gitchangelog
gitchangelog generates a changelog thanks to git log.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need a lightweight, zero-dependency changelog generator and can tolerate that the project is no longer maintained. The tool is stable and works for straightforward use cases, but do not expect fixes for edge cases or compatibility issues with very recent git or Python versions. Consider it suitable for established projects with stable workflows, not for bleeding-edge setups.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires git to be installed and accessible in PATH; the repository must have at least one commit and ideally git tags for version markers.
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- However, the project is abandoned as of 2022 with no updates for nearly 3 years, so expect no bug fixes or maintenance.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD 3-Clause License (permissive) — BSD 3-Clause License is permissive and poses no restrictions on use, modification, or redistribution in proprietary or open-source contexts.
last release 2018-12-21 (2793 days) · last repo commit 2022-06-07 · 585 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 92,773 downloads/mo, #13,427 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install gitchangelog
# In your git repository root, create .gitchangelog.rc with your config,
# then run:
gitchangelog > CHANGELOG.rst- Whether the tool still works reliably with modern git versions and Python 3.7+
- Current state of Windows compatibility mentioned as incomplete in the description
- Whether template engines (mako, mustache) are optional or required
What it is and what it does
gitchangelog reads your git commit history and generates a formatted changelog by parsing commit messages according to rules you define in a configuration file. It classifies commits into sections (New, Fix, Changes, etc.), filters by regex patterns, and renders output using your choice of template engine or built-in formats. The tool supports both incremental and full changelog generation, handles merge/rebase workflows, and can extract structured data from commit trailers like Co-Authored-By.
The package installs as a command-line tool with no runtime dependencies, making it lightweight to deploy. It comes with example templates and a reference configuration file to get started quickly. You can also use it as a standalone executable without installing the full package, though the standalone mode requires you to provide all configuration values explicitly.
Use it for
- Generate release notes automatically from git commits for each version tag
- Classify and organize commits into semantic sections for better changelog readability
- Create changelogs in multiple formats (ReStructuredText, HTML, Markdown) from the same commit history
- Filter out internal or development commits from user-facing changelogs using regex rules
- Maintain incremental changelogs for continuous integration workflows without regenerating the entire history
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need a lightweight, zero-dependency changelog generator and can tolerate that the project is no longer maintained.
The tool is stable and works for straightforward use cases, but do not expect fixes for edge cases or compatibility issues with very recent git or Python versions. Consider it suitable for established projects with stable workflows, not for bleeding-edge setups.
Install
gitchangelog on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. However, the project is abandoned as of 2022 with no updates for nearly 3 years, so expect no bug fixes or maintenance.
Requires git to be installed and accessible in PATH; the repository must have at least one commit and ideally git tags for version markers.
License in practice
BSD 3-Clause License is permissive and poses no restrictions on use, modification, or redistribution in proprietary or open-source contexts.
Quickstart
pip install gitchangelog
# In your git repository root, create .gitchangelog.rc with your config,
# then run:
gitchangelog > CHANGELOG.rstVerify before relying
- Whether the tool still works reliably with modern git versions and Python 3.7+
- Current state of Windows compatibility mentioned as incomplete in the description
- Whether template engines (mako, mustache) are optional or required
Package facts
| License | BSD 3-Clause License permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 2,793 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 92,773 / month, #13,427 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Topic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Version Control |
Evidence: gitchangelog-3.0.4-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also git-cliff · git-changelog · hatch-regex-commit · changelog · ghstack · bump2version · shyaml · commitlint · pystache · commit-check