whatsnew

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

5|Updated Apr 29, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/friedbotstudio/baseline --skill whatsnew
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
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.