Finding Changelogs

Determine the best way to get structured release data from a changelog or release notes page.

Many pages have better-structured data sources behind them — RSS feeds, raw markdown files, or API endpoints. Finding those avoids the complexity of parsing rendered HTML.

Content Verification

After discovering a feed or structured source, always spot-check the entries before accepting it. Sample a few entries and verify they are actual changelog or release content — not blog posts, marketing articles, tutorials, or unrelated editorial content.

Red flags that a feed is wrong:

• Entry URLs point to /blog/ paths rather than /changelog/ or /releases/ paths
• Titles read like articles or tutorials (e.g., "Choosing a logging library: The definitive guide")
• No version numbers, semver patterns, or feature/fix language anywhere in the entries
• The feed URL is site-wide (e.g., /feed.xml) rather than section-specific (e.g., /changelog/feed.xml)
• Entry content discusses opinions, comparisons, or industry trends rather than product changes

If the entries don't look like releases, the feed is likely the wrong one. Look for a more specific feed, or fall back to a different ingestion method.