diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4f9c88b17..e89c1b18e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,33 +10,33 @@ For a complete change history, see the git log.
 
 Released: March 06, 2018
 
-(Packaged from d50562d54)
+(Packaged from [d50562d](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/d50562d54))
 
-  - Backported scaling of precision by polygon size  (#3844)
-  - Backported GRID placement (#3847, #3854, #3855)
-  - Added missing `MAPNIK_DECL` to all `text_placement_` types (7ce142a5aa8e9da5ddd11266a054c1e69052230d)
-  - Fixed invalid memory access if input_buffer size is zero (a602c65354a4b595821d2300f38ebc107d07e2a9)
-  - Fixed handling of an empty polygon in grid_vertex_converter (2f2dcf1eeae71aaa7878f4bc9a39741321f07e68)
-  - Fixed PROJ_LIB detection logic (44f1ae3a6e9e9979d1a93343f40db6cd7dbf51d5)
-  - Default to `icu-config` for obtaining `ICU_DATA` if `u_getDataDirectory` fails (2cef98d7f76cdd302afcf15f1c585379537e8f1d)
+  - Backported scaling of precision by polygon size  ([#3844](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3844))
+  - Backported GRID placement ([#3847](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3847), [#3854](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3854), [#3855](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3855))
+  - Added missing `MAPNIK_DECL` to all `text_placement_` types ([7ce142a](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/7ce142a5aa8e9da5ddd11266a054c1e69052230d))
+  - Fixed invalid memory access if input_buffer size is zero ([a602c65](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/a602c65354a4b595821d2300f38ebc107d07e2a9))
+  - Fixed handling of an empty polygon in grid_vertex_converter ([2f2dcf1](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/2f2dcf1eeae71aaa7878f4bc9a39741321f07e68))
+  - Fixed PROJ_LIB detection logic ([44f1ae3](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/44f1ae3a6e9e9979d1a93343f40db6cd7dbf51d5))
+  - Default to `icu-config` for obtaining `ICU_DATA` if `u_getDataDirectory` fails ([2cef98d](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/2cef98d7f76cdd302afcf15f1c585379537e8f1d))
 
 ## 3.0.18
 
 Released: January 26, 2018
 
-(Packaged from 44ef46c81)
+(Packaged from [44ef46c](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/44ef46c81))
 
   - SVG parser - fixed logic for calculating dimensions when `width` and `height` expressed in
-    percentage units (#3812)
-  - New improved `interior` placement algorithm (#3839)
-  - Fixed handling of an empty interior rings in `polygon_vertex_processor` (#3833)
-  - Fixed handling of an empty interior rings in `vertex_adapter' (#3842)(#3838)
+    percentage units ([#3812](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3812))
+  - New improved `interior` placement algorithm ([#3839](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3839))
+  - Fixed handling of an empty interior rings in `polygon_vertex_processor` ([#3833](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3833))
+  - Fixed handling of an empty interior rings in `vertex_adapter' ([#3842](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3842))([#3838](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3838))
 
 ## 3.0.17
 
 Released: November 29, 2017
 
-(Packaged from ebdd96c61)
+(Packaged from [ebdd96c](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/ebdd96c61))
 
   - Use `Scons 3` as an internal build sytsem + support both Python 2 and 3.
   - Added glibcxx workaround to support libstdc++-4.8
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ Released: November 29, 2017
 
 Released: November 16, 2017
 
-(Packaged from 8d7b75e)
+(Packaged from [8d7b75e](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/8d7b75e))
 
   - Added "strict" SVG parsing mode with consistent error handling  and disabled processing of unsupported attributes.
   - Added support for `<use>` element.
@@ -54,10 +54,10 @@ Released: November 16, 2017
   - Set alpha values in RGBA TIFFs even when `NODATA` value is pesent.
   - Support building with ICU >= 59.
   - SCons - added ICU_DATA, PROJ_LIB and GDAL_DATA settings, available via `mapnik-config`
-  - Fixed centroid and interior text placement algorithms (#3771)
-  - Fixed memory leak (#3775)
+  - Fixed centroid and interior text placement algorithms ([#3771](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3771))
+  - Fixed memory leak ([#3775](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3775))
   - SVG parser - fixed default gradient vector in linear gradient.
-  - Fixed bounding box collection logic (#3709)
+  - Fixed bounding box collection logic ([#3709](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3709))
 
 ## 3.0.15
 
@@ -65,114 +65,114 @@ Released: June 16, 2017
 
 #### Summary
 
-(Packaged from 6e6cf84)
+(Packaged from [6e6cf84](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/6e6cf84))
 
-- Restored `filter_factor` logic in `gdal.input` and added to `raster.input` (#3699)
-   (updated tests https://github.com/mapnik/test-data-visual/commit/fd518f1f512b8aea4ac740c2ce12c249616a291c)
-- Fixed bug related to rows swapping implementation in `tiff_reader` ref #3679
+- Restored `filter_factor` logic in `gdal.input` and added to `raster.input` ([#3699](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3699))
+   (updated tests [mapnik/test-data-visual@fd518f1](https://github.com/mapnik/test-data-visual/commit/fd518f1f512b8aea4ac740c2ce12c249616a291c))
+- Fixed bug related to rows swapping implementation in `tiff_reader` ref [#3679](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3679)
    (updated visual tests to catch this regression in the future
-      https://github.com/mapnik/test-data-visual/commit/be0ba965cd2240576a8edfca84801cbb7a4832d6)
+      [mapnik/test-data-visual@be0ba96](https://github.com/mapnik/test-data-visual/commit/be0ba965cd2240576a8edfca84801cbb7a4832d6))
 - TIFF I/O - port memory mapped based I/O from master
 
 ## 3.0.14
 
 Released: June 5, 2017
 
-(Packaged from 2b42e17)
+(Packaged from [2b42e17](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/2b42e17))
 
 #### Summary
 
 - Fixed problems with high levels of overzooming in the GDAL and raster plugin where data would be slightly offset
 - High levels of overzooming on raster data no longer results in the return of a transparent image.
-- Fixed bug in `mapnik::util::file::data()` (a220bda05d2aa1)
+- Fixed bug in `mapnik::util::file::data()` ([a220bda](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/a220bda05d2aa1))
 - TIFF I/O - added support for grey scale multiband images + fixed and made generic `read_stripped` and `read_generic`.
-- shapeindex - return error code when no features can read from shapefile (#3198)
+- shapeindex - return error code when no features can read from shapefile ([#3198](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3198))
 - Upgrade Scons to `2.5.1`
-- Fixed bug (typo) in `raster_featureset.cpp` (#3696)
-- Made `freetype_engine` singleton again. This allows for better control of its life-time. Original interface is preserved via adding static methods (#3688)
+- Fixed bug (typo) in `raster_featureset.cpp` ([#3696](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3696))
+- Made `freetype_engine` singleton again. This allows for better control of its life-time. Original interface is preserved via adding static methods ([#3688](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3688))
 
 ## 3.0.13
 
 Released: February 8, 2017
 
-(Packaged from 2a153c0)
+(Packaged from [2a153c0](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/2a153c0))
 
 #### Summary
 
 - Unbundle `unifont` font from distribution
-- GeoJSON: improved parsing grammar avoiding temp synthesised attribute (#3507)
-- GeoJSON: expose `num_features_to_query` datasource parameter + unit test (#3515)
-- Fixed intersecting extents in different projections (PR #3525 )
+- GeoJSON: improved parsing grammar avoiding temp synthesised attribute ([#3507](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3507))
+- GeoJSON: expose `num_features_to_query` datasource parameter + unit test ([#3515](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3515))
+- Fixed intersecting extents in different projections (PR [#3525](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3525) )
 - Fixed `blur` implementation by taking into account `scale_factor`
-- postgis.input - use 2D box for pgraster bounding box (PR #3551)
-- Fixed GroupSymbolizer PairLayout with 3+ items (#3526)
-- Simplified `hash` implementation (204d30e58d3553278ab6bcda2d4122b0f13f6392)
-- Simplified `mapnik::value` conversion rules (#3570)
-- Changed `render_thunk_list` to `std::list<render_thunk>` (PR #3585)
+- postgis.input - use 2D box for pgraster bounding box (PR [#3551](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3551))
+- Fixed GroupSymbolizer PairLayout with 3+ items ([#3526](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3526))
+- Simplified `hash` implementation ([204d30e](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/204d30e58d3553278ab6bcda2d4122b0f13f6392))
+- Simplified `mapnik::value` conversion rules ([#3570](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3570))
+- Changed `render_thunk_list` to `std::list<render_thunk>` (PR [#3585](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3585))
 - Upgraded to variant `v1.1.5`
-- CSV.input - fixed `blank` line test (8a3a380b3b5c64681f2478b4f0d06f6a907f5eed)
-- GeoJSON - handle empty elements in position grammar (ref #3609)
-- mapnik-index - return failure on invalid bounding box (ref #3611)
+- CSV.input - fixed `blank` line test ([8a3a380](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/8a3a380b3b5c64681f2478b4f0d06f6a907f5eed))
+- GeoJSON - handle empty elements in position grammar (ref [#3609](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3609))
+- mapnik-index - return failure on invalid bounding box (ref [#3611](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3611))
 
 ## 3.0.12
 
 Released: September 8, 2016
 
-(Packaged from 1d22d86)
+(Packaged from [1d22d86](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/1d22d86))
 
 #### Summary
 
-- Ensured gdal.input is registered once (refs #3093 #3339 #3340)
+- Ensured gdal.input is registered once (refs [#3093](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3093) [#3339](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3339) [#3340](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3340))
 - Fixed `mapnik::util::is_clockwise` implementation to use coordinates relative to the origin and avoid numeric precision issues
 - `mapnik-index` is updated to fail on first error in input (csv)
-- Added `guard` to `get_object_severity` method (ref #3322)
-- Improved `hash` calculation for `mapnik::value` (ref #3406)
-- AGG - made cover `unsigned` to avoid left shift of negative values (ref #3406)
+- Added `guard` to `get_object_severity` method (ref [#3322](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3322))
+- Improved `hash` calculation for `mapnik::value` (ref [#3406](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3406))
+- AGG - made cover `unsigned` to avoid left shift of negative values (ref [#3406](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3406))
 - Fixed using `scale_factor` in `evaluate_transform(..)`
 - Fixed line spacing logic by applying `scale factor`
-- ~~Fixed `stringify_object/stringify_array` implementations by disabling white space skipping (ref #3419)~~
+- ~~Fixed `stringify_object/stringify_array` implementations by disabling white space skipping (ref [#3419](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3419))~~
 - Added geojson unit test for property types/values
 - JSON - added support for object and array type in `json_value` and update `stringifier`
-- GDAL.input - fallback to using `overviews` if present (8e8482803bb435726534c3b686a56037b7d3e8ad)
-- TopoJSON.input - improved and simplified grammar/parser implementation (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3429)
+- GDAL.input - fallback to using `overviews` if present ([8e84828](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/8e8482803bb435726534c3b686a56037b7d3e8ad))
+- TopoJSON.input - improved and simplified grammar/parser implementation ([#3429](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3429))
 - GDAL.input - Added support for non-alpha mask band
-- TopoJSON.input - fixed order of ellements limitation (ref #3434)
-- Fixed stroke-width size not included in markers ellipse bounding box (ref #3445)
-- Implemented `char_array_buffer` and removed `boost::iostreams` dependency (2e8c0d36c2237f2815d8004c1b96bad909056eb9)
-- JSON.input - `extract_bounding_box_grammar` - make features optional (ref #3463)
+- TopoJSON.input - fixed order of ellements limitation (ref [#3434](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3434))
+- Fixed stroke-width size not included in markers ellipse bounding box (ref [#3445](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3445))
+- Implemented `char_array_buffer` and removed `boost::iostreams` dependency ([2e8c0d3](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/2e8c0d36c2237f2815d8004c1b96bad909056eb9))
+- JSON.input - `extract_bounding_box_grammar` - make features optional (ref [#3463](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3463))
 - Ensure input plugins return `empty_featureset` rather than `nullptr` (feature_ptr())
-- Added support for quantising small (less than 3 pixel) images (ref #3466)
-- Added support for natural logarithm function in expressions (ref #3475)
+- Added support for quantising small (less than 3 pixel) images (ref [#3466](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3466))
+- Added support for natural logarithm function in expressions (ref [#3475](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3475))
 - Improved logic determining if certain compiler features are available e.g `inheriting constructors` (MSVC)
-- GeoJSON - corrected quoting in `stringify` objects (ref #3491)
-- GeoJSON - ensured consistent ordering of attribute descriptors (ref #3494)
-- GeoJSON - exposed `num_features_to_query` as datasource paramer (ref #3495)
-- Replaced `boost::mpl::vector<Types...>` with `std::tuple<Types...>` (ref #3503)
-- BuildingSymbolizer - fixed closing segment of polygon in building symbolizer (ref #3505)
+- GeoJSON - corrected quoting in `stringify` objects (ref [#3491](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3491))
+- GeoJSON - ensured consistent ordering of attribute descriptors (ref [#3494](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3494))
+- GeoJSON - exposed `num_features_to_query` as datasource paramer (ref [#3495](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3495))
+- Replaced `boost::mpl::vector<Types...>` with `std::tuple<Types...>` (ref [#3503](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3503))
+- BuildingSymbolizer - fixed closing segment of polygon in building symbolizer (ref [#3505](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3505))
 - Update dependencies versions
 - Fixed warnings when compiling with g++5
-- Fixed image swap (ref #3513)
-- Stop bundling testdata in source tarball (ref #3335)
+- Fixed image swap (ref [#3513](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3513))
+- Stop bundling testdata in source tarball (ref [#3335](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3335))
 
