changelog-format.txt

# Keep a Changelog Format Guide

A changelog is a file which contains a curated, chronologically ordered list of notable changes for each version of a project. This guide outlines the standardized format promoted by Keep a Changelog.

## Core Principles

1. Changelogs are for humans, not machines
2. Every version must have its own entry
3. Group similar changes together
4. Versions and sections should be linkable
5. Latest version comes first
6. Release dates must be displayed
7. Follow Semantic Versioning

## Standard Format

```markdown
# Changelog
All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.

The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/),
and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).

## [Unreleased]

### Added
- New features

### Changed
- Changes in existing functionality

## [1.0.0] - YYYY-MM-DD

### Added
- Initial release features

[unreleased]: https://example.com/compare/v1.0.0...HEAD
[1.0.0]: https://example.com/releases/tag/v1.0.0
```

## Change Types

Changes must be grouped under these standardized headings:

- `Added`: New features
- `Changed`: Changes in existing functionality
- `Deprecated`: Soon-to-be removed features
- `Removed`: Removed features
- `Fixed`: Bug fixes
- `Security`: Vulnerability fixes

## Best Practices

1. Maintain an "Unreleased" section at the top for upcoming changes
2. Use ISO 8601 format for dates (YYYY-MM-DD)
3. Mention whether you follow Semantic Versioning
4. Include reference links at the bottom for version comparisons
5. Mark yanked releases with [YANKED] tag
6. Keep entries clear, relevant, and human-readable
7. Document all important changes consistently

## File Conventions

- Name the file `CHANGELOG.md`
- Place it in the root directory of your project
- Use Markdown format for better readability
- Keep one file per project

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using git commit logs as changelogs
2. Not documenting deprecations
3. Using ambiguous dates
4. Including only selective changes
5. Mixing multiple types of changes under one heading

## Integration with Tools

1. GitHub Releases can be used alongside CHANGELOG.md
2. Automatic parsing is possible but challenging due to format variations
3. Various tools exist to help maintain changelog format compliance

Remember: A good changelog helps users and contributors understand what meaningful changes have been made between each release of your project.