ghe-changelog
This skill should be used when updating the project CHANGELOG, tracking requirement changes, recording design decisions, or documenting version history. Uses git-diff to detect and categorize changes to both code and requirements. Trigger on "changelog", "version history", "what changed", or after significant commits.
Best use case
ghe-changelog is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
This skill should be used when updating the project CHANGELOG, tracking requirement changes, recording design decisions, or documenting version history. Uses git-diff to detect and categorize changes to both code and requirements. Trigger on "changelog", "version history", "what changed", or after significant commits.
Teams using ghe-changelog should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/ghe-changelog/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How ghe-changelog Compares
| Feature / Agent | ghe-changelog | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
This skill should be used when updating the project CHANGELOG, tracking requirement changes, recording design decisions, or documenting version history. Uses git-diff to detect and categorize changes to both code and requirements. Trigger on "changelog", "version history", "what changed", or after significant commits.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
## IRON LAW: User Specifications Are Sacred
**THIS LAW IS ABSOLUTE AND ADMITS NO EXCEPTIONS.**
1. **Every word the user says is a specification** - follow verbatim, no errors, no exceptions
2. **Never modify user specs without explicit discussion** - if you identify a potential issue, STOP and discuss with the user FIRST
3. **Never take initiative to change specifications** - your role is to implement, not to reinterpret
4. **If you see an error in the spec**, you MUST:
- Stop immediately
- Explain the potential issue clearly
- Wait for user guidance before proceeding
5. **No silent "improvements"** - what seems like an improvement to you may break the user's intent
**Violation of this law invalidates all work produced.**
## Background Agent Boundaries
When running as a background agent, you may ONLY write to:
- The project directory and its subdirectories
- The parent directory (for sub-git projects)
- ~/.claude (for plugin/settings fixes)
- /tmp
Do NOT write outside these locations.
---
## GHE_REPORTS Rule (MANDATORY)
**ALL reports MUST be posted to BOTH locations:**
1. **GitHub Issue Thread** - Full report text (NOT just a link!)
2. **GHE_REPORTS/** - Same full report text (FLAT structure, no subfolders!)
**Report naming:** `<TIMESTAMP>_<title or description>_(<AGENT>).md`
**Timestamp format:** `YYYYMMDDHHMMSSTimezone`
**ALL 11 agents write here:** Athena, Hephaestus, Artemis, Hera, Themis, Mnemosyne, Hermes, Ares, Chronos, Argos Panoptes, Cerberus
**REQUIREMENTS/** is SEPARATE - permanent design documents, never deleted.
**Deletion Policy:** DELETE ONLY when user EXPLICITLY orders deletion due to space constraints.
---
# GHE Changelog Management
## Overview
GHE maintains a comprehensive CHANGELOG that tracks:
1. **Product Changes** - Code, features, bug fixes
2. **Design Changes** - Architecture, patterns, decisions
3. **Requirements Changes** - REQ file updates, new requirements
## CHANGELOG Structure
```
CHANGELOG.md (root)
├── [Unreleased] # Changes not yet in a release
├── [X.Y.Z] - YYYY-MM-DD # Released versions
│ ├── Added # New features
│ ├── Changed # Modified behavior
│ ├── Deprecated # Features to be removed
│ ├── Removed # Deleted features
│ ├── Fixed # Bug fixes
│ ├── Security # Security patches
│ ├── Requirements # REQ file changes
│ └── Design # Architecture changes
```
## Automated Changelog Generation
### Using git-diff to Detect Changes
```bash
#!/bin/bash
# Generate changelog entries from recent commits
# Get commits since last tag
LAST_TAG=$(git describe --tags --abbrev=0 2>/dev/null || echo "")
if [ -z "$LAST_TAG" ]; then
COMMITS=$(git log --oneline)
else
COMMITS=$(git log --oneline ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD)
fi
# Categorize changes
ADDED=""
CHANGED=""
FIXED=""
REQUIREMENTS=""
DESIGN=""
while read -r commit; do
HASH=$(echo "$commit" | cut -d' ' -f1)
MSG=$(echo "$commit" | cut -d' ' -f2-)
# Get files changed
FILES=$(git diff-tree --no-commit-id --name-only -r "$HASH")
# Categorize by commit message and files
if echo "$MSG" | grep -qiE "^(add|feat|new):"; then
ADDED="$ADDED\n- $MSG"
elif echo "$MSG" | grep -qiE "^(fix|bug|patch):"; then
FIXED="$FIXED\n- $MSG"
