diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62332b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# github helper pieces to make some files not show up in diffs automatically
+installer_specs/*.lock linguist-generated=true
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_radioconda.yml b/.github/workflows/build_radioconda.yml
index 6d7673b..c20007f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_radioconda.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_radioconda.yml
@@ -64,14 +64,14 @@ jobs:
         env:
           PLATFORM: ${{ matrix.PLATFORM }}
         run: |
-          python build_metapackage.py installer_specs/$DISTNAME-$PLATFORM.txt
+          python build_metapackage.py
 
       - name: Copy lock file and list built installers and packages
         shell: bash
         env:
           PLATFORM: ${{ matrix.PLATFORM }}
         run: |
-          cp installer_specs/$DISTNAME-$PLATFORM.txt dist/
+          cp installer_specs/$DISTNAME-$PLATFORM.lock dist/
           ls -lhR dist
 
       - name: Test installer (sh)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a9a8eec..27ff511 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -104,15 +104,15 @@ To install a particular release version, substitute the desired version number a
 
     mamba install -c ryanvolz radioconda=20NN.NN.NN
 
-### Install from environment file
+### Install from environment lock file
 
-You can also install from the released environment file (on Windows):
+You can also install from the released environment lock file (on Windows):
 
-    mamba install --file https://github.com/ryanvolz/radioconda/releases/latest/download/radioconda-win-64.txt
+    mamba install --file https://github.com/ryanvolz/radioconda/releases/latest/download/radioconda-win-64.lock
 
 (on Linux/macOS):
 
-    mamba install --file https://github.com/ryanvolz/radioconda/releases/latest/download/radioconda-$(conda info | sed -n -e 's/^.*platform : //p').txt
+    mamba install --file https://github.com/ryanvolz/radioconda/releases/latest/download/radioconda-$(conda info | sed -n -e 's/^.*platform : //p').lock
 
 ## Additional Installation for Device Support
 
diff --git a/build_metapackage.py b/build_metapackage.py
index c50bf78..c281bb9 100755
--- a/build_metapackage.py
+++ b/build_metapackage.py
@@ -1,26 +1,49 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 import pathlib
-import re
+from typing import List
 
-comment_re = re.compile(r"^\s*#\s*(?P<comment>.*)\s*$")
-key_value_re = re.compile(r"^(?P<key>.*):\s*(?P<value>.*)\s*$")
+import yaml
 
 
-def read_lock_file(lock_file: pathlib.Path) -> dict:
-    with lock_file.open("r") as f:
-        lines = f.read().splitlines()
+def read_env_file(
+    env_file: pathlib.Path,
+    fallback_name: str,
+    fallback_version: str,
+    fallback_platform: str,
+    fallback_channels: List[str],
+) -> dict:
+    with env_file.open("r") as f:
+        env_dict = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
-    lock_dict = dict(specs=[])
-    for line in lines:
-        comment_match = comment_re.match(line)
-        if comment_match:
-            m = key_value_re.match(comment_match.group("comment"))
-            if m:
-                lock_dict[m.group("key")] = m.group("value")
-        else:
-            lock_dict["specs"].append(line)
+    env_dict.setdefault("name", fallback_name)
+    env_dict.setdefault("version", fallback_version)
+    env_dict.setdefault("platform", fallback_platform)
+    env_dict.setdefault("channels", fallback_channels)
 
-    return lock_dict
+    return env_dict
+
+
+def get_conda_metapackage_cmdline(
+    env_dict: dict, home: str, license_id: str, summary: str
+):
+    cmdline = [
+        "conda",
+        "metapackage",
+        env_dict["name"],
+        env_dict["version"],
+        "--no-anaconda-upload",
+        "--home",
+        home,
+        "--license",
+        license_id,
+        "--summary",
+        summary,
+    ]
+    for channel in env_dict["channels"]:
+        cmdline.extend(["--channel", channel])
+    cmdline.extend(["--dependencies"] + env_dict["dependencies"])
+
+    return cmdline
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
@@ -54,12 +77,12 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         )
     )
     parser.add_argument(
-        "lock_file",
+        "env_file",
         type=pathlib.Path,
         nargs="?",
-        default=here / "installer_specs" / f"{distname}-{platform}.txt",
+        default=here / "installer_specs" / f"{distname}-{platform}.yml",
         help=(
-            "Environment lock file for a particular platform"
+            "Environment yaml file for a particular platform"
             " (name ends in the platform identifier)."
             " (default: %(default)s)"
         ),
@@ -92,45 +115,32 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
     args, metapackage_args = parser.parse_known_args()
 
-    lock_dict = read_lock_file(args.lock_file)
+    env_dict = read_env_file(
+        args.env_file,
+        fallback_name=distname,
+        fallback_version="0",
+        fallback_platform=platform,
+        fallback_channels=["conda-forge"],
+    )
 
-    name = lock_dict.get("name", distname)
-    version = lock_dict.get("version", "0")
-    platform = lock_dict.get("platform", platform)
+    cmdline = get_conda_metapackage_cmdline(
+        env_dict=env_dict, home=args.home, license_id=args.license, summary=args.summary
+    )
+    cmdline.extend(metapackage_args)
 
     env = os.environ.copy()
-    env["CONDA_SUBDIR"] = platform
+    env["CONDA_SUBDIR"] = env_dict["platform"]
 
