Andres Almiray on How to Release Any Software to Any OS with JReleaser

The Evolution of JReleaser

Andres Almiray, a Java Champion with 20 years of open-source contributions, discusses the journey of JReleaser, a release automation tool that has evolved far beyond its Java origins. As the project approaches its fourth anniversary in April 2026, Almiray reflects on how the tool has grown to support virtually any programming ecosystem.

"We have already made examples for popular languages. Obviously, you're going to find Rust, Go, Python, Perl, C++, C#, Ruby, and so many other strange languages, such as Odin, Nim, not necessarily might call it strange, but it'd be Zig, Swift, and the list goes on and on and on," Almiray explains. "There is no restriction to use a tool with just Java, just because it has a J in the name."

This cross-platform capability has led to discussions about potentially rebranding the tool to better reflect its universal applicability. The dilemma centers on whether to maintain the established JReleaser name that existing users recognize or adopt a new identity that would appeal to developers from other ecosystems who might be hesitant to use a "Java-based" tool for their Rust or Go projects.

Maturity and Feature Development

The tool has reached what Almiray describes as "plateau stability," with a consistent two-month release cadence that continues to add features while maintaining backward compatibility. Recent additions include:

• Support for multiple digital signature algorithms (PGP, cosign, MiniSign)
• Native builder for Supply-Chain Levels for Software Artifacts (SLSA)
• Enhanced announcement capabilities across LinkedIn, Reddit, and Twist
• A "yolo" flag that allows releases to continue even when credentials are missing

Distribution Channel Support

One of JReleaser's core strengths is its ability to publish to virtually any package manager across operating systems. Almiray notes the most common patterns:

• Homebrew remains the most popular choice for macOS users
• Winget dominates Windows deployments
• Chocolatey and Scoop serve as alternatives for Windows
• Docker support through Docker, Podman, and Google's Jib

This comprehensive coverage eliminates the need for developers to learn multiple package manager formats and workflows, streamlining the release process significantly.

Security and SLSA Integration

Security has become increasingly important, particularly with regulations like Europe's Cyber Resilience Act. JReleaser now includes native SLSA builder support, making it easier for projects to implement supply chain security without complex configuration. The tool supports cross-platform compilation for languages like Go, Rust, C++, and JavaScript/TypeScript, demonstrating its versatility in modern development environments.

The Commonhaus Foundation

Beyond JReleaser, Almiray is a founding member of the Commonhaus Foundation, a new open-source foundation that takes a different approach from traditional foundations. The foundation operates on three core principles:

1. Low governance - Projects maintain their existing workflows and decision-making processes
2. Financial transparency - Sponsors know exactly how their contributions are used
3. Continued succession - Ensuring projects survive beyond their original maintainers

Currently hosting around 15 projects including Quarkus, JBang, and WildFly, the foundation welcomes projects at various stages of maturity. Almiray emphasizes that established projects with active communities are ideal candidates, though the foundation also considers projects nearing sunset that need a sustainable path forward.

Getting Started with JReleaser

For developers considering JReleaser, the tool offers flexibility through multiple DSL formats:

• YAML for CLI usage
• TOML for those who prefer it over YAML
• Maven XML for Maven projects
• Gradle (Groovy, Kotlin, or declarative) for Gradle users
• JSON as an alternative format

A key feature for newcomers is the "dry run" mode, which allows testing without making actual changes to remote repositories. This safety net, combined with the "yolo" flag for handling missing credentials, makes experimentation low-risk.

Community and Contribution

The project maintains a welcoming approach to contributors, with labeled "good-first-issue" tickets and active community discussions. Almiray encourages developers to start conversations about features or issues they encounter, emphasizing that contributions don't always require code—sometimes opening an issue or starting a discussion is the first step toward improvement.

As software development continues to evolve with AI tools and changing security requirements, JReleaser represents a mature solution that bridges traditional release processes with modern development practices, all while maintaining the open-source community spirit that Almiray has championed throughout his career.