Git Tags & Releases

# Create at current commit
git tag v1.0.0
 
# Create at specific commit
git tag v1.0.0 abc1234

git tag -a v1.0.0 -m "Release version 1.0.0"
 
# With signing (GPG)
git tag -s v1.0.0 -m "Release version 1.0.0"
 
# View details
git show v1.0.0

# Release tag with notes
git tag -a v2.0.0 -m "Major release: API redesign, performance improvements"
 
# Then push
git push origin v2.0.0

git tag
# v0.9.0
# v1.0.0
# v1.1.0
 
# More details
git tag -n3  # Shows 3 lines of message

# Find tags matching pattern
git tag -l "v1.*"
# v1.0.0
# v1.1.0
# v1.2.0
 
git tag -l "release*"

# Show tag details
git show v1.0.0
 
# Just see commit
git rev-list -n 1 v1.0.0

# MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
git tag v1.0.0    # Major release
git tag v1.1.0    # Minor (feature) release
git tag v1.0.1    # Patch (bugfix) release
 
# Pre-release versions
git tag v2.0.0-beta.1
git tag v2.0.0-rc.1

# Create release tag
git tag -a v1.2.0 -m "Version 1.2.0: Bug fixes and performance"
 
# Push tag to remote
git push origin v1.2.0
 
# Or push all tags
git push origin --tags

# See files as they were at tag
git checkout v1.0.0
 
# This puts you in "detached HEAD" state
# You're at a specific commit, not on a branch
 
# To make changes, create a branch
git switch -c bugfix-for-1.0

# For maintenance fixes on released version
git checkout -b release-1.0 v1.0.0
 
# Make fixes
git add fixed-file.ts
git commit -m "Fix bug in 1.0"
 
# Push release branch
git push origin release-1.0

# Delete local tag
git tag -d v1.0.0
 
# Delete remote tag
git push origin --delete v1.0.0

# Create new tag at same commit
git tag v1.0.0-new v1.0.0
 
# Delete old tag
git tag -d v1.0.0
git push origin --delete v1.0.0
 
# Push new
git push origin v1.0.0-new

# Make last commit for release
git commit -m "Bump version to 1.2.0"
 
# Create tag
git tag -a v1.2.0 -m "Release 1.2.0"
 
# Push both
git push origin main
git push origin v1.2.0

# Compare current to last tag
git log v1.0.0..HEAD --oneline
 
# Line count changed
git diff v1.0.0 --stat

# Which tags include this commit?
git tag --contains abc1234
 
# What's the closest tag to current?
git describe
# v1.2.0-45-gacf20f3 (45 commits after v1.2.0)

# Ensure all tests pass
npm test
 
# Update version number
# Update CHANGELOG
 
# Create tag
git tag -a v2.0.0 -m "Version 2.0.0: See CHANGELOG for details"
 
# Push everything
git push origin main
git push origin v2.0.0
 
# Create GitHub release (UI-based)
# Attach binaries if building

# What changed between releases
git diff v1.0.0 v1.1.0
 
# Create changelog
git log v1.0.0..v1.1.0 --oneline > CHANGELOG.md
 
# Files changed
git diff v1.0.0 v1.1.0 --name-only