release-notes Command

The release-notes command provides users with a simple way to view the changes and new features introduced in each version of Claude Code, helping them stay informed about updates.

Implementation

The command is implemented in commands/release-notes.ts as a type: 'local' command that formats and displays release notes from a constant:

import { MACRO } from "../constants/macros.js";
import type { Command } from "../commands";
import { RELEASE_NOTES } from "../constants/releaseNotes";

const releaseNotes: Command = {
  description: "Show release notes for the current or specified version",
  isEnabled: false,
  isHidden: false,
  name: "release-notes",
  userFacingName() {
    return "release-notes";
  },
  type: "local",
  async call(args) {
    const currentVersion = MACRO.VERSION;

    // If a specific version is requested, show that version's notes
    const requestedVersion = args ? args.trim() : currentVersion;

    // Get the requested version's notes
    const notes = RELEASE_NOTES[requestedVersion];

    if (!notes || notes.length === 0) {
      return `No release notes available for version ${requestedVersion}.`;
    }

    const header = `Release notes for version ${requestedVersion}:`;
    const formattedNotes = notes.map((note) => `• ${note}`).join("\n");

    return `${header}\n\n${formattedNotes}`;
  },
};

export default releaseNotes;

This command demonstrates a simple but effective approach to displaying versioned information, using a constant defined in constants/releaseNotes.ts as the data source.

Functionality

The release-notes command provides a straightforward information display:

  1. Version Selection:

    • Defaults to showing notes for the current version
    • Allows explicit version selection through command arguments
    • Handles cases where notes are unavailable for a version

  2. Note Formatting:

    • Displays a clear header indicating the version
    • Formats individual notes as bullet points
    • Presents notes in a readable, consistent format

  3. No Dependencies:

    • Doesn't require external API calls or complex processing
    • Works entirely with data embedded in the application

  4. Error Handling:

    • Provides a friendly message when notes aren't available
    • Gracefully handles empty or missing note arrays

Technical Implementation Notes

While simpler than many other commands, the release-notes command demonstrates several effective patterns:

  1. Constant-Based Data Store: Uses a predefined constant for storing release notes data:

    // Example from constants/releaseNotes.ts
export const RELEASE_NOTES: Record<string, string[]> = {
  "0.0.22": [
    "Added proxy configuration support via --proxy flag or HTTP_PROXY environment variable",
    "Improved error handling for API connectivity issues",
    "Fixed issue with terminal output formatting in certain environments",
  ],
  "0.0.21": [
    "Enhanced model selection interface with provider-specific options",
    "Improved documentation and help text for common commands",
    "Fixed bug with conversation state persistence",
  ],
};

  2. Default Value Pattern: Uses the current version as a default if no specific version is requested:

    const currentVersion = MACRO.VERSION;
const requestedVersion = args ? args.trim() : currentVersion;

  3. Array Transformation: Uses map and join for clean formatting of bullet points:

    const formattedNotes = notes.map((note) => `• ${note}`).join("\n");

  4. Null-Safe Access: Checks for undefined or empty notes before attempting to display them:

    if (!notes || notes.length === 0) {
  return `No release notes available for version ${requestedVersion}.`;
}

  5. Command Availability Control: The command is marked as disabled with isEnabled: false, suggesting it may be under development or available only in certain builds.

User Experience Benefits

Despite its simplicity, the release-notes command provides several valuable benefits:

  1. Update Awareness: Helps users understand what has changed between versions.

  2. Feature Discovery: Introduces users to new capabilities they might not otherwise notice.

  3. Version Verification: Allows users to confirm which version they're currently using.

  4. Historical Context: Provides access to past release information for reference.

  5. Simplified Format: Presents notes in a clean, readable format without requiring browser access.

The release-notes command exemplifies how even simple commands can provide valuable functionality through clear organization and presentation of information. It serves as part of Claude Code's approach to transparency and user communication.