semantic-release vs lerna vs @changesets/cli vs release-it vs standard-version | Automated Versioning and Release Management Comparison

Package	Downloads	Stars	Size	Issues	Publish	License

semantic-release	2,086,829	22,219	291 kB	376	12 days ago	MIT
lerna	1,974,351	35,972	8.39 MB	397	12 days ago	MIT
@changesets/cli	1,392,650	10,322	130 kB	507	21 days ago	MIT
release-it	755,939	8,530	316 kB	39	a month ago	MIT
standard-version	645,813	7,857	136 kB	310	-	ISC

Versioning Strategy

semantic-release:
semantic-release automates versioning entirely based on commit messages. It uses a conventional commit style to determine the next version number automatically.
lerna:
lerna supports both fixed and independent versioning strategies. It allows you to choose a single version for all packages or version them independently based on changes.
@changesets/cli:
@changesets/cli allows for manual versioning with a focus on collaboration. It lets developers decide version numbers and supports multiple versioning strategies (major, minor, patch) per package.
release-it:
release-it is flexible and supports manual and automated versioning. You can configure it to use semantic versioning, manual versioning, or a combination of both.
standard-version:
standard-version automates versioning based on conventional commit messages but requires a manual trigger to create a new release.

Changelog Generation

semantic-release:
semantic-release generates changelogs automatically based on commit messages. It creates a detailed changelog that reflects the changes made in each release.
lerna:
lerna can generate changelogs, but it requires additional configuration and is not as automated as other tools. It works best when combined with other changelog generators.
@changesets/cli:
@changesets/cli generates changelogs based on the changesets created by developers. It provides a clear and customizable changelog format.
release-it:
release-it can generate changelogs automatically during the release process. It supports custom templates and integrates well with other tools.
standard-version:
standard-version generates changelogs based on conventional commit messages. It creates a changelog file as part of the versioning process.

Monorepo Support

semantic-release:
semantic-release can be used in monorepos, but it requires additional configuration to handle multiple packages and their versioning.
lerna:
lerna is built for monorepos and provides extensive features for managing multiple packages, including versioning, publishing, and handling inter-package dependencies.
@changesets/cli:
@changesets/cli supports monorepos but is not specifically designed for them. It works well with multiple packages in a single repository.
release-it:
release-it can be used in monorepos but does not provide specific features for managing multiple packages. It works well with any project structure.
standard-version:
standard-version can be used in monorepos but does not provide specific features for managing multiple packages. It works well with any project structure.

Customization and Extensibility

semantic-release:
semantic-release is customizable, especially in terms of plugins. It allows developers to define their workflows and integrate with other tools.
lerna:
lerna is extensible and allows for customization of its workflows. It can be integrated with other tools and scripts to enhance its functionality.
@changesets/cli:
@changesets/cli is customizable and allows developers to define their versioning and changelog generation processes. It supports plugins and integrations with other tools.
release-it:
release-it is highly customizable and supports plugins, scripts, and configuration files. It allows for extensive customization of the release process.
standard-version:
standard-version is customizable but has a more limited scope compared to other tools. It allows for configuration of versioning and changelog generation.

Ease of Setup

semantic-release:
semantic-release requires a more complex setup, especially for CI/CD integration. It needs configuration for commit message conventions and automated releases.
lerna:
lerna requires more setup, especially for monorepos. It may require additional configuration for publishing and managing dependencies.
@changesets/cli:
@changesets/cli is easy to set up and requires minimal configuration. It integrates well with existing Git workflows.
release-it:
release-it is easy to set up and can be configured quickly. It integrates well with CI/CD pipelines and supports command-line usage.
standard-version:
standard-version is easy to set up and requires minimal configuration. It works well with existing Git workflows.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

semantic-release:

Example of using semantic-release to automate releases:

# Install semantic-release
npm install --save-dev semantic-release

# Configure semantic-release in package.json
"release": {
  "semantic-release": {}
}

# Run semantic-release
npx semantic-release

lerna:

Example of using lerna to version and publish packages:

# Install Lerna
npm install --global lerna

# Initialize a Lerna project
lerna init

# Version packages
lerna version

# Publish packages
lerna publish

@changesets/cli:

Example of using @changesets/cli to create a changeset:

# Install the package
npm install @changesets/cli

# Initialize changesets
npx changeset init

# Create a changeset
npx changeset

# Version and publish
npx changeset version
npx changeset publish

release-it:

Example of using release-it to create a release:

# Install release-it
npm install --save-dev release-it

# Configure release-it in package.json
"release": {
  "scripts": {
    "release": "release-it"
  }
}

# Run release-it
npm run release

standard-version:

Example of using standard-version to version and release:

# Install standard-version
npm install --save-dev standard-version

# Configure standard-version in package.json
"release": {
  "standard-version": {}
}

# Run standard-version
npm run release