Rez packages can be built and deployed to the :data:`release_packages_path` using the :ref:`rez-release` tool. This tool performs the following actions:
- All :doc:`actions <building_packages>` that the
rez-buildtool performs. - Executes all configured :data:`release_hooks`.
- Executes all configured :gh-rez:`src/rezplugins/release_vcs` plugins.
Packages can be installed to the :data:`release_packages_path` manually
by running :option:`rez-build -i --prefix /path/to/repo <rez-build --prefix>`, so why would you use
rez-release?
Well, here are a few benefits of rez-release:
- The package will automatically go to the configured :data:`release_packages_path`, whereas :ref:`rez-build` will go to the :data:`local_packages_path` by default.
- Tests being run by with the :ref:`rez-test` tool can run specifically prior to release, ensuring that releases pass any configured tests first.
- Automatic sanity checks to ensure local repo is ready for release.
- Automatic VCS tagging.
- Many :ref:`helpful package attributes <release-package-attributes>` are automatically added to the released package definition file.
If you're working locally, these additional steps and checks may slow you down, so it may be better to stick with :ref:`rez-build`.