Changelog Generator
Generate professional release notes and changelogs from commits, feature lists, or updates.
Overview
This skill helps you:
- Transform git commits into readable changelogs
- Categorize changes by type
- Write user-friendly release notes
- Maintain changelog history
- Follow conventional formats
How to Use
From Git Commits
"Generate a changelog from these commits: - fix: resolve login timeout issue - feat: add dark mode support - docs: update API documentation"
From Feature List
"Create release notes for version 2.0: - New dashboard design - Performance improvements (50% faster) - Fixed: export button not working - Removed: legacy API v1"
From Diff/Changes
"Summarize these code changes into a changelog entry"
Output Formats
Standard Changelog (Keep a Changelog)
markdown# Changelog All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file. The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/), and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/). ## [Unreleased] ## [2.1.0] - 2026-01-29 ### Added - Dark mode support across all pages - Export to CSV functionality - Keyboard shortcuts for common actions ### Changed - Redesigned dashboard with improved navigation - Upgraded authentication to OAuth 2.0 - Performance improvements (50% faster load times) ### Deprecated - Legacy API v1 (will be removed in v3.0) ### Removed - Support for Internet Explorer ### Fixed - Login timeout issue on slow connections - Export button not responding on mobile - Memory leak in real-time updates ### Security - Updated dependencies to patch CVE-2026-XXXX ## [2.0.0] - 2025-12-01 ...
User-Friendly Release Notes
markdown# What's New in Version 2.1 We're excited to announce version 2.1 with dark mode and major performance improvements! ## ✨ New Features ### Dark Mode Finally here! Switch between light and dark themes in Settings > Appearance. Your preference syncs across devices. ### CSV Export Export your data to CSV with one click. Find it in the Actions menu on any data view. ### Keyboard Shortcuts Work faster with shortcuts: - `Ctrl/Cmd + K` - Quick search - `Ctrl/Cmd + N` - New item - `?` - Show all shortcuts ## 🚀 Improvements - **50% Faster Loading** - Completely rebuilt our data loading pipeline - **New Dashboard** - Cleaner design with customizable widgets - **Better Authentication** - Upgraded to OAuth 2.0 for enhanced security ## 🐛 Bug Fixes - Fixed login timeouts on slower connections - Export button now works properly on mobile devices - Resolved memory issues with real-time updates ## ⚠️ Important Notes - **Deprecation Notice**: Legacy API v1 will be removed in version 3.0 - **Browser Support**: Internet Explorer is no longer supported --- Questions? Contact support@example.com or visit our [Help Center](link).
Technical Release Notes
markdown# Release v2.1.0 **Release Date**: 2026-01-29 **Type**: Minor Release **Compatibility**: Breaking changes: None ## Summary This release introduces dark mode, CSV export, and significant performance improvements. ## Changes ### Features | ID | Description | PR | |----|-------------|-----| | FEAT-123 | Dark mode theme support | #456 | | FEAT-124 | CSV export functionality | #457 | | FEAT-125 | Keyboard shortcuts | #458 | ### Fixes | ID | Description | Severity | PR | |----|-------------|----------|-----| | BUG-789 | Login timeout on slow connections | High | #459 | | BUG-790 | Mobile export button | Medium | #460 | ### Dependencies Updated | Package | From | To | Reason | |---------|------|-----|--------| | lodash | 4.17.20 | 4.17.21 | Security patch | ## Migration Guide No migration required for this release. ## Known Issues - Dark mode does not apply to embedded iframes ## Contributors @developer1, @developer2, @designer1
Category Definitions
Change Types (Conventional Commits)
| Type | Description | Changelog Section |
|---|---|---|
feat | New feature | Added |
fix | Bug fix | Fixed |
docs | Documentation | Documentation |
style | Formatting | Changed |
refactor | Code restructuring | Changed |
perf | Performance | Changed |
test | Tests | N/A (internal) |
chore | Maintenance | N/A (internal) |
breaking | Breaking change | ⚠️ BREAKING |
security | Security fix | Security |
deprecate | Deprecation | Deprecated |
remove | Removal | Removed |
Semantic Versioning
MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH MAJOR: Breaking changes (incompatible API changes) MINOR: New features (backwards compatible) PATCH: Bug fixes (backwards compatible)
Templates
Commit to Changelog Entry
Input: feat(auth): add OAuth 2.0 support (#123) Output: - Added OAuth 2.0 authentication support
Bug Report to Fix Entry
Input: Users reported export failing on files > 10MB Output: - Fixed export functionality for large files (> 10MB)
Best Practices
Writing Good Entries
✅ Do:
- Write from user's perspective
- Be specific about what changed
- Include relevant issue/PR numbers
- Group related changes
❌ Don't:
- Use technical jargon for user-facing notes
- Include internal changes in public changelog
- Be vague ("various fixes")
- Include commit hashes in user docs
Organizing Changes
- Impact first: Most important changes at top
- Group logically: By feature area or type
- Be consistent: Same format throughout
- Date everything: Clear version dates
Limitations
- Cannot access git repositories directly
- Requires commit messages or change descriptions as input
- Cannot verify semantic versioning automatically
- Technical details should be verified by developers
