# Add Changeset

> Create, commit, and push SWC changeset files for the current or an explicitly specified pull request. Use when asked to add a changeset, prepare release notes, decide patch/minor/major bumps, enumerate changed Rust crates, or publish a changeset commit for an SWC PR number or URL; the skill requires every publishable Rust crate with a breaking change or a runtime dependency breaking change to be listed as major, every other changed publishable Rust crate to be listed as patch or minor, and swc_core to be listed as at least patch for Rust crate changes.

- Skill: `swc-project/add-changeset` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add swc-project/add-changeset`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/swc-project/add-changeset/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: swc-project (https://skillmd.com/u/swc-project)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/swc-project/add-changeset

---


# Add Changeset

## Goal

Add one Markdown file under `.changeset/` whose front matter lists every changed publishable Rust crate in the PR, plus `swc_core` when any Rust crate changes.

## Workflow

1. Resolve the PR context.
   - When the user supplies a PR number or URL, treat it as authoritative and enter specified PR mode.
   - In specified PR mode, require `gh auth status` to succeed and require a clean `git status --porcelain` before changing the checkout. Never stash or discard local changes automatically.
   - Read the PR with `gh pr view <pr> --json number,url,state,baseRefName,baseRefOid,headRefName,headRefOid,headRepository`. Require an open PR and a non-null `headRepository.nameWithOwner`; record the URL, base and head OIDs, head repository, and head branch.
   - Run `gh pr checkout <pr> --detach`, then require `git rev-parse HEAD` to equal the recorded `headRefOid`.
   - Find an existing remote whose push URL targets the recorded head repository. If none exists, use `https://github.com/<headRepository.nameWithOwner>.git` directly. Record this as the push target without changing any upstream.
   - Before writing a changeset, verify write access and the exact destination with `git push --dry-run <push-target> HEAD:refs/heads/<headRefName>`. Stop on failure.
   - Without a supplied PR number or URL, use the PR associated with the current branch and retain the current-branch workflow below.

2. Find the PR base and changed files.
   - In specified PR mode, use the recorded `baseRefOid` and checked-out PR head for all diff and helper commands.
   - Otherwise, prefer `gh pr view --json baseRefName,headRefName,body` when the branch has a GitHub PR.
   - Use `git diff` against the PR merge base; include staged and unstaged local changes only when preparing an unpushed current-branch PR.
   - Run `scripts/changed-rust-crates.mjs` from this skill to get a first pass of directly touched Rust crates.

3. Read the code, not only the helper output.
   - Inspect every changed Rust crate reported by the helper.
   - Inspect root workspace changes such as `Cargo.toml`, `Cargo.lock`, `rust-toolchain`, `.cargo/`, and release tooling manually; they may affect crates without changing files inside the crate directory.
   - Ignore non-publishable workspace crates in changeset front matter unless the maintainer explicitly asks otherwise; SWC's release tool skips `publish = false` crates.

4. Classify every changed publishable Rust crate.
   - Use `major` for every crate whose public API, behavior contract, feature semantics, serialized output, CLI-visible behavior, or documented compatibility is breaking.
   - Use `major` for a crate when one of its runtime dependencies changed in a breaking way. Check that crate's `[dependencies]`, target-specific runtime dependencies, and relevant `Cargo.lock` changes; do not apply this rule to dev-only or build-only dependencies.
   - Do not expand `major` through SWC's reverse internal dependency graph just because another crate depends on a breaking crate; SWC's bump command handles that internal propagation after reading the changeset.
   - Use `minor` for non-breaking new public functionality, new supported syntax, new options, new public exports, or meaningful user-visible capability.
   - Use `patch` for bug fixes, performance work, refactors, internal-only changes, tests, fixtures, documentation, or dependency bumps that do not add a non-breaking capability.
   - If a crate has both breaking and non-breaking changes, list it once as `major`.

5. Check `swc_core` exposure explicitly.
   - If a changed crate's breaking API is re-exported by `swc_core` or exposed through a `swc_core` feature, list `swc_core: major`.
   - If a changed crate adds non-breaking public API that `swc_core` exposes, list `swc_core: minor`.
   - If `swc_core` files or feature mappings changed directly and the change is not breaking or additive, list `swc_core: patch`.
   - If any publishable Rust crate is listed and no stronger `swc_core` bump is required, include `swc_core: patch` even when `swc_core` files did not change.

6. Write the changeset.
   - Create a new file at `.changeset/<short-kebab-summary>.md`.
   - Keep the front matter sorted by crate name unless a maintainer provided another order.
   - Mention only Rust crate names and bump levels in front matter.
   - Write a concise summary after the front matter using SWC commit style, such as `fix(es/parser): ...`, `feat(es/parser): ...`, `perf(es/parser): ...`, or `refactor(es/parser): ...`.

7. Validate, commit, and push the changeset.
   - Review `git status --short` and the changeset contents before staging.
   - Stage only the new changeset with `git add -- .changeset/<short-kebab-summary>.md`; never include unrelated worktree changes.
   - Run `git diff --cached --check` and inspect `git diff --cached` before committing.
   - Commit with `git commit -m "chore: Add changeset"`; never use `--no-verify`.
   - In specified PR mode, detached HEAD is expected. Re-read the PR before pushing; require it to remain open, require its head repository and branch to match the recorded destination, and require its `headRefOid` to remain equal to the original recorded head OID.
   - Push specified PR mode with `git push <push-target> HEAD:refs/heads/<headRefName>`. Never set an upstream or substitute the current local branch name.
   - After a specified PR push, require the PR's `headRefOid` to equal the new commit and report the PR URL, commit hash, and pushed repository and branch.
   - Otherwise, require a named branch. If `git branch --show-current` is empty, stop and ask the user which branch to use.
   - For current-branch mode, push with plain `git push` when the branch has an upstream. When no upstream exists, identify the PR head remote and branch with `gh pr view` and repository remotes, then use `git push --set-upstream <remote> <branch>`. Stop and ask the user if the target is ambiguous.
   - Never force-push. If the PR head changed or a push is rejected as non-fast-forward, stop and report the concurrent update instead of overwriting it.

## Example

```markdown
---
swc_core: minor
swc_ecma_parser: minor
---

perf: Optimize es parser comment finalization
```

## Helper

Run this helper from the repository root:

```bash
node .agents/skills/add-changeset/scripts/changed-rust-crates.mjs
```

Useful options:

```bash
node .agents/skills/add-changeset/scripts/changed-rust-crates.mjs --base origin/main
node .agents/skills/add-changeset/scripts/changed-rust-crates.mjs --json
node .agents/skills/add-changeset/scripts/changed-rust-crates.mjs --include-private
```

Treat the helper as an inventory aid. It does not decide breaking changes, does not understand public API exposure, and cannot fully interpret workspace-level changes.