 ## 3.0.11
 
 Released: April 1, 2016
 
-(Packaged from 8d9dc27)
+(Packaged from [8d9dc27](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/8d9dc27))
 
 #### Summary
 
- - Raster scaling: fixed crash and clipping negative pixel values of floating point rasters (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3349)
- - Restored support for unquoted strings in expressions (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3390)
- - [TWKB](https://github.com/TWKB/) support via https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3356 (#3355)
- - Visual test runner can render SVG, PDF and Postscript with Cairo renderer (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3418)
- - Scale factor is now applied also to `text-line-spacing` and transforms (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3416)
+ - Raster scaling: fixed crash and clipping negative pixel values of floating point rasters ([#3349](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3349))
+ - Restored support for unquoted strings in expressions ([#3390](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3390))
+ - [TWKB](https://github.com/TWKB/) support via [#3356](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3356) ([#3355](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3355))
+ - Visual test runner can render SVG, PDF and Postscript with Cairo renderer ([#3418](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3418))
+ - Scale factor is now applied also to `text-line-spacing` and transforms ([#3416](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3416))
 
 ## 3.0.10
 
 Released: February 25, 2016
 
-(Packaged from 5c0d496)
+(Packaged from [5c0d496](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/5c0d496))
 
 #### Summary
 
@@ -180,17 +180,17 @@ Released: February 25, 2016
    but will allow the Shapefile datasource to only parse polygon parts within the query bounds.
  - WARNING: index files generated with this newer Mapnik are invalid for older versions of Mapnik.
  - Any `.index` files accompanying a `.shp` must now be regenerated otherwise
-   it will be skipped. To avoid this problem you can delete the existing `.index` files, or ideally run `shapeindex` to recreate the `.index`. (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3300)
-   The trigger for this change was an optimization that required a new binary format for the shapefile indexes (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3217).
- - Shapeindex - another fix for skipping `null` shapes (#3288)
- - Fixed support for filter expressions starting with `not` (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3017)
- - Ensure `mapped_memory_cache` acts as singleton across shared objects (#3306)
- - Removed miniz support in PNG encoder (#3281)
+   it will be skipped. To avoid this problem you can delete the existing `.index` files, or ideally run `shapeindex` to recreate the `.index`. ([#3300](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3300))
+   The trigger for this change was an optimization that required a new binary format for the shapefile indexes ([#3217](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3217)).
+ - Shapeindex - another fix for skipping `null` shapes ([#3288](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3288))
+ - Fixed support for filter expressions starting with `not` ([#3017](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3017))
+ - Ensure `mapped_memory_cache` acts as singleton across shared objects ([#3306](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3306))
+ - Removed miniz support in PNG encoder ([#3281](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3281))
  - Added `-fvisibility=hidden -fvisibility-inlines-hidden` to default compiler flags
- - Fixed parsing of SVG `PathElement` (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3225)
+ - Fixed parsing of SVG `PathElement` ([#3225](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3225))
  - JSON parsing now supports arbitrary (nested) attributes in `geometry`
  - Support for rendering `dash-array` in SVGs
- - SVG parser is now stricter (fails is all input is not parsable) (#3251)
+ - SVG parser is now stricter (fails is all input is not parsable) ([#3251](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3251))
  - SVG parser now correctly handles optional separator `(,)` between multiple command parts
  - Optimized parsing of `png` format string
  - The `memory_datasource` now dynamically reports correct datasource type (vector or raster)
@@ -203,32 +203,32 @@ Released: February 25, 2016
 
 Released: November 26, 2015
 
-(Packaged from 03a0926)
+(Packaged from [03a0926](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/03a0926))
 
 #### Summary
 
- - Fixed offsetting of complex paths and sharp angles (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3160) (via @winni159)
- - Fixed mapnik.util.variant issue when compiling with gcc-5.x and SSO enabled by default (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3103) (via @nkovacs)
- - Fixed issue with complex scripts where some character sequences weren't rendered correctly (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3050) (via @jkroll20)
+ - Fixed offsetting of complex paths and sharp angles ([#3160](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3160)) (via [@winni159](https://github.com/winni159))
+ - Fixed mapnik.util.variant issue when compiling with gcc-5.x and SSO enabled by default ([#3103](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3103)) (via [@nkovacs](https://github.com/nkovacs))
+ - Fixed issue with complex scripts where some character sequences weren't rendered correctly ([#3050](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3050)) (via [@jkroll20](https://github.com/jkroll20))
  - Revived postgis.input tests
  - JSON: geometry grammar has been re-factored and optimized to have expectation points
  - Filled missing specializations for value_bool in `mapnik::value` comparison operators
  - `mapnik.Image` - fixed copy semantics implementation for internal buffer
  - JSON parsing: unified error_handler across all grammars
  - Improved unit test coverage
- - Raster scaling: fixed nodata handling, accuracy when working with small floats and clipping floats by \[0; 255\] (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3147)
+ - Raster scaling: fixed nodata handling, accuracy when working with small floats and clipping floats by \[0; 255\] ([#3147](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3147))
  - Added [`code of conduct`](http://contributor-covenant.org)
  - GeoJSON plug-in is updated to skip feature with empty geometries
- - GeoJSON plug-in : ensure original order of features is preserved (fixed) (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3182)
+ - GeoJSON plug-in : ensure original order of features is preserved (fixed) ([#3182](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3182))
  - Shapeindex utility: fixed `empty` shapes handling and ported tests to c++
- - Centroid algorithm: fixed invalid input handling, particularly empty geometries (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3185)
+ - Centroid algorithm: fixed invalid input handling, particularly empty geometries ([#3185](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3185))
  - Updated SCons build system to the latest version 2.4.1 (http://scons.org/)
 
 ## 3.0.8
 
 Released: October 23, 2015
 
-(Packaged from 2d15567)
+(Packaged from [2d15567](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/2d15567))
 
 #### Summary
 
@@ -245,52 +245,52 @@ Released: October 23, 2015
 
 Released: October 12, 2015
 
-(Packaged from e161253)
+(Packaged from [e161253](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/e161253))
 
 #### Summary
 
  - Removed `MAPNIK_VERSION_IS_RELEASE` define / `mapnik-config --version` not longer reports `-pre` for non-release versions.
-   Use `mapnik-config --git-revision` instead (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3123)
+   Use `mapnik-config --git-revision` instead ([#3123](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3123))
  - Renamed `nik2img` command to `mapnik-render`
- - PostGIS: Fixed handling of all attributes when `key_field_as_attribute=false` (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3120)
+ - PostGIS: Fixed handling of all attributes when `key_field_as_attribute=false` ([#3120](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3120))
  - PostGIS: Fixed parsing of `key_field_as_attribute` as boolean: now `true/false` can be used in addition to `0/1`
 
 ## 3.0.6
 
 Released: October 7, 2015
 
-(Packaged from 3cebe97)
+(Packaged from [3cebe97](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/3cebe97))
 
 #### Summary
 
 - PostGIS plugin: added `key_field_as_attribute` option. Defaults to `True` to preserve current behavior of having the `key_field` added both
-  as an attribute and as the `feature.id` value. If `key_field_as_attribute=false` is passed then the attribute is discarded (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3115)
-- CSV plugin has been further optimized and has gained experimental support for on-disk indexes (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3089)
-- SVG parser now fallsback to using `viewbox` if explicit dimensions are lacking (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3081)
-- Visual tests: new command line arguments `--agg`, `--cairo`, `--svg`, `--grid` for selecting renderers (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3074)
-- Visual tests: new command line argument `--scale-factor` or abbreviated `-s` for setting scale factor (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3074)
-- Fixed parsing colors in hexadecimal notation (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3075)
-- Removed mapnik::Feature type alias of mapnik::feature_impl (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3099)
-- Fixed linking order for plugins to avoid possible linking errors on linux systems (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3105)
+  as an attribute and as the `feature.id` value. If `key_field_as_attribute=false` is passed then the attribute is discarded ([#3115](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3115))
+- CSV plugin has been further optimized and has gained experimental support for on-disk indexes ([#3089](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3089))
+- SVG parser now fallsback to using `viewbox` if explicit dimensions are lacking ([#3081](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3081))
+- Visual tests: new command line arguments `--agg`, `--cairo`, `--svg`, `--grid` for selecting renderers ([#3074](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3074))
+- Visual tests: new command line argument `--scale-factor` or abbreviated `-s` for setting scale factor ([#3074](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3074))
+- Fixed parsing colors in hexadecimal notation ([#3075](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3075))
+- Removed mapnik::Feature type alias of mapnik::feature_impl ([#3099](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3099))
+- Fixed linking order for plugins to avoid possible linking errors on linux systems ([#3105](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3105))
 
 ## 3.0.5
 
 Released: September 16, 2015
 
-(Packaged from 165c704)
+(Packaged from [165c704](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/165c704))
 
 #### Summary
 
-- `scale-hsla` image filter: parameters are no longer limited by interval \[0, 1\] (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3054)
+- `scale-hsla` image filter: parameters are no longer limited by interval \[0, 1\] ([#3054](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3054))
 - Windows: Fixed SVG file loading from unicode paths
-- `colorize-alpha` image filter: fixed normalization of color components (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3058)
-- `colorize-alpha` image filter: added support for transparent colors (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3061)
-- Enable reading optional `MAPNIK_LOG_FORMAT` environment variable(https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/6d1ffc8a93008b8c0a89d87d68b59afb2cb3757f)
+- `colorize-alpha` image filter: fixed normalization of color components ([#3058](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3058))
+- `colorize-alpha` image filter: added support for transparent colors ([#3061](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3061))
+- Enable reading optional `MAPNIK_LOG_FORMAT` environment variable([6d1ffc8](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/6d1ffc8a93008b8c0a89d87d68b59afb2cb3757f))
 - CSV.input uses memory mapped file by default on *nix.
 - Updated bundled fonts to the latest version
 - Topojson.input - fixed geometry_index logic which was causing missing features
-- Fixed SVG file loading from unicode paths (https://github.com/mapnik/node-mapnik/issues/517)
-- CSV.input - improved support for LF/CR/CRLF line endings on all platforms (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3065)
+- Fixed SVG file loading from unicode paths ([mapnik/node-mapnik#517](https://github.com/mapnik/node-mapnik/issues/517))
+- CSV.input - improved support for LF/CR/CRLF line endings on all platforms ([#3065](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3065))
 - Revive `zero allocation image interface` and add unit tests
 - Benchmark: use return values of test runner.
 
