standard-version:tldr:9d80d

The standard-version command is used in software development to automate the process of releasing new versions of a project based on a pre-defined set of conventions and guidelines. It is typically used in conjunction with version control systems like Git.

When you run standard-version, it performs several tasks:

1. Analyze Git commit history: It looks at the commit messages to determine what type of changes each commit introduces (e.g., patch, minor, major).

2. Generate a version: Based on the commit messages, it determines the appropriate version number for the next release. It follows the semantic versioning system (e.g., X.Y.Z) where X represents a major version, Y represents a minor version, and Z represents a patch version.

3. Update project files: After determining the version number, standard-version automatically updates various project files (e.g., package.json) with the new version, typically by modifying a version property or field.

4. Generate a changelog: It also creates a changelog file that lists all the commits since the last release, categorized by their significance (patch, minor, major).

5. Create a Git tag: Finally, standard-version generates a Git tag for the new version. This allows you to track and reference specific versions of your project.

By automating these steps, standard-version helps maintain consistency and clarity in versioning and release management, making it easier for developers to communicate changes and collaborate on software projects.