diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 71ba1c76..b5fa16a8 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,24 @@ common:
       username: $DOCKER_USER
       password: $DOCKER_PASS
 
+  install_components: &install_components
+    run:
+      name: Install CIF Components
+      command: |
+        if [[ "$CIRCLE_BRANCH" != "" && "$CIRCLE_BRANCH" != "main" ]]; then
+          git clone https://github.com/adobe/aem-core-cif-components.git
+          cd aem-core-cif-components
+          components_branch=$(git ls-remote --heads origin ${CIRCLE_BRANCH})
+          if [[ ! -z ${components_branch} ]]; then
+            git fetch
+            git checkout $CIRCLE_BRANCH
+          fi
+          mvn -B clean install
+          cd react-components
+          npm link
+        fi
+      working_directory: ./dependencies
+
 jobs:
   build:
     executor: cif_executor
@@ -54,12 +72,17 @@ jobs:
       - run:
           name: Update permissions
           command: sudo chown -R circleci /usr/local/lib/node_modules
+      - *install_components
       - run:
           name: Build
           command: |
             java -version
             mvn -v
-            mvn -B clean install
+            if [[ "$CIRCLE_BRANCH" != "" && "$CIRCLE_BRANCH" != "main" ]]; then
+              mvn -B clean install -Pcloud,fedDev
+            else
+              mvn -B clean install
+            fi
       - save_cache:
           paths:
             - ~/.m2
@@ -89,12 +112,17 @@ jobs:
       - run:
           name: Update permissions
           command: sudo chown -R circleci /usr/local/lib/node_modules
+      - *install_components
       - run:
           name: Build
           command: |
             java -version
             mvn -v
-            mvn -B clean install -Pclassic
+            if [[ "$CIRCLE_BRANCH" != "" && "$CIRCLE_BRANCH" != "main" ]]; then
+              mvn -B clean install -Pclassic,fedDev
+            else
+              mvn -B clean install -Pclassic
+            fi
       - save_cache:
           paths:
             - ~/.m2
diff --git a/.github/codecov.yml b/.github/codecov.yml
index cc5e0ff7..7799c8f4 100644
--- a/.github/codecov.yml
+++ b/.github/codecov.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ coverage:
         target: 80%
         threshold: 10%
         base: auto
-        flags: unittests
+        flags: 
+          - unittests
     patch:
       default: off
       unittests:
@@ -15,8 +16,11 @@ coverage:
         target: 80%
         threshold: 10%
         base: auto
-        flags: unittests
+        flags: 
+          - unittests
 flags:
   unittests:
     paths:
       - core/
+ignore:
+  - "dependencies"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f604019e..67434bd8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ The CIF Core Components and the CIF Connector connect to a Magento (or alternati
 
 The project deployment can be done via Cloud Manager or AEM package install. For project build and deployment use the `classic` profile, see steps below.
 
+## Branching Strategy
+This project uses a `dev` branch for the development cycle between releases. On `dev` there can be dependencies to snapshot versions of the CIF Core components project. CircleCI will provide the snapshot dependencies including the `react-components` package on all branches except `main`.
+
+After a release of the required dependencies, all dependencies have to be updated to release versions and the current state of the `dev` branch is merged to `main`. All releases of this project will be done from the `main` branch. This guarantees that the state on `main` can always be built and installed as-is.
+
 ## Modules
 
 The main parts of the template are:
@@ -164,6 +169,8 @@ The Venia demo is ony released on Github but not on Maven Central like other pro
 
 `mvn release:prepare release:clean -Prelease-prepare`
 
+Releases must be done on the `main` branch.
+
 ## Contributing
 
 Contributions are welcomed! Read the [Contributing Guide](.github/CONTRIBUTING.md) for more information.