elif echo "$MSG" | grep -qiE "^(change|update|refactor):"; then
CHANGED="$CHANGED\n- $MSG"
elif echo "$FILES" | grep -q "^REQUIREMENTS/"; then
REQUIREMENTS="$REQUIREMENTS\n- $MSG"
elif echo "$FILES" | grep -qE "^(docs/|DESIGN|ARCHITECTURE)"; then
DESIGN="$DESIGN\n- $MSG"
else
CHANGED="$CHANGED\n- $MSG"
fi
done <<< "$COMMITS"
```
### Detailed Diff Analysis
```bash
# Get detailed changes for a specific file type
analyze_changes() {
local PATTERN=$1
local SINCE=$2
git diff "$SINCE" --stat -- "$PATTERN" | while read line; do
FILE=$(echo "$line" | awk '{print $1}')
INSERTIONS=$(echo "$line" | grep -oP '\d+(?= insertion)')
DELETIONS=$(echo "$line" | grep -oP '\d+(?= deletion)')
echo "- \`$FILE\`: +$INSERTIONS/-$DELETIONS lines"
done
}
# Example usage
echo "### Code Changes"
analyze_changes "src/**/*.py" "$LAST_TAG"
echo "### Requirements Changes"
analyze_changes "REQUIREMENTS/**/*.md" "$LAST_TAG"
```
## Requirements Changelog Section
Track all REQ file changes:
```bash
# Generate requirements changelog
generate_req_changelog() {
local SINCE=$1
echo "### Requirements"
echo ""
# New requirements
NEW_REQS=$(git diff "$SINCE" --diff-filter=A --name-only -- "REQUIREMENTS/*.md")
if [ -n "$NEW_REQS" ]; then
echo "#### New Requirements"
for req in $NEW_REQS; do
REQ_ID=$(grep "^req_id:" "$req" | cut -d' ' -f2)
TITLE=$(grep "^# REQ-" "$req" | sed 's/^# //')
echo "- **$REQ_ID**: $TITLE"
done
echo ""
fi
# Modified requirements
MOD_REQS=$(git diff "$SINCE" --diff-filter=M --name-only -- "REQUIREMENTS/*.md")
if [ -n "$MOD_REQS" ]; then
echo "#### Updated Requirements"
for req in $MOD_REQS; do
REQ_ID=$(grep "^req_id:" "$req" | cut -d' ' -f2)
OLD_VER=$(git show "$SINCE:$req" 2>/dev/null | grep "^version:" | cut -d' ' -f2)
NEW_VER=$(grep "^version:" "$req" | cut -d' ' -f2)
echo "- **$REQ_ID**: v$OLD_VER -> v$NEW_VER"
done
echo ""
fi
# Deprecated requirements
DEP_REQS=$(git diff "$SINCE" --name-only -- "REQUIREMENTS/*.md" | while read req; do
if grep -q "status: deprecated" "$req" 2>/dev/null; then
echo "$req"
fi
done)
if [ -n "$DEP_REQS" ]; then
echo "#### Deprecated Requirements"
for req in $DEP_REQS; do
REQ_ID=$(grep "^req_id:" "$req" | cut -d' ' -f2)
echo "- **$REQ_ID** (deprecated)"
done
fi
}
```
## Design Decision Tracking
Track architecture and design changes:
```markdown
### Design Decisions
#### [DD-001] Decision Title
- **Date**: YYYY-MM-DD
- **Status**: Accepted | Superseded | Deprecated
- **Context**: Why was this decision needed?
- **Decision**: What was decided?
- **Consequences**: What are the implications?
- **Related**: REQ-XXX, Issue #N
```
### Automated Design Detection
```bash
# Detect design-impacting changes
detect_design_changes() {
local SINCE=$1
# Architecture files
ARCH_CHANGES=$(git diff "$SINCE" --name-only -- \
"docs/architecture*.md" \
"docs/design*.md" \
"DESIGN*.md" \
"ADR/*.md" \
"**/README.md")
# Major structural changes (new directories, renamed files)
STRUCT_CHANGES=$(git diff "$SINCE" --summary | grep -E "^(create|rename|delete) mode")
# Interface changes
INTERFACE_CHANGES=$(git diff "$SINCE" -- "**/*.py" | grep -E "^[\+\-].*def __init__|^[\+\-].*class |^[\+\-].*@abstractmethod")
if [ -n "$ARCH_CHANGES" ] || [ -n "$STRUCT_CHANGES" ] || [ -n "$INTERFACE_CHANGES" ]; then
echo "### Design Changes Detected"
echo ""
echo "Review the following for design documentation updates:"
echo ""
[ -n "$ARCH_CHANGES" ] && echo "**Architecture docs modified**:" && echo "$ARCH_CHANGES" | sed 's/^/- /'
[ -n "$STRUCT_CHANGES" ] && echo "**Structural changes**:" && echo "$STRUCT_CHANGES" | sed 's/^/- /'
[ -n "$INTERFACE_CHANGES" ] && echo "**Interface changes detected** (review for breaking changes)"
fi
}
```
## Full Changelog Update Command
```bash
#!/bin/bash
# update-changelog.sh - Full changelog update
set -e
CHANGELOG="CHANGELOG.md"
LAST_TAG=$(git describe --tags --abbrev=0 2>/dev/null || echo "initial")
DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
# Backup current changelog
cp "$CHANGELOG" "${CHANGELOG}.bak"
# Generate new entries
NEW_ENTRIES=$(cat <<EOF
## [Unreleased]
### Added
$(git log "$LAST_TAG"..HEAD --oneline --grep="^add\|^feat\|^new" | sed 's/^[a-f0-9]* /- /')
### Changed
$(git log "$LAST_TAG"..HEAD --oneline --grep="^change\|^update\|^refactor" | sed 's/^[a-f0-9]* /- /')
### Fixed
$(git log "$LAST_TAG"..HEAD --oneline --grep="^fix\|^bug\|^patch" | sed 's/^[a-f0-9]* /- /')
$(generate_req_changelog "$LAST_TAG")
$(detect_design_changes "$LAST_TAG")
EOF
)
# Insert after header
sed -i "/^# Changelog/a\\$NEW_ENTRIES" "$CHANGELOG"
echo "Changelog updated. Review and commit."
