# Changelog Release Tracker > Generate or update the internal OpenWork release changelog tracker as plain markdown release sections. Triggers when user mentions: - "generate changelog markdown" - "track this release" - "add a changelog entry" - Skill: `different-ai/changelog-release-tracker` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add different-ai/changelog-release-tracker` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/different-ai/changelog-release-tracker/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Docs & Writing - Author: different-ai (https://skillmd.com/u/different-ai) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/different-ai/changelog-release-tracker --- ## Purpose Use this skill to add or update the OpenWork release tracker using release history from `_repos/openwork`. The tracker is split into files named `release-tracker-{YYYY-MM-DD}.md` in `_repos/openwork/changelog/`, where the date is the first release date in that file; append to the latest file, or create a new one (dated today) when the latest file already has 25 entries. ## Output Contract - The output file must be plain markdown sections. - Keep release sections sorted oldest to newest so new versions append at the end. - If the tracker file already exists, preserve its formatting and append or edit `## ` sections in place. - Each subsection inside a release must start and use a `####` heading. - Use plain text under scalar subsections unless a subsection explicitly allows multiple markdown structures. - Include a lines-of-code subsection and a release-importance subsection for every release. - Include a `Title` subsection for every release. - The `Title` must be concise, publish-ready, and reusable almost verbatim in the public changelog. - The `Title`, `One-line summary`, and `Main changes` must complement each other instead of repeating the same wording at different lengths. - `Main changes` may use the best-fit markdown structure described below instead of a fixed bullet count. ## Inputs - One or more release tags such as `v0.11.101` - Optional output file path; default to the latest `_repos/openwork/changelog/release-tracker-{YYYY-MM-DD}.md` file (or a new one if it has 25 entries) ## Steps 1. Work from a dedicated worktree and confirm the tracker file path. 2. In `_repos/openwork`, gather release metadata for each tag: ```bash gh release view --repo different-ai/openwork --json tagName,publishedAt,body git rev-list -n 1 git log --oneline --no-merges .. git diff --shortstat .. ``` 3. Read nearby published entries in `_repos/openwork/packages/docs/changelog.mdx` before drafting language so the tracker entry matches the current public changelog voice. 4. Inspect any commit that looks user-facing before summarizing it: ```bash git show --stat --summary ``` 5. Derive release values with these rules: - `Commit`: use the tag commit from `git rev-list -n 1 `, shortened to 8 characters. - `Title`: write one concise publish-ready line that states the release's core substance up front. - The `Title` should usually be 4-10 words, in sentence case, and focus on the most important user-facing or developer-facing outcome. - Lead the `Title` with the primary workflow, product surface, or capability that changed, not with a generic verb like `Improves several areas`. - The `Title` must be reusable almost verbatim as the release-level headline sentence in `_repos/openwork/packages/docs/changelog.mdx`, even though the public file does not have a separate `Title` field. - The `Title` should sound like a strong changelog headline: concrete, direct, and outcome-first. - Avoid version numbers, release-process wording, and filler such as `This release`, `Shipped`, `Various`, `Several`, or `Miscellaneous`. - Avoid internal-only implementation terms unless they are visible to users or directly relevant to developers, such as APIs, CLI flows, providers, MCP setup, or documented product surfaces. - Prefer visible nouns and surfaces such as `workspace switching`, `session loading`, `Settings`, `Cloud sign-in`, `skill editing`, `API auth`, or `MCP connections` over repo mechanics or internal package names. - If the public changelog entry is going to be a minor release, focus on the `Title`, which should usually be close to that final sentence and the `One-line summary` which adds a bit more scope. - If the public changelog is a major, use the `Title` as the release-level headline that introduces the `Main changes` section without awkwardly compressing every bullet into one overloaded sentence. - `One-line summary`: write exactly one sentence that expands the `Title` with the main outcome first, then adds the most relevant scope or secondary effects. - The `One-line summary` should add context, not restate the `Title` with only a few extra adjectives. - Keep the `One-line summary` between 10-25 words unless the release is unusually simple. - `Main changes`: choose exactly one best-fit structure for the section instead of defaulting to a fixed number of bullets. - Keep the entire natural-language