Version Bump Tool

Tool Overview

Version Bump Tool calculates new version numbers following semantic versioning rules. You enter your current version. The tool shows all possible bumped versions. You choose which bump type you need. You copy the new version number.

Semantic versioning uses three numbers: major.minor.patch. Major bumps for breaking changes. Minor bumps for new features. Patch bumps for bug fixes. Calculating bumps manually is easy to get wrong. You must remember rules. You must reset lower numbers correctly.

This tool solves these problems. It calculates bumps automatically. It follows semantic versioning rules exactly. It shows all bump options at once. It recommends the best choice. It provides versions ready to copy.

This tool is for developers who manage project versions. It is for release managers preparing updates. It is for anyone using semantic versioning. You need basic knowledge of version numbers. You do not need advanced skills.

Background & Concept Explanation

Semantic versioning is a version numbering system. It uses three numbers separated by dots. The format is major.minor.patch. For example, version 2.5.3 means major version 2, minor version 5, patch version 3.

Major version increases for breaking changes. These are changes that break existing code. APIs change in incompatible ways. Features are removed. Major bumps reset minor and patch to zero. Version 1.2.3 becomes 2.0.0.

Minor version increases for new features. These features are backward compatible. Existing code still works. New functionality is added. Minor bumps reset patch to zero. Version 1.2.3 becomes 1.3.0.

Patch version increases for bug fixes. These are small changes. No new features are added. Bugs are fixed. Existing functionality improves. Patch bumps only increase the patch number. Version 1.2.3 becomes 1.2.4.

Pre-release versions add suffixes. Alpha versions are early testing builds. Beta versions are later testing builds. Release candidates are final testing builds. They use formats like 1.2.3-alpha.1 or 1.2.3-beta.1.

People struggle with version bumps manually. They forget to reset lower numbers. They increase wrong numbers. They use incorrect formats. They do not follow semantic versioning rules. This causes version confusion.

Version calculation requires careful math. Major bumps must reset minor and patch. Minor bumps must reset patch. Patch bumps only increase patch. Pre-release versions add suffixes. Getting this right every time is hard.

This tool automates the calculation. You enter your current version. The tool validates it follows semantic versioning. It calculates all bump options. It shows major, minor, patch, alpha, beta, and release candidate versions. It recommends the best choice. You copy the version you need.

Key Features

• Version input field. You enter your current version number. The tool validates it immediately. It checks semantic versioning format. It shows validation errors if invalid. This ensures correct input.
• Semantic versioning validation. The tool checks version format. It verifies numbers are valid. It ensures format matches semantic versioning rules. Invalid versions show error messages. This prevents calculation errors.
• Major version bump. The tool calculates major bumps. It increases the major number by one. It resets minor and patch to zero. It shows the result clearly. This handles breaking changes.
• Minor version bump. The tool calculates minor bumps. It increases the minor number by one. It resets patch to zero. It keeps major unchanged. This handles new features.
• Patch version bump. The tool calculates patch bumps. It increases the patch number by one. It keeps major and minor unchanged. This handles bug fixes.
• Pre-release version options. The tool calculates alpha, beta, and release candidate versions. It adds appropriate suffixes. It uses formats like -alpha.1, -beta.1, -rc.1. This supports testing workflows.
• Visual bump cards. Each bump type appears in its own card. Cards show the bump type name, new version number, and description. Cards highlight when selected. This makes choices clear.
• Recommended bump suggestion. The tool suggests the best bump type. For pre-1.0 versions, it recommends minor bumps. For stable versions, it recommends patch bumps. The recommended card is marked clearly. This helps decision making.
• Copy to clipboard. Each version card has a copy button. Click to copy the version instantly. The tool confirms copying. Versions paste directly where needed. This saves typing time.
• Sample versions. The tool includes example versions. You can click samples to see how it works. Examples show common version formats. This helps you learn the tool.
• AI release note generation. After selecting a bump type, you can generate release notes. The AI creates professional release descriptions. It considers the bump type and version change. This helps with release documentation.
• Real-time validation. The tool checks your version as you type. It shows validation status immediately. Valid versions show checkmarks. Invalid versions show error messages. This provides instant feedback.
• Input length limits. Versions are limited to 50 characters. This prevents excessive input. It keeps calculations manageable. It ensures good performance.
• Overflow protection. The tool prevents version number overflow. Very large numbers are handled safely. Calculations stay within reasonable limits. This prevents errors.
• Version format handling. The tool handles common formats. It accepts versions with or without "v" prefix. It handles pre-release suffixes. It handles build metadata. This supports various version styles.

Common Use Cases

Developers prepare releases. They enter the current version. They check all bump options. They choose the appropriate type based on changes. They copy the new version. They update project files manually.

Release managers plan version updates. They use the tool to see version progression. They compare major, minor, and patch options. They understand version implications. They make informed decisions.

Teams standardize versioning. They use the tool to ensure correct formats. They verify semantic versioning compliance. They maintain consistent versioning across projects. They avoid version mistakes.

Developers create pre-release versions. They use alpha, beta, or release candidate options. They generate testing versions. They share versions with testers. They track pre-release progression.

New team members learn semantic versioning. They use sample versions. They see how different bumps work. They understand version rules. They learn best practices.

