Self service for beta releases

documentation/guides/release-and-deploy.md

@@ -49,3 +49,17 @@ git push origin master --follow-tags
 - Log in to [Shipit](https://shipit.shopify.io/shopify/quilt/production)
 
 - When CI is 🍏 on the commit titled `Publish`, press `Deploy` to update packages on npm.
+
+# Beta releases for 🎩ing changes?
+
+### Step 1 - publish a beta(s)
+
+- In your branch, run `yarn run release-beta`. Lerna will launch it's CLI to select a version for the changed packages. Select the `Custom` option and enter a version with an appended `-beta.X` (eg. `0.29.10-my-feature-beta.1`)
+- Push your branch to Github with the newly created tags using `git push origin <branch> --follow-tags`
+- Create a temporary stack in Shipit that points to your beta branch
+- Hit the deploy button in Shipit to publish your beta to npm
+
+### Step 2 - consume the beta
+
+- Add your beta to a repository that uses sewing-kit
+  - `yarn add --dev @shopify/my-package@0.29.10-my-feature-beta.1`

package.json

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     "test:ci": "yarn _test --maxWorkers=3 --coverage",
     "check": "lerna run check",
     "release": "lerna publish",
+    "release-beta": "lerna publish --dist-tag beta",
     "clean": "rimraf './packages/*/dist'",
     "generate": "plop",
     "generate:package": "plop package && yarn plop docs",