$devvkit learn --librarie release-it:-opinionated-release-orchestration-guide

release-it: Opinionated Release Orchestration Guide

[oss-stack][release][automation][npm]

Open Source

Install

npm install --save-dev release-it

# package.json:
"release": "release-it"

release-it is the middle ground between hand-rolled releases and full automation. One command: reads the latest git tag, bumps the version (with `npm version` semantics or Conventional Commits via a plugin), updates the changelog, commits the release, creates the tag, pushes, and publishes to npm. Unlike semantic-release it expects a human behind the wheel: perfect for projects that release deliberately, not on every merge.

It is highly scriptable: hooks run at each stage (before/after bump, before/after git push), GitHub and GitLab release plugins publish release notes, and the changelog can render from templates. For teams that want release discipline without surrendering control, release-it is the standard answer.

Setup

Install and configure· Script and minimal config.

npm install --save-dev release-it

# package.json:
"release": "release-it"

# .release-it.json:
{
  "git": { "commitMessage": "chore: release v${version}" },
  "npm": { "publish": true }
}

CLI Usage

Run a release· Interactive prompt, dry run, or direct.

# Interactive (asks for version bump type):
npm run release

# Dry run: do not touch anything:
npx release-it --dry-run

# No interactive prompt, explicit version:
npx release-it 2.3.0

# Only bump + tag, skip npm publish:
npx release-it v2.3.0 --no-npm.publish

Conventional Commits plugin· Derive version and changelog from commit history.

npm install --save-dev @release-it/conventional-changelog

# .release-it.json:
{
  "plugins": {
    "@release-it/conventional-changelog": {
      "infile": "CHANGELOG.md",
      "preset": "conventionalcommits"
    }
  }
}

Hooks

Hooks· Run anything at each release stage.

"hooks": {
  "before:init": "npm test",
  "after:bump": "npm run build",
  "after:release": "curl -X POST $WEBHOOK_URL"
}

Integrations

GitHub and GitLab releases· Publish release notes alongside the tag.

# Enable GitHub repo integration:
{
  "github": { "release": true, "assets": ["dist/*.zip"] },
  "gitlab": { "release": true }
}

# Requires a GITHUB_TOKEN or GITLAB_TOKEN in your environment.