releasekit/docs/consumers/adoption.md

# Adopt ReleaseKit

Use a versioned Go tool dependency when ReleaseKit provides the repository's
release commands. This records the CLI in `go.mod` and keeps it available to
maintainers without adding imports to application or library code.

## CLI tool dependency

From the consumer module's root, select the ReleaseKit version to adopt:

```sh
: "${RELEASEKIT_TOOL_VERSION:?Set the released ReleaseKit version to adopt}"
go get -tool "go.maximumdirect.net/releasekit/cmd/releasekit@${RELEASEKIT_TOOL_VERSION}"
go mod tidy
go tool releasekit version
```

Select a release that implements the API, profile, and workflow you are adopting.
The vanity module path starts with v0.5.0. Versions through v0.4.2 declare the
original module path and use their corresponding historical instructions.
The module-release interface requires a release containing that feature;
pre-feature versions through v0.3.0 use their corresponding historical interface.
Go records the executable package in
a `tool` directive and the module version in a `require` directive. The tool
declaration retains the dependency through `go mod tidy`. Commit the resulting
`go.mod` and `go.sum` changes. To upgrade, repeat the command with the chosen
version and review the module changes.

The Go tool dependency feature requires Go 1.24 or later. The current ReleaseKit
module declares a Go 1.26.0 minimum, so use Go 1.26.0 or later for the current
release. Tool dependencies share the consumer's module graph: their requirements
participate in dependency version selection and can raise the consumer module's
Go minimum. See the
[Go tool dependency reference](https://go.dev/ref/mod#go-mod-file-tool).

Run `go tool releasekit` from within the consumer module to use its selected
version. Go builds and caches the executable and preserves its exit status.
A launcher invoked from that module can forward commands directly:

```sh
#!/bin/sh
exec go tool releasekit "$@"
```

For a launcher callable from other directories, first change to its consumer
module directory. Follow the [CLI contract](../cli.md) for commands and exit
statuses, and the [configuration reference](../config.md) for the release profile.

For consumers using vendoring, register the CLI before running `go mod vendor`
so the vendor tree includes its dependencies. `go tool` follows Go's normal
vendor selection.

## Go API consumers

Consumers importing the root `releasekit` API or
[`buildinfo`](runtime-version.md) use ordinary package dependencies. Add the
required imports and select the module version:

```sh
: "${RELEASEKIT_TOOL_VERSION:?Set the released ReleaseKit version to adopt}"
go get "go.maximumdirect.net/releasekit@${RELEASEKIT_TOOL_VERSION}"
go mod tidy
```

API consumers can also register the CLI with `go get -tool` as above. Both uses
share the module-selected ReleaseKit version.

## Migrating from the original module path

Starting with v0.5.0, ReleaseKit's module is `go.maximumdirect.net/releasekit`.
Earlier releases declare `gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit`. The migration
is a direct cutover with the existing facade roles and command behavior.

For API consumers, update imports of the root facade and `buildinfo` to
`go.maximumdirect.net/releasekit` and
`go.maximumdirect.net/releasekit/buildinfo`, including generated code and tests.
Select v0.5.0 or a later compatible release using the package-dependency command
above. Packages imported through the old and new paths have distinct Go
identities; coordinate updates in packages that exchange ReleaseKit facade
types. Builders and applications using `buildinfo` should adopt the new path
together so version injection addresses the runtime implementation they use.

For CLI tool consumers, remove the old tool declaration before registering the
new CLI package with the tool-dependency command above:

```sh
go mod edit -droptool=gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit/cmd/releasekit
```

Update copied release launchers and Woodpecker workflows so their
`releasekit_module` value is `go.maximumdirect.net/releasekit`. Use the maintained
examples matching the selected tool version. Run `go mod tidy` after updating
imports and tool declarations, review any old-path dependencies retained
transitively, and commit the resulting module files with the workflow changes.

Existing consumer tags retain their recorded module files, tool selection, and
matching workflows for retries. Apply these migration steps to new consumer
revisions. Source repository and hosted release URLs use
`https://forge.maximumdirect.net/base-layer/releasekit`; the vanity path is the
Go module identity. The Go consumer minimum remains 1.26.0.

## CI adoption

The maintained [consumer tag-delivery workflow](delivery.md#woodpecker-tag-workflows)
supports both tool and ordinary package dependencies. It runs `go tool releasekit`
with temporary module metadata derived from the tagged consumer's module
selection, so the committed module files also govern CI delivery and retries.
Registering the CLI as a tool is sufficient for
consumers that use ReleaseKit only for maintainer commands.

Upgrade the module-selected tool and workflow together. For a tag created before
that upgrade, retry with the workflow matching the tool recorded at that tag.
Keep its immutable module files and tag intact. See the
[delivery guide](delivery.md#woodpecker-tag-workflows) for tagged-source bootstrap
and the [example's source verification](../../examples/multi-module/README.md#local-source-verification)
for testing an unreleased checkout in a disposable consumer repository.