How to Use Git Tags to Mark Release Points

Git tags are a powerful feature that allows you to mark specific points in your project's history as being significant or important. In this article, we'll explore how to use Git tags to mark release points and switch between different versions of your tool.

First, let's start by creating a new tag for our tool. We can do this using the `git tag` command with the `-a` option followed by the name of the tag. For example: `$ git tag -a v1.0 -m 'first release'`. This will create a new annotated tag called `v1.0` with a message specifying that it's the first release.

Once you've created a tag, you can switch between different versions of your tool by using the `git checkout` command followed by the name of the tag. For example: `$ git checkout v1.0`. This will check out the version of your tool corresponding to the tag `v1.0`.

If you want to create a new branch to retain commits, you can use the `-b` option with the `git checkout` command again. For example: `$ git checkout -b v1.0-feature`. This will create a new branch called `v1.0-feature` that's based on the tag `v1.0`.

It's also possible to delete a tag if you no longer want it. You can do this using the `git tag -d` command followed by the name of the tag. For example: `$ git tag -d v1.0`. This will delete the tag `v1.0` from your Git database.

In addition to creating and switching between tags, you can also view information about a specific tag by using the `git show` command followed by the name of the tag. For example: `$ git show v1.0`. This will display information about the tag `v1.0`, including its checksummed contents and the commit that was tagged.

Annotated tags are stored as full objects in the Git database, which makes them more secure than lightweight tags. They also contain additional information such as the tagger's name, email address, and date.

In conclusion, Git tags are a powerful feature that allows you to mark specific points in your project's history as being important or significant. By following the steps outlined above, you can use Git tags to mark release points and switch between different versions of your tool.

Git checkout tag different than scm tag