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World 4: Hello GitHub

Tags, SemVer and Releases

You will learn: how to name a version with a tag, number it with SemVer and share it as a release.

The problem

Your diary site works today. Next month, something breaks. How do you find today’s version fast?

Watch

2efd0f2f6c78e5ea2c020

A tag: A name stuck on one commit, like v1.0.0. It never moves. is a sticker that never moves. git tag -a v1.0.0 -m "First release" sticks version 1.0.0 on this commit, with a note.

Try it

Semantic Versioning (SemVer): Version numbers in three parts: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH. numbers have three parts: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH. Which part goes up?

Drag a card into a box. Or tap the card, then tap the box.

        Try it

        Tag your diary as version 1.0.0, with a note.

        2efd0f2f6c78e5ea2c020

        Predict

        Your tag is on your laptop. Tap Push. Does the tag reach GitHub?

        Your laptop~/diary
        1. ea2c020Add purple stylemainorigin/mainv1.0.0
        2. f6c78e5Add home page
        3. 2efd0f2Add README
        0 ahead · 0 behind origin/main
        GitHubgithub.com/you/diary
        1. ea2c020Add purple stylemain
        2. f6c78e5Add home page
        3. 2efd0f2Add README

        Tap an action. Watch the courier.

        Watch

        On GitHub, a release: A GitHub page for one tagged version, with notes and files to download. turns a tag into a page. GitHub can even draft its notes for you. What does a release add on top of a tag?

        Check

        Tag names: clear, or needs work? Swipe each one.

        Swipe right for good, left for needs work. Or use the buttons.

        1 / 4v1.0.0

        You did it!

        You can now tag a version, number it and share it.

        Go deeper (optional)

        git tag v1.0.0 without -a makes a lightweight tag: just a name, no note. git push origin v1.0.0 sends one tag. git push --follow-tags sends your annotated tags with the commits. Versions like 0.3.0 mean “still early: things may change”.