Release notes: loved when witty and honest; hated when it’s your turn to write them.
Recently, as I wrapped up a quality-of-life update for one of my apps, I once again faced the dreaded empty “What’s New” field. I was ready to submit the app update and move on, but first, this tedious busywork stood in my way. Every update always has more changes than I remember, and sifting through commits to recall them is painfully mechanical and dull. Inevitably, I start seeing commit messages like “make it work!” or “blargh,” which means I need to dig even deeper. Turning raw commit messages and diffs into clear, engaging summaries takes too much mental energy.
Can’t I just write ‘bug fixes and minor improvements’ and be done with it?
But despite the dread, good release notes truly matter. Personally, I love reading them because:
- I’m curious to see what competitors or my favorite apps have improved.
- I want confirmation that specific bugs or frustrations have been fixed.
- I’m always on the lookout for hidden gems or amusing notes from fellow developers.
- (Secretly, I’m also judging how creatively or transparently others handle this thankless task.)
There had to be an easier way, but every existing solution I found was either a hardcore command-line tool with poor usability or a heavyweight online service that needed layers of corporate approval. Frustrated, I realized I was uniquely positioned to solve this problem myself. After all, I’d already built an entire Git client and had everything at my fingertips: code for repository interactions, diff computations, and even AI for interpreting code changes.
After a few quick tests, it became obvious I was onto something real. And so, Release The Notes! was born.
Release The Notes! is a macOS app that transforms your commits, diffs, and branches into clear, natural-language summaries. Think instant, polished release notes without lifting a finger.
An early version is already in testing, and I’ll soon invite more testers. If this sounds like something you’d love, visit releasethenotes.com and sign up now!
