I don't know if you remember, but a wee while ago, I wrote Dist::Zilla::Plugin::NextVersion::Semantic, a dzil plugin that -- following the precepts of semantic versioning -- increments the distribution's version in function of the types of changes since the last release. And it's been a beloved part of my dzil bundle ever since, but as it was only supporting the two-dotted 'X.Y.Z' type of version, it was admittedly not engineered to cater to everybody's taste.

That is, until now.

With its latest release, the plugin now accepts any format your heart might desire via

[NextVersion::Semantic]   
format=%d.%3d.%3d

Any format? you ask? Well, maybe not Roman numerals or other weird weirdness yet, but any of the usual format for sure:

format=%d.%3d.%3d 
    PATCH LEVEL INCREASES: 0.0.998 -> 0.0.999 -> 0.1.0
    MINOR LEVEL INCREASES: 0.0.8 -> 0.1.0 -> 0.2.0
    MAJOR LEVEL INCREASES: 0.1.8 -> 1.0.0 -> 2.0.0

format=%d.%02d%02d
    PATCH LEVEL INCREASES: 0.0098 -> 0.00099 -> 0.0100
    MINOR LEVEL INCREASES: 0.0008 -> 0.0100 -> 0.0200
    MAJOR LEVEL INCREASES: 0.0108 -> 1.0000 -> 2.0000

format=%d.%05d
    MINOR LEVEL INCREASES: 0.99998 -> 0.99999 -> 1.00000
    MAJOR LEVEL INCREASES: 0.00108 -> 1.00000 -> 2.00000

Zero-padded, non-padded, two dots, one dot, no dots, it does it all. And note that it means that you're not even tied to a 3 levels type of versioning. Define less, and the module will adjust in consequence -- changes that would have triggered a patch-level increment will instead result in a minor-level incremental (or a major-level incremental if only one level is defined).

Enjoy!