generate-changelog
Generate changelog entries from git commits, plan files, or structured data. Use for version releases, creating CHANGELOG.md sections, or documenting changes between versions.
Best use case
generate-changelog is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Generate changelog entries from git commits, plan files, or structured data. Use for version releases, creating CHANGELOG.md sections, or documenting changes between versions.
Teams using generate-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/generate-changelog/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How generate-changelog Compares
| Feature / Agent | generate-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?
Generate changelog entries from git commits, plan files, or structured data. Use for version releases, creating CHANGELOG.md sections, or documenting changes between versions.
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
# Generate Changelog
Automatically generate changelog entries following Keep a Changelog format.
## When to Use
- Version release workflows
- Creating CHANGELOG.md sections
- Documenting changes between versions
- Generating release notes
- Summarizing work completed
## Instructions
### Step 1: Gather Change Data
Accept change information from various sources.
**Expected Input**:
- `version`: String (e.g., "0.8.0")
- `date`: String (ISO-8601 or YYYY-MM-DD)
- `source`: String (git|plan-file|manual)
- `sourceData`: Object (git range, plan file path, or manual entries)
**Source Types**:
- **git**: Parse git log between two refs
- **plan-file**: Extract from plan file metadata
- **manual**: User-provided entries
### Step 2: Parse Changes
Extract and categorize changes.
**Categories** (Keep a Changelog standard):
- **Added**: New features
- **Changed**: Changes to existing functionality
- **Deprecated**: Soon-to-be removed features
- **Removed**: Removed features
- **Fixed**: Bug fixes
- **Security**: Security vulnerability fixes
**Git Commit Parsing**:
- Parse conventional commit format (feat:, fix:, etc.)
- Extract scope and description
- Map commit type to changelog category
### Step 3: Group and Deduplicate
Group changes by category and remove duplicates.
**Grouping Rules**:
- feat → Added
- fix → Fixed
- security → Security
- refactor, perf → Changed
- docs → Changed (if significant)
- chore → Omit (unless breaking change)
### Step 4: Format Changelog Section
Create formatted changelog section.
**Format**:
```markdown
## [Version] - Date
### Added
- New feature 1
- New feature 2
### Fixed
- Bug fix 1
- Bug fix 2
### Changed
- Change 1
```
### Step 5: Return Formatted Changelog
Return complete changelog section ready for insertion.
**Expected Output**:
```markdown
## [0.8.0] - 2025-10-17
### Added
- Dark mode toggle for user preferences
- OAuth2 authentication support
### Fixed
- Memory leak in connection pool
- CORS configuration error
### Changed
- Migrated to v2 authentication API
- Optimized query performance
```
## Error Handling
- **No Changes Found**: Return empty changelog with note
- **Invalid Git Range**: Return error with git command output
- **Invalid Plan File**: Return error describing issue
- **Unparseable Commits**: Include as "Changed" with raw message
## Examples
### Example 1: Generate from Git Range
**Input**:
```json
{
"version": "0.8.0",
"date": "2025-10-17",
"source": "git",
"sourceData": {
"fromRef": "v0.7.0",
"toRef": "HEAD"
}
}
```
**Git Commits**:
```
feat(auth): add OAuth2 support
fix(api): resolve memory leak
docs: update API documentation
chore(deps): bump dependencies
```
**Output**:
```markdown
## [0.8.0] - 2025-10-17
### Added
- Add OAuth2 support (auth)
### Fixed
- Resolve memory leak (api)
### Changed
- Update API documentation
```
### Example 2: Generate from Plan File
**Input**:
```json
{
"version": "0.8.0",
"date": "2025-10-17",
"source": "plan-file",
"sourceData": {
"planFile": ".version-update-plan.json"
}
}
```
**Plan File Content**:
```json
{
"changes": {
"added": ["Dark mode toggle", "User profiles"],
"fixed": ["Login redirect bug", "Dashboard crash"],
"changed": ["Improved performance"]
}
}
```
**Output**:
```markdown
## [0.8.0] - 2025-10-17
### Added
- Dark mode toggle
- User profiles
### Fixed
- Login redirect bug
- Dashboard crash
### Changed
- Improved performance
```
### Example 3: Manual Entries
**Input**:
```json
{
"version": "0.8.0",
"date": "2025-10-17",
"source": "manual",
"sourceData": {
"added": ["New payment gateway integration"],
"fixed": ["Cart calculation error"],
"security": ["Fixed XSS vulnerability in search"]
}
}
```
**Output**:
```markdown
## [0.8.0] - 2025-10-17
### Added
- New payment gateway integration
### Fixed
- Cart calculation error
### Security
- Fixed XSS vulnerability in search
```
### Example 4: Empty Changelog
**Input**:
```json
{
"version": "0.8.0",
"date": "2025-10-17",
"source": "git",
"sourceData": {
"fromRef": "v0.7.0",
"toRef": "v0.7.0"
}
}
```
**Output**:
```markdown
## [0.8.0] - 2025-10-17
No changes in this release.
```
## Validation
- [ ] Parses conventional commits correctly
- [ ] Maps commit types to changelog categories
- [ ] Groups changes by category
- [ ] Formats according to Keep a Changelog
- [ ] Handles empty changelogs
- [ ] Deduplicates entries
- [ ] Includes scope in entries when present
- [ ] Handles manual entries
## Supporting Files
- `commit-mapping.json`: Conventional commit to changelog category mappingRelated Skills
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