showing-whats-new

<user_command>/kata:whats-new</user_command>

<objective> Display changes between installed version and latest available version.

Shows version comparison, changelog entries for missed versions, and update instructions. </objective>

<process> <step name="get_installed_version"> Read installed version from VERSION file (checking plugin context first):

if [ -n "$CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT" ]; then
  cat "$CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT/kata/VERSION" 2>/dev/null
elif [ -f ~/.claude/kata/VERSION ]; then
  cat ~/.claude/kata/VERSION
elif [ -f ./.claude/kata/VERSION ]; then
  cat ./.claude/kata/VERSION
fi

If VERSION file missing:

## Kata What's New

**Installed version:** Unknown

Your installation doesn't include version tracking.

**To reinstall:**
- Plugin users: `/plugin install kata@kata-marketplace`
- NPM users: `npx @gannonh/kata --global`

STOP here if no VERSION file. </step>

<step name="fetch_remote_changelog"> Fetch latest CHANGELOG.md from GitHub:

Use WebFetch tool with:

• URL: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gannonh/kata/refs/heads/main/CHANGELOG.md
• Prompt: "Extract all version entries with their dates and changes. Return in Keep-a-Changelog format."

If fetch fails: Fall back to local changelog:

cat $KATA_BASE/CHANGELOG.md 2>/dev/null

Note to user: "Couldn't check for updates (offline or GitHub unavailable). Showing local changelog." </step>

<step name="parse_versions"> From the remote (or local) changelog:

1. Extract latest version - First ## [X.Y.Z] line after ## [Unreleased]
2. Compare with installed - From VERSION file
3. Extract entries between - All version sections from latest down to (but not including) installed

Version comparison:

• If installed == latest: "You're on the latest version"
• If installed < latest: Show changes since installed version
• If installed > latest: "You're ahead of latest release (development version?)" </step>

<step name="display_output"> Format output clearly:

If up to date:

## Kata What's New

**Installed:** 1.4.26
**Latest:** 1.4.26

You're on the latest version.

[View full changelog](https://github.com/gannnonh/kata/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md)

If updates available:

## Kata What's New

**Installed:** 1.4.23
**Latest:** 1.4.26

---

### Changes since your version:

## [1.4.26] - 2026-01-20

### Added
- Feature X
- Feature Y

### Changed
- **BREAKING:** Changed Z behavior

## [1.4.25] - 2026-01-18

### Fixed
- Bug in feature A

---

[View full changelog](https://github.com/gannnonh/kata/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md)

**To update:**
- Plugin users: `/plugin update kata@kata-marketplace`
- NPM users: `npx @gannonh/kata --global`

Breaking changes: Surface prominently with BREAKING: prefix in the output. </step>

</process>

<success_criteria>

• [ ] Installed version read from VERSION file
• [ ] Remote changelog fetched (or graceful fallback to local)
• [ ] Version comparison displayed clearly
• [ ] Changes since installed version shown (if any)
• [ ] Update instructions provided when behind </success_criteria>