Add an entry to the changelog in readme.txt following the project's changelog format. Use when updating readme.txt, adding to Unreleased section, documenting changes for a release, or when the user says "add changelog" or "update changelog".
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name: changelog description: Add an entry to the changelog in readme.txt following the project's changelog format. Use when updating readme.txt, adding to Unreleased section, documenting changes for a release, or when the user says "add changelog" or "update changelog".
Add Changelog Entry
Add a changelog entry to the Simple History plugin's readme.txt file.
Instructions
- Ask the user for the changelog entry text (one line summary of the change)
- Determine the category - Each entry must be in one of these categories:
- Added - New features or functionality
- Changed - Changes to existing functionality
- Fixed - Bug fixes
- Deprecated - Features marked for removal
- Removed - Features that were removed
- Security - Security-related fixes or improvements
- Read the
readme.txtfile to find the## Changelogsection - Locate the
### Unreleasedsubsection - Add the new entry under the appropriate category within Unreleased, or at the top if no categories exist yet
- Follow the exact format:
- Start with hyphen and 3 spaces:
- - Begin with the category verb: "Fixed...", "Added...", "Changed...", etc.
- Be concise and user-focused (explain the user-facing issue/feature, not technical implementation)
- End with a period
- Start with hyphen and 3 spaces:
- Show the user the added entry and confirm it looks correct
Format Examples
Good examples from existing changelog:
- Fixed post creation via Gutenberg autosave not being logged, causing email reports to show 0 posts created.- Add developer mode badge to the page header.- Fixed timezone and date handling issues in email reports.- Add WordPress VIP Go coding standards for enterprise compatibility.- Fixed post creation via Gutenberg autosave not being logged. [#599](https://github.com/bonny/WordPress-Simple-History/issues/599)
Guidelines
- Be specific: Mention the feature/component affected (e.g., "email reports", "Gutenberg autosave")
- User-focused: Explain what users will notice, not how it was implemented
- Concise: Keep to one line when possible
- Active voice: "Fixed X" not "X was fixed"
- Link to GitHub issue or pull request if available
WordPress Changelog Best Practices
Based on WordPress Developer Blog guidance:
Writing Style
- Write for end-users, not developers - Avoid technical jargon
- Be specific, not vague - "Fixed a PHP 8.2 deprecation warning causing admin dashboard errors" NOT "Bug fixes"
- Explain the impact - Include context about why changes matter (performance, security, workflow improvements)
- Use accessible language - Avoid cultural references or overly technical terminology
Structure
- Use clear category labels: Added, Changed, Fixed, Deprecated, Removed, Security
- Maintain consistency across releases
- Each entry should be actionable and descriptive
Good vs Bad Examples
❌ Problematic:
- "Bug fixes"
- "Various improvements"
- "Updated code"
✅ Effective:
- "Fixed post creation via Gutenberg autosave not being logged, causing email reports to show 0 posts created"
- "Added developer mode badge to improve debugging workflow"
- "Fixed timezone handling issues that caused email reports to show incorrect dates"
File Location
- File:
readme.txt(in project root) - Section:
## Changelog→### Unreleased
Notes
- If "Unreleased" section doesn't exist, create it right after "## Changelog"
- Entries use format from https://keepachangelog.com and WordPress best practices
- Most recent entries appear first in the list
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