zerv quickstart: your first version from git - zerv

Version any Git state

zerv flow versions any Git state with no manual configuration. The current branch determines the output:

zerv flow
# → 1.0.0 (on main branch with tag v1.0.0)
# → 1.0.1-rc.1.post.3 (on release branch with pre-release tag)
# → 1.0.1-beta.1.post.3+develop.3.gf297dd0 (on develop branch)
# → 1.0.1-alpha.59394.post.1+feature.new.auth.1.g4e9af24 (on feature branch)
# → 1.0.1-alpha.17015.post.1.dev.1764382150+feature.dirty.work.1.g54c499a (on dirty feature branch)

See Flow for how branch patterns map to pre-releases, and the flow CLI for every schema, branch-rule, and override flag.

Multiple format generation

Generate ZERV RON once, then convert it into every format your pipeline needs. This is the pattern the reusable GitHub Actions workflow automates; see .github/workflows/shared-zerv-versioning.yml for a full implementation.

# (on dirty feature branch)
ZERV_RON=$(zerv flow --output-format zerv)

# semver
echo $ZERV_RON | zerv version --source stdin --output-format semver
# → 1.0.1-alpha.17015.post.1.dev.1764382150+feature.dirty.work.1.g54c499a

# pep440
echo $ZERV_RON | zerv version --source stdin --output-format pep440
# → 1.0.1a17015.post1.dev1764382150+feature.dirty.work.1.g54c499a

# docker_tag
echo $ZERV_RON | zerv version --source stdin --output-template "{{ semver_obj.docker }}"
# → 1.0.1-alpha.17015.post.1.dev.1764382150-feature.dirty.work.1.g54c499a

# v_semver
echo $ZERV_RON | zerv version --source stdin --output-prefix v --output-format semver
# → v1.0.1-alpha.17015.post.1.dev.1764382150+feature.dirty.work.1.g54c499a

# v_major (schema-based approach)
echo $ZERV_RON | \
    zerv version --source stdin \
         --schema-ron '(core:[var(Major)], extra_core:[], build:[])' \
         --output-prefix v --output-format pep440
# → v1

# v_major_minor (schema-based approach)
echo $ZERV_RON | \
    zerv version --source stdin \
         --schema-ron '(core:[var(Major), var(Minor)], extra_core:[], build:[])' \
         --output-prefix v --output-format pep440
# → v1.0

# v_major_custom (custom template-based approach)
echo $ZERV_RON | zerv version --source stdin --output-template "v{{ major | default(value=\"0\") }}"
# → v1

# v_major_minor_custom (custom template-based approach)
echo $ZERV_RON | zerv version --source stdin --output-template "v{{ major | default(value=\"0\") }}{{ prefix_if(value=minor, prefix=\".\") }}"
# → v1.0

Where to go next

CLI reference - every command and global flag
Flow - how any Git state becomes a version
Schema system - presets and custom RON schemas
Formats and templates - output formats and Tera templates
CI/CD - drop-in GitHub Actions integration

Last modified on August 25, 2026