npm version to add alpha postfix
How can i bump the package.json version to contain -alpha using npm versioning.
Running npm version <new version> will bump the version of the package.js file, however i want to add -alpha postfix to the version, but i am unable to as it is not stated in the documentation, but its supported by semver itself.
Actual Result:
> npm version prerelease
> v0.2.1-1
Expected Result:
> v0.2.1-alpha
Answer
You cannot set 0.2.1-alpha automatically, but 0.2.1-alpha.0 is possible.
npm supports --preid option to specify the prefix of prereleases. It's available in combination with pre* versions.
Example 1. Make the alpha of next major version:
# 1.2.3 => 2.0.0-alpha.0
npm version premajor --preid alpha
Example 2. Bump alpha to beta:
# 2.0.0-alpha.0 => 2.0.0-beta.0
npm version prerelease --preid beta
Once you create a prerelease, you can increment the number using prerelease argument.
# 2.0.0-beta.0 => 2.0.0-beta.1
npm version prerelease