Project maintainers document releases. They use AI release note generation. They get professional descriptions. They customize descriptions for changelogs. They maintain release documentation.

How to Use This Tool (Step-by-Step)

1. Open the Version Bump Tool. You see a version input field at the top.
2. Enter your current version number. Type it in the input field. Use format like 1.0.0 or 2.5.3. You can include "v" prefix if needed.
3. Optionally click a sample version. The tool includes example versions below the input. Click one to see how it works.
4. Check validation status. The tool validates your version immediately. A green checkmark means valid. Error messages mean invalid. Fix errors before proceeding.
5. Review all bump options. The tool shows six cards below. Each card shows a bump type and new version. Cards include major, minor, patch, alpha, beta, and release candidate.
6. Read card descriptions. Each card explains when to use that bump type. Major is for breaking changes. Minor is for new features. Patch is for bug fixes. Pre-releases are for testing.
7. Check recommended bump. One card is marked as recommended. The tool suggests this based on your version. Consider this suggestion when choosing.
8. Select your bump type. Click the card for the bump type you need. The card highlights when selected. This shows your choice clearly.
9. Copy the new version. Click the copy icon on the selected card. The tool copies the version to clipboard. A confirmation message appears briefly.
10. Paste the version where needed. Use the copied version in your project files. Update package.json, pom.xml, or other version files manually.
11. Optionally generate release notes. After selecting a bump type, an AI section appears. Click Generate Idea to create a release description. Review and copy if useful.
12. Use release notes in documentation. Paste AI-generated notes into changelogs. Customize them as needed. Maintain release documentation.
13. Repeat for other versions. Enter different versions to see bump options. Compare different bump types. Make version decisions confidently.

Calculations & Logic

Version validation uses regular expressions. The tool matches semantic versioning patterns. It extracts major, minor, and patch numbers. It handles pre-release suffixes. It handles build metadata. It validates number ranges.

Major bump calculation increases the major number by one. It sets minor to zero. It sets patch to zero. For example, 1.2.3 becomes 2.0.0. Lower numbers reset completely.

Minor bump calculation increases the minor number by one. It keeps major unchanged. It sets patch to zero. For example, 1.2.3 becomes 1.3.0. Only patch resets.

Patch bump calculation increases the patch number by one. It keeps major and minor unchanged. For example, 1.2.3 becomes 1.2.4. No numbers reset.

Pre-release bump calculation keeps the current version numbers. It adds a suffix based on type. Alpha adds -alpha.1. Beta adds -beta.1. Release candidate adds -rc.1. For example, 1.2.3 becomes 1.2.3-alpha.1.

Recommended bump logic considers version state. For pre-1.0 versions, it recommends minor bumps. These versions are still developing. Minor bumps are more common. For stable versions, it recommends patch bumps. These are most frequent in production.

Overflow protection checks number limits. Major, minor, and patch cannot exceed 999999. If a bump would exceed limits, the tool returns the original version. This prevents calculation errors.

Format normalization handles common variations. Versions with "v" prefix are accepted. The prefix is ignored in calculations. Pre-release suffixes are preserved when appropriate. Build metadata is handled correctly.

Invalid version handling returns the original version. If validation fails, bump functions return unchanged input. This prevents errors from propagating. Users see their input preserved.

AI release note generation analyzes bump context. It considers the bump type selected. It considers version change magnitude. It generates professional descriptions. It provides one-sentence summaries suitable for changelogs.

Tips, Limitations & Best Practices

Always validate your version first. Ensure it follows semantic versioning format. Fix validation errors before bumping. Invalid versions cause incorrect calculations.

Choose bump types based on changes. Use major for breaking changes. Use minor for new features. Use patch for bug fixes. Follow semantic versioning principles.

Consider recommended bumps. The tool suggests based on version state. Pre-1.0 versions often use minor bumps. Stable versions often use patch bumps. Use recommendations as guidance.

Use pre-release versions for testing. Alpha for early testing. Beta for later testing. Release candidates for final testing. Remove suffixes for final releases.

Copy versions immediately after selection. Do not rely on memory. Versions are easy to mistype. Copying ensures accuracy.

Update all version references. After copying, update package.json, pom.xml, and other files. Ensure consistency across your project. Do not miss any files.

Use AI release notes as starting points. Customize generated notes for your project. Add specific details about changes. Make notes accurate and helpful.

The tool calculates versions only. It does not update files automatically. You must copy and paste versions manually. You must update project files yourself.

Version length is limited to 50 characters. Very long versions may be truncated. Keep versions concise. Follow standard formats.

Pre-release versions add suffixes. If you need numbered pre-releases, you must increment manually. The tool always adds .1 for first pre-release. Adjust as needed.

AI release note generation requires backend service. It may be unavailable sometimes. If generation fails, write notes manually. Use standard release note formats.

Version validation is strict. Only semantic versioning formats are accepted. Non-standard formats show errors. Use standard x.y.z format.

Overflow protection prevents very large numbers. Versions near limits may not bump correctly. Use reasonable version numbers. Stay within standard ranges.

Copy confirmation appears briefly. Do not copy multiple times quickly. Wait for confirmation. Ensure copying succeeded before pasting.