@@ -298,28 +298,28 @@ Released: September 16, 2015
 
 Released: August 26, 2015
 
-(Packaged from 17bb81c)
+(Packaged from [17bb81c](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/17bb81c))
 
 #### Summary
 
 - CSV.input: plug-in has been re-factored to minimise memory usage and to improve handling of larger input.
   (NOTE: [large_csv](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/tree/large_csv) branch adds experimental trunsduction parser with deferred string initialisation)
-- CSV.input: added internal spatial index (boost::geometry::index::tree) for fast `bounding box` queries (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3010)
-- Fixed deadlock in recursive datasource registration via @zerebubuth (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3038)
-- Introduced new command line argument `--limit` or `-l` to limit number of failed tests via @talaj (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/2996)
+- CSV.input: added internal spatial index (boost::geometry::index::tree) for fast `bounding box` queries ([#3010](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3010))
+- Fixed deadlock in recursive datasource registration via [@zerebubuth](https://github.com/zerebubuth) ([#3038](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/3038))
+- Introduced new command line argument `--limit` or `-l` to limit number of failed tests via [@talaj](https://github.com/talaj) ([#2996](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/pull/2996))
 
 ## 3.0.3
 
 Released: August 12, 2015
 
-(Packaged from 3d262c7)
+(Packaged from [3d262c7](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/3d262c7))
 
 #### Summary
 
-- Fixed an issue with fields over size of `int32` in `OGR` plugin (https://github.com/mapnik/node-mapnik/issues/499)
+- Fixed an issue with fields over size of `int32` in `OGR` plugin ([mapnik/node-mapnik#499](https://github.com/mapnik/node-mapnik/issues/499))
 - Added 3 new image-filters to simulate types of colorblindness (`color-blind-protanope`,`color-blind-deuteranope`,`color-blind-tritanope`)
-- Fix so that null text boxes have no bounding boxes when attempting placement ( 162f82cba5b0fb984c425586c6a4b354917abc47 )
-- Patch to add legacy method for setting JPEG quality in images ( #3024 )
+- Fix so that null text boxes have no bounding boxes when attempting placement ( [162f82c](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/162f82cba5b0fb984c425586c6a4b354917abc47) )
+- Patch to add legacy method for setting JPEG quality in images ( [#3024](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3024) )
 - Added `filter_image` method which can modify an image in place or return a new image that is filtered
 - Added missing typedef's in `mapnik::geometry` to allow experimenting with different containers
 
@@ -327,11 +327,11 @@ Released: August 12, 2015
 
 Released: July 31, 2015
 
-(Packaged from 8305e74)
+(Packaged from [8305e74](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/8305e74))
 
 #### Summary
 
-This release is centered around improvements to the SVG parsing within mapnik. Most work was done in pull request #3003.
+This release is centered around improvements to the SVG parsing within mapnik. Most work was done in pull request [#3003](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3003).
 
 - Added container to log SVG parsing errors
 - Reimplemented to use rapidxml for parsing XML (DOM)
@@ -347,27 +347,27 @@ This release is centered around improvements to the SVG parsing within mapnik. M
 
 Released: July 27th, 2015
 
-(Packaged from 28f6f4d)
+(Packaged from [28f6f4d](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/28f6f4d))
 
 #### Summary
 
 The 3.0.1 fixes a few bugs in geojson parsing, svg parsing, and rendering. It also avoids a potential hang when using `line-geometry-transform` and includes a speedup for text rendering compared to v3.0.0. It is fully back compatible with v3.0.0 and everyone is encouraged to upgrade.
 
-- Fixed text placement performance after #2949 (#2963)
-- Fixed rendering behavior for `text-minimum-path-length` which regressed in 3.0.0 (#2990)
-- Fixed handling of `xml:id` in SVG parsing (#2989)
-- Fixed handling of out of range `rx` and `ry` in SVG `rect` (#2991)
-- Fixed reporting of envelope from `mapnik::memory_datasource` when new features are added (#2985)
-- Fixed parsing of GeoJSON when unknown properties encountered at `FeatureCollection` level (#2983)
-- Fixed parsing of GeoJSON when properties contained `{}` (#2964)
-- Fixed potential hang due to invalid use of `line-geometry-transform` (6d6cb15)
-- Moved unmaintained plugins out of core: `osm`, `occi`, and `rasterlite` (#2980)
+- Fixed text placement performance after [#2949](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2949) ([#2963](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2963))
+- Fixed rendering behavior for `text-minimum-path-length` which regressed in 3.0.0 ([#2990](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2990))
+- Fixed handling of `xml:id` in SVG parsing ([#2989](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2989))
+- Fixed handling of out of range `rx` and `ry` in SVG `rect` ([#2991](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2991))
+- Fixed reporting of envelope from `mapnik::memory_datasource` when new features are added ([#2985](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2985))
+- Fixed parsing of GeoJSON when unknown properties encountered at `FeatureCollection` level ([#2983](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2983))
+- Fixed parsing of GeoJSON when properties contained `{}` ([#2964](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2964))
+- Fixed potential hang due to invalid use of `line-geometry-transform` ([6d6cb15](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/6d6cb15))
+- Moved unmaintained plugins out of core: `osm`, `occi`, and `rasterlite` ([#2980](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2980))
 
 ## 3.0.0
 
 Released: July 7th, 2015
 
-(Packaged from e6891a0)
+(Packaged from [e6891a0](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/e6891a0))
 
 #### Summary
 
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ The 3.0 release is a major milestone for Mapnik and includes many performance an
 
 - Expressions everywhere: all symbolizer properties can now be data driven expressions (with the exception of `face-name` and `fontset-name` on the `TextSymbolizer`).
 
-- Rewritten geometry storage based on `std::vector` (#2739)
+- Rewritten geometry storage based on `std::vector` ([#2739](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2739))
   - Separate storage of polygon exterior rings and interior rings to allow for more robust clipping of parts.
   - Enforces consistent winding order per OGC spec (exterior rings are CCW, interior CW)
   - Reduced memory consumption for layers with many points
@@ -436,16 +436,16 @@ geometry.
 
 - New GroupSymbolizer for applying multiple symbolizers in a single layout
 
-- AGG renderer: fixed geometry offsetting to work after smoothing to produce more consistent results (#2202)
+- AGG renderer: fixed geometry offsetting to work after smoothing to produce more consistent results ([#2202](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2202))
 
-- AGG renderer: increased `vertex_dist_epsilon` to ensure nearly coincident points are discarded more readily (#2196)
+- AGG renderer: increased `vertex_dist_epsilon` to ensure nearly coincident points are discarded more readily ([#2196](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2196))
 
 - GDAL plugin
   - Now keeps datasets open for the lifetime of the datasource (rather than per featureset)
-  - Added back support for user driven `nodata` on rgb(a) images (#2023)
-  - Allowed nodata to override alpha band if set on rgba images (#2023)
-  - Added `nodata_tolerance` option to set nearby pixels transparent (has similar effect to the `nearblack` program) (#2023)
-  - At process exit Mapnik core no longer calls `dlclose` on gdal.input (#2716)
+  - Added back support for user driven `nodata` on rgb(a) images ([#2023](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2023))
+  - Allowed nodata to override alpha band if set on rgba images ([#2023](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2023))
+  - Added `nodata_tolerance` option to set nearby pixels transparent (has similar effect to the `nearblack` program) ([#2023](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2023))
+  - At process exit Mapnik core no longer calls `dlclose` on gdal.input ([#2716](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2716))
 
 - TopoJSON plugin
   - Now supporting optional `bbox` property on layer
@@ -468,73 +468,73 @@ geometry.
 
 - PostGIS plugin
   - Added Async support to  - https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/wiki/PostGIS-Async
-  - Added support for rendering 3D and 4D geometries (previously silently skipped) (#44)
+  - Added support for rendering 3D and 4D geometries (previously silently skipped) ([#44](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/44))
 
-- Added support for web fonts: `.woff` format (#2113)
+- Added support for web fonts: `.woff` format ([#2113](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2113))
 
-- Added missing support for `geometry-transform` in `line-pattern` and `polygon-pattern` symbolizers (#2065)
+- Added missing support for `geometry-transform` in `line-pattern` and `polygon-pattern` symbolizers ([#2065](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2065))
 
 - Dropped support for Sun compiler
 
 - Upgraded unifont to `unifont-6.3.20131020`
 
-- Fixed crash when rendering to cairo context from python (#2031)
+- Fixed crash when rendering to cairo context from python ([#2031](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2031))
 
 - Moved `label-position-tolerance` from `unsigned` type to `double`
 
-- Added support for more seamless blurring by rendering to a larger internal image to avoid edge effects (#1478)
+- Added support for more seamless blurring by rendering to a larger internal image to avoid edge effects ([#1478](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1478))
 
 - Fixed rendering of large shapes at high zoom levels, which might dissapear due to integer overflow. This
   bug was previously fixable when geometries were clipped, but would, until now, re-appear if clipping was turned
-  off for a symbolizer (#2000)
+  off for a symbolizer ([#2000](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2000))
 
 - Added single color argument support to `colorize-alpha` to allow colorizing alpha with one color.
 
-- Added `color-to-alpha` `image-filter` to allow for applying alpha in proportion to color similiarity (#2023)
+- Added `color-to-alpha` `image-filter` to allow for applying alpha in proportion to color similiarity ([#2023](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2023))
 
-- Fixed alpha handling bug with `comp-op:dst-over` (#1995)
+- Fixed alpha handling bug with `comp-op:dst-over` ([#1995](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1995))
 
-- Fixed alpha handling bug with building-fill-opacity (#2011)
+- Fixed alpha handling bug with building-fill-opacity ([#2011](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2011))
 
 - Optimized mapnik.Path.to_wkb
 
-- Python: added `__geo_interface__` to mapnik.Feature and mapnik.Path (#2009)
+- Python: added `__geo_interface__` to mapnik.Feature and mapnik.Path ([#2009](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/2009))
 
-- Python: Exposed optimized WKTReader for parsing WKT into geometry paths (6bfbb53)
+- Python: Exposed optimized WKTReader for parsing WKT into geometry paths ([6bfbb53](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/6bfbb53))
 
-- Optimized expression evaluation of text by avoiding extra copy (1dd1275)
+- Optimized expression evaluation of text by avoiding extra copy ([1dd1275](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/1dd1275))
 
 - Added Map level `background-image-comp-op` to control the compositing operation used to blend the
 `background-image` onto the `background-color`. Has no meaning if `background-color` or `background-image`
-are not set. (#1966)
+are not set. ([#1966](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1966))
 
-- Added Map level `background-image-opacity` to dynamically set the opacity of the `background-image` (#1966)
+- Added Map level `background-image-opacity` to dynamically set the opacity of the `background-image` ([#1966](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1966))
 
-- Removed `RENDERING_STATS` compile option since it should be replaced with a better solution (#1956)
+- Removed `RENDERING_STATS` compile option since it should be replaced with a better solution ([#1956](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1956))
 
-- Added support to experimental `svg_renderer` for grouping layers for inkscape and illustrator (#1917)
+- Added support to experimental `svg_renderer` for grouping layers for inkscape and illustrator ([#1917](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1917))
 
 - Fixed compile of python bindings against Python 3.x
 
-- Optimized SVG loading by improving color parsing speed (#1918)
+- Optimized SVG loading by improving color parsing speed ([#1918](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1918))
 
-- Fixed startup problem when fonts cannot be read due to lacking permissions (#1919)
+- Fixed startup problem when fonts cannot be read due to lacking permissions ([#1919](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1919))
 
-- Fixed bad behavior when negative image dimensions are requested (#1927)
+- Fixed bad behavior when negative image dimensions are requested ([#1927](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1927))
 
-- Fixed handling of `marker-ignore-placement:true` when `marker-placement:line` (#1931)
+- Fixed handling of `marker-ignore-placement:true` when `marker-placement:line` ([#1931](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1931))
 
-- Fixed handling of svg `opacity` in Cairo renderer (#1943)
+- Fixed handling of svg `opacity` in Cairo renderer ([#1943](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1943))
 
-- Fixed handling of SVG files which contain empty `<g>` (#1944)
+- Fixed handling of SVG files which contain empty `<g>` ([#1944](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1944))
 
 - Fixed various 32bit test failures
 
 - Fixed compile against icu when by using `U_NAMESPACE_QUALIFIER`
 
-- Fixed missing support for using PathExpression in `marker-file` (#1952)
+- Fixed missing support for using PathExpression in `marker-file` ([#1952](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1952))
 
-- Added support for `line-pattern-offset` (#1991)
+- Added support for `line-pattern-offset` ([#1991](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1991))
 
 - Added support for building on Android (tested with `android-ndk-r9`)
 
@@ -548,13 +548,13 @@ are not set. (#1966)
 
 - Added to python bindings: `has_tiff`, `has_png`, `has_webp`, `has_proj4`, `has_svg_renderer`, and `has_grid_renderer`
 
-- Made it possible to disable compilation of `grid_renderer` with `./configure GRID_RENDERER=False` (#1962)
+- Made it possible to disable compilation of `grid_renderer` with `./configure GRID_RENDERER=False` ([#1962](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1962))
 
 - Added `premultiplied` property on mapnik::image_32 / mapnik.Image to enable knowledge of premultiplied status of image buffer.
 
