I wanted to have Version numbers that get automatically updated when I want to release a new version, so I set about to find out how to do this with Play Framework.

I discovered that I could base it on the sbt-release plugin, but it was not so straight forward. Here is my strategy, so that in the end all I have to do is run “activator release“:

1. Add the Plugin

Add the plugin by adding this line to your project/plugins.sbt file:

addSbtPlugin("com.github.gseitz" % "sbt-release" % "1.0.2")

2. Update your build.sbt file:

Add this import near the top of the file:

import ReleaseTransformations._

Change the line with version to this:

version := (version in ThisBuild).value

Next optionally add this piece of code at the end and comment out the pipeline stages you do not want executed (Note: this is apparently the default pipeline):

releaseProcess := Seq[ReleaseStep](
 checkSnapshotDependencies, // : ReleaseStep
 inquireVersions, // : ReleaseStep
 runTest, // : ReleaseStep
 setReleaseVersion, // : ReleaseStep
 commitReleaseVersion, // : ReleaseStep, performs the initial git checks
 tagRelease, // : ReleaseStep
 //publishArtifacts, // : ReleaseStep, checks whether `publishTo` is properly set up
 setNextVersion, // : ReleaseStep
 commitNextVersion // : ReleaseStep
 //pushChanges // : ReleaseStep, also checks that an upstream branch is properly configured
)

Note: I have commented out the automatic publish and git push

3. Get the Version Number in a controller and pass to a template

public static Result index() {
 String title = Application.class.getPackage().getImplementationTitle(); 
 String version = Application.class.getPackage().getImplementationVersion(); 
 return ok(index.render(version));
}

And display it in the template:

@(version: String)

...
Version: @version

4. Make sure everything is committed before you release

5. Execute the release

Once you execute the release, the new version will be stored in a file versions.sbt .

activator release

• You can lookup more options and possibilities for the sbt-release plugin, including strategies for auto incrementing the version here: https://github.com/sbt/sbt-release