Git2log Changelog Import

How to get there: Click Boards in the sidebar → select your Changelog board → use the Git2log import option.

Learn how to automatically generate changelog posts from your git commit history using ProductLift's Git2log tool, saving time and ensuring your changelog stays synchronized with actual development work.

What is Git2log?

Git2log is a ProductLift tool that transforms your git commit messages into formatted changelog posts. Instead of manually creating changelog entries for every feature you ship, Git2log uses AI to parse your commit history and generate changelog content automatically.

This is particularly useful for development teams that:

  • Keep detailed commit messages
  • Ship frequently with many small features
  • Want changelogs that match actual development work
  • Need to save time on changelog maintenance

How Git2log Works

Process Overview:

  1. Copy git commits from your repository
  2. Paste into Git2log tool in ProductLift
  3. AI parses and formats commits automatically
  4. Review and publish as changelog posts

Example:

Git Commits:                         Git2log Output:
-----------                          ----------------
feat: Add dark mode                  Title: "Add dark mode"
fix: Search bug                      Title: "Search bug"
refactor: Optimize DB                Title: "Optimize DB"

The AI cleans up commit messages, writes short descriptions, and assigns appropriate categories and statuses from your portal.

When to Use Git2log

Use Git2log for:

  • Frequent releases: Shipping daily/weekly with many commits
  • Technical changelogs: Developer-focused updates
  • Detailed changelogs: Every bug fix and improvement documented
  • Time-saving: Automate changelog creation

Don't use Git2log for:

  • Marketing changelogs: High-level feature announcements needing custom copy
  • Customer-facing descriptions: When commits don't provide enough context
  • Poorly-documented commits: Commit messages like "fix bug" or "update"
  • Major releases: Benefit from custom-written changelog posts

Hybrid Approach:

Many teams use both:

  • Major features: Custom changelog posts with marketing copy
  • Bug fixes and minor improvements: Git2log auto-generation

Accessing Git2log

Navigate to Git2log:

  1. Go to your admin dashboard
  2. Navigate to the Git2log tool at /admin/git2log

Or from the Changelog section:

  1. Click "Tools" dropdown in toolbar
  2. Select "Git2log" or "Import from Git"

[Screenshot: Git2log page with text area and Generate button]

Getting Your Git Commit History

Extract Commits from Git Repository

Using Command Line:

Open terminal in your git repository and run:

git log --oneline --since="2 weeks ago"

More Detailed Output:

git log --pretty=format:"%h - %s (%an)" --since="2 weeks ago"

Options:

  • --since="2 weeks ago" - Last 2 weeks
  • --since="2026-01-01" - Since specific date
  • -n 50 - Last 50 commits
  • --author="John" - Commits by specific author

Example Output:

a3f4b12 - feat: Add dark mode support (Sarah)
c8d2e91 - fix: Resolve search crash on iOS (John)
f1a9c03 - feat: Export to PDF functionality (Sarah)
d7b4e22 - chore: Update dependencies (Build Bot)

From Git GUI Tools

  • GitHub: Go to repository → "Commits" tab → Copy commit messages
  • GitLab: Repository → Commits → Select date range
  • Bitbucket: Commits tab → Filter by date

Using Git2log

Step 1: Paste Commit History

  1. Open the Git2log tool in ProductLift
  2. Paste your commit history into the text area
  3. Click "Generate Changelog" button

Git2log processes up to 30 commits at a time for optimal results.

[Screenshot: Git2log interface with text area filled with commits and Generate button]

Step 2: AI Processing

The AI automatically:

  • Parses commit messages
  • Cleans up titles (removes internal markers like "QUICK", "NOMIGRATE", etc.)
  • Writes short descriptions for each commit
  • Assigns categories from your portal's category list
  • Assigns statuses from your changelog board

AI Credits:

  • Each Git2log generation uses 1 AI credit
  • Check your credit balance in Settings → Account

Step 3: Review and Publish

After processing, you're redirected to the bulk post creation page where you can:

  • Review generated titles and descriptions
  • Adjust categories and statuses
  • Edit individual entries
  • Publish all as changelog posts

[Screenshot: Bulk post creation page showing generated changelog entries ready for review]

Commit Message Best Practices

Git2log works best with clear, structured commit messages.

Conventional Commits Format:

<type>: <short description>

[optional detailed description]

Good Examples:

✅ feat: Add dark mode support
✅ fix: Resolve search crash on iOS 16
✅ perf: Optimize database queries for 50% faster load

Poor Examples:

❌ Fixed stuff
❌ Update
❌ Work in progress
❌ Merge branch 'develop'

Common Commit Types:

Type Description
feat New feature
fix Bug fix
perf Performance improvement
style UI/UX changes
refactor Code refactoring
docs Documentation
chore Maintenance

Tips for Better Changelogs

Tip 1: Be Descriptive

❌ fix: Bug fixed
✅ fix: Resolved crash when exporting large reports

Tip 2: Write for Users

❌ refactor: Changed database abstraction layer
✅ perf: Improved page load times by optimizing database queries

Tip 3: Use Present Tense

❌ feat: Added dark mode
✅ feat: Add dark mode support

Troubleshooting

Issue: No Changelog Generated

Solution:

  • Verify git log output format is correct
  • Ensure commits contain readable messages
  • Check you have AI credits available

Issue: AI Response Error

Solution:

  • Reduce number of commits (max 30 recommended)
  • Ensure commits are in plain text format
  • Try again - occasional API timeouts can occur

Issue: Categories/Statuses Wrong

Solution:

  • Review and adjust in the bulk post creation page
  • Ensure your portal has appropriate categories defined
  • Edit individual posts after creation

Best Practices

Regular Import Schedule

Establish Routine:

  • Daily: For teams shipping continuously
  • Weekly: For teams with weekly releases
  • Per Release: Import after each version ships

Combine Auto and Manual

Hybrid Approach:

Major Features:

  • Write custom changelog post
  • Marketing-friendly copy
  • Screenshots and demos

Minor Updates:

  • Use Git2log for bug fixes and small improvements
  • Batch weekly or biweekly
  • Less ceremony, more frequency

Keep Commits Clean

For best Git2log results:

  • Squash fixup commits before merging
  • Write clear commit messages at time of commit
  • Keep commits atomic (one feature/fix per commit)

Changelog Management:

Workflow: