Sources

Derivative picks the source automatically: if CHANGELOG.md exists it reads that file, otherwise it reads git. Set --source changelog or --source git to choose explicitly.

Changesets

The default and the @changesets/changelog-github formats are both understood. Headings map to entry types:

Commit hashes and "Thanks @user!" prefixes are removed, the pull request link is kept. "Updated dependencies" entries are left out. Changesets writes no dates, so Derivative looks up the matching git tag (v1.2.0, 1.2.0 or @scope/pkg@1.2.0) and uses its date.

In a monorepo, pass each package changelog. Every release then carries its package name:

npx derivative build --changelog packages/app/CHANGELOG.md --changelog packages/sdk/CHANGELOG.md

Keep a Changelog and conventional-changelog

## [1.2.0] - 2026-10-01 and ## [1.2.0](compare-url) (2026-10-01) headings both work. Sections map like this:

## [Unreleased] is skipped unless you pass --unreleased.

Conventional commits

With --source git, every tag that contains a version starts a release, and the commits up to the previous tag are its entries:

chore, ci, docs, test, refactor, build and style commits are left out because readers of a "What's new" panel don't care about them. Add [skip changelog] to any commit message to leave it out as well. Change the mapping with types in the config.

In a monorepo with tags like @acme/app@1.2.0, limit releases to one package with --tag-pattern "^@acme/app@". Link entries to commits with --commit-url "https://github.com/acme/app/commit/{hash}".