changelog

Add an entry to the changelog in readme.txt following the project's changelog format. Use when updating readme.txt, adding to Unreleased section, documenting changes for a release, or when the user says "add changelog" or "update changelog".

$ Installieren

git clone https://github.com/bonny/WordPress-Simple-History /tmp/WordPress-Simple-History && cp -r /tmp/WordPress-Simple-History/.claude/skills/changelog ~/.claude/skills/WordPress-Simple-History

// tip: Run this command in your terminal to install the skill


name: changelog description: Add an entry to the changelog in readme.txt following the project's changelog format. Use when updating readme.txt, adding to Unreleased section, documenting changes for a release, or when the user says "add changelog" or "update changelog".

Add Changelog Entry

Add a changelog entry to the Simple History plugin's readme.txt file.

Instructions

  1. Ask the user for the changelog entry text (one line summary of the change)
  2. Determine the category - Each entry must be in one of these categories:
    • Added - New features or functionality
    • Changed - Changes to existing functionality
    • Fixed - Bug fixes
    • Deprecated - Features marked for removal
    • Removed - Features that were removed
    • Security - Security-related fixes or improvements
  3. Read the readme.txt file to find the ## Changelog section
  4. Locate the ### Unreleased subsection
  5. Add the new entry under the appropriate category within Unreleased, or at the top if no categories exist yet
  6. Follow the exact format:
    • Start with hyphen and 3 spaces: -
    • Begin with the category verb: "Fixed...", "Added...", "Changed...", etc.
    • Be concise and user-focused (explain the user-facing issue/feature, not technical implementation)
    • End with a period
  7. Show the user the added entry and confirm it looks correct

Format Examples

Good examples from existing changelog:

  • - Fixed post creation via Gutenberg autosave not being logged, causing email reports to show 0 posts created.
  • - Add developer mode badge to the page header.
  • - Fixed timezone and date handling issues in email reports.
  • - Add WordPress VIP Go coding standards for enterprise compatibility.
  • - Fixed post creation via Gutenberg autosave not being logged. [#599](https://github.com/bonny/WordPress-Simple-History/issues/599)

Guidelines

  • Be specific: Mention the feature/component affected (e.g., "email reports", "Gutenberg autosave")
  • User-focused: Explain what users will notice, not how it was implemented
  • Concise: Keep to one line when possible
  • Active voice: "Fixed X" not "X was fixed"
  • Link to GitHub issue or pull request if available

WordPress Changelog Best Practices

Based on WordPress Developer Blog guidance:

Writing Style

  • Write for end-users, not developers - Avoid technical jargon
  • Be specific, not vague - "Fixed a PHP 8.2 deprecation warning causing admin dashboard errors" NOT "Bug fixes"
  • Explain the impact - Include context about why changes matter (performance, security, workflow improvements)
  • Use accessible language - Avoid cultural references or overly technical terminology

Structure

  • Use clear category labels: Added, Changed, Fixed, Deprecated, Removed, Security
  • Maintain consistency across releases
  • Each entry should be actionable and descriptive

Good vs Bad Examples

Problematic:

  • "Bug fixes"
  • "Various improvements"
  • "Updated code"

Effective:

  • "Fixed post creation via Gutenberg autosave not being logged, causing email reports to show 0 posts created"
  • "Added developer mode badge to improve debugging workflow"
  • "Fixed timezone handling issues that caused email reports to show incorrect dates"

File Location

  • File: readme.txt (in project root)
  • Section: ## Changelog### Unreleased

Notes

  • If "Unreleased" section doesn't exist, create it right after "## Changelog"
  • Entries use format from https://keepachangelog.com and WordPress best practices
  • Most recent entries appear first in the list