-- Added `webp` image encoding and decoding support (#1955)
+- Added `webp` image encoding and decoding support ([#1955](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1955))
 
-- Added `scale-hsla` image-filter that allows scaling colors in HSL color space. RGB is converted to HSL (hue-saturation-lightness) and then each value (and the original alpha value) is stretched based on the specified scaling values. An example syntax is `scale-hsla(0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1)` which means no change because the full range will be kept (0 for lowest, 1 for highest). Other examples are: 1) `scale-hsla(0,0,0,1,0,1,0,1)` which would force all colors to be red in hue in the same way `scale-hsla(1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1)` would, 2) `scale-hsla(0,1,1,1,0,1,0,1)` which would cause all colors to become fully saturated, 3) `scale-hsla(0,1,1,1,0,1,.5,1)` which would force no colors to be any more transparent than half, and 4) `scale-hsla(0,1,1,1,0,1,0,.5)` which would force all colors to be at least half transparent. (#1954)
+- Added `scale-hsla` image-filter that allows scaling colors in HSL color space. RGB is converted to HSL (hue-saturation-lightness) and then each value (and the original alpha value) is stretched based on the specified scaling values. An example syntax is `scale-hsla(0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1)` which means no change because the full range will be kept (0 for lowest, 1 for highest). Other examples are: 1) `scale-hsla(0,0,0,1,0,1,0,1)` which would force all colors to be red in hue in the same way `scale-hsla(1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1)` would, 2) `scale-hsla(0,1,1,1,0,1,0,1)` which would cause all colors to become fully saturated, 3) `scale-hsla(0,1,1,1,0,1,.5,1)` which would force no colors to be any more transparent than half, and 4) `scale-hsla(0,1,1,1,0,1,0,.5)` which would force all colors to be at least half transparent. ([#1954](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1954))
 
 - The `shapeindex` tool now works correctly with point 3d geometry types
 
@@ -563,17 +563,17 @@ are not set. (#1966)
 
 Released June 3rd, 2013
 
-(Packaged from 9231205)
+(Packaged from [9231205](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/9231205))
 
 Summary: The 2.2.0 release is primarily a performance and stability release. The code line represents development in the master branch since the release of 2.1.0 in Aug 2012 and therefore includes nearly a year of bug-fixes and optimizations. Nearly 500 new tests have been added bring the total coverage to 925. Shapefile and PostGIS datasources have benefited from numerous stability fixes, 64 bit integer support has been added to support OSM data in the grid renderer and in attribute filtering, and many fixes have landed for higher quality output when using a custom `scale_factor` during rendering. Critical code paths have been optimized include raster rendering, xml map loading, string to number conversion, vector reprojection when using `epsg:4326` and `epsg:3857`, `hextree` encoding, halo rendering, and rendering when using a custom `gamma`. Mapnik 2.2 also compiles faster than previous releases in the 2.x series and drops several unneeded and hard to install dependencies making builds on OS X and Windows easier than any previous release.
 
-- Removed 3 dependencies without loosing any functionality: `ltdl`, `cairomm` and `libsigc++` (#1804,#806,#1681)
+- Removed 3 dependencies without loosing any functionality: `ltdl`, `cairomm` and `libsigc++` ([#1804](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1804),[#806](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/806),[#1681](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1681))
 
-- Added 64 bit integer support in expressions, feature ids, and the grid_renderer (#1661,#1662,#1662)
+- Added 64 bit integer support in expressions, feature ids, and the grid_renderer ([#1661](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1661),[#1662](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1662),[#1662](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1662))
 
 - Added the ability to disable the need for various dependencies: `proj4`, `libpng`, `libtiff`, `libjpeg`
 
-- Added faster reprojection support between `epsg:3857` and `epsg:4326` (#1705,#1703,#1579)
+- Added faster reprojection support between `epsg:3857` and `epsg:4326` ([#1705](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1705),[#1703](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1703),[#1579](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1579))
 
 - Added `colorize-alpha` image filter that applies user provided color gradients based on level of alpha.
   Accepts one or more colors separated by commas. Each color can be paired with an `offset` value separated
@@ -581,246 +581,246 @@ Summary: The 2.2.0 release is primarily a performance and stability release. The
   on where this design came from see http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/pservers.html#GradientStops. A simple example
   of colorizing alpha into a "rainbow" is `colorize-alpha(blue,cyan,lightgreen, yellow, orange, red)`. An example of
   using offsets and the variety of supported color encodings is to produce a ramp which sharp contrast between `blue`
-  and `cyan` is `colorize-alpha(blue 30%, cyan, yellow 0.7 , rgb(0%,80%,0%) 90%)` (#1371).
+  and `cyan` is `colorize-alpha(blue 30%, cyan, yellow 0.7 , rgb(0%,80%,0%) 90%)` ([#1371](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1371)).
 
-- Fixed concurrency problem when using cursors in postgis plugin (#1823,#1588)
+- Fixed concurrency problem when using cursors in postgis plugin ([#1823](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1823),[#1588](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1588))
 
-- Fixed postgres connection pool leaks when using `persist_connection=false` (#1764)
+- Fixed postgres connection pool leaks when using `persist_connection=false` ([#1764](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1764))
 
-- Fixed postgres connection key to respect highest value of `max_size` and `initial_size` for any layer in map (#1599)
+- Fixed postgres connection key to respect highest value of `max_size` and `initial_size` for any layer in map ([#1599](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1599))
 
-- Fixed potential crash in wkb parsing when postgis returns null geometry (#1843)
+- Fixed potential crash in wkb parsing when postgis returns null geometry ([#1843](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1843))
 
-- Fixed blurry rendering of image and SVG icons (#1316)
+- Fixed blurry rendering of image and SVG icons ([#1316](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1316))
 
-- Added detection of invalid srs values when loading xml (#646)
+- Added detection of invalid srs values when loading xml ([#646](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/646))
 
 - Added support for specifying a base_path as a third, optional argument to load_xml
 
-- Removed muffling of projection errors while rendering (#646)
+- Removed muffling of projection errors while rendering ([#646](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/646))
 
 - Improved logging system (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/wiki/Logging)
 
-- Added support for reading images from in memory streams (#1805)
+- Added support for reading images from in memory streams ([#1805](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1805))
 
-- Optimized halo rendering. When halo radius is < 1 new method will be used automatically (#1781)
+- Optimized halo rendering. When halo radius is < 1 new method will be used automatically ([#1781](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1781))
 
 - Added `text-halo-rasterizer` property. Set to `fast` for lower quality but faster
-  halo rendering (#1298) which matched new default method when radius is < 1.
+  halo rendering ([#1298](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1298)) which matched new default method when radius is < 1.
 
-- Added support in `shape`, `sqlite`, `geojson`, and `csv` plugin for handling non-latin characters in the paths to file-based resources (#1177)
+- Added support in `shape`, `sqlite`, `geojson`, and `csv` plugin for handling non-latin characters in the paths to file-based resources ([#1177](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1177))
 
-- Fixed rendering of markers when their size is greater than the specified `spacing` value (#1487)
+- Fixed rendering of markers when their size is greater than the specified `spacing` value ([#1487](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1487))
 
-- Fixed handling of alpha premultiplication in image scaling (#1489)
+- Fixed handling of alpha premultiplication in image scaling ([#1489](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1489))
 
-- Optimized rendering when a style with no symbolizers is encountered (#1517)
+- Optimized rendering when a style with no symbolizers is encountered ([#1517](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1517))
 
-- Optimized string handling and type conversion by removing `boost::to_lower`, `boost::trim`, and `boost::lexical_cast` usage (#1687,#1687,#1633)
+- Optimized string handling and type conversion by removing `boost::to_lower`, `boost::trim`, and `boost::lexical_cast` usage ([#1687](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1687),[#1687](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1687),[#1633](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1633))
 
-- Optimized alpha preserving `hextree` method for quantization of png images (#1629)
+- Optimized alpha preserving `hextree` method for quantization of png images ([#1629](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1629))
 
-- Faster rendering of rasters by reducing memory allocation of temporary buffers (#1516)
+- Faster rendering of rasters by reducing memory allocation of temporary buffers ([#1516](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1516))
 
-- Fixed some raster reprojection artifacts (#1501)
+- Fixed some raster reprojection artifacts ([#1501](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1501))
 
-- Fixed raster alignment when width != height and raster is being scaled (#1748,#1622)
+- Fixed raster alignment when width != height and raster is being scaled ([#1748](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1748),[#1622](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1622))
 
-- Added support for caching rasters for re-use during rendering when styling more than once per layer (#1543)
+- Added support for caching rasters for re-use during rendering when styling more than once per layer ([#1543](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1543))
 
-- Improved compile speeds of the code - in some cases by up to 2x and removed need for freetype dependency when building code against mapnik (#1688, #1756)
+- Improved compile speeds of the code - in some cases by up to 2x and removed need for freetype dependency when building code against mapnik ([#1688](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1688), [#1756](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1756))
 
-- Removed internal rule cache on `mapnik::Map` c++ object (#1723)
+- Removed internal rule cache on `mapnik::Map` c++ object ([#1723](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1723))
 
-- Improved the scaled rendering of various map features when using `scale_factor` > 1 (#1280,#1100,#1273,#1792,#1291,#1344,#1279,#1624,#1767,#1766)
+- Improved the scaled rendering of various map features when using `scale_factor` > 1 ([#1280](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1280),[#1100](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1100),[#1273](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1273),[#1792](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1792),[#1291](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1291),[#1344](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1344),[#1279](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1279),[#1624](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1624),[#1767](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1767),[#1766](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1766))
 
-- Added C++ api for overriding scale_denominator to enable rendering at fixed scale (#1582)
+- Added C++ api for overriding scale_denominator to enable rendering at fixed scale ([#1582](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1582))
 
 - Added Layer `buffer-size` that can be used to override Map `buffer-size` to avoid
   over-fetching of data that does not need to be buffered as much as other layers.
   Map level `buffer-size` will be default if layers do not set the option. Renamed a
   previously undocumented parameter by the same name that impacted clipping extent and
-  was not needed (clipping padding should likely be a symbolizer level option) (#1566)
+  was not needed (clipping padding should likely be a symbolizer level option) ([#1566](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1566))
 
