What are Release Notes?
Get the definition of release notes and tips on how to optimize your release notes
Jonas
Nov 8, 2024
Table of Contents
Release notes are an essential part of every software development lifecycle, providing users with clear, concise information about updates, bug fixes, and new features in a product. They help users understand the changes in a new release, providing context and guidance on how these updates may impact their experience.
In the past, these release notes were included with a delivery in printed form, but in times of digitalization, release notes can now usually be found online on websites or directly in the corresponding software.
Why are Release Notes Important?
Release notes are more than just a list of updates, they’re a bridge between developers and users. By clearly laying out what’s new and improved, release notes build trust and transparency. After all, who would want to use a product that hasn’t been updated in years?
For businesses, release notes are also a powerful way to keep users engaged and demonstrate that the product is evolving. They make it easy for users to adapt to changes, discover new features, and know when bugs have been fixed — ultimately boosting their confidence in the product.
Types of Release Notes
Release notes can vary depending on the audience, the scope of changes, and the product’s lifecycle. Here are two primary types of release notes:
Technical Release Notes
Technical release notes are geared toward developers or internal teams. They focus on the technical aspects of a release, such as:
- API changes
- Database updates
- Infrastructure updates
- Security patches
- Bug fixes and performance improvements that may affect the back-end systems
These notes are typically more detailed, including information like version numbers, code changes, migration steps, and links to relevant documentation or change logs.
They are often written in a CHANGELOG.md file, a markdown file that tracks all changes made in each release.
We recommend following the Keep a Changelog format for your technical release notes. This format is widely adopted and provides a clear, structured way to record and communicate changes in your project.
Product Update Release Notes
Product update release notes are intended for end-users, particularly non-technical users, who need to understand the new features and improvements that affect their use of the product. These notes often include:
- New features
- Improvements to existing functionality
- Bug fixes impacting the user experience
- User interface changes
- Upgrades that make the product more efficient or easier to use
The focus here is on user benefits, helping them understand how the update will affect their daily interactions with the software.
Summary
To wrap it up, release notes are crucial for both developers and regular users to stay informed about the changes in your software. They demonstrate that your product is actively improving, while also providing transparency around bugs, fixes, and new features.
Moving forward, it’s a good idea to develop a consistent process for writing and sharing release notes. Tools like Openchangelog can help make this process smoother and more efficient, by transforming your release notes into a dedicated website, ensuring your users are always up-to-date.