X — highlights list
[Product] v[X.Y.Z] is out. New: - [Highlight 1] - [Highlight 2] Fixed: - [Most requested fix] Breaking: [none / one-line description] Upgrade: [command or link]
Mastodon — maintainer voice
Released [Project] [version]. This one is mostly about [theme, e.g. performance on large files]. Highlights: - [Change 1] ([issue or PR number]) - [Change 2] - [Change 3] Thanks to [number] contributors, including [first-time contributor handles]. Notes and upgrade steps: [link] #[ProjectTag] #OpenSource
LinkedIn — what it means for users
Version [X.Y] of [Product] is available today. Most release notes list what changed. Here is what it means for you: If you [use case 1], [change 1] means you can now [outcome]. If you [use case 2], [change 2] removes the need to [old step]. If you run [environment], [change 3] cuts [metric] by [amount] in our tests. One thing to check before upgrading: [breaking change or migration step]. Full release notes: [link]
Bluesky — minimal
[Product] [version] shipped. Biggest change: [one line]. Also: [second change], [third change]. Upgrade guide: [link]
Tips
- Lead with the change most users will notice, even if it was not the hardest one to build.
- Always state whether a release is breaking. If it is, put the migration step in the post, not only behind the link.
- Link to the specific release page, not the repository home, so readers land on the notes for this version.
- Credit contributors by handle on Mastodon and Bluesky, where open source communities tend to gather and notice mentions.
Frequently asked questions
Can release notes posts be drafted automatically from a GitHub release?
Yes. A GitHub release can become a draft post in SocialHandoff, where an agent condenses the notes into this template and a person approves the wording before it publishes. The audit log keeps a citation to the release the draft came from.
How many changes should a release post include?
Three is a good ceiling for a single post. If a release has many notable changes, use a short thread or link to the full notes and pick the highlights.