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A software project changelog template following Keep a Changelog conventions. # Changelog Template: The Essential Toolkit for Professional Project Documentation Maintaining a software project is about more than just writing code; it’s about communicating the evolution of your work to your users, contributors, and future self. Yet, for many developers, the task of updating a CHANGELOG.md file is often relegated to an afterthought or forgotten entirely in the heat of a release. "Changelog Template" is a Chrome extension designed to bridge this gap, providing a streamlined, intuitive, and professional workflow for maintaining high-quality changelogs that follow industry-standard conventions. ## The Core Purpose: Better Communication Through "Keep a Changelog" At its heart, Changelog Template is built to help software projects adhere to the "Keep a Changelog" conventions. A good changelog is a curated, chronologically ordered list of notable changes for each version of a project. It is not a raw dump of git commits; it is a document written for humans. By using this extension, you ensure that your project’s history is readable, organized, and useful. Whether you are managing a small side project, a large open-source library, or a suite of internal tools, Changelog Template provides the structure you need to maintain transparency and professionalism without adding friction to your development cycle. ## A Standardized Format You Can Trust The extension is strictly aligned with the standard changelog format, ensuring your documentation looks professional and remains compatible with the wider ecosystem. Every entry you create is categorized into one of the six standard change types recommended by the "Keep a Changelog" project: 1. **Added:** For new features that expand the capabilities of your software. 2. **Changed:** For changes in existing functionality that alter how things work. 3. **Deprecated:** For soon-to-be removed features, giving users a heads-up to migrate. 4. **Removed:** For features that have been officially retired from the codebase. 5. **Fixed:** For any bug fixes that resolve issues and improve stability. 6. **Security:** For critical patches addressing vulnerabilities. This categorization helps users quickly scan your release notes to find exactly what they need, whether they are looking for new tools to use or checking if a specific bug has been squashed. ## Guidance on Writing Impactful Entries Writing a good changelog entry is an art form. It requires balancing technical accuracy with accessibility. Changelog Template doesn't just give you a text box; it provides the context and guidance needed to write entries that matter. We advocate for three simple rules: - **Use Single Sentences:** Keep it concise. One clear point per entry is better than a dense paragraph. - **Use Past Tense:** You are describing what *has changed* (e.g., "Improved search performance" instead of "Improve search performance"). - **Adopt a User Perspective:** Write for the person using your software, not the person who wrote the code. Instead of saying "Refactored the SQL query optimizer," say "Improved search performance by 50%." The extension even helps with the mechanics—automatically capitalizing your entries and ensuring they end with a proper period if you forget. ## Feature-Rich Workspace Changelog Template is packed with features that make documentation feel like a natural part of your workflow: ### 1. Quick Entry Creation The "Create" tab is your landing zone. Select your change type, type your entry, and hit "Add to Unreleased." It’s that simple. No more context-switching between your IDE and a Markdown file just to jot down a quick update. ### 2. Persistent "Unreleased" Management One of the most powerful features of a good changelog is the "Unreleased" section. This acts as a staging area for all the changes you’ve made since the last official version. Changelog Template manages this section for you, persisting your entries in local storage so they are ready whenever you open the extension. ### 3. Semantic Versioning (SemVer) Reference Versioning shouldn't be a guessing game. Our "Reference" tab includes a quick-start guide to Semantic Versioning (SemVer), helping you decide whether your next release should be a Major, Minor, or Patch version: - **MAJOR:** For incompatible API changes. - **MINOR:** For adding functionality in a backwards-compatible manner. - **PATCH:** For backwards-compatible bug fixes. ### 4. Automation Tools Reference For teams ready to take the next step, we provide pointers to industry-standard automation tools like `standard-version`, `release-it`, and `semantic-release`. These tools work hand-in-hand with the Markdown format generated by our extension to automate your entire release process. ### 5. One-Click Copy & Markdown Export Once you’re ready to update your file, you can copy the "Unreleased" section as formatted Markdown with a single click. Need to start a new project? Use our "Full CHANGELOG.md Starter Template" to generate a complete, boilerplate file that includes the necessary headers and links. ## Why a Good Changelog Matters A well-maintained changelog is more than just a list of updates; it is a sign of a healthy, mature project. It builds **transparency** by showing users that the project is actively maintained. It facilitates **communication** by highlighting important changes that might otherwise be buried in hundreds of commit messages. Above all, it demonstrates **professionalism**. When a user sees a clean, organized CHANGELOG.md, they know they can trust the project and the developer behind it. ## Who Is This For? - **Solo Developers:** Keep your side projects organized and avoid the "what did I do three months ago?" moment. - **Small Teams:** Ensure everyone is on the same page regarding project progress without needing complex Jira boards for every minor update. - **Open-Source Contributors:** Make your project more inviting to new users by providing clear, easy-to-read release notes. ## Ease of Use: No Setup, No Hassle Changelog Template is designed to be invisible until you need it. There is no complex setup, no external accounts to create, and no API keys to manage. It uses Chrome's local storage to keep your data private and accessible only on your machine. The UI is minimalist and responsive, fitting perfectly into your browser’s sidebar or popup area. Stop letting your project documentation fall behind. Start using **Changelog Template** today and give your software the professional history it deserves.