-- Fixed potential file descriptor leaks in image readers when invalid images were encountered (#1783)
+- Fixed potential file descriptor leaks in image readers when invalid images were encountered ([#1783](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1783))
 
-- Fixed alpha handling in the `blur` and `invert` image filters (#1541)
+- Fixed alpha handling in the `blur` and `invert` image filters ([#1541](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1541))
 
-- Fixed error reporting in the python plugin (#1422)
+- Fixed error reporting in the python plugin ([#1422](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1422))
 
 - Added the ability to run tests without installing with `make test-local`
 
-- Reduced library binary size by adding support for `-fvisibility-inlines-hidden` and `-fvisibility=hidden` (#1826,#1832)
+- Reduced library binary size by adding support for `-fvisibility-inlines-hidden` and `-fvisibility=hidden` ([#1826](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1826),[#1832](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1832))
 
-- Added `mapnik::map_request` class, a special object to allow passing mutable map objects to renderer (#1737)
+- Added `mapnik::map_request` class, a special object to allow passing mutable map objects to renderer ([#1737](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1737))
 
-- Added the ability to use `boost::hash` on `mapnik::value` types (#1729)
+- Added the ability to use `boost::hash` on `mapnik::value` types ([#1729](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1729))
 
-- Removed obsolete `geos` plugin (functionality replaced by `csv` plugin) and unmaintained `kismet` plugin (#1809,#1833)
+- Removed obsolete `geos` plugin (functionality replaced by `csv` plugin) and unmaintained `kismet` plugin ([#1809](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1809),[#1833](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1833))
 
-- Added new `mapnik-config` flags: `--all-flags`, `--defines`, `--git-describe`, `--includes`, `--dep-includes`, `--cxxflags`, `--cxx` (#1443)
+- Added new `mapnik-config` flags: `--all-flags`, `--defines`, `--git-describe`, `--includes`, `--dep-includes`, `--cxxflags`, `--cxx` ([#1443](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1443))
 
-- Added support for unicode strings as arguments in python bindings (#163)
+- Added support for unicode strings as arguments in python bindings ([#163](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/163))
 
-- Added DebugSymbolizer which is able to render the otherwise invisible collision boxes (#1366)
+- Added DebugSymbolizer which is able to render the otherwise invisible collision boxes ([#1366](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1366))
 
-- Optimized rendering by reducing overhead of using `gamma` property (#1174)
+- Optimized rendering by reducing overhead of using `gamma` property ([#1174](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1174))
 
-- Fixed rendering artifacts when using `polygon-gamma` or `line-gamma` equal to 0 (#761,#1763)
+- Fixed rendering artifacts when using `polygon-gamma` or `line-gamma` equal to 0 ([#761](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/761),[#1763](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1763))
 
-- Fixed and optimized the display of excessive precision of some float data in labels (#430,#1697)
+- Fixed and optimized the display of excessive precision of some float data in labels ([#430](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/430),[#1697](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1697))
 
-- Removed the `bind` option for datasources (#1654)
+- Removed the `bind` option for datasources ([#1654](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1654))
 
-- Added ability to access style list from map by (name,obj) in python (#1725)
+- Added ability to access style list from map by (name,obj) in python ([#1725](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1725))
 
-- Added `is_solid` method to python mapnik.Image and mapnik.ImageView classes (#1728)
+- Added `is_solid` method to python mapnik.Image and mapnik.ImageView classes ([#1728](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1728))
 
 - Changed scale_denominator C++ interface to take scale as first argument rather than map.
 
-- Added support for `background-image` in cairo_renderer (#1724)
+- Added support for `background-image` in cairo_renderer ([#1724](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1724))
 
-- Fixed building symbolizer rendering to be fully sensitive to alpha (8b66128c892, bc8ea1c5a7a)
+- Fixed building symbolizer rendering to be fully sensitive to alpha ([8b66128](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/8b66128c892), [bc8ea1c](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/bc8ea1c5a7a))
 
-- `<Filter>[attr]</Filter>` now returns false if attr is an empty string (#1665)
+- `<Filter>[attr]</Filter>` now returns false if attr is an empty string ([#1665](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1665))
 
-- `<Filter>[attr]!=null</Filter>` now returns true if attr is not null (#1642)
+- `<Filter>[attr]!=null</Filter>` now returns true if attr is not null ([#1642](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1642))
 
-- Added support for DBF `Logical` type: #1614
+- Added support for DBF `Logical` type: [#1614](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1614)
 
-- Added serialization of `line-offset` to save_map (#1562)
+- Added serialization of `line-offset` to save_map ([#1562](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1562))
 
 - Enabled default input plugin directory and fonts path to be set inherited from environment settings in
-  python bindings to make it easier to run tests locally (#1594). New environment settings are:
+  python bindings to make it easier to run tests locally ([#1594](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1594)). New environment settings are:
     - MAPNIK_INPUT_PLUGINS_DIRECTORY
     - MAPNIK_FONT_DIRECTORY
 
-- Added support for controlling rendering behavior of markers on multi-geometries `marker-multi-policy` (#1555,#1573)
+- Added support for controlling rendering behavior of markers on multi-geometries `marker-multi-policy` ([#1555](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1555),[#1573](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1573))
 
-- Added alternative PNG/ZLIB implementation (`miniz`) that can be enabled with `e=miniz` (#1554)
+- Added alternative PNG/ZLIB implementation (`miniz`) that can be enabled with `e=miniz` ([#1554](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1554))
 
 - Added support for setting zlib `Z_FIXED` strategy with format string: `png:z=fixed`
 
-- Fixed handling of transparency level option in `octree` png encoding (#1556)
+- Fixed handling of transparency level option in `octree` png encoding ([#1556](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1556))
 
-- Added ability to pass a pre-created collision detector to the cairo renderer (#1444)
+- Added ability to pass a pre-created collision detector to the cairo renderer ([#1444](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1444))
 
-- Tolerance parameter is now supported for querying datasources at a given point (#503/#1499)
+- Tolerance parameter is now supported for querying datasources at a given point ([#503](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/503)/[#1499](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1499))
 
-- Improved detection of newlines in CSV files - now more robust in the face of mixed newline types (#1497)
+- Improved detection of newlines in CSV files - now more robust in the face of mixed newline types ([#1497](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1497))
 
-- Allow style level compositing operations to work outside of featureset extents across tiled requests (#1477)
+- Allow style level compositing operations to work outside of featureset extents across tiled requests ([#1477](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1477))
 
-- Support for encoding `literal` postgres types as strings 69fb17cd3/#1466
+- Support for encoding `literal` postgres types as strings [69fb17c](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/69fb17cd3)/[#1466](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1466)
 
 - Fixed zoom_all behavior when Map maximum-extent is provided. Previously maximum-extent was used outright but
   now the combined layer extents will be again respected: they will be clipped to the maximum-extent if possible
-  and only when back-projecting fails for all layers will the maximum-extent be used as a fallback (#1473)
+  and only when back-projecting fails for all layers will the maximum-extent be used as a fallback ([#1473](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1473))
 
-- Compile time flag called `PLUGIN_LINKING` to allow input datasource plugins to be statically linked with the mapnik library (#249)
+- Compile time flag called `PLUGIN_LINKING` to allow input datasource plugins to be statically linked with the mapnik library ([#249](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/249))
 
-- Fixed `dasharray` rendering in cairo backend (#1740)
+- Fixed `dasharray` rendering in cairo backend ([#1740](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1740))
 
-- Fixed handling of `opacity` in svg rendering (#1744)
+- Fixed handling of `opacity` in svg rendering ([#1744](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1744))
 
-- Fixed uneven rendering of markers along lines (#1693)
+- Fixed uneven rendering of markers along lines ([#1693](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1693))
 
-- Fixed handling of extra bytes in some shapefile fields (#1605)
+- Fixed handling of extra bytes in some shapefile fields ([#1605](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1605))
 
-- Fixed handling (finally) of null shapes and partially corrupt shapefiles (#1630,#1621)
+- Fixed handling (finally) of null shapes and partially corrupt shapefiles ([#1630](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1630),[#1621](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1621))
 
-- Added ability to re-use `mapnik::image_32` and `mapnik::grid` by exposing a `clear` method (#1571)
+- Added ability to re-use `mapnik::image_32` and `mapnik::grid` by exposing a `clear` method ([#1571](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1571))
 
-- Added support for writing RGB (no A) png images by using the format string of `png:t=0` (#1559)
+- Added support for writing RGB (no A) png images by using the format string of `png:t=0` ([#1559](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1559))
 
-- Added experimental support for geometry simplification at symbolizer level (#1385)
+- Added experimental support for geometry simplification at symbolizer level ([#1385](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1385))
 
 ## Mapnik 2.1.0
 
 Released Aug 23, 2012
 
-(Packaged from a25aac8)
+(Packaged from [a25aac8](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/a25aac8))
 
-- Feature-level compositing (comp-op) for all symbolizers (except building) in AGG and Cairo renderers (#1409)
+- Feature-level compositing (comp-op) for all symbolizers (except building) in AGG and Cairo renderers ([#1409](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1409))
 
-- Style-level compositing (comp-op) (#1409) and style-level opacity for AGG renderer (#314)
+- Style-level compositing (comp-op) ([#1409](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1409)) and style-level opacity for AGG renderer ([#314](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/314))
 
-- New experimental framework for image manipulation called `image-filters` to allow things to be done across entire layer canvas like burring (#1412)
+- New experimental framework for image manipulation called `image-filters` to allow things to be done across entire layer canvas like burring ([#1412](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1412))
 
-- Support for recoloring stroke, fill, and opacity of SVG files (#1410 / #659)
+- Support for recoloring stroke, fill, and opacity of SVG files ([#1410](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1410) / [#659](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/659))
 
-- Support for data-driven transform expressions (#664)
+- Support for data-driven transform expressions ([#664](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/664))
 
-- New support for offsetting geometries / parallel lines in line_symbolizer (#927/#1269)
+- New support for offsetting geometries / parallel lines in line_symbolizer ([#927](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/927)/[#1269](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1269))
 
-- New support for clipping geometries - now default enabled on all symbolizers (#1116)
+- New support for clipping geometries - now default enabled on all symbolizers ([#1116](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1116))
 
-- Framework for chainable geometry transformations (called `vertex_converters`) so that you can do things like clip, smooth, and offset at the same time (#927)
+- Framework for chainable geometry transformations (called `vertex_converters`) so that you can do things like clip, smooth, and offset at the same time ([#927](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/927))
 
-- WKT parsing now is more robust and supports multi-geometries (#745)
+- WKT parsing now is more robust and supports multi-geometries ([#745](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/745))
 
-- New support for outputting WKT/WKB/GeoJSON/SVG from mapnik.Geometry objects (#1411)
+- New support for outputting WKT/WKB/GeoJSON/SVG from mapnik.Geometry objects ([#1411](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1411))
 
-- New experimental python datasource plugin (#1337)
+- New experimental python datasource plugin ([#1337](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1337))
 
-- New experimental geojson datasource plugin using in-memory rtree indexing (#1413)
+- New experimental geojson datasource plugin using in-memory rtree indexing ([#1413](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1413))
 
-- Cairo rendering is now much more similiar to AGG rendering as cairo backend now supports `scale_factor` (#1280) and other fixed have landed (#1343, #1233, #1344, #1242, #687, #737, #1006, #1071)
+- Cairo rendering is now much more similiar to AGG rendering as cairo backend now supports `scale_factor` ([#1280](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1280)) and other fixed have landed ([#1343](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1343), [#1233](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1233), [#1344](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1344), [#1242](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1242), [#687](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/687), [#737](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/737), [#1006](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1006), [#1071](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1071))
 
-- mapnik::Feature objects and datasource plugins now use a `Context` to store attribute schemas to reduce the memory footprint of features (#834)
+- mapnik::Feature objects and datasource plugins now use a `Context` to store attribute schemas to reduce the memory footprint of features ([#834](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/834))
 
