Release Notes Expert

Overview

Transform raw technical changes -- tickets, changelogs, git logs, PRDs -- into clear, user-benefit-oriented release notes. This skill ensures every release communicates value to the right audience in the right tone.

When to Use

Product Releases -- Announcing new versions to customers, partners, or internal stakeholders.
Sprint Demos -- Summarizing what shipped for sprint review audiences.
Changelog Maintenance -- Keeping a running log of changes across releases.
Customer Communication -- Preparing release announcements for email, in-app, or documentation.

Methodology

Step 1: Gather Raw Input

Collect all changes from the release cycle:

Jira/Linear tickets -- Completed stories, bugs, and tasks
Git log -- Merge commits since last release tag
PRD references -- Feature specs that shipped
Hotfix records -- Emergency fixes deployed between releases

Step 2: Classify Each Change

Assign every change to exactly one category:

Category	Definition	Example
New Features	Net-new capabilities that did not exist before	New export-to-PDF option
Improvements	Enhancements to existing functionality	Faster dashboard loading
Bug Fixes	Corrections to broken or incorrect behavior	Fixed login redirect loop
Breaking Changes	Changes that require user action to adapt	API v2 replaces v1 endpoints
Deprecations	Features scheduled for future removal	Legacy CSV import will be removed in v4.0

Classification rules:

If a change adds something entirely new, it is a New Feature.
If it makes something existing better (faster, easier, more reliable), it is an Improvement.
If it fixes something that was wrong, it is a Bug Fix.
If users must change their behavior, configuration, or integration, it is a Breaking Change.
If a feature still works but will be removed later, it is a Deprecation.

Step 3: Rewrite for User Benefit

The most critical step. Every entry must lead with the benefit to the user, not the technical change.

Rewriting principles:

Lead with the outcome. What can the user do now that they could not before, or what is better for them?
Use plain language. Avoid internal jargon, code references, or implementation details.
Keep it to 1-3 sentences. One sentence for minor items, up to three for significant features.
Include context when needed. If users need to take action, tell them exactly what to do.

Before and after examples:

Technical (Bad)	User-Benefit (Good)
Implemented Redis caching layer for dashboard queries	Dashboards now load up to 3x faster
Refactored authentication module to use OAuth 2.0 PKCE flow	Sign-in is now more secure and works reliably across all browsers
Fixed null pointer exception in report export handler	Report exports no longer fail when date ranges include empty days
Migrated user preferences API from v1 to v2 schema	Action required: Update your API calls to use the new `/v2/preferences` endpoint by April 30. See migration guide.
Added feature flag for beta dashboard	You can now opt into the redesigned dashboard from Settings > Beta Features

Red flags that an entry needs rewriting:

Mentions a class name, function, or library
Starts with "Refactored," "Migrated," or "Updated" without stating impact
Uses acronyms the target audience would not know
Describes what the team did instead of what the user gains

Step 4: Adjust Tone for Audience

Audience	Tone	Style Notes
B2B / Enterprise	Professional, precise	Emphasize reliability, security, compliance. Avoid casual language.
Consumer	Friendly, conversational	Use "you" and "your." Celebrate new features. Keep it light.
Developer / API	Technical, direct	Include endpoint names, SDK versions, code snippets. Be specific.
Internal	Detailed, context-rich	Include ticket IDs, team names, technical details as needed.

Step 5: Assemble the Release Notes

Use the output template below. Include only categories that have entries -- do not show empty sections.

Output Template

# [Product Name] v[X.Y.Z] Release Notes

**Release Date:** [YYYY-MM-DD]

---

## New Features

- **[Feature Name]** -- [1-3 sentence description of user benefit]. ([TICKET-ID])

## Improvements

- **[Improvement Name]** -- [1-2 sentence description of what is better]. ([TICKET-ID])

## Bug Fixes

- **[Bug Fix Name]** -- [1 sentence describing what was broken and that it is now fixed]. ([TICKET-ID])

## Breaking Changes

> **Action Required:** The following changes require updates on your end.

- **[Change Name]** -- [Description of what changed and exactly what the user must do]. ([TICKET-ID])

## Deprecations

> **Planned Removal:** The following features will be removed in a future release.

- **[Feature Name]** -- [What is being deprecated and when it will be removed. Recommend alternative if available]. ([TICKET-ID])

---

**Full changelog:** [link]
**Questions?** [support link or contact]

Python Tool

Use scripts/release_notes_generator.py to generate formatted release notes from structured input.

# Generate from JSON input
python scripts/release_notes_generator.py --input changes.json --product-name "Acme App" --version "2.5.0"

# Run with demo data
python scripts/release_notes_generator.py --demo --product-name "Acme App" --version "1.0.0"

# Output as JSON instead of markdown
python scripts/release_notes_generator.py --input changes.json --format json --product-name "Acme App" --version "2.5.0"

See scripts/release_notes_generator.py --help for full usage.

