@promoboxx/generate-release-notes

Generates a RELEASE_NOTES.md file from a CHANGELOG.md file. Scans pull requests for any linked issues, release notes, and previews.

Why

In a pull request workflow, those pull requests are a central unit of work. They drive your commits, which in turn drive your changelog, deploys, releases, closing linked issues, and more.

They're also a place that allows the developer, aka the one most familiar with the changes, write a breakdown of the changes. They even allow for attaching media.

This means they're a great fit for a more formal RELEASE_NOTES.md file, one that can explain the changes in a little more detail, even providing screenshots and videos.

How to use

Typically you use this in your CI pipeline, after standard-version or whatever tool generates your CHANGELOG.md file:

npx standard-version
npx @promoboxx/generate-release-notes
git push

Extras

Any found pull request will be scanned for what are called "extras". Any of the following will be inserted into the RELEASE_NOTES.md file underneath the change with the pull request.

Related Issues

The pull request title, branch name, and body will be scanned for related issues.

Previews

If you have a markdown section named Preview, the contents of it will be copied.

Release Notes

If you have a markdown section named Release Notes, the contents of it will be copied.

Configuration

Any options are set via environment variables.

Variable	Default	Description
RELEASE_NOTES_GITHUB_TOKEN		Token used to load pull requests when scanning for extras.
RELEASE_NOTES_JIRA_BASE_URL		Base URL to your JIRA issues.
RELEASE_NOTES_SKIP_COMMIT	false	Whether the tool should commit the generated RELEASE_NOTES.md file.
RELEASE_NOTES_CHANGE_TYPE_ORDER	Features, Bug Fixes	Order of sections in the generated RELEASE_NOTES.md file.