-- Added Stroke `miterlimit` (#786)
+- Added Stroke `miterlimit` ([#786](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/786))
 
 - Python: exposed Map `background_image` (and aliased `background` to `background_color`)
 
 - Python: exposed BuildingSymbolizer
 
-- Support in the CSV plugin for reading JSON encoded geometries (#1392)
+- Support in the CSV plugin for reading JSON encoded geometries ([#1392](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1392))
 
-- Increased grid encoding performance (#1315)
+- Increased grid encoding performance ([#1315](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1315))
 
 - Added support for setting opacity dynamically on images in polygon pattern and markers symbolizers
 
 - Added support for filtering on a features geometry type, either `point`, `linestring`, `polygon`,
-  or `collection` using the expression keyword of `[mapnik::geometry_type]` (#546)
+  or `collection` using the expression keyword of `[mapnik::geometry_type]` ([#546](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/546))
 
-- MarkersSymbolizer width and height moved to expressions (#1102)
+- MarkersSymbolizer width and height moved to expressions ([#1102](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1102))
 
-- PostGIS: Added `simplify_geometries` option - will trigger ST_Simplify on geometries before returning to Mapnik (#1179)
+- PostGIS: Added `simplify_geometries` option - will trigger ST_Simplify on geometries before returning to Mapnik ([#1179](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1179))
 
 - Improved error feedback for invalid values passed to map.query_point
 
-- Fixed rendering of thin svg lines (#1129)
+- Fixed rendering of thin svg lines ([#1129](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1129))
 
-- Improved logging/debugging system with release logs and file redirection (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/wiki/Runtime-Logging) (#937 and partially #986, #467)
+- Improved logging/debugging system with release logs and file redirection (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/wiki/Runtime-Logging) ([#937](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/937) and partially [#986](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/986), [#467](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/467))
 
-- GDAL: allow setting `nodata` value on the fly (will override value if `nodata` is set in data) (#1161)
+- GDAL: allow setting `nodata` value on the fly (will override value if `nodata` is set in data) ([#1161](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1161))
 
-- GDAL: respect `nodata` for paletted/colormapped images (#1160)
+- GDAL: respect `nodata` for paletted/colormapped images ([#1160](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1160))
 
 - PostGIS: Added a new option called `autodetect_key_field` (by default false) that if true will
   trigger autodetection of the table primary key allowing for feature.id() to represent
-  globally unique ids. This option has no effect if the user has not manually supplied the `key_field` option. (#804)
+  globally unique ids. This option has no effect if the user has not manually supplied the `key_field` option. ([#804](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/804))
 
-- Cairo: Add full rendering support for markers to match AGG renderer functionality (#1071)
+- Cairo: Add full rendering support for markers to match AGG renderer functionality ([#1071](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1071))
 
-- Fix Markers rendering so that ellipse height/width units are pixels (previously were unintentionally radii) (#1134)
+- Fix Markers rendering so that ellipse height/width units are pixels (previously were unintentionally radii) ([#1134](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1134))
 
-- Added `ignore-placement` attribute to markers-symbolizer (#1135)
+- Added `ignore-placement` attribute to markers-symbolizer ([#1135](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1135))
 
-- Removed PointDatasource - use more robust MemoryDatasource instead (#1032)
+- Removed PointDatasource - use more robust MemoryDatasource instead ([#1032](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1032))
 
-- SQLite - Added support for !intersects! token in sql subselects (#809) allow custom positioning of rtree spatial filter.
+- SQLite - Added support for !intersects! token in sql subselects ([#809](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/809)) allow custom positioning of rtree spatial filter.
 
-- New CSV plugin - reads tabular files - autodetecting geo columns, newlines, and delimiters. Uses in-memory featureset for fast rendering and is not designed for large files (#902)
+- New CSV plugin - reads tabular files - autodetecting geo columns, newlines, and delimiters. Uses in-memory featureset for fast rendering and is not designed for large files ([#902](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/902))
 
-- Fixed bug in shield line placement when dx/dy are used to shift the label relative to the placement point (Matt Amos) (#908)
+- Fixed bug in shield line placement when dx/dy are used to shift the label relative to the placement point (Matt Amos) ([#908](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/908))
 
-- Added <layer_by_sql> parameter in OGR plugin to select a layer by SQL query (besides name or index): see http://www.gdal.org/ogr/ogr_sql.html for specifications (kunitoki) (#472)
+- Added <layer_by_sql> parameter in OGR plugin to select a layer by SQL query (besides name or index): see http://www.gdal.org/ogr/ogr_sql.html for specifications (kunitoki) ([#472](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/472))
 
-- Added support for output maps as tiff files (addresses #967 partially)
+- Added support for output maps as tiff files (addresses [#967](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/967) partially)
 
-- Added support for justify-alignment=auto. This is the new default. (#1125)
+- Added support for justify-alignment=auto. This is the new default. ([#1125](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1125))
 
 - Added support for grouped rendering using the `group-by` layer option: https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/wiki/Grouped-rendering
 
@@ -829,83 +829,83 @@ Released Aug 23, 2012
 
 Released Aug 3, 2012
 
-(Packaged from adb2ec741)
+(Packaged from [adb2ec7](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/adb2ec741))
 
-- Fixed handling of empty WKB geometries (#1334)
+- Fixed handling of empty WKB geometries ([#1334](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1334))
 
-- Fixed naming of `stroke-dashoffset` in save_map (cc3cd5f63f28)
+- Fixed naming of `stroke-dashoffset` in save_map ([cc3cd5f](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/cc3cd5f63f28))
 
-- Fixed support for boost 1.50 (8dea5a5fe239233)
+- Fixed support for boost 1.50 ([8dea5a5](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/8dea5a5fe239233))
 
-- Fixed TextSymbolizer placement in Cairo backend so it respects avoid-edges and minimum-padding across all renderers (#1242)
+- Fixed TextSymbolizer placement in Cairo backend so it respects avoid-edges and minimum-padding across all renderers ([#1242](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1242))
 
-- Fixed ShieldSymbolizer placement so it respects avoid-edges and minimum-padding across all renderers (#1242)
+- Fixed ShieldSymbolizer placement so it respects avoid-edges and minimum-padding across all renderers ([#1242](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1242))
 
-- Rolled back change made in 2.0.1 to marker width/height meaning that Mapnik > 2.0.2 will stick to assuming width/heigh are radii for back compatibility with 2.0.0. The reverted change is seen below as "Fix Markers rendering so that ellipse height/width units are pixels (previously were unintentionally radii)". Issue tracking this is #1163
+- Rolled back change made in 2.0.1 to marker width/height meaning that Mapnik > 2.0.2 will stick to assuming width/heigh are radii for back compatibility with 2.0.0. The reverted change is seen below as "Fix Markers rendering so that ellipse height/width units are pixels (previously were unintentionally radii)". Issue tracking this is [#1163](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1163)
 
 - XML: Fixed to avoid throwing if a `<Parameters>` element is encountered (which is supported in >= 2.1.x)
 
-- Support for PostGIS 2.0 in the pgsql2sqlite command (e69c44e, 47e5b3c)
+- Support for PostGIS 2.0 in the pgsql2sqlite command ([e69c44e](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/e69c44e), [47e5b3c](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/47e5b3c))
 
-- Fixed reference counting of Py_None when returning null attributes from Postgres during UTFGrid encoding, which could cause a Fatal Python error: deallocating None (#1221)
+- Fixed reference counting of Py_None when returning null attributes from Postgres during UTFGrid encoding, which could cause a Fatal Python error: deallocating None ([#1221](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1221))
 
-- Fixed possible breakage registering plugins via python if a custom PREFIX or DESTDIR was used (e.g. macports/homebrew) (#1171)
+- Fixed possible breakage registering plugins via python if a custom PREFIX or DESTDIR was used (e.g. macports/homebrew) ([#1171](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1171))
 
-- Fixed memory leak in the case of proj >= 4.8 and a projection initialization error (#1173)
+- Fixed memory leak in the case of proj >= 4.8 and a projection initialization error ([#1173](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1173))
 
 
 ## Mapnik 2.0.1
 
 Released April 10, 2012
 
-(Packaged from 57347e9106)
+(Packaged from [57347e9](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/57347e9106))
 
-- Support for PostGIS 2.0 (#956,#1083)
+- Support for PostGIS 2.0 ([#956](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/956),[#1083](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1083))
 
-- Switched back to "libmapnik" and "import mapnik" rather than "mapnik2" (mapnik2 will still work from python) (#941)
+- Switched back to "libmapnik" and "import mapnik" rather than "mapnik2" (mapnik2 will still work from python) ([#941](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/941))
 
-- Restored Python 2.5 compatibility (#904)
+- Restored Python 2.5 compatibility ([#904](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/904))
 
-- Fixed `mapnik-config --version` (#903)
+- Fixed `mapnik-config --version` ([#903](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/903))
 
-- Cairo: Add full rendering support for markers to match AGG renderer functionality (#1071)
+- Cairo: Add full rendering support for markers to match AGG renderer functionality ([#1071](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1071))
 
-- Fix Markers rendering so that ellipse height/width units are pixels (previously were unintentially radii) (#1134)
+- Fix Markers rendering so that ellipse height/width units are pixels (previously were unintentially radii) ([#1134](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1134))
 
-- Added `ignore-placement` attribute to markers-symbolizer (#1135)
+- Added `ignore-placement` attribute to markers-symbolizer ([#1135](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1135))
 
 - Removed svn_revision info from mapnik-config and python bindings as git is now used
 
-- Removed OGCServer from core - now at https://github.com/mapnik/OGCServer (e7f6267)
+- Removed OGCServer from core - now at https://github.com/mapnik/OGCServer ([e7f6267](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/e7f6267))
 
-- Fixed SQLite open stability across platforms/versions (#854)
+- Fixed SQLite open stability across platforms/versions ([#854](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/854))
 
-- Workaround for boost interprocess compile error with recent gcc versions (#950,#1001,#1082)
+- Workaround for boost interprocess compile error with recent gcc versions ([#950](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/950),[#1001](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1001),[#1082](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1082))
 
-- Fix possible memory corruption when using `hextree` mode for png color reduction (#1087)
+- Fix possible memory corruption when using `hextree` mode for png color reduction ([#1087](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1087))
 
-- Fixed bug in shield line placement when dx/dy are used to shift the label relative to the placement point (Matt Amos) (#908)
+- Fixed bug in shield line placement when dx/dy are used to shift the label relative to the placement point (Matt Amos) ([#908](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/908))
 
-- Fix to avoid modifying a feature if an attribute is requested that does not exist (0f5ab18ed)
+- Fix to avoid modifying a feature if an attribute is requested that does not exist ([0f5ab18](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/0f5ab18ed))
 
-- Fixed ability to save to jpeg format from python (7387afd96) (#896)
+- Fixed ability to save to jpeg format from python ([7387afd](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/7387afd96)) ([#896](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/896))
 
 
 ## Mapnik 2.0.0
 
 Released September 26, 2011
 
-(Packaged from 5b4c20eab3)
+(Packaged from [5b4c20e](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/5b4c20eab3))
 
-- Add minimum-path-length property to text_symbolizer to allow labels to be placed only on lines of a certain length (#865)
+- Add minimum-path-length property to text_symbolizer to allow labels to be placed only on lines of a certain length ([#865](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/865))
 
-- Add support for png quantization using fixed palettes (#843)
+- Add support for png quantization using fixed palettes ([#843](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/843))
 
 - Add AlsoFilter functionality - https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/wiki/AlsoFilter
 
-- SQLite Plugin: optimize i/o using shared cache and no mutexes (#797)
+- SQLite Plugin: optimize i/o using shared cache and no mutexes ([#797](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/797))
 
-- Directly link input plugins to libmapnik to avoid having to set dlopen flags from binding languages (#790)
+- Directly link input plugins to libmapnik to avoid having to set dlopen flags from binding languages ([#790](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/790))
 
 - Throw an error during registration for fonts which Freetype2 does not report a family or style name (r2985).
 
