semantic-release vs lerna vs release-it vs standard-version vs np vs auto
JavaScript Package Release Management Tools Comparison
1 Year
semantic-releaselernarelease-itstandard-versionnpautoSimilar Packages:
What's JavaScript Package Release Management Tools?

These npm packages facilitate the management of versioning and releases for JavaScript projects, particularly in monorepos or multi-package repositories. They automate the process of versioning, changelog generation, and publishing to npm, helping developers maintain consistency and efficiency in their release workflows. Each tool has its own approach to handling versioning, making it essential to choose the right one based on project needs and team preferences.

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semantic-release1,510,05921,523291 kB37216 days agoMIT
lerna1,305,78735,8508.16 MB39112 days agoMIT
release-it505,5218,258284 kB32a month agoMIT
standard-version467,3047,758136 kB310-ISC
np160,0897,61176.8 kB67a month agoMIT
auto66,2922,31755.2 kB1534 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: semantic-release vs lerna vs release-it vs standard-version vs np vs auto

Versioning Approach

  • semantic-release:

    Semantic Release automates versioning based on commit messages that follow the semantic versioning convention. It determines the next version number and generates changelogs automatically, ensuring consistency in versioning across releases.

  • lerna:

    Lerna allows for independent versioning of packages in a monorepo, meaning each package can have its own version number. This is beneficial for projects where packages evolve at different rates and need to be released separately.

  • release-it:

    Release It! supports various versioning strategies, including automatic versioning based on commit messages. It can be configured to follow semantic versioning or any custom strategy, providing flexibility for different workflows.

  • standard-version:

    Standard Version follows the conventional commits specification to determine the next version number and generate changelogs. It provides a straightforward way to manage versioning without requiring a CI/CD setup.

  • np:

    np does not enforce a specific versioning strategy but prompts the user to specify the version before publishing. It focuses on making the release process simple and interactive, ensuring that all steps are completed before publishing.

  • auto:

    Auto uses conventional commits to determine the next version number based on the types of changes made (e.g., breaking changes, features, fixes). It automates the versioning process with minimal configuration required.

Changelog Generation

  • semantic-release:

    Semantic Release generates a changelog automatically based on commit messages, ensuring that all changes are documented consistently. This feature is integral to its workflow, promoting transparency in releases.

  • lerna:

    Lerna can generate changelogs for each package in the monorepo, providing a comprehensive view of changes across all packages. However, it may require additional configuration to customize the changelog format.

  • release-it:

    Release It! can generate changelogs based on commit messages and supports various formats, allowing for customization. It integrates well with other tools to enhance changelog generation.

  • standard-version:

    Standard Version generates a changelog based on conventional commits, ensuring that all changes are documented in a clear and structured manner. This helps maintain a history of changes for future reference.

  • np:

    np does not generate changelogs by default but encourages developers to create them manually or use other tools in conjunction. It focuses more on the release process than changelog management.

  • auto:

    Auto automatically generates a changelog based on the commit messages, summarizing the changes made in each release. This helps keep documentation up-to-date without additional effort from the developer.

Ease of Use

  • semantic-release:

    Semantic Release can be complex to set up initially, especially if you're not familiar with semantic versioning and commit message conventions. However, once configured, it automates the release process effectively.

  • lerna:

    Lerna has a steeper learning curve due to its complexity and the need to understand monorepo management. However, once set up, it provides powerful tools for managing multiple packages efficiently.

  • release-it:

    Release It! offers a balance of customization and ease of use, with a straightforward CLI interface. It may require some initial configuration, but its flexibility makes it suitable for various workflows.

  • standard-version:

    Standard Version is easy to use and requires minimal setup. It provides a clear command-line interface that allows developers to manage versioning and changelog generation without much hassle.

  • np:

    np is known for its simplicity and interactive prompts, making it easy for developers to follow the release process step-by-step. This user-friendly approach is ideal for those who prefer a guided experience.

  • auto:

    Auto is designed to be user-friendly, requiring minimal setup and configuration. Its opinionated nature means that it works well out of the box for most projects, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels.

Customization and Extensibility

  • semantic-release:

    Semantic Release is designed for automation and can be customized through plugins and configurations. This allows teams to tailor the release process to their specific requirements while maintaining automation.

  • lerna:

    Lerna is highly customizable, allowing developers to configure various aspects of monorepo management, including versioning and publishing strategies. This extensibility makes it suitable for complex projects.

  • release-it:

    Release It! is highly extensible, supporting numerous plugins and configurations. This makes it suitable for teams with specific needs or those looking to integrate with other tools in their workflow.

  • standard-version:

    Standard Version is straightforward and does not offer extensive customization options. It focuses on following conventional commits for versioning and changelog generation.

  • np:

    np offers limited customization options, focusing instead on a streamlined release process. It is designed to be simple and effective without overwhelming the user with configuration choices.

  • auto:

    Auto is less customizable due to its opinionated nature, but it provides enough flexibility for most common use cases. It focuses on simplicity over extensive configuration options.

Integration with CI/CD

  • semantic-release:

    Semantic Release is built for CI/CD environments, automating the entire release process based on commit messages. It integrates seamlessly with CI/CD tools, making it ideal for teams practicing continuous delivery.

  • lerna:

    Lerna is well-suited for CI/CD integration, allowing teams to automate the release process for multiple packages in a monorepo. It provides commands that can be easily incorporated into CI/CD workflows.

