Generate changelog from Git commits
AI writes polished changelog from your repository commit history.
Generate changelog from Git commits
River's Changelog Generator creates polished, user-friendly changelogs from your Git commit history. You provide repository URL or commit messages, and the AI writes organized release notes categorizing changes into features, fixes, improvements, and breaking changes with clear descriptions. Whether you're releasing software, documenting version history, or communicating changes to users, you get professional changelogs that help users understand what changed and why it matters.
Unlike raw commit dumps, we create human-readable summaries. The AI understands changelog conventions (semantic categorization, user-focused language, meaningful descriptions, breaking change highlights), transforms technical commits into user benefits, and organizes information for easy scanning. You get changelogs that communicate value, not just list commits.
This tool is perfect for developers releasing software, open-source maintainers documenting versions, product teams communicating updates, and projects following semantic versioning. If your changelogs are incomplete or just commit lists, or if you want to save time writing release notes, this tool helps. Use it with every release to keep users informed about changes in professional, accessible format.
What Makes Changelogs Effective
Changelogs succeed when users quickly understand what changed and how it affects them. Effective changelogs organize by category (features, fixes, improvements, breaking changes, deprecations), use user-focused language (not internal terminology), explain why changes matter (not just what changed), highlight breaking changes prominently, link to issues or pull requests for details, follow consistent format across releases, and use semantic versioning. Weak changelogs dump raw commits or skip releases. Strong changelogs help users decide whether to upgrade and what to expect.
The best changelogs follow proven structure. Start with version number and release date. List breaking changes first (users need to know immediately). Follow with features (new capabilities), improvements (enhancements to existing features), and bug fixes (what's now working correctly). Note deprecations (what's being phased out). Include security fixes if applicable. For each item, write from user perspective. Instead of (refactored auth module), write (improved login speed by 50%). Instead of (fixed bug in parser), write (resolved issue where large files couldn't be uploaded). Users care about impact, not implementation details.
To improve changelogs, use conventional commits (feat:, fix:, chore: prefixes structure generation). Write commit messages thinking (this will be in changelog). Group related commits (multiple bug fixes in one area can become one changelog item). Add links to detailed docs for major features. Highlight migration steps for breaking changes. Include thanks to community contributors. Keep language simple (avoid jargon). Update changelog before release, not after. Consider different audiences (developers vs end users might need different changelog styles). Remember: good changelogs reduce support questions and help users stay current. Bad changelogs force users to dig through commits or avoid updates entirely. Respect user time with clear, valuable release notes.
What You Get
Polished changelog organized by category
Features, fixes, improvements, and breaking changes
User-friendly descriptions (not raw commits)
Version number and release date
Ready-to-publish format (markdown)
Highlights for breaking changes
How It Works
- 1Provide repo URL or commitsGive repository URL or paste commit messages
- 2AI writes polished changelogOur AI categorizes and rewrites commits in user-friendly format in 2 to 4 minutes
- 3Review and customizeRead through changelog, add context or links
- 4Publish with releaseAdd to CHANGELOG.md, publish in release notes, share with users
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this work with any commit message format?
Yes, but conventional commits (feat:, fix:, etc.) produce best results. The AI categorizes commits based on content, but explicit prefixes improve accuracy. If your commits aren't formatted conventionally, the AI does its best to categorize based on message content. Better commit messages lead to better changelogs.
Should changelogs include every commit?
No. Changelogs should include user-facing changes. Skip internal refactoring, dependency updates, and development infrastructure changes unless they impact users. One feature might take 10 commits. That becomes one changelog item explaining the feature. Focus on what users experience, not how you built it.
How should breaking changes be highlighted?
List breaking changes first in their own section. Use clear (BREAKING CHANGE) labels. Explain what broke and how to migrate. Breaking changes are most important information in changelog. Users need to know immediately if upgrading requires code changes. Make them impossible to miss.
Where should changelogs be published?
Maintain CHANGELOG.md in your repository. Copy to GitHub release notes. For web apps, show in product (what's new dialog). For APIs, include in documentation. For libraries, include in package manager listing. Multiple distribution points ensure users see updates.
Should I keep old changelog entries?
Yes. CHANGELOG.md should be cumulative, with newest releases at top. Users often need to understand changes across multiple versions. Keeping full history helps users upgrading from old versions understand everything that changed. Archive very old versions if file gets huge, but keep recent history.
What is River?
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