-path: folder_name
+
+          smtp-server: ${{ secrets.SMTP_SERVER }}
+          smtp-port: ${{ secrets.SMTP_PORT }}
+          mail-address: ${{ secrets.MAIL }} # do not use school email address
+          mail-address-password: ${{ secrets.MAIL_PASSWORD }} # when using gmail an app password must be used
+          teams-mail: ${{ secrets.TEAMS_MAIL }}
+```
+
+## Setup without published action
+
+### Microsoft Teams
+
+1. Create a new channel in your Team named `build`.
+2. Go to the channel settings of `build` and go to `Get email address`.
+
+![Github Headbar](img/teams-channel-settings.png)
+
+3. Copy the email address which is inside of the sharp brackets.
+
+### GitHub
 
 Create a folder `.github/workflows` in the root of your repository. You can now choose between `diploma-thesis-docker.yml` and `diploma-thesis-manual.yml` to paste into the newly created folder. The difference between them is, that the **-docker** uses the Docker image (for new diploma theses) and the **-manual** installs all the dependencies in the action itself (for old diploma theses).
 
@@ -50,7 +75,7 @@ Create a folder `.github/workflows` in the root of your repository. You can now
 - Sending the diploma thesis, and therefore automated emails, using a school email address is not supported. Therefore use an email address that does not correspond to your school email address.
 - If you use Gmail as a sending email address, you have to generate an app password and use this instead of your normal password. [Manual](https://knowledge.workspace.google.com/kb/how-to-create-app-passwords-000009237)
 
-# Credentials
+## Credentials
 
 - ducumentation
   - Schrempf Marko
diff --git a/tools/github/diploma-thesis-docker.yml b/tools/github/diploma-thesis-docker.yml
index d22ab09..9c2992c 100644
--- a/tools/github/diploma-thesis-docker.yml
+++ b/tools/github/diploma-thesis-docker.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
-  build:
+  build-send::
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
diff --git a/tools/github/diploma-thesis-manual.yml b/tools/github/diploma-thesis-manual.yml
index e9756ab..324f8c5 100644
--- a/tools/github/diploma-thesis-manual.yml
+++ b/tools/github/diploma-thesis-manual.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
-  build:
+  build-send::
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
     steps: