Everything you need to know about CHANGELOG.md

Discover how a well-crafted changelog can be a game-changer for software maintenance

Table of Contents

• What is a changelog.md?
• Who Benefits from a changelog.md?
• Why use changelog.md?
• Best Practices for maintaining a changelog.md
  • Understand your Audience
  • Use a Consistent Format:
  • Group Changes by Type
  • Include Dates and Version Numbers
  • Include Links to Related Issues or Pull Requests
  • Highlight Breaking Changes
  • Use an “Unreleased” Section
• Conclusion

A well-maintained changelog is crucial for any software project, serving as a curated record of notable changes across different versions. This comprehensive guide will help you understand what a CHANGELOG.md is, its importance, and how to maintain it effectively.

Some alternative names for a CHANGELOG.md are UPDATES.md, RELEASES.md or HISTORY.md but we recommend sticking with CHANGELOG.md as it’s the most widely recognized standard in the development community

What is a changelog.md?

A CHANGELOG.md is a structured file that documents all significant changes made to a software project across its versions. It’s typically written in Markdown format and lives in the root directory of your project repository. Unlike git commit history, which captures every minor change, a changelog focuses on important modifications that matter to end-users and developers.

Key components of a changelog include:

• Version numbers and release dates
• Added features
• Bug fixes
• Breaking changes
• Deprecations
• Security updates

Who Benefits from a changelog.md?

A CHANGELOG.md file isn’t just an internal document for developers; it benefits a range of stakeholders who rely on clear, structured updates. Here’s a breakdown of the key groups that benefit most from a well-maintained changelog:

• Developers: It helps developers track recent modifications, aiding in troubleshooting and maintaining code effectively.

• Project Managers and Product Owners: It provides project managers with a transparent record of progress, enabling informed decisions and milestone tracking.

• Support and Customer Success Teams: Support teams refer to changelogs to quickly answer user queries about updates or bug fixes.

• Contributors: External contributors rely on changelogs to stay updated on a project’s evolution to contribute effectively.

Why use changelog.md?

A well maintained changelog helps build trust in your project. Regular, well-documented updates show that your project is alive and cared for. This encourages people to use and contribute to your work.
It also makes version control easier. You can track major and minor versions properly. When something goes wrong, you can quickly find when changes happened.
To ensure that your changelog.md remains a valuable resource, it’s important to follow some best practices.

Best Practices for maintaining a changelog.md

While there exists no standarized changelog format there are several best practices to ensure your changelog is beneficial to your audience. Following these guidelines will help make your changelog clear, consistent, and easy to navigate for everyone who uses it.

Understand your Audience

Before you even begin writing your release notes, it’s crucial to understand who you’re writing for. The tone, detail level, and structure of your release notes should vary greatly depending on whether your audience is technical (such as developers) or non-technical (like general customers).

Use a Consistent Format:

A consistent format makes it easier for users to scan and understand the changes over time. One popular method is the format outlined by the Keep a Changelog initiative, which organizes entries by version, with sections for added features, changes, fixes, deprecations, removals, and security updates. This structure helps your readers quickly find the information they’re looking for.

## [1.2.0] - 2023-09-15
### Added
- New filter option in the product list.

### Fixed
- Issue with login timeout on mobile devices.

Group Changes by Type

It’s helpful to group changes by type, such as Added, Changed, Fixed, Deprecated, and Removed. This structure helps readers quickly understand the nature of the changes. For instance, users looking for new features can head straight to the “Added” section, while those interested in bug fixes can focus on “Fixed.”

Include Dates and Version Numbers

Always include the release date and version number for each set of changes. The version number should follow semantic versioning principles (Major.Minor.Patch), making it clear what type of changes to expect.

Include Links to Related Issues or Pull Requests

Linking to relevant GitHub issues, pull requests, or commits gives your readers easy access to more detailed information about each change. This is particularly useful for open-source projects, where contributors can easily track progress and discuss changes. Example:

### Fixed
- Bug in user authentication process that caused login failures. [#456](https://github.com/yourrepo/issues/456)

Highlight Breaking Changes

Breaking changes can disrupt workflows or require users to adjust their configuration or code, so it’s essential to document them in a way that ensures users can plan accordingly.

### Removed
- Removed support for the legacy API endpoint `/old-endpoint`. Users must migrate to `/new-endpoint` by version 2.0.0.

Use an “Unreleased” Section

A common practice is to have an Unreleased section where upcoming changes are recorded before they are officially released. This section acts as a preview for users to see what’s in the pipeline and helps keep the changelog current until a new release is tagged.

## [Unreleased]
### Added
- User profile customization options.

By following these best practices, you’ll ensure that your changelog.md is organized, informative, and useful to all stakeholders.

Conclusion

A well-maintained CHANGELOG.md is a vital tool for any software project. It helps users track changes, developers maintain code, and teams collaborate effectively. By following the best practices outlined above you’ll create a changelog that your users will actually enjoy to read.

Wow you made it this far? You must really like changelogs and are probably a good candidate for Openchangelog. Openchangelog turns your CHANGELOG.md into a dedicated website, giving it the attention it deserves.