Appstore Release Notes

App Store Release Notes

Create ready-to-paste App Store Connect "What's New" notes for a new release. The output must be compact, clear, user-facing, and based on real changes.

Workflow

1. Identify the comparison range.

   • If the user specifies a previous version, tag, branch, or commit, use it as the base.
   • If no previous version is specified, find the latest relevant git tag and use it as the base.
   • If the user specifies a target version, tag, branch, or commit, use it as the target.
   • If no target is specified, use the latest code, normally HEAD.
   • If no tags exist, compare against the earliest useful commit or summarize recent history, and state the assumption briefly before the notes.

2. Inspect git history and changed files.

   • Prefer commands like git tag --sort=-v:refname, git log --oneline <base>..<target>, git diff --stat <base>..<target>, and targeted git diff --name-only <base>..<target>.
   • Read relevant files or diffs when commit messages are too vague.
   • Look for app version files only when needed to confirm the release version.

3. Check localization support.

   • Detect supported App Store locales from project files when possible: *.lproj, Localizable.strings, InfoPlist.strings, .xcstrings, fastlane/metadata, metadata, Flutter lib/l10n/*.arb, React Native locales, i18n, or translations.
   • If the app supports multiple languages, generate release notes for each supported App Store locale.
   • If supported languages are unclear, default to the main language and mention the assumption briefly before the notes.
   • Adapt each localized note to sound natural for that locale and culture. Do not translate word by word.
   • Keep the same factual meaning across languages, but allow phrasing, word order, and tone to fit local App Store expectations.

4. Keep only user-facing changes.

   • Include: visible features, behavior changes, usability improvements, performance improvements that users can feel, crashes, data loss fixes, sync fixes, login fixes, purchase fixes, accessibility improvements, localization changes, and UI changes.
   • Exclude: CI, build scripts, dependency bumps, internal refactors, formatting, tests, lint, docs, and developer-only changes unless they clearly affect users.

5. Classify every note.

   • Start each item with one of these plain labels: Feature:, Fix:, or Improvement:.
   • Use Feature: for new capabilities or newly exposed user options.
   • Use Fix: for corrected broken behavior, crashes, display issues, incorrect data, or reliability problems.
   • Use Improvement: for better speed, polish, accessibility, usability, copy, layout, flow, or existing behavior.

Output Rules

• Output only the release notes unless a range assumption must be stated.
• Each item must start with a hyphen.
• Use plain text only.
• Do not use emoji, bullet symbols, checkmarks, arrows, smart quotes, or decorative characters.
• For localized notes, use the locale's normal writing system and diacritics when needed for natural text.
• Do not use Markdown headings unless the user asks for them.
• For multiple languages, group by locale code or language name, then use hyphen bullets under each group.
• Keep each item to one sentence.
• Prefer 3 to 8 items.
• Combine duplicate or closely related changes.
• Do not write generic filler such as "Bug fixes and improvements", "Performance improvements", "Stability updates", or "General enhancements".
• Do not mention commit hashes, file names, branch names, pull requests, internal modules, or implementation details.
• Do not invent changes. If evidence is weak, omit the item or ask one concise clarification question.

Writing Style

• Make each item specific enough that a user understands what changed.
• Lead with the user-visible result, not the implementation.
• Use simple verbs: Added, Fixed, Improved, Updated, Reduced, Restored, Prevented.
• Avoid marketing language, hype, and vague claims.
• Avoid "now" unless it improves clarity.

Example Output

- Feature: Added quick note capture from the home screen.
- Improvement: Improved calendar loading speed for large event lists.
- Fix: Fixed a crash that could happen when syncing iCloud data.
- Fix: Fixed incorrect totals shown after editing a saved expense.

Example Multilingual Output

en-US
- Feature: Added quick note capture from the home screen.
- Fix: Fixed a crash that could happen when syncing iCloud data.

vi
- Feature: Thêm cách ghi chú nhanh ngay từ màn hình chính.
- Fix: Khắc phục lỗi có thể khiến ứng dụng bị văng khi đồng bộ dữ liệu iCloud.