Release Notes and Versioning That Help Everyone

Posted on in Developer Life

Good release notes and clear versions are a gift to future you. They tell people what changed, what to do next, and how risky the upgrade is. When they are thin or confusing, you pay for it during incidents, in support tickets, and in long review threads that should not exist. This post is a practical guide to writing release notes that help everyone and picking a versioning scheme that fits the work.

What great release notes look like

A good note answers three questions without asking the reader to scroll far: what changed, why it matters, and how to upgrade safely. Keep the shape predictable so readers know where to look.

Suggested sections

  • Headline: one sentence that states the outcome. Example: Improve photo import reliability on Raspberry Pi storage.
  • Highlights: three to five bullets for the big changes that users can feel.
  • Breaking changes: clear callouts with short migration steps.
  • Upgrade notes: commands, flags, config changes, data migrations, and any downtime.
  • Fixes: short list that names the bug and the user visible effect.
  • Performance: numbers if you have them and the method used.
  • Known issues: real limits and workarounds.
  • Links: docs, issues, and pull requests.

A concise example

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Release 2.1.0
Headline
Improve import reliability on Pi class storage by batching IO and pinning server image.

Highlights
- Batch writes during import to reduce fsync pressure
- Add retriable step for thumbnail generation
- Pin image to 1.142.1 for predictable upgrades

Breaking changes
- None

Upgrade notes
- Pull new compose file and redeploy
- First start will migrate the job queue format automatically

Fixes
- Prevent timeout when scanning a library larger than 50k photos
- Correct crash on empty metadata sidecar

Performance
- Import throughput up 23 percent on Pi 5 with NFS
- Thumbnail step down 18 percent p95

Known issues
- First import after upgrade runs a one time resync and may take longer

Links
- Docs: docs/importing.md
- PRs: #412, #415

Focus on the outcome. Trim internal details that do not help the person upgrading. If a step is required, put it under Upgrade notes and keep the commands copyable.

Versioning that sets expectations

Your version should hint at risk and frequency. Two common schemes work well when used on purpose.

Semantic versioning

MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH communicates compatibility at a glance.

  • MAJOR when you break a public contract. Remove a flag, change an API, drop a supported runtime.
  • MINOR for new features that remain compatible. Additions and options that do not break existing users.
  • PATCH for fixes and small improvements. No new surface area and no migrations.

Use semver for libraries and SDKs that other projects import, for APIs with public consumers, and for anything where programmatic dependency resolution matters. Semver invites automation and it sets a clear bar for what each digit means.

Date based versioning

Calendar versions use the release date, for example 2025.09 or 2025.09.17. The signal is cadence and freshness rather than compatibility. This fits applications and services where you control most deployments and want to encourage regular updates.

  • Pick a level of precision and stick with it. Month based is simpler for human readers. Day based is fine if you ship often.
  • Use tags like 2025.09.17+1 for a quick follow up fix on the same day if you need that precision.
  • Keep a clear support window. For example, support the most recent two months.

How to choose

  • If others import you as a dependency choose semver. It is the language package managers speak.
  • If you ship a product or service that you deploy choose date based. It keeps releases honest about time and avoids fake patch bumps that hide big changes.
  • If you cannot decide, use semver for the code and put the release date in the notes. That gives you both signals without mixing schemes.

Hybrids to avoid

Do not publish tags like v2025.09.17-3.4.7 that combine both. That confuses tools and readers. If you want to surface both date and compatibility, keep the date in the notes header and use a clean tag like v3.4.7 or 2025.09.17 based on your choice above.

A release notes template you can drop in

Create .github/release_template.md:

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## Headline

## Highlights
- 

## Breaking changes
- 

## Upgrade notes
- 

## Fixes
- 

## Performance
- 

## Known issues
- 

## Links
-

Use the template in GitHub Releases or wire it into your pipeline so every tag opens a notes draft with the right sections. Structure beats memory during busy days.

Team habits that keep notes useful

  • Write as you go. Draft the notes in the PR description and promote the summary to the release.
  • Match notes to scope. If the note looks messy, the release might be too big. Consider two smaller releases.
  • Show commands. Copyable steps reduce support questions.
  • Name the risk. If something might bite, say it and explain how to back out.
  • Link the why. Connect to issues and design notes so the context is not trapped in one head.
  • Automate the boring parts. Generate a changes list from commits, then edit to focus on outcomes.

What bad release notes and versions do to a project

  • Slow upgrades. Users pause because they cannot tell if the change is safe.
  • Support load goes up. People ask the same questions that the note should have answered.
  • Incidents drag on. During a rollback you need to know what changed in the last deploy. Vague notes force spelunking through diffs.
  • Changelogs rot. Copy pasted commit subjects do not tell a story. Readers stop trusting the file.
  • Version numbers lie. Shipping a breaking change as a patch erodes confidence. People pin old versions and updates stall.
  • Tooling breaks. Mixed schemes confuse automation that expects semver or a tidy CalVer. Pipelines and dashboards mis-sort versions.

A lightweight release workflow you can copy

  1. Decide on semver or date based and lock the choice in the README.
  2. Keep a release notes draft updated during the work.
  3. Before tagging, fill the template sections and test the Upgrade notes.
  4. Tag the release with a clean vX.Y.Z or YYYY.MM name.
  5. Publish the notes and link PRs and issues.
  6. After release, add a short Next section for what is likely in the upcoming cycle.

Quick reference

  • Choose semver for libraries and APIs.
  • Choose date based for apps and services you run.
  • Notes must include headline, highlights, breaking changes, and upgrade notes.
  • Avoid mixed schemes. Keep tags clean and dates in the note body if needed.
  • Write for the person who has to upgrade at 2 a.m. Keep it short, direct, and honest.

Great notes and clear versions save hours for teammates and users. They make upgrades boring, which is exactly what you want.

Thanks for reading.

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