@@ -933,62 +933,62 @@ Released September 26, 2011
   cannot possibly be projected into the map srs or the user wishes to control map bounds without
   modifying the extents of each layer.
 
-- Support for `nodata` values with grey and rgb images in GDAL plugin (#727)
+- Support for `nodata` values with grey and rgb images in GDAL plugin ([#727](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/727))
 
-- Print warning if invalid XML property names are used (#110)
+- Print warning if invalid XML property names are used ([#110](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/110))
 
-- Made XML property names use consistent dashes, never underscores (#644)
+- Made XML property names use consistent dashes, never underscores ([#644](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/644))
 
-- Added support for drawing only first matching rule using filter-mode="first" in Style (#706)
+- Added support for drawing only first matching rule using filter-mode="first" in Style ([#706](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/706))
 
-- Added support to PointSymbolizer (`ignore_placement`) for skipping adding placed points to collision detector (#564)
+- Added support to PointSymbolizer (`ignore_placement`) for skipping adding placed points to collision detector ([#564](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/564))
 
-- Added ability to register fonts within XML using Map level `font-directory` parameter (#168)
+- Added ability to register fonts within XML using Map level `font-directory` parameter ([#168](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/168))
 
 - TextSymbolizer: Change text_convert to text_transform to better match css naming (r2211)
 
-- Shapefile Plugin: Throw error if attribute name is requested that does not exist (#604)
+- Shapefile Plugin: Throw error if attribute name is requested that does not exist ([#604](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/604))
 
-- Upgraded to the latest proj4 string literal for EPSG:4326 (WGS84) as global default projection (#333)
+- Upgraded to the latest proj4 string literal for EPSG:4326 (WGS84) as global default projection ([#333](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/333))
 
 - Added `mapnik_version_from_string()` function in python bindings to easily convert string representation
   of version number to the integer format used in `mapnik/version.hpp`. e.g. `0.7.1` --> `701`.
 
-- Added xinclude (http://www.w3.org/TR/xinclude/) support to libxml2-based xml parser (oldtopos) (#567)
+- Added xinclude (http://www.w3.org/TR/xinclude/) support to libxml2-based xml parser (oldtopos) ([#567](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/567))
 
 - Optimized rendering speeds by avoiding locking in the projection code (r2063) (r2713)
 
-- Added support for setting global alignment of polygon pattern fills (#203)
+- Added support for setting global alignment of polygon pattern fills ([#203](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/203))
 
 - Added support for choosing OGR layer by index number using `layer_by_index` parameter (r1904)
 
-- Added support for fractional halo widths (using FT Stroker) (#93)
+- Added support for fractional halo widths (using FT Stroker) ([#93](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/93))
 
-- Added support for reading jpeg images (in addition to png/tiff) for image symbolizers (#518)
+- Added support for reading jpeg images (in addition to png/tiff) for image symbolizers ([#518](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/518))
 
-- Made libjpeg dependency optional at compile time and added mapnik2.has_jpeg() method to check for support in python (#545).
+- Made libjpeg dependency optional at compile time and added mapnik2.has_jpeg() method to check for support in python ([#545](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/545)).
 
-- Fixed reading of PostGIS data on Big Endian systems (#515)
+- Fixed reading of PostGIS data on Big Endian systems ([#515](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/515))
 
-- PostGIS: Added better support for alternative schemas (#500)
+- PostGIS: Added better support for alternative schemas ([#500](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/500))
 
 - AGG Renderer - Enforced default gamma function on all symbolizers to ensure proper antialiasing
-  even when gamma is modified on the PolygonSymbolizer. (#512)
+  even when gamma is modified on the PolygonSymbolizer. ([#512](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/512))
 
-- Added ability to read pre 2.0.0 stylesheets, but prints a warning for deprecated syntax (r1592, #501)
+- Added ability to read pre 2.0.0 stylesheets, but prints a warning for deprecated syntax (r1592, [#501](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/501))
 
-- Rasterlite Plugin: Experimental support for Rasterlite, to practically use sqlite database with wavelet compressed rasters (#469)
+- Rasterlite Plugin: Experimental support for Rasterlite, to practically use sqlite database with wavelet compressed rasters ([#469](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/469))
 
-- PNG: fixed png256 for large images and some improvements to reduce color corruptions (#522)
+- PNG: fixed png256 for large images and some improvements to reduce color corruptions ([#522](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/522))
 
-- Implement MarkersSymbolizer in Cairo render and improve the markers placement finder. (#553)
+- Implement MarkersSymbolizer in Cairo render and improve the markers placement finder. ([#553](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/553))
 
 
 # Mapnik 0.7.2
 
 Released Oct 18, 2011
 
-(Packaged from bc5cabeb6a)
+(Packaged from [bc5cabe](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/bc5cabeb6a))
 
 - Added forward compatibility for Mapnik 2.0 XML syntax (https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/wiki/Mapnik2/Changes)
 
@@ -1000,29 +1000,29 @@ Released Oct 18, 2011
 
 - Fixes to the postgres pool
 
-- Fix for correct transparency levels in png256/png8 output (#540)
+- Fix for correct transparency levels in png256/png8 output ([#540](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/540))
 
 - Various build system fixes, especially for gcc compiler on open solaris.
 
-- When plugins are not found, report the searched directories (#568)
+- When plugins are not found, report the searched directories ([#568](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/568))
 
-- Improved font loading support (#559)
+- Improved font loading support ([#559](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/559))
 
 - Fix to shapeindex for allowing indexing of directory of shapefiles like `shapeindex dir/*shp`
 
-- Fixed handling of null and multipatch shapes in shapefile driver - avoiding inf loop (#573)
+- Fixed handling of null and multipatch shapes in shapefile driver - avoiding inf loop ([#573](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/573))
 
-- Fixed raster alpha blending (#589,#674)
+- Fixed raster alpha blending ([#589](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/589),[#674](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/674))
 
-- Enhanced support for faster reprojection if proj >= 4.8 is used (#575)
+- Enhanced support for faster reprojection if proj >= 4.8 is used ([#575](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/575))
 
-- Allow for late-binding of datasources (#622)
+- Allow for late-binding of datasources ([#622](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/622))
 
-- Fix to OSM plugin to avoid over-caching of data (#542)
+- Fix to OSM plugin to avoid over-caching of data ([#542](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/542))
 
 - Various fixes to sqlite, ogr, and occi driver backported from trunk.
 
-- Ensured that `\n` triggers linebreaks in text rendering (#584)
+- Ensured that `\n` triggers linebreaks in text rendering ([#584](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/584))
 
 - Support for boost filesystem v3
 
@@ -1035,7 +1035,7 @@ Released Oct 18, 2011
 
 Released March 23, 2010
 
-(Packaged from db89f1ca75 / r1745)
+(Packaged from [db89f1c](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/db89f1ca75) / r1745)
 
 - Rasters: Various fixes and improvements to 8bit png output ([#522](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/522),[#475](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/475))
 
@@ -1077,13 +1077,13 @@ Released March 23, 2010
 
 Released January, 19 2010
 
-(Packaged from a0da946be9 / r1574)
+(Packaged from [a0da946](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/a0da946be9) / r1574)
 
 - Core: Fixed linking to external libagg (r1297,r1299)
 
 - Core: Completed full support for PPC (Big endian) architectures (r1352 -> r1357)
 
-- Gdal Plugin: Added support for Gdal overviews, enabling fast loading of > 1GB rasters (#54)
+- Gdal Plugin: Added support for Gdal overviews, enabling fast loading of > 1GB rasters ([#54](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/54))
 
     * Use the gdaladdo utility to add overviews to existing GDAL datasets
 
@@ -1093,22 +1093,22 @@ Released January, 19 2010
   table to query based on parsing the `table` parameter, which may fail for complex queries with more than
   one `from` keyword. Using this parameter should allow for existing metadata and table indexes to be used
   while opening the door to much more complicated subqueries being passed to the `table` parameter without
-  failing (#260, #426).
+  failing ([#260](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/260), [#426](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/426)).
 
 - PostGIS Plugin: Added optional `geometry_field` and `srid` parameters. If specified these will allow
   Mapnik to skip several queries to try to determine these values dynamically, and can be helpful to avoid
-  possible query failures during metadata lookup with complex subqueries as discussed in #260 and #436, but
-  also solvable by specifying the `geometry_table` parameter. (r1300,#376)
+  possible query failures during metadata lookup with complex subqueries as discussed in [#260](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/260) and [#436](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/436), but
+  also solvable by specifying the `geometry_table` parameter. (r1300,[#376](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/376))
 
 - PostGIS: Added an optional `extent_from_subquery` parameter that when true (while the `extent` parameter is
   not provided and `estimate_extent` is false) will direct Mapnik to calculate the extent upon the exact table
   or sql provided in the `table` parameter. If a sub-select is used for the table parameter then this will,
   in cases where the subquery limits results, provide a faster and more accurate layer extent. It will have
-  no effect if the `table` parameter is simply an existing table. This parameter is false by default. (#456)
+  no effect if the `table` parameter is simply an existing table. This parameter is false by default. ([#456](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/456))
 
 - PostGIS Plugin: Added `!bbox!` token substitution ability in sql query string. This opens the door for various
   complex queries that may aggregate geometries to be kept fast by allowing proper placement of the bbox
-  query to be used by indexes. (#415)
+  query to be used by indexes. ([#415](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/415))
 
     * Pass the bbox token inside a subquery like: !bbox!
 
@@ -1122,34 +1122,34 @@ Released January, 19 2010
           (Select * from table where geom &amp;&amp; !bbox!) as map
         </Parameter>
 
-- PostGIS Plugin: Added `scale_denominator` substitution ability in sql query string (#415/#465)
+- PostGIS Plugin: Added `scale_denominator` substitution ability in sql query string ([#415](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/415)/[#465](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/465))
 
     * Pass the scale_denominator token inside a subquery like: !scale_denominator!
 
     * e.g. (Select * from table where field_value > !scale_denominator!) as map
 
-- PostGIS Plugin: Added support for quoted table names (r1454) (#393)
+- PostGIS Plugin: Added support for quoted table names (r1454) ([#393](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/393))
 
 - PostGIS: Add a `persist_connection` option (default true), that when false will release
-  the idle psql connection after datasource goes out of scope (r1337) (#433,#434)
+  the idle psql connection after datasource goes out of scope (r1337) ([#433](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/433),[#434](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/434))
 
 - PostGIS: Added support for BigInt (int8) postgres type (384)
 
-- PostGIS Plugin: Throw and report errors if SQL execution fails (r1291) (#363, #242)
+- PostGIS Plugin: Throw and report errors if SQL execution fails (r1291) ([#363](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/363), [#242](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/242))
 
 - PostGIS Plugin: Fixed problem in conversion of long numbers to strings (r1302,1303)
 
-- PostGIS Plugin: Added missing support for BigInt(int8) postgres datatypes (r1250) (#384)
+- PostGIS Plugin: Added missing support for BigInt(int8) postgres datatypes (r1250) ([#384](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/384))
 
-- OGR Plugin: Added support for reading multipoint features (#458)
+- OGR Plugin: Added support for reading multipoint features ([#458](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/458))
 
-- Shape Plugin: Fixed bug in file extension stripping (#413)
+- Shape Plugin: Fixed bug in file extension stripping ([#413](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/413))
 
-- Shape Plugin: Fixed missing compiler flags that causes crashing on newer g++ versions (#436)
+- Shape Plugin: Fixed missing compiler flags that causes crashing on newer g++ versions ([#436](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/436))
 
-- PNG: Fixed problem with garbled/striped png256 output along sharp edges(#416,#445,#447,#202)
+- PNG: Fixed problem with garbled/striped png256 output along sharp edges([#416](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/416),[#445](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/445),[#447](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/447),[#202](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/202))
 
-- PNG: Added support for semi-transparency in png256 output (#477,#202)
+- PNG: Added support for semi-transparency in png256 output ([#477](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/477),[#202](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/202))
 
 - PolygonSymbolizer: Added `gamma` attribute to allow for dilation of polygon edges - a solution
   to gap artifacts or "ghost lines" between adjacent polygons and allows for slight sharpening of
@@ -1169,15 +1169,15 @@ Released January, 19 2010
 
 - XML: Added support for using CDATA with libxml2 parser (r1364)
 
-- XML: Fixed memory leak in libxml2 implementation (#473)
+- XML: Fixed memory leak in libxml2 implementation ([#473](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/473))
 
-- XML: Added function to serialize map to string, called `mapnik.save_map_to_string()` (#396)
+- XML: Added function to serialize map to string, called `mapnik.save_map_to_string()` ([#396](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/396))
 
 - XML: Added parameter to <Map> called `minimum_version` to allow for enforcing the minimum Mapnik version
   needed for XML features used in the mapfiles. Uses Major.Minor.Point syntax, for example
   <Map minimum_version="0.6.1"> would throw an error if the user is running Mapnik less than 0.6.1.
 
