automate-release configures your project so that every commit pushed to the main branch triggers a new release automatically. No human factor is involved.

When you create a new project, the first thing you should do is:

npx automate-release

If you use direnv with a .envrc file, you can also sync your local tokens to GitHub Secrets automatically:

GH_TOKEN=xxx npx automate-release --tokens

This single command bootstraps your repository with the best practices for software releasing:

demo.mp4

Releasing software is a fundamental part of our developer life, but we often do it manually, which is a source of errors and takes time away from what we love: coding.

automate-release brings you:

• Follow a git commit convention
• History-driven releases
• Seamless GitHub integration

Follow a git commit convention

Using a convention for git messages ensures that all contributors produce a homogeneous history. But it's not just about aesthetics; it's about programmable history.

By following a pattern, we can automatically classify commits in a CHANGELOG.md and determine the next version to release (patch, feature, or breaking change).

automate-release sets up commitlint for that purpose:

You won't be able to commit unless the format is valid. It follows the conventional commits specification, which quickly becomes the backbone of your automation.

History-driven releases

As every commit pushed to the main branch will trigger a release, the next version is automatically determined based on your git history following semver rules:

• patch (1.0.0 → 1.0.1): When you commit a fix.
• minor (1.0.0 → 1.1.0): When you commit a feat.
• major (1.0.0 → 2.0.0): When you commit a BREAKING CHANGE.

This automated process handles the tedious work of incrementing the version in package.json, generating the CHANGELOG.md entry, and creating the release commit and tag.

Seamless GitHub integration

The human factor in a release should be limited to being the trigger: just push your code. Everything else should be automated.

automate-release deploys GitHub Actions that handle the entire workflow automatically:

• Reliability: Tests are executed on every push to ensure stability before any release.
• Automation: Contributors list is automatically updated and pushed back to the repository.
• Transparency: Your CHANGELOG.md is synchronized with your GitHub Releases.
• Distribution: The package is automatically published to the NPM registry once the release is tagged.

A release is a commitment to your audience. automate-release ensures your users stay informed by reflecting your changes directly into the GitHub Release section, making your project look professional and transparent.