```
## Integration with GHE Workflow
### After Each Phase Completion
```bash
# Post phase completion, update changelog
update_changelog_for_phase() {
local PHASE=$1
local ISSUE=$2
ISSUE_TITLE=$(gh issue view "$ISSUE" --json title --jq '.title')
case $PHASE in
"dev")
echo "- [$ISSUE_TITLE](#$ISSUE) - Development complete" >> CHANGELOG.md
;;
"test")
echo "- [$ISSUE_TITLE](#$ISSUE) - Tests passing" >> CHANGELOG.md
;;
"review")
echo "- [$ISSUE_TITLE](#$ISSUE) - Reviewed and approved" >> CHANGELOG.md
;;
esac
}
```
### On Release
```bash
# Prepare release changelog
prepare_release() {
local VERSION=$1
local DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
# Move unreleased to new version
sed -i "s/## \[Unreleased\]/## [$VERSION] - $DATE\n\n## [Unreleased]/" CHANGELOG.md
# Commit
git add CHANGELOG.md
git commit -m "Release $VERSION changelog"
git tag "v$VERSION"
}
```
## Settings Awareness
Respects `.claude/ghe.local.md`:
```yaml
changelog_file: CHANGELOG.md # Changelog location
track_requirements: true # Include REQ changes
track_design: true # Include design changes
auto_update: true # Update on phase completion
```
## Best Practices
1. **Commit Messages Matter** - Use conventional commits (feat:, fix:, etc.)
2. **Version Requirements** - Always version REQ files when changing
3. **Document Design Decisions** - Create ADRs for major changes
4. **Review Before Release** - Always review auto-generated entries
5. **Link Everything** - Reference issues, PRs, and requirementsRelated Skills
changelog-orchestrator
Draft changelog PRs by collecting GitHub/Slack/Git changes, formatting with templates, running quality gates, and preparing a branch/PR. Use when generating weekly/monthly release notes or when the user asks to create a changelog from recent merges. Trigger with "changelog weekly", "generate release notes", "draft changelog", "create changelog PR".
changelog-creator
Changelog Creator - Auto-activating skill for DevOps Basics. Triggers on: changelog creator, changelog creator Part of the DevOps Basics skill category.
changelog-maintenance
Maintain a clear and informative changelog for software releases. Use when documenting version changes, tracking features, or communicating updates to users. Handles semantic versioning, changelog formats, and release notes.
wiki-changelog
Analyzes git commit history and generates structured changelogs categorized by change type. Use when the user asks about recent changes, wants a changelog, or needs to understand what changed in the repository.
changelog-automation
Automate changelog generation from commits, PRs, and releases following Keep a Changelog format. Use when setting up release workflows, generating release notes, or standardizing commit conventions.
changelog
Maintains IdeaVim changelog (CHANGES.md) and build.gradle.kts changeNotes. Use when updating changelog, documenting releases, or reviewing commits/PRs for changelog entries.
product-changelog
Product changelog and release notes that users actually read. Covers categorization, user-facing language, visuals, and distribution. Use for: release notes, changelogs, product updates, feature announcements, versioning. Triggers: changelog, release notes, product update, version notes, what's new, feature announcement, product changelog, update log, release announcement, version release, product release, ship notes
app-store-changelog
Create user-facing App Store release notes by collecting and summarizing all user-impacting changes since the last git tag (or a specified ref). Use when asked to generate a comprehensive release changelog, App Store "What's New" text, or release notes based on git history or tags.
changelog-generator
Automatically creates user-facing changelogs from git commits by analyzing commit history, categorizing changes, and transforming technical commits into clear, customer-friendly release notes. Turns hours of manual changelog writing into minutes of automated generation.
Daily Logs
Record the user's daily activities, progress, decisions, and learnings in a structured, chronological format.
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