-    channels = [c.strip() for c in lock_dict.get("channels", "conda-forge").split(",")]
-
-    conda_metapackage_cmdline = [
-        "conda",
-        "metapackage",
-        name,
-        version,
-        "--no-anaconda-upload",
-        "--home",
-        args.home,
-        "--license",
-        args.license,
-        "--summary",
-        args.summary,
-    ]
-    for channel in channels:
-        conda_metapackage_cmdline.extend(["--channel", channel])
-    conda_metapackage_cmdline.extend(["--dependencies"] + lock_dict["specs"])
-    conda_metapackage_cmdline.extend(metapackage_args)
-
-    proc = subprocess.run(conda_metapackage_cmdline, env=env)
+    proc = subprocess.run(cmdline, env=env)
 
     try:
         proc.check_returncode()
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
         sys.exit(1)
 
-    bldpkgs_dir = pathlib.Path(conda_build_config.bldpkgs_dir)
-    pkg_paths = list(bldpkgs_dir.glob(f"{name}-{version}*.bz2"))
-    pkg_out_dir = args.output_dir / platform
+    bldpkgs_dir = pathlib.Path(conda_build_config.croot) / env_dict["platform"]
+    pkg_paths = list(bldpkgs_dir.glob(f"{env_dict['name']}-{env_dict['version']}*.bz2"))
+    pkg_out_dir = args.output_dir / env_dict["platform"]
     pkg_out_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
     for pkg in pkg_paths:
diff --git a/rerender.py b/rerender.py
index 1bbe4b2..e767cff 100755
--- a/rerender.py
+++ b/rerender.py
@@ -32,26 +32,51 @@ def lock_env_spec(
     return locked_env_spec
 
 
-def write_lock_file(
-    lock_spec: conda_lock.src_parser.LockSpecification,
-    lock_file_path: pathlib.Path,
+def write_env_file(
+    env_spec: conda_lock.src_parser.LockSpecification,
+    file_path: pathlib.Path,
     name: Optional[str] = None,
     version: Optional[str] = None,
-    channels: Optional[List[str]] = None,
 ):
-    lockfile_contents = [
-        f"# platform: {lock_spec.platform}",
-        f"# env_hash: {lock_spec.env_hash()}",
-    ]
+    env_dict = dict(
+        name=name,
+        version=version,
+        platform=env_spec.platform,
+        channels=env_spec.channels,
+        dependencies=env_spec.specs,
+    )
     if name:
-        lockfile_contents.append(f"# name: {name}")
+        env_dict["name"] = name
     if version:
-        lockfile_contents.append(f"# version: {version}")
-    if channels:
-        lockfile_contents.append(f"# channels: {','.join(channels)}")
-    lockfile_contents.extend(lock_spec.specs)
-    with lock_file_path.open("w") as f:
-        f.write("\n".join(lockfile_contents))
+        env_dict["version"] = version
+    with file_path.open("w") as f:
+        yaml.safe_dump(env_dict, stream=f)
+
+    return env_dict
+
+
+def write_lock_file(
+    lock_spec: conda_lock.src_parser.LockSpecification,
+    file_path: pathlib.Path,
+    conda_exe: str,
+):
+    lockfile_contents = conda_lock.conda_lock.create_lockfile_from_spec(
+        channels=lock_spec.channels, conda=conda_exe, spec=lock_spec
+    )
+
+    def sanitize_lockfile_line(line):
+        line = line.strip()
+        if line == "":
+            return "#"
+        else:
+            return line
+
+    lockfile_contents = [sanitize_lockfile_line(ln) for ln in lockfile_contents]
+
+    with file_path.open("w") as f:
+        f.write("\n".join(lockfile_contents) + "\n")
+
+    return lockfile_contents
 
 
 def render_constructor(
@@ -151,14 +176,19 @@ def render_platforms(
         # lock the full environment specification to specific versions and builds
         locked_env_spec = lock_env_spec(env_spec, conda_exe)
 
-        # write the full environment specification to a lock file
-        lock_file_path = output_dir / f"{output_name}.txt"
-        write_lock_file(
-            locked_env_spec,
-            lock_file_path,
+        # write the full environment specification to a yaml file (to build metapackage)
+        locked_env_dict = write_env_file(
+            env_spec=locked_env_spec,
+            file_path=output_dir / f"{output_name}.yml",
             name=env_name,
             version=version,
-            channels=locked_env_spec.channels,
+        )
+
+        # write the full environment specification to a lock file (to install from file)
+        lockfile_contents = write_lock_file(
+            lock_spec=locked_env_spec,
+            file_path=output_dir / f"{output_name}.lock",
+            conda_exe=conda_exe,
         )
 
         # add installer-only (base environment) packages and lock those too
@@ -200,6 +230,8 @@ def render_platforms(
         # aggregate output
         rendered_platforms[output_name] = dict(
             locked_env_spec=locked_env_spec,
+            locked_env_dict=locked_env_dict,
+            lockfile_contents=lockfile_contents,
             locked_installer_spec=locked_installer_spec,
             constructor_dict=constructor_dict,
         )