# Draft Release Notes

> Takes a structured list of changes from changelog-scan and produces a clean, categorized, user-facing release notes draft. Follows project voice and conventions. Never publishes — only proposes a draft file or section.

- Skill: `gabrielmoreira/draft-release-notes` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add gabrielmoreira/draft-release-notes`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/gabrielmoreira/draft-release-notes/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: gabrielmoreira (https://skillmd.com/u/gabrielmoreira)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/gabrielmoreira/draft-release-notes

---


# Draft Release Notes Skill

## Inputs
- Structured output from `changelog-scan` (the list of items + summary)
- Previous release version (from state)
- Target next version (or "unreleased" / "next")
- Optional: short "Release voice" guidance from AGENTS.md or a project skill (tone, what to highlight, what to omit)

## Output
Write a ready-to-review draft to `RELEASE_NOTES_DRAFT.md` (or print it clearly so the loop can save it).

Use this structure (adapt section names to what actually exists; omit empty sections):

```markdown
# Release Notes — vX.Y.Z (unreleased)

## Breaking Changes
- ...

## Features
- ...

## Bug Fixes
- ...

## Performance
- ...

## Security
- ...

## Documentation & Examples
- ...

## Internal / Maintenance (usually omitted from public notes)
- ...

**Thanks** to @contributor1, @contributor2 for contributions to this release.

**Full changelog**: https://github.com/ORG/REPO/compare/vPREV...HEAD
```

## Rules
- Be concise and scannable. One line per item when possible, with link to PR.
- Use the actual title / one-sentence summary from the scan. Do not embellish or add marketing fluff unless the project voice explicitly wants it.
- Always call out breaking changes and security items at the top.
- If a change has a user upgrade step that is obvious from the PR, include a one-sentence "Upgrade note".
- Never claim a change was made if it was not in the scanned input.
- At the very end of the draft, include a short "Draft generated by loop — please review for accuracy and tone before publishing."

## When to Escalate Instead of Drafting
- More than ~40 items in one window → suggest splitting the release or human curation.
- Any breaking or security item → include prominent callout and recommend human wordsmithing.
- The scan summary says "human review needed first".

After writing the draft, the loop should update state with the draft location and "pending human review".