Placeholder System Overhaul (v1.4.0)

[miroslavpojer]

Background

The placeholder/formatting engine is the most heavily used subsystem of generate-release-notes, yet it has accumulated fragmented requests across multiple releases. Several individual placeholder features have been requested (#76, #78, #80, #189, #205) alongside a known default-value defect (#297) and a broader architectural proposal (#226) to unify the system.

This epic consolidates all placeholder-related work into a single coherent release, ensuring users get a well-documented, consistent placeholder API after v1.3.0.

Goals

• Fix the known defect where the progress placeholder is absent from the default value configuration (Progress placeholder is not present in default value #297)
• Deliver a robust, unified placeholder system and output formatting engine (Feature: Robust Placeholder System and Output Formatting Engine #226)
• Add all identified missing placeholders (release notes text, contributor template, new placeholders) (Placeholder(s) for release notes text #80, Add a placeholder for format template for all contributors #76, Add new placeholder #205)
• Give users full control over row-format placeholder prefixes and add prefix/postfix support (Row format placeholder prefix - add user control #78, Add prefix and postfix to placeholders #189)
• Ensure all new/changed placeholders are covered by tests and documented

Subtasks

• Progress placeholder is not present in default value #297 Progress placeholder is not present in default value
• Feature: Robust Placeholder System and Output Formatting Engine #226 Feature: Robust Placeholder System and Output Formatting Engine
• Add new placeholder #205 Add new placeholder
• Add prefix and postfix to placeholders #189 Add prefix and postfix to placeholders
• Placeholder(s) for release notes text #80 Placeholder(s) for release notes text
• Row format placeholder prefix - add user control #78 Row format placeholder prefix - add user control
• Add a placeholder for format template for all contributors #76 Add a placeholder for format template for all contributors

Related / References

• Follows v1.3.0 release
• Feature: Robust Placeholder System and Output Formatting Engine #226 serves as the architectural umbrella for this epic