Package release: Handle new package validation (#39008)

.github/workflows/prepare-package-release.yml

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ on:
     workflow_dispatch:
         inputs:
             packages:
-                description: 'Enter a specific package to release, or packages separated by commas, ie @woocommerce/components,@woocommerce/number. Leaving this input to the default "-a" will prepare to release all eligible packages. When releasing a package for the first time, pass the "--initialRelease" flag.'
+                description: 'Enter a specific package to release, or packages separated by commas, ie @woocommerce/components,@woocommerce/number. Leaving this input to the default "-a" will prepare to release all eligible packages.'
                 required: false
                 default: '-a'
 

tools/package-release/README.md

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 When a package contains sufficient changes to justify a release to [NPM](https://www.npmjs.com/), follow these instructions to create a new release from the monorepo.
 
+Below are instructions for releasing using Github Workflows (recommended) and the command line. When releasing packages for the first time, release from the command line.
+
 ## Release packages using Github Workflows (recommended)
 
 ### Prepare packages
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ In order to prepare a package for release, a changelog will need to be compiled
 ./tools/package-release/bin/dev prepare -a
 ```
 
-When making an initial release for a new package, pass the `--initialRelease` flag to signify a new release for a new package.
+When making an initial release for a new package, pass the `--initial-release` flag to signify a new release for a new package.
 
 2. Create a pull request with the resulting changes and merge it.
 
@@ -48,6 +50,8 @@ See more about the prepare script using `./tools/package-release/bin/dev publish
 
 2. Run the release script from monorepo root, first as a dry run.
 
+When making an initial release for a new package, pass the `--initial-release` flag to signify a new release for a new package.
+
 ```
 ./tools/package-release/bin/dev publish -a --dry-run
 ```

tools/package-release/src/commands/prepare/index.ts

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export default class PackagePrepare extends Command {
 			default: false,
 			description: 'Perform prepare function on all packages.',
 		} ),
-		initialRelease: Flags.boolean( {
+		'initial-release': Flags.boolean( {
 			default: false,
 			description: "Create a package's first release to NPM",
 		} ),
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export default class PackagePrepare extends Command {
 
 		const packages = args.packages.split( ',' );
 
-		if ( flags.initialRelease && packages.length > 1 ) {
+		if ( flags[ 'initial-release' ] && packages.length > 1 ) {
 			this.error(
 				'Please release only a single package when making an initial release'
 			);
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ export default class PackagePrepare extends Command {
 			validatePackage( name, ( e: string ): void => this.error( e ) )
 		);
 
-		await this.preparePackages( packages, flags.initialRelease );
+		await this.preparePackages( packages, flags[ 'initial-release' ] );
 	}
 
 	/**

tools/package-release/src/commands/publish/index.ts

@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ export default class PackageRelease extends Command {
 			description: 'Skip pnpm install',
 			default: false,
 		} ),
+		'initial-release': Flags.boolean( {
+			default: false,
+			description: "Create a package's first release to NPM",
+		} ),
 	};
 
 	/**
@@ -112,13 +116,17 @@ export default class PackageRelease extends Command {
 	 */
 	private publishPackages(
 		packages: Array< string >,
-		{ 'dry-run': dryRun, branch }: { 'dry-run': boolean; branch: string }
+		{
+			'dry-run': dryRun,
+			branch,
+			'initial-release': initialRelease,
+		}: { 'dry-run': boolean; branch: string; 'initial-release': boolean }
 	) {
 		packages.forEach( ( name ) => {
 			try {
 				const verb = dryRun ? 'Performing dry run of' : 'Publishing';
 				CliUx.ux.action.start( `${ verb } ${ name }` );
-				if ( isValidUpdate( name ) ) {
+				if ( isValidUpdate( name, initialRelease ) ) {
 					const cwd = getFilepathFromPackageName( name );
 					execSync(
 						`SKIP_TURBO=true pnpm publish ${

tools/package-release/src/validate.ts

@@ -131,9 +131,13 @@ export const validatePackage = (
  * Determine if an update is valid by comparing version numbers.
  *
  * @param {string}  name           package name.
+ * @param {boolean} initialRelease if package has not been released yet.
  * @return {boolean} If an update is valid.
  */
-export const isValidUpdate = ( name: string ): boolean => {
+export const isValidUpdate = (
+	name: string,
+	initialRelease: boolean
+): boolean => {
 	const packageJson = getPackageJson( name );
 
 	if ( ! packageJson ) {
@@ -146,6 +150,10 @@ export const isValidUpdate = ( name: string ): boolean => {
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	if ( initialRelease ) {
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	const npmVersion = execSync( `pnpm view ${ name } version`, {
 		encoding: 'utf-8',
 	} );