# release

Automates Git Flow release branches from develop. It validates semver, bumps package.json, compiles a grouped changelog, and pushes to remote.

- command · `type=command` · Claude Code · 1664 installs
- Author: davila7
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/commands/git/release.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/commands/release

## What it does

The `/release` command checks out and updates `develop`, then creates a new `release/<version>` branch. It analyzes commit history since the previous tag to suggest the right bump. Commits with `BREAKING CHANGE:` trigger a major version recommendation, `feat:` suggests minor, and `fix:` points to patch. Every version tag must start with `v`.

Claude Code updates `package.json` using `npm version --no-git-tag-version` and writes a categorized `CHANGELOG.md`. After committing the bump, it pushes the branch to origin with upstream tracking and displays a pre-release checklist.

Uncommitted modifications in the repository will block the command until the working tree is clean.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **claude-code-templates**
```bash
npx claude-code-templates@latest --command git/release
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.claude/commands/release.md` — Call it with /release. For all projects use ~/.claude/commands/

### Codex

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.codex/prompts/release.md` — Call it with /prompts:release. Codex marks this format deprecated in favour of skills

### GitHub Copilot

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/prompts/release.prompt.md`

### Gemini CLI

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.gemini/commands/release.toml` — Gemini stores commands as TOML: the prompt text goes into the prompt field

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/commands/git/release.md

## When to use it
- branch a Git Flow release from develop
- validate semantic version bumps from commit history
- generate a grouped CHANGELOG.md from git logs
- update package.json version without manual edits

## Example prompts
- /release v1.2.0
- /release v2.0.0-beta.1

## Source text · release.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: f2e162244fd04509.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE f2e162244fd04509
````text
---
allowed-tools: Bash(git:*), Read, Edit, Write
argument-hint: <version>
description: Create a new Git Flow release branch from develop with version bumping and changelog generation
---

# Git Flow Release Branch

Create new release branch: **$ARGUMENTS**

## Current Repository State

- Current branch: !`git branch --show-current`
- Git status: !`git status --porcelain`
- Latest tag: !`git describe --tags --abbrev=0 2>/dev/null || echo "No tags found"`
- Commits since last tag: !`git log $(git describe --tags --abbrev=0 2>/dev/null)..HEAD --oneline 2>/dev/null | wc -l | tr -d ' '`
- Package.json version: !`cat package.json 2>/dev/null | grep '"version"' | head -1 || echo "No package.json found"`
- Recent commits: !`git log --oneline -10`

## Task

Create a Git Flow release branch following these steps:

### 1. Version Validation

Validate the version format and ensure it's newer than current:

**Version Format Requirements:**
- Must follow semantic versioning: `vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`
- Examples: `v1.0.0`, `v2.1.3`, `v0.5.0-beta.1`
- Pattern: `v` + `NUMBER.NUMBER.NUMBER` + optional `-prerelease.NUMBER`

**Version Increment Logic:**

Analyze commits since last tag to suggest version:
- **MAJOR** (v2.0.0): Breaking changes (contains "BREAKING CHANGE:" in commits)
- **MINOR** (v1.3.0): New features (contains "feat:" commits)
- **PATCH** (v1.2.1): Bug fixes only (only "fix:" and "chore:" commits)

**Current Version Analysis:**
```
Latest tag: [from git describe]
Suggested version: [based on commit analysis]
Provided version: $ARGUMENTS
```

If version is invalid or not newer, show:
```
❌ Invalid version format: "$ARGUMENTS"

✅ Use semantic versioning: vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH

Examples:
  - v1.0.0 (initial release)
  - v1.2.0 (new features)
  - v1.2.1 (bug fixes)
  - v2.0.0 (breaking changes)
  - v1.0.0-beta.1 (pre-release)

💡 Suggested version based on commits: v1.3.0
```

### 2. Create Release Branch Workflow

```bash
# Switch to develop and update
git checkout develop
git pull origin develop

# Create release branch
git checkout -b release/$ARGUMENTS

# Update package.json version (if Node.js project)
npm version ${ARGUMENTS#v} --no-git-tag-version

# Generate CHANGELOG.md from commits
# (analyze git log since last tag)

# Commit version bump
git add package.json CHANGELOG.md
git commit -m "chore(release): bump version to ${ARGUMENTS#v}

- Updated package.json version
- Generated CHANGELOG.md from commits

🤖 Generated with Claude Code
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>"

# Push to remote with tracking
git push -u origin release/$ARGUMENTS
```

### 3. CHANGELOG Generation

Generate changelog from commits since last tag, grouped by type:

```markdown
# Changelog

## [$ARGUMENTS] - [Current Date]

### ✨ Features
- [List all feat: commits with PR links]

### 🐛 Bug Fixes
- [List all fix: commits with PR links]

### 📝 Documentation
- [List all docs: commits]

### ♻️ Refactoring
- [List all refactor: commits]

### ⚡️ Performance
- [List all perf: commits]

### 🔒️ Security
- [List all security-related commits]

### 💥 Breaking Changes
- [List all commits with BREAKING CHANGE]

### 🧪 Tests
- [List all test: commits]

### 🔧 Chore
- [List all chore: commits]
```

### 4. Release Checklist

Display this checklist after creation:

```
🚀 Release Checklist for $ARGUMENTS

Pre-Release Tasks:
- [ ] All tests passing (run: npm test)
- [ ] Documentation updated
- [ ] CHANGELOG.md reviewed and accurate
- [ ] Version numbers consistent across files
- [ ] No breaking changes (or properly documented)
- [ ] Dependencies updated (run: npm audit)

Testing Tasks:
- [ ] Manual testing completed
- [ ] Regression tests passed
- [ ] Performance benchmarks acceptable
- [ ] Security scan clean (run: npm audit)
- [ ] Cross-browser testing (if applicable)

Deployment Preparation:
- [ ] Staging deployment successful
- [ ] Production deployment plan reviewed
- [ ] Rollback plan documented
- [ ] Monitoring and alerts configured

Final Steps:
- [ ] Create PR to main (run: gh pr create)
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE f2e162244fd04509

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the f2e162244fd04509 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 4065 of 9069 bytes. © davila7 · MIT · https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/commands/git/release.md

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