How to use the command git release (with examples)

This article will provide examples of how to use the git release command, which is used to create a Git tag for a release. The git release command is part of the git-extras package and provides additional functionality for managing Git repositories. The command allows developers to create and push releases, sign releases, and add a message to a release.

Use case 1: Create and push a release

Code:

git release tag_name

Motivation: The motivation for using this use case is to create a Git tag for a release and push it to the repository. Creating and applying tags to releases is a common practice in software development to help keep track of specific milestones or versions of the codebase.

Explanation:

• tag_name: This argument represents the name of the tag to be created. It should be a descriptive name that represents the purpose or version of the release.

Example output:

Created tag 'v1.0.0' in remote repository.

Use case 2: Create and push a signed release

Code:

git release tag_name -s

Motivation: The motivation for using this use case is to create and push a signed release. Signing releases adds an extra layer of security and verifies the authenticity of the release.

Explanation:

• tag_name: Same as the previous use case.
• -s: This optional flag instructs the git release command to sign the release. It ensures that the release is cryptographically signed, providing a way to verify its authenticity.

Example output:

Created and signed tag 'v1.0.0' in remote repository.

Use case 3: Create and push a release with a message

Code:

git release {tag_name} -m "message"

Motivation: The motivation for using this use case is to create and push a release with a custom message. Adding a message to a release can provide additional context or information about the changes or features included in the release.

Explanation:

• tag_name: Same as the previous use cases.
• -m "message": This optional flag allows the developer to provide a custom message for the release. The message can be used to describe the purpose, changes, or any other relevant information about the release.

Example output:

Created tag 'v1.0.0' with message: "Release notes for version 1.0.0" in remote repository.

Conclusion:

In this article, we learned how to use the git release command to create Git tags for releases. We explored three different use cases: creating and pushing a release, creating and pushing a signed release, and creating and pushing a release with a custom message. Understanding these use cases will help developers effectively manage their Git repositories and keep track of important milestones in their projects.