  • release-it:

    Release It! is designed with CI/CD integration in mind, providing options to automate the release process within your pipeline. Its flexibility allows for easy integration with various CI/CD tools.

  • standard-version:

    Standard Version does not have specific CI/CD integration features but can be used in CI/CD pipelines by running its commands as part of the release process.

  • np:

    np is primarily a CLI tool and does not have built-in CI/CD integration features. However, it can be used in conjunction with CI/CD tools by running its commands in the pipeline.

  • auto:

    Auto can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines, but it may require additional configuration to ensure that it works seamlessly with your existing workflow.

How to Choose: semantic-release vs lerna vs release-it vs standard-version vs np vs auto
  • semantic-release:

    Choose Semantic Release if you want an automated versioning and package publishing solution based on semantic versioning principles. It analyzes commit messages to determine the next version, making it perfect for teams that follow strict commit message conventions.

  • lerna:

    Select Lerna for managing monorepos with multiple packages. It excels in handling versioning and publishing for large projects with interdependent packages, allowing you to manage them as a single unit while still maintaining individual package versions.

  • release-it:

    Use Release It! if you need a highly customizable release tool that supports a wide range of plugins and configurations. It's suitable for teams looking for flexibility in their release process and integration with CI/CD pipelines.

  • standard-version:

    Select Standard Version if you want a simple tool that follows conventional commits for versioning and changelog generation without the need for a CI/CD environment. It's great for teams that want to maintain a clear history of changes without complex setups.

  • np:

    Opt for np if you prefer a user-friendly CLI tool that simplifies the release process with interactive prompts. It is ideal for developers who want a straightforward way to publish packages while ensuring all necessary steps are followed, including tests and changelog updates.

  • auto:

    Choose Auto if you want a simple, opinionated tool that automatically determines the next version based on your commit messages and generates changelogs without much configuration. It's great for teams looking for a straightforward setup with minimal overhead.

README for semantic-release

📦🚀 semantic-release

Fully automated version management and package publishing

Join the community on GitHub Discussions Build states OpenSSF Scorecard semantic-release: angular

npm latest version npm next version npm beta version

semantic-release automates the whole package release workflow including: determining the next version number, generating the release notes, and publishing the package.

This removes the immediate connection between human emotions and version numbers, strictly following the Semantic Versioning specification and communicating the impact of changes to consumers.

Trust us, this will change your workflow for the better. – egghead.io

Highlights

How does it work?

Commit message format

semantic-release uses the commit messages to determine the consumer impact of changes in the codebase. Following formalized conventions for commit messages, semantic-release automatically determines the next semantic version number, generates a changelog and publishes the release.

By default, semantic-release uses Angular Commit Message Conventions. The commit message format can be changed with the preset or config options of the @semantic-release/commit-analyzer and @semantic-release/release-notes-generator plugins.

Tools such as commitizen or commitlint can be used to help contributors and enforce valid commit messages.

The table below shows which commit message gets you which release type when semantic-release runs (using the default configuration):

| Commit message | Release type | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | fix(pencil): stop graphite breaking when too much pressure applied | ~~Patch~~ Fix Release | | feat(pencil): add 'graphiteWidth' option | ~~Minor~~ Feature Release | | perf(pencil): remove graphiteWidth option

BREAKING CHANGE: The graphiteWidth option has been removed.
The default graphite width of 10mm is always used for performance reasons. | ~~Major~~ Breaking Release
(Note that the BREAKING CHANGE: token must be in the footer of the commit) |

Automation with CI

semantic-release is meant to be executed on the CI environment after every successful build on the release branch. This way no human is directly involved in the release process and the releases are guaranteed to be unromantic and unsentimental.

Triggering a release

For each new commit added to one of the release branches (for example: master, main, next, beta), with git push or by merging a pull request or merging from another branch, a CI build is triggered and runs the semantic-release command to make a release if there are codebase changes since the last release that affect the package functionalities.

semantic-release offers various ways to control the timing, the content and the audience of published releases. See example workflows in the following recipes:

Release steps

After running the tests, the command semantic-release will execute the following steps:

| Step | Description | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Verify Conditions | Verify all the conditions to proceed with the release. | | Get last release | Obtain the commit corresponding to the last release by analyzing Git tags. | | Analyze commits | Determine the type of release based on the commits added since the last release. | | Verify release | Verify the release conformity. | | Generate notes | Generate release notes for the commits added since the last release. | | Create Git tag | Create a Git tag corresponding to the new release version. | | Prepare | Prepare the release. | | Publish | Publish the release. | | Notify | Notify of new releases or errors. |

Requirements

In order to use semantic-release you need:

Documentation

Get help

Badge

Let people know that your package is published using semantic-release and which commit-convention is followed by including this badge in your readme.

semantic-release: angular

[![semantic-release: angular](https://img.shields.io/badge/semantic--release-angular-e10079?logo=semantic-release)](https://github.com/semantic-release/semantic-release)

Team

| Gregor Martynus | Pierre Vanduynslager | Matt Travi | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Gregor Martynus | Pierre Vanduynslager | Matt Travi |

Alumni

| Stephan Bönnemann | Rolf Erik Lekang | Johannes Jörg Schmidt | Finn Pauls | Christoph Witzko | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Stephan Bönnemann | Rolf Erik Lekang | Johannes Jörg Schmidt | Finn Pauls | Christoph Witzko |

Kill all humans