-- XML: Added support for relative paths when using entities and `mapnik.load_map_from_string()` (#440)
+- XML: Added support for relative paths when using entities and `mapnik.load_map_from_string()` ([#440](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/440))
 
 - XML: Made width and height optional for symbolizers using images (r1543)
 
@@ -1185,21 +1185,21 @@ Released January, 19 2010
 
 - XML: Added missing serialization of PointSymbolizer `opacity` and `allow_overlap` attributes (r1358)
 
-- XML: Default text vertical_alignment now dependent on dy (#485, r1527)
+- XML: Default text vertical_alignment now dependent on dy ([#485](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/485), r1527)
 
-- Python: Exposed ability to write to Cairo formats using `mapnik.render_to_file()` and without pycairo (#381)
+- Python: Exposed ability to write to Cairo formats using `mapnik.render_to_file()` and without pycairo ([#381](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/381))
 
-- Python: Fixed potential crash if pycairo support is enabled but python-cairo module is missing (#392)
+- Python: Fixed potential crash if pycairo support is enabled but python-cairo module is missing ([#392](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/392))
 
-- Python: Added `mapnik.has_pycairo()` function to test for pycairo support (r1278) (#284)
+- Python: Added `mapnik.has_pycairo()` function to test for pycairo support (r1278) ([#284](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/284))
 
 - Python: Added `mapnik.register_plugins()` and `mapnik.register_fonts()` functions (r1256)
 
-- Python: Pickling support for point_symbolizer (r1295) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for point_symbolizer (r1295) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Ensured mapnik::config_errors now throw RuntimeError exception instead of UserWarning exception (#442)
+- Python: Ensured mapnik::config_errors now throw RuntimeError exception instead of UserWarning exception ([#442](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/442))
 
-- Filters: Added support for `!=` as an alias to `<>` for not-equals filters (avoids &lt;&gt;) (r1326) (#427)
+- Filters: Added support for `!=` as an alias to `<>` for not-equals filters (avoids &lt;&gt;) (r1326) ([#427](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/427))
 
 - SCons: Improved boost auto-detection (r1255,r1279)
 
@@ -1210,7 +1210,7 @@ Released January, 19 2010
 
 - SCons: Added ability to link to custom icu library name using ICU_LIB_NAME (r1414)
 
-- SCons: Improved reliability of python linking on OSX (#380)
+- SCons: Improved reliability of python linking on OSX ([#380](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/380))
 
 - Fonts: Added unifont to auto-installed fonts, which is used by the OSM styles as a fallback font (r1328)
 
@@ -1219,96 +1219,96 @@ Released January, 19 2010
 
 Released July 14, 2009
 
-(Packaged from 353ff576c7 / r1247)
+(Packaged from [353ff57](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/353ff576c7) / r1247)
 
 - Plugins: expose list of registered plugins as a `plugin_names()` method of DatasourceCache (r1180)
 
-- XML: Fixed serialization and parsing bugs related to handling of integers and Enums (#328,#353)
+- XML: Fixed serialization and parsing bugs related to handling of integers and Enums ([#328](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/328),[#353](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/353))
 
-- SCons: Added the ability to set the PKG_CONFIG_PATH env setting (#217)
+- SCons: Added the ability to set the PKG_CONFIG_PATH env setting ([#217](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/217))
 
-- SCons: Improved linking to only required libraries for libmapnik (#371)
+- SCons: Improved linking to only required libraries for libmapnik ([#371](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/371))
 
-- Shape Plugin: Added compile time flag to allow disabling the use of memory mapped files (r1213) (#342)
+- Shape Plugin: Added compile time flag to allow disabling the use of memory mapped files (r1213) ([#342](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/342))
 
 - Core: Improved support for PPC (Big endian) architectures (r1198 -> r1213)
 
-- Scons: Improved auto-detection of boost libs/headers (r1200) (#297)
+- Scons: Improved auto-detection of boost libs/headers (r1200) ([#297](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/297))
 
-- Plugins: Exposed list of available/registered plugins (r1180) (#246)
+- Plugins: Exposed list of available/registered plugins (r1180) ([#246](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/246))
 
 - SCons: Improve build support for SunCC (patches from River Tarnell) (r1168, r1169)
 
-- Python: Pickling support for text_symbolizer (r1164) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for text_symbolizer (r1164) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for proj_transform and view/coord_transform (r1163) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for proj_transform and view/coord_transform (r1163) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for parameters (r1162) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for parameters (r1162) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for stroke objects (r1161) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for stroke objects (r1161) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for line_symbolizer (r1160) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for line_symbolizer (r1160) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for projection objects (r1159) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for projection objects (r1159) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for shield_symbolizer (r1158) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for shield_symbolizer (r1158) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for polygon_symbolizer (r1157) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for polygon_symbolizer (r1157) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for query objects (r1156) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for query objects (r1156) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for pattern symbolizers (r1155) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for pattern symbolizers (r1155) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for raster_symbolizer (r1154) (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for raster_symbolizer (r1154) ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
-- Python: Added `mapnik.has_cairo()` function to test for cairo support (r1152) (#284)
+- Python: Added `mapnik.has_cairo()` function to test for cairo support (r1152) ([#284](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/284))
 
-- Python: Exposed dash_array get method (r1151) (#317)
+- Python: Exposed dash_array get method (r1151) ([#317](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/317))
 
-- Python: Pickling support for Coord objects (#345)
+- Python: Pickling support for Coord objects ([#345](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/345))
 
 - GDAL Plugin: Added an experimental option to open files in `shared mode` (r1143)
 
 - Python: Exposed RasterSymbolizer options in Python (r1139)
 
-- Plugins: Fixed support for non-file based sources in GDAL and OGR plugins (#336,#337)
+- Plugins: Fixed support for non-file based sources in GDAL and OGR plugins ([#336](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/336),[#337](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/337))
 
-- Plugins: Formal inclusion of new plugin for Kismet server (r1127) (#293)
+- Plugins: Formal inclusion of new plugin for Kismet server (r1127) ([#293](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/293))
 
-- Python: Made access to features and featuresets more Pythonic (r1121) (#171,#280,#283)
+- Python: Made access to features and featuresets more Pythonic (r1121) ([#171](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/171),[#280](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/280),[#283](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/283))
 
-- XML: Ensured relative paths in XML are interpreted relative to XML file location (r1124) (#326)
+- XML: Ensured relative paths in XML are interpreted relative to XML file location (r1124) ([#326](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/326))
 
-- XML: Added ability to serialize all default symbolizer values by passing third argument to save_map(m,`file.xml`,True)(r1117) (#327)
+- XML: Added ability to serialize all default symbolizer values by passing third argument to save_map(m,`file.xml`,True)(r1117) ([#327](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/327))
 
-- Core: Added support for alpha transparency when writing to png256 (patch from Marcin Rudowski) (#202)
+- Core: Added support for alpha transparency when writing to png256 (patch from Marcin Rudowski) ([#202](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/202))
 
-- SCons: Ensured ABI compatibility information is embedded in libmapnik.dylib on Mac OS X (#322)
+- SCons: Ensured ABI compatibility information is embedded in libmapnik.dylib on Mac OS X ([#322](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/322))
 
-- SCons: Ensured that the full `install_name` path would be added to libmapnik.dylib on Mac OS X (#374)
+- SCons: Ensured that the full `install_name` path would be added to libmapnik.dylib on Mac OS X ([#374](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/374))
 
 - Tests: Added testing framework in Python using nose (r1101-r1105)
 
 - Raster Plugin: Added a tile/bbox-based read policy for large (rasters width * height > 1024*1024 will be loaded in chunks) (r1089)
 
-- OGCServer: Made lxml dependency optional (r1085) (#303)
+- OGCServer: Made lxml dependency optional (r1085) ([#303](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/303))
 
-- Rasters: Handle rounding to allow better alignment of raster layers (r1079) (#295)
+- Rasters: Handle rounding to allow better alignment of raster layers (r1079) ([#295](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/295))
 
-- AGG Renderer: Added option to control output JPEG quality (r1078) (#198)
+- AGG Renderer: Added option to control output JPEG quality (r1078) ([#198](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/198))
 
-- Plugins: Fixed segfault in OGR Plugin with empty geometries (r1074) (#292)
+- Plugins: Fixed segfault in OGR Plugin with empty geometries (r1074) ([#292](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/292))
 
 
 # Mapnik 0.6.0
 
 Released April 1, 2009
 
-(Packaged from c88e03436f / r1066)
+(Packaged from [c88e034](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/c88e03436f) / r1066)
 
 - Python: Added support for aspect_fix_mode (r1013)
 
-- OGCServer Fixed axis-ordering for WMS 1.3.0 request (r1051) (#241)
+- OGCServer Fixed axis-ordering for WMS 1.3.0 request (r1051) ([#241](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/241))
 
 - Plugins: Added option to all plugins to support using a `base` path argument (r1042)
 
@@ -1333,7 +1333,7 @@ Released April 1, 2009
 - Filter parsing: Allow numbers in the filter field name.
   This allows for shapefiles with columns like `1970`.
 
-- Plugins: Added OGR driver for reading all OGR supported formats (kunitoki) (r836) (#170)
+- Plugins: Added OGR driver for reading all OGR supported formats (kunitoki) (r836) ([#170](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/170))
 
 - XML: Added serialization of Fontsets (r807)
 
@@ -1345,7 +1345,7 @@ Released April 1, 2009
 
 - Python: Added ability to resize map and clear all layers and styles from python (r793)
 
-- Python: Exposed Proj to/from transformation for projected coordinate systems (r792,r822) (#117)
+- Python: Exposed Proj to/from transformation for projected coordinate systems (r792,r822) ([#117](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/117))
 
 - Memory Datasource: Added support for dynamically adding Points to map using Point Datasource (r790)
 
@@ -1393,28 +1393,28 @@ Released April 1, 2009
 
 - Plugins: Use memory mapped files for reading shape file (r628)
 
-- Core: Use streams to write images (i/o re-factor) (r628) (#15)
+- Core: Use streams to write images (i/o re-factor) (r628) ([#15](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/15))
 
 # Mapnik 0.5.1
 
 Released April 15, 2008
 
-(Packaged from c29cb7386d)
+(Packaged from [c29cb73](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/c29cb7386d))
 
 # Mapnik 0.5.0
 
 Released April 15, 2008
 
-(Packaged from 0464a3563c)
+(Packaged from [0464a35](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/0464a3563c))
 
 # Mapnik 0.4.0
 
 Released February 26, 2007
 
-(Packaged from 8d73e3a8dc)
+(Packaged from [8d73e3a](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/8d73e3a8dc))
 
 # Mapnik 0.3.0
 
 Released May 22, 2006
 
-(Packaged from 3ae046ebe2)
+(Packaged from [3ae046e](https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/commit/3ae046ebe2))