Integration with Other Skills

Use summarize-meeting/ to capture release planning discussions.
Use job-stories/ or wwas/ to trace features back to their original motivation.
Pair with ../senior-pm/ for stakeholder communication planning around major releases.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely Cause	Resolution
Tool flags too many entries as "technical language"	TECHNICAL_PATTERNS regex is broad, catching common words like "update" or "add"	Review the flagged entries; the tool provides suggestions, not mandates -- ignore false positives for user-facing descriptions
All entries classified as same type	Input JSON uses wrong type values or inconsistent casing	Use exact lowercase types: `feature`, `improvement`, `bugfix`, `breaking`, `deprecation`
Empty sections appear in output	No entries of that type exist but template still renders the section	The tool only renders sections with entries; empty sections indicate a data issue in input
Breaking changes not highlighted prominently	Entries marked as `improvement` instead of `breaking`	Review classification rules: if users must change behavior, config, or integration, it is `breaking`, not `improvement`
Release notes sound like commit messages	Descriptions written from developer perspective, not user perspective	Apply the rewriting principles: lead with outcome, use plain language, 1-3 sentences per entry
`--demo` flag requires `--product-name` and `--version`	These are required arguments regardless of input source	Always provide both: `--demo --product-name "App" --version "1.0.0"`
JSON output missing rewriting suggestions	No entries triggered technical language detection patterns	This is expected behavior; suggestions only appear when TECHNICAL_PATTERNS match entry descriptions

Success Criteria

Every release has structured notes published within 24 hours of deployment
All entries lead with user benefit, not technical implementation details
Breaking changes include explicit migration instructions with deadlines
Deprecations include removal timeline and recommended alternatives
Technical language flags reviewed and addressed before publication
Release notes tone matches the target audience (B2B/consumer/developer/internal)
Entries traceable to tickets via ticket_id for audit and context

Scope & Limitations

In Scope:

Structured release note generation from JSON input with 5 entry categories
Automatic technical language detection with rewriting suggestions
Markdown and JSON output formatting with category grouping
Audience tone guidance (B2B, consumer, developer, internal)
Classification rules for New Features, Improvements, Bug Fixes, Breaking Changes, and Deprecations

Out of Scope:

Automatic extraction of changes from git history (see sprint-retrospective/ for git analysis)
Jira/Linear ticket integration for pulling completed stories (manual JSON input required)
Changelog maintenance across multiple releases (this tool generates per-release notes)
Distribution to email, in-app, or documentation channels (output is markdown/JSON for further processing)

Important Caveats:

The rewriting suggestions are pattern-based heuristics. They catch common technical language but cannot assess whether a description truly communicates user benefit.
Semantic versioning alignment is the user's responsibility. The tool does not validate that version numbers follow semver conventions relative to the change types present.
Breaking changes require special care. Always include: what changed, what the user must do, and by when. Vague breaking change notes erode user trust.

Integration Points

Integration	Direction	Description
`sprint-retrospective/`	Receives from	Sprint commit data and type distribution inform what changes to include
`senior-pm/`	Complements	Stakeholder communication plans guide release note audience and tone
`execution/create-prd/`	Receives from	PRD feature descriptions (Section 7) become release note entry drafts
`scrum-master/`	Receives from	Sprint review outputs identify what shipped and needs documentation
`summarize-meeting/`	Receives from	Release planning meeting summaries capture context for release notes
`job-stories/` / `wwas/`	Receives from	User story descriptions inform user-benefit framing of entries

Tool Reference

release_notes_generator.py

Generates formatted release notes from structured JSON input. Groups entries by category, formats into markdown or JSON, and flags entries that may need user-benefit rewriting.

Flag	Type	Default	Description
`--input`	string	(optional)	Path to JSON file containing release entries
`--demo`	flag	off	Run with built-in demo data (8 entries across all types)
`--product-name`	string	(required)	Product name for the release notes header
`--version`	string	(required)	Version string (e.g., `2.5.0`)
`--format`	choice	`text`	Output format: `text` (markdown) or `json`
`--date`	string	today	Release date in YYYY-MM-DD format

Input JSON schema:

{
  "entries": [
    {
      "title": "Feature Name",
      "description": "User-benefit description (1-3 sentences)",
      "type": "feature|improvement|bugfix|breaking|deprecation",
      "ticket_id": "PROJ-123 (optional)"
    }
  ]
}

References

See references/release-notes-guide.md for best practices, audience guidance, and examples.
See assets/release_notes_template.md for a ready-to-use document template.

release-notes