content of `Main changes` under 80 words total, including labels such as `Also released:`. - Prefer concrete workflow outcomes over internal implementation details. State what the release lets users do, what became clearer, or what became more reliable. - Only mention implementation details when they materially matter to developers using a visible surface such as the CLI, API, MCP configuration, auth providers, or documented settings. - Valid `Main changes` structures: - `Compact bullets`: 2-4 short bullets ordered by user impact. - `Lead paragraph + bullets`: one short lead sentence or paragraph for the primary announcement, followed by a short list such as `Also released:` with 1-3 bullets. - `Compact paragraph`: one short paragraph when the release is cohesive enough that bullets would feel artificial. - `Paragraph + tiny code example`: one short paragraph plus one very small indented code snippet only when a command, API shape, setting name, or developer-facing surface is itself the important change. - The chosen `Main changes` structure must be the best fit for the release and must fully conform to one of the valid structures above. - Use `Compact bullets` for mixed but comparable improvements. - Use `Lead paragraph + bullets` when one primary announcement leads the story and the remaining changes are supporting additions. - Use `Compact paragraph` when the release reads more naturally as one tightly scoped explanation. - Use `Paragraph + tiny code example` only when the code itself communicates something user-facing or developer-facing that prose would make less clear. - If you use bullets, the bullets do not need to be exactly parallel or verb-first, but they must still be concise and easy to scan. - If you use a code snippet, keep it tiny and subordinate to the prose. Do not turn `Main changes` into a long reference block. - Count prose words toward the 80-word cap. Ignore the code tokens in a tiny indented snippet, but keep the overall section brief enough to scan in one glance. - Example valid `Main changes` structures: - `Compact bullets` example: - Fixed workspace switching so reconnects land in the right session. - Improved provider auth prompts so setup fails less often. - Cleaned up Settings copy around remote workers. - `Lead paragraph + bullets` example: Released GPT-5.4 and GPT-5.4 pro across the main API surfaces. Also released: - Tool search for large tool surfaces. - Built-in computer use support. - 1M token context and native compaction. - `Compact paragraph` example: Stabilizes sharing and session startup so reconnects, loading states, and worker handoffs feel steadier across the app. - `Paragraph + tiny code example` example: Added a simpler local launch flow for the CLI and made the new entrypoint easier to discover. openwork dev - `Lines of code changed since previous release`: use `git diff --shortstat ..` and rewrite it as `N lines changed since \`\` (A insertions, D deletions).` - If git reports only insertions or only deletions, write the missing side as `0` so the sentence stays structurally consistent. - `Release importance`: always write exactly one sentence in one of these two forms: - `Minor release: .` - `Major release: .` - Do not decide major vs minor from line count alone. - Mark a release as `Major release:` when the user experience changes substantially, a major refactor or architecture/runtime change lands, a key security vulnerability is patched, multiple core features are deprecated/removed, or several shipped changes materially alter how users use OpenWork. - Mark a release as `Minor release:` for focused bug fixes, UX polish, isolated feature additions, local workflow improvements, packaging refreshes, or changes that improve reliability without materially changing the product's overall shape. - `Major Improvements`: set to `True` only for net-new user-facing capabilities or materially expanded workflows; max 5 items. - `Major Bugs Resolved`: set to `True` only for user-facing or release-blocking fixes; max 5 items. - `Deprecated Features`: set to `True` only when a user-facing feature or functionality was intentionally retired or replaced. - Ignore version bumps, lockfiles, screenshots, docs-only changes, and packaging-only changes when counting improvements or bugs. - If the release is mostly packaging, republishing, or metadata synchronization, say that directly instead of inventing user-visible impact. - Prefer present-tense, outcome-first changelog language similar to strong public changelogs: direct, concrete, and easy to scan. - Prefer parallel lists such as `Cleans up X, reduces Y, and fixes Z` over sequential framing such as `first, then`. - Sequential framing is still acceptable when the release genuinely has a primary change followed by supporting changes and that ordering is important to the story. - Use developer-friendly language when the change is visible to developers, but keep it anchored to a workflow they actually touch. - Do not let the `Title`, `One-line summary`, and `Main changes` collapse into three copies of the same sentence. - When a boolean is `False`, set the paired count to `0`. - When a details section has no items, write `None.