Create A CHANGELOG.md File: Best Practices

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Create CHANGELOG.md: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey everyone! So, you need to create a CHANGELOG.md file, huh? No sweat! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get it done right. A changelog is super important for keeping track of releases and letting users know what's new, improved, or fixed in each version of your project. Let's dive in!

Why You Need a CHANGELOG.md

Before we get into the how-to, let's talk about why you even need a CHANGELOG.md file. Trust me; it's not just some extra documentation that no one reads. A well-maintained changelog is a lifesaver for your users and even for you as a developer.

  • Transparency: A changelog provides a clear and transparent record of all the changes made to your project. Users can quickly see what's new and how it might affect them.
  • User Trust: By documenting changes, you build trust with your users. They know you're actively maintaining the project and addressing issues.
  • Easy Upgrades: When users upgrade to a new version, they can quickly see what's changed and whether they need to make any adjustments to their code or configuration.
  • Developer Sanity: A changelog helps you keep track of what you've done. When you're trying to remember why you made a particular change, the changelog can be a valuable resource.
  • Community Engagement: A changelog encourages community engagement. Users can see that their feedback is being heard and that the project is evolving based on their needs.

Following Keep a Changelog Format

Okay, so you're convinced that you need a changelog. Great! Now, let's talk about how to format it. The "Keep a Changelog" format is the industry standard, and for good reason. It's clear, concise, and easy to read. Here's what you need to know:

Structure

The basic structure of a CHANGELOG.md file looks like this:

# Changelog

All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.

The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).

## [Unreleased]

## [1.0.0] - 2024-07-26

### Added
- Initial release of the project.
- Added feature A.
- Added feature B.

### Changed
- Improved performance of feature A.
- Updated documentation.

### Fixed
- Fixed bug in feature B.
- Fixed typo in documentation.

### Deprecated
- Deprecated feature C.

### Removed
- Removed feature D.

### Security
- Fixed security vulnerability in feature E.

Sections

Each release should be divided into the following sections:

  • Added: For new features.
  • Changed: For changes to existing features.
  • Fixed: For bug fixes.
  • Deprecated: For features that are going to be removed in the future.
  • Removed: For features that have been removed.
  • Security: For security-related changes.

Versioning

Use Semantic Versioning (SemVer) to version your releases. SemVer uses a three-part version number: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH.

  • MAJOR: For incompatible API changes.
  • MINOR: For new features that are backward compatible.
  • PATCH: For bug fixes that are backward compatible.

Links

Link each version to a tag in your Git repository. This makes it easy for users to see the changes that were made in each release.

Documenting Initial Release Features

If you're creating a CHANGELOG.md file for an existing project, you'll want to document the initial release features. This gives users a starting point and helps them understand the history of the project. Here's how to do it:

  1. Create a Release: Create a release for the current version of the project. Use the current version number as the release name.
  2. Document Features: Document all the major features of the project in the Added section of the changelog.
  3. Document Changes: Document any significant changes that have been made to the project since the last release.
  4. Document Bug Fixes: Document any bug fixes that have been made to the project since the last release.

Setting Up Automated Changelog Generation

Manually maintaining a CHANGELOG.md file can be a pain, especially for large projects. Fortunately, there are tools that can automate the process. Here are a few popular options:

  • conventional-changelog: This tool uses conventional commit messages to generate a changelog. It's highly configurable and supports a wide range of commit message formats.
  • auto-changelog: This tool automatically generates a changelog based on your Git history. It's easy to use and requires minimal configuration.
  • git-cliff: A highly customizable changelog generator that follows conventional commit guidelines and allows you to tailor the output to your exact needs.

Using conventional-changelog

conventional-changelog is a powerful tool that can generate a changelog based on your commit messages. To use it, you'll need to follow the conventional commit message format:

<type>(<scope>): <subject>

<body>

<footer>
  • type: The type of change (e.g., feat, fix, docs, style, refactor, perf, test, build, ci, chore, revert).
  • scope: The scope of the change (optional).
  • subject: A short description of the change.
  • body: A longer description of the change (optional).
  • footer: Any additional information (optional).

Here's an example commit message:

feat(login): add support for Google authentication

This commit adds support for Google authentication to the login page.

BREAKING CHANGE: This change requires users to update their authentication settings.

To generate a changelog using conventional-changelog, run the following command:

npx conventional-changelog-cli -p angular -i CHANGELOG.md -s

This will generate a CHANGELOG.md file based on your commit messages.

Using auto-changelog

auto-changelog is a simpler tool that automatically generates a changelog based on your Git history. To use it, simply run the following command:

auto-changelog

This will generate a CHANGELOG.md file based on your Git history.

Example CHANGELOG.md

Here's an example CHANGELOG.md file for a hypothetical project:

# Changelog

All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.

The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).

## [Unreleased]

## [1.0.0] - 2024-07-26

### Added

- Initial release of the project.
- Added support for user authentication.
- Added support for creating and managing projects.

### Changed

- Improved performance of the project dashboard.
- Updated documentation.

### Fixed

- Fixed bug in the user authentication module.
- Fixed typo in the documentation.

Best Practices for Maintaining a CHANGELOG.md

  • Be Consistent: Use the same format for all entries in the changelog.
  • Be Concise: Keep entries short and to the point.
  • Be Clear: Use clear and easy-to-understand language.
  • Be Accurate: Make sure the information in the changelog is accurate.
  • Update Regularly: Update the changelog after each release.
  • Use a Tool: Use an automated changelog generation tool to make the process easier.

Conclusion

Creating and maintaining a CHANGELOG.md file is an essential part of software development. It provides transparency, builds trust with users, and makes it easier to track changes. By following the "Keep a Changelog" format and using an automated changelog generation tool, you can ensure that your CHANGELOG.md file is accurate, up-to-date, and easy to read.

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know to create a CHANGELOG.md file like a pro. Go forth and document your changes, and your users will thank you for it!