or-release review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

For small projects using GitHub, or-release is a free, open-source command-line tool that calculates semantic version bumps from commit conventions and changes since the previous version. It can publish a GitHub tag and associated release through the GitHub API, with a changelog-style list of changes in the release body. It runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS, and can be run locally or in a GitHub Actions workflow. Its focus is convention-based release creation rather than a broader release-management system.

The main fit question is how your project handles commits and release targets. or-release supports configurable commit conventions, including gitmoji, and accepts configuration through JSON, YAML, or TOML files, as well as environment variables and command-line options. A dry-run option lets maintainers check the prospective version without publishing. These features suit teams that want version calculation tied to their commit history and a predictable GitHub release step. Projects that do not follow a compatible convention may find this workflow less useful.

Its platform scope is deliberately narrow: GitHub is the supported release destination, while GitLab releases and direct git tagging are described as planned. Package publishing is not part of the listed capabilities, so teams seeking one tool to publish packages to registries should look elsewhere. Choose or-release when the need is calculating a version, creating GitHub tags and releases, and producing release-body changes; choose a broader release tool if your workflow depends on additional hosting platforms or package distribution.

or-release pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Calculates version bumps from commit conventions and changes since the prior version
  • Creates GitHub tags and releases, with a changelog-style release body
  • Dry runs and supports configurable conventions, including gitmoji
• Where it doesn't
  • GitHub is the documented release platform; GitLab releases are planned
  • Does not list package publishing as a feature
  • Requires commit conventions to determine version bumps

or-release fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 20 Oct 2026 · How we research and update