Create and maintain a changelog

A changelog is an essential document that records all notable changes made to a project, product, or software over time. Creating and maintaining a changelog ensures transparency, helps users and developers track progress, and simplifies troubleshooting by clearly listing updates, fixes, and improvements. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to create and maintain an effective changelog.

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1. Understanding the Purpose of a Changelog

A changelog serves multiple purposes:

• Transparency: Communicates changes to users and stakeholders.

• Documentation: Provides a historical record of project evolution.

• Collaboration: Helps teams understand recent updates and avoid duplication.

• Troubleshooting: Identifies when bugs were introduced or fixed.

• Compliance: Sometimes required for legal or regulatory reasons.

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2. Setting Up Your Changelog

Start by deciding on the format and location of your changelog:

• File Name: The most common file name is CHANGELOG.md in markdown format.

• Location: Place it in the root directory of your project or website.

• Versioning: Use a consistent versioning scheme (e.g., Semantic Versioning – MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH).

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3. Structure of a Good Changelog

A clear, readable structure helps users quickly understand updates:

• Header: Start with the project name and a brief statement about the changelog.

• Versions: List changes by version numbers, starting with the most recent at the top.

• Dates: Include release dates for each version.

• Categories: Group changes under headings such as:

  • Added (new features)

  • Changed (updates or improvements)

  • Fixed (bug fixes)

  • Deprecated (features that are no longer recommended)

  • Removed (features that have been removed)

  • Security (security-related fixes or updates)

Example:

markdown
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# Changelog

## [1.2.0] - 2025-05-15
### Added
- New user profile customization options.
- Support for dark mode.

### Fixed
- Resolved login issues on mobile devices.
- Fixed broken links on the homepage.

## [1.1.0] - 2025-04-10
### Changed
- Updated UI for better accessibility.
- Improved API response times.

### Deprecated
- Deprecated support for legacy browsers.

## [1.0.0] - 2025-01-01
### Added
- Initial release.

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4. Writing Clear and Concise Entries

• Use simple, non-technical language where possible.

• Focus on the impact for the user or developer.

• Avoid vague statements like “miscellaneous improvements.”

• Be consistent in tense and style (usually past tense).

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5. Automating Changelog Creation

For larger projects, manual changelog updates can become tedious. Consider using tools that automate changelog generation by parsing commit messages, pull requests, or tags, such as:

• Conventional Commits: Use commit message conventions to automate changelogs.

• Tools: standard-version, semantic-release, keep-a-changelog, or GitHub Actions integrations.

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6. Best Practices for Maintaining a Changelog

• Update Regularly: Add changes as part of the development workflow, ideally with every release.

• Make it Public: Ensure the changelog is accessible to your users.

• Link to Issues or PRs: Where applicable, link to relevant tickets or pull requests for context.

• Archive Old Versions: Keep a history but avoid clutter by archiving or summarizing very old versions.

• Review for Accuracy: Double-check entries before releasing to ensure correctness.

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7. Integrating Changelog in Release Workflow

• Include changelog updates as a mandatory step before tagging a release.

• Use version control tags matching changelog versions.

• Communicate changelog highlights in release announcements, newsletters, or social media.

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8. Example Template for Changelog Entries

markdown
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## [Version Number] - YYYY-MM-DD

### Added
- [Description of new feature or addition]

### Changed
- [Description of updates or improvements]

### Fixed
- [Description of bug fixes]

### Deprecated
- [Description of deprecated features]

### Removed
- [Description of removed features]

### Security
- [Description of security updates]

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By consistently creating and maintaining a detailed changelog, you build trust with your users and simplify project management. A good changelog not only tracks history but also serves as a communication bridge between developers and users.