diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..06224d26e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+## Description
+
+_Please provide a brief summary of your changes here. Replace this comment with your summary._
+
+## Tests
+
+_Describe how you tested the changes made in this pull request. Include specific tests you have added. Replace this comment with your testing methodology._
+
+## Performance Impact
+
+_Describe any potential impact on performance due to your changes. Include any benchmarks you performed, if applicable, and compare the results with and without your changes. Replace this comment with your performance analysis._
diff --git a/.github/workflows/custom_build.yml b/.github/workflows/custom_build.yml
index bac69d511..79c039b04 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/custom_build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/custom_build.yml
@@ -34,12 +34,13 @@ jobs:
         BUILD_TYPE: ${{ github.event.inputs.build_type }}
     steps:
       - name: update apt
-        run: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test; sudo apt-get update
+        run: |
+          sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test || true 
+          sudo apt-get update || true
       - name: install packages
         run: |
           sudo apt-get -y remove libzmq* || true
-          sudo apt-get -y install software-properties-common
-          sudo apt-get -y install gcc-9 g++-9
+          sudo apt-get -y install software-properties-common gcc-9 g++-9 || true
 
       - name: Use g++-9 and gcov-9 by default
         run: |
@@ -83,8 +84,6 @@ jobs:
           rm -rf ./libconsensus || true
           ls -1
           git submodule update --init --recursive 
-      - name: update apt
-        run: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test;
 
       - name: Prepare ccache timestamp
         id: ccache_cache_timestamp
diff --git a/.github/workflows/functional-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/functional-tests.yml
index 52a420c3d..02ad6deb7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/functional-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/functional-tests.yml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
     - name: Set up Node 
       uses: actions/setup-node@v3.4.0
       with:
-        node-version: 16
+        node-version: 18
     - name: Install packages
       run: |
         sudo apt-get update
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index d29c19089..7a73c85ef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ jobs:
         DOCKER_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }}
     steps:
       - name: update apt
-        run: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test; sudo apt-get update
+        run: | 
+          sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test || true
+          sudo apt-get update || true
       - name: install packages
         run: |
           sudo apt-get -y remove libzmq* || true
-          sudo apt-get -y install software-properties-common
-          sudo apt-get -y install gcc-9 g++-9
+          sudo apt-get -y install software-properties-common gcc-9 g++-9 || true
 
       - name: Use g++-9 and gcov-9 by default
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 2ec07ee36..f9d9b8255 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -9,14 +9,6 @@ defaults:
   run:
     shell: bash
 jobs:
-  cancel-runs:
-    name: Cancel Previous Runs
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Cancel Previous Runs
-        uses: styfle/cancel-workflow-action@0.9.1
-        with:
-          access_token: ${{ github.token }}
   build:
     runs-on: self-hosted
     env:
@@ -27,6 +19,10 @@ jobs:
         ccache_compress: 'true'
         ccache_compresslevel: 9
     steps:
+      - name: Cancel Previous Runs
+        uses: styfle/cancel-workflow-action@0.9.1
+        with:
+          access_token: ${{ github.token }}
       - name: Extract repo name
         run: echo ::set-env name=REPOSITORY_NAME::$(echo "$GITHUB_REPOSITORY" | awk -F / '{print $2}')
         shell: bash
@@ -42,12 +38,13 @@ jobs:
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-apt-cache
           ttl: 1000000 # purge cache every 1000000 seconds (10 days). This is to pull updated packages
       - name: update apt
-        run: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test; sudo apt-get update
+        run: |
+          sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test || true
+          sudo apt-get update || true
       - name: install packages
         run: |
           sudo apt-get -y remove libzmq* || true
-          sudo apt-get -y install software-properties-common
-          sudo apt-get -y install gcc-9 g++-9
+          sudo apt-get -y install software-properties-common gcc-9 g++-9 || true
 
       - name: Use g++-9 and gcov-9 by default
         run: |
@@ -269,21 +266,6 @@ jobs:
           ls /tmp/tests/HashSnapshotTestSuitePassed || sudo NO_ULIMIT_CHECK=1 NO_NTP_CHECK=1 ./testeth -t HashSnapshotTestSuite -- --all --verbosity 4
           ls /tmp/tests/ClientSnapshotsSuitePassed || sudo NO_ULIMIT_CHECK=1 NO_NTP_CHECK=1 ./testeth -t ClientSnapshotsSuite -- --all --verbosity 4
           cd ..
-          
-      - name: Create lcov report
-        run: |
-          lcov --capture --directory . --output-file coverage.info
-          lcov --remove coverage.info '/usr/*' --output-file coverage.info # filter system-files
-          lcov --remove coverage.info 'deps/*' --output-file coverage.info # filter dependency files
-          lcov --remove coverage.info 'libconsensus/deps/*' --output-file coverage.info # filter dependency files
-          lcov --remove coverage.info 'libconsensus/libBLS/deps/*' --output-file coverage.info # filter dependency files
-          lcov --remove coverage.info '.hunter/*' --output-file coverage.info # filter dependency files
-           
-      - name: Upload to Codecov
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@v3
-        with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
-          files: ./coverage.info
 
       - name: Configure all as historic
         run: |