` as plain text under its `####` heading. 6. Write or update the tracker as direct markdown text in this order: - File title: `# Release Changelog Tracker` - Intro line: `Internal preparation file for release summaries. This is not yet published to the changelog page or docs.` - Keep the file-level intro line as-is even if some individual releases inside the tracker are already published. - One `## ` section per release - Inside each release section, include these `####` headings in this exact order: - `#### Commit` - `#### Released at` - `#### Title` - `#### One-line summary` - `#### Main changes` followed by one valid `Main changes` structure - `#### Lines of code changed since previous release` - `#### Release importance` - `#### Major improvements` - `#### Number of major improvements` - `#### Major improvement details` followed by bullets only if needed - `#### Major bugs resolved` - `#### Number of major bugs resolved` - `#### Major bug fix details` followed by bullets only if needed - `#### Deprecated features` - `#### Number of deprecated features` - `#### Deprecated details` followed by bullets only if needed - Under each heading, write the value on the next line with no blank line between the heading and the value. 7. Match the current OpenWork tracker format. A valid release block looks like this in the final file: ```markdown ## v0.11.101 #### Commit `87fda845` #### Released at `2026-02-19T21:26:55Z` #### Title Local recovery and Soul controls land with cleaner app chrome. #### One-line summary Improves local session reliability while adding clearer Soul controls and cleaner settings and sidebar actions. #### Main changes Added a local recovery flow for broken OpenCode database migrations so local startup can repair itself. Also released: - Clearer Soul starter steering and observability controls. - Cleaner compact action buttons across settings and sidebars. #### Lines of code changed since previous release 1248 lines changed since `v0.11.100` (933 insertions, 315 deletions). #### Release importance Minor release: improves local recovery, Soul steering, and interface clarity without changing the product's core architecture. #### Major improvements True #### Number of major improvements 2 #### Major improvement details - Added a repair flow for failed local OpenCode database migrations from onboarding and Settings > Advanced. - Added stronger Soul starter steering and observability controls, including clearer status and improvement actions. #### Major bugs resolved True #### Number of major bugs resolved 1 #### Major bug fix details - Fixed a local startup failure path by letting users recover from OpenCode migration issues instead of getting stuck on a broken local flow. #### Deprecated features False #### Number of deprecated features 0 #### Deprecated details None. ``` 8. Validate before committing: - `git diff --check` - confirm there are no lines starting with `|` in the tracker file - confirm subsection labels are `####` headings, not `- Label:` bullets - confirm every release block includes `#### Title` - confirm the `Title` is publish-ready, specific, and not just a shorter duplicate of the `One-line summary` - confirm the `One-line summary` expands the `Title` instead of repeating it - confirm the `Main changes` section uses exactly one valid structure and that the structure is the best fit for the release - confirm the `Main changes` section stays under 80 words - confirm the `Main changes` content adds concrete workflow detail that is not already fully captured by the `Title` - confirm `#### Release importance` starts with either `Minor release:` or `Major release:` ## Common Gotchas - The final file is markdown text, not a markdown table embedded inside a markdown file. - Subsection headings are required so entries are easier to target programmatically. - Do not treat the release bump commit as a feature by itself. - Use the release body to anchor the summary, but use commit inspection to verify the real user-facing changes. - Keep `Main changes` user-facing or developer-facing in a visible way; avoid internal implementation details unless they matter to the actual workflow. - Do not write a vague `Title` like `Improves reliability and fixes bugs`; the title should identify the actual workflow or surface that changed. - Do not make the `Title`, `One-line summary`, and opening `Main changes` content say the same thing three times with minor wording changes. - When a release has little visible product impact, say that plainly instead of inflating the language. - Do not force `Main changes` into 3 bullets when a short paragraph or lead-plus-list structure is clearer. - Do not use an indented code snippet unless the code itself is part of the user-facing or developer-facing story. - Do not let `Main changes` exceed 80 words just because the release was large; choose a tighter structure or move detail to another field.