Creating a prerelease package is not that hard. The dotnet core task allows you to invoke the pack command and gives you the option to use Automatic package versioning:
This will give you 3 options to expand your package version:
- 'Use the date and time': this will generate a SemVer -compliant version formatted as
X.Y.Z-ci-datetimewhere you choose X, Y, and Z. - 'Use an environment variable'; this allows you to select an environment variable
- 'Use the build number', this will use the build number to version your package.
- Note: Under Options set the build number format to be '$(BuildDefinitionName)_$(Year:yyyy).$(Month).$(DayOfMonth)$(Rev:.r) '.
If neither of these options is OK for you, know that there exists another alternative:
- By adding a VersionSuffix build property you can specify any prerelease value you want.
