whatsnew

Generates and validates a transient what's-new fragment from change entries.

5|Updated Apr 29, 2026

Search Tags:#changelog #routing #cli #claude-code #release-notes #fragment #keepachangelog

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/friedbotstudio/baseline --skill whatsnew

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: whatsnew
Source: https://github.com/friedbotstudio/baseline/tree/main/.claude/skills/whatsnew
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/friedbotstudio/baseline --skill whatsnew

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Creates a safe handoff for “what’s new” messaging when the main context already knows the change but the final destination is decided later. It avoids premature changelog writes and keeps release-note generation separate from semantic-release.

Core Features & Use Cases

Builds keepachangelog-style entries for Added, Changed, Deprecated, Removed, Fixed, and Security updates.
Validates slugs, entry structure, and optional boolean highlights before writing a transient fragment.
Supports project-specific routing through project.json so a site page, release body, or docs page can consume the fragment later.
Use it when you want a temporary release-note buffer for a feature launch, bug fix batch, or docs update without touching CHANGELOG.

Quick Start

Ask the whatsnew skill to generate a fragment from your prepared change entries and save it under the project's gitignored whatsnew state path.

Frequently Asked Questions about whatsnew

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I generate release notes without directly editing CHANGELOG.md?▼

To generate release notes without editing CHANGELOG.md, create a transient what's-new fragment from your change entries. This skill validates the structure and saves it to a gitignored state path for downstream publishing later.

What are keepachangelog categories and how do they structure changelog entries?▼

Keepachangelog categories structure changelog entries into Added, Changed, Deprecated, Removed, Fixed, and Security updates. This skill enforces these specific categories when building your release-note fragments to ensure standardized documentation.

How do I route release-note fragments to different project pages or docs?▼

You route release-note fragments by configuring project.json. This skill supports optional routing resolution from project.json, allowing a site page, release body, or docs page to consume the generated fragment later.

Can I use this changelog fragment approach with semantic-release workflows?▼

Yes, you can use this approach with semantic-release workflows. This skill keeps release-note generation separate from semantic-release by creating a temporary buffer for your changes, avoiding premature changelog writes during automated deployments.

Does the whatsnew skill validate slug formatting and entry structure before saving?▼

The whatsnew skill validates slugs, entry structure, and optional boolean highlights before writing a transient fragment. It enforces safe slug formatting and deterministic file output under the .claude/state/whatsnew directory.

When should I use a transient release-note fragment instead of writing to CHANGELOG.md?▼

Use a transient release-note fragment when the final destination for your changes is decided later. This approach works well for feature launches, bug fix batches, or docs updates where you need a temporary buffer without touching CHANGELOG.md.