reno
RElease NOtes manager
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need a git-native, merge-conflict-free release notes workflow for a team. The dormant maintenance status is acceptable for a stable, focused tool with no known vulnerabilities. Not recommended if you need active development, frequent updates, or support for non-git workflows.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires git repository initialized in the working directory; reno reads git tags and commit history to associate notes with versions.
- Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel and four straightforward runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance is dormant—last release was 893 days ago—so expect no active bug fixes or feature work, though the package remains functional for its core use case.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — Licensed under Apache (permissive), so you can use, modify, and distribute reno freely in commercial and open-source projects without copyleft obligations.
last release 2024-03-04 (893 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 250,254 downloads/mo, #8,634 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install reno
reno new bugfix-title
reno report- Whether dormant status means security patches will be applied if vulnerabilities are discovered.
- Whether the package's Sphinx integration works with current Sphinx versions without additional configuration.
- Compatibility with git workflows other than linear or simple branching (e.g., complex rebase scenarios).
What it is and what it does
Reno is a release notes manager built for distributed teams that want to avoid merge conflicts and manual coordination when writing release notes. Instead of a single changelog file that multiple developers edit simultaneously, reno stores each note in its own file alongside the code it describes. This lets developers write notes when changes are fresh, submit them through the same code review process, and avoid rebasing conflicts. Reno automatically groups notes by category (features, bug fixes, known issues, etc.) and ties them to releases using git tags, so you don't have to manually track which changes went into which version.
The package integrates with Sphinx for documentation builds and supports backporting notes to maintenance branches. It uses git as its storage backend, meaning release notes live in version control with the code they describe. Reno is designed for high-throughput teams and is used primarily in OpenStack projects. The package is currently dormant—no active development for 893 days—but remains stable and functional for its core workflow.
Use it for
- Coordinate release notes across a large distributed team without merge conflicts by storing each note in a separate file.
- Automatically generate release notes tied to git tags, eliminating manual version tracking and the risk of missing changes.
- Backport bug-fix notes from a main branch to maintenance branches alongside code patches.
- Integrate release notes into Sphinx documentation builds for automated, styled release history.
- Correct or update published release notes after a release without changing the version they're associated with.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need a git-native, merge-conflict-free release notes workflow for a team.
The dormant maintenance status is acceptable for a stable, focused tool with no known vulnerabilities. Not recommended if you need active development, frequent updates, or support for non-git workflows.
Install
reno on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel and four straightforward runtime dependencies. Maintenance is dormant—last release was 893 days ago—so expect no active bug fixes or feature work, though the package remains functional for its core use case.
Requires git repository initialized in the working directory; reno reads git tags and commit history to associate notes with versions.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache (permissive), so you can use, modify, and distribute reno freely in commercial and open-source projects without copyleft obligations.
Quickstart
pip install reno
reno new bugfix-title
reno reportVerify before relying
- Whether dormant status means security patches will be applied if vulnerabilities are discovered.
- Whether the package's Sphinx integration works with current Sphinx versions without additional configuration.
- Compatibility with git workflows other than linear or simple branching (e.g., complex rebase scenarios).
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.6 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 4 packagesPyYAMLdulwichpackagingpbr |
| Maintenance | Dormant 893 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 250,254 / month, #8,634 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Environment :: OpenStackIntended Audience :: Information TechnologyIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPython |
Evidence: reno-4.1.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also git-review · setuptools-scm-git-archive · autosemver · sphinxcontrib-log-cabinet · changelog · gitman · mkdocs-meta-manager · charm-refresh-build-version · ghstack · sphinx-last-updated-by-git