If I use tags with github, I don't need to make commits as the version number is separated from commits, however, if I am publishing to npm, I have to update in my package.json file which means I have to make loads of 'Bump version' commits which feels ugly. Is this accepted or is it better to lump them in with other work (grimace commit amending and force pushing sometimes if you forget to publish first. Terrible practice which should never be done I know).
You can disable the commit-hooks as well as the version-tag:
npm version --commit-hooks false --git-tag-version false <major|minor|patch>