5.127.0

TL;DR

Ghost v5.127.0 introduces significant analytics enhancements with new post metrics and traffic analytics features. The update adds visitor counts to the posts list, a new post analytics service, and web analytics settings to control traffic data display. UI improvements include better handling of different Ghost configurations (like when paid memberships or web analytics are disabled), and several bug fixes for email rendering and newsletter display. This release also includes Hindi translation updates for the Comments feature.

Highlight of the Release

• Added visitor counts and member attribution to posts in the posts list
• Created new post analytics service for use in the Ember app
• Added web analytics setting to control traffic data display
• Added active visitor count to show real-time site activity
• Improved UI handling for different Ghost configurations (paid memberships on/off, web analytics on/off)

Migration Guide

No major migration steps are required for this release. The new analytics features are behind feature flags until fully ready for general availability.

For developers working with the codebase:

• The web analytics setting is currently behind the trafficAnalytics feature flag
• Post analytics in the posts list is behind the traffic analytics alpha flag
• If you're using the Tinybird integration, note that there's now a staging workspace for testing

Upgrade Recommendations

This is a minor release with significant analytics enhancements and bug fixes. It's recommended for all users to upgrade, especially those who:

1. Use analytics features to track post performance
2. Send newsletters and want improved email rendering
3. Have Hindi-speaking users who use the Comments feature

The upgrade should be straightforward with no breaking changes. As always, it's recommended to back up your Ghost installation before upgrading.

Bug Fixes

Email and Newsletter Fixes

• Fixed newsletter titles always using sans-serif font by updating the selector for .post-title-serif to target nested TDs
• Fixed open-rate tracking pixel adding white space to emails by adjusting body line-height
• Fixed logic for hiding web traffic tab in certain configurations

Analytics and Data Fixes

• Fixed top posts endpoint returning empty data by filtering posts with no results
• Fixed post type filter not returning the homepage in API top pages
• Fixed overflowing display of Stats > Web performance component
• Fixed format of Web performance total visits number

Other Fixes

• Fixed semver version matching issues for pre-release versions
• Fixed broken Tinybird deployment workflow
• Fixed duplicate checkout step from CI workflow

New Features

Analytics Enhancements

• Post Metrics in Posts List: Added visitor counts and member attribution to posts in the posts list
• Post Analytics Service: Created a new post analytics service for use in the Ember app
• Active Visitor Count: Added real-time active visitor count to Stats and Posts apps, showing unique visitors over the past 5 minutes
• Web Analytics Setting: Added a new setting to control whether web traffic data is displayed/recorded

UI Improvements

• Conditional UI Elements: Updated UI to handle different Ghost configurations:
  • Adapted analytics displays when paid memberships are turned off
  • Added state handling for when web analytics is disabled
  • Improved handling for email-only posts in analytics views

Developer Experience

• E2E Testing Framework: Added a complete end-to-end testing framework with Playwright
• Analytics Data Generator: Added scripts to generate analytics test data
• Tinybird Integration: Added staging workspace for Tinybird and improved deployment workflows

Security Updates

No significant security fixes were included in this release.

Performance Improvements

Performance Optimizations

• Refactored Posts app global data use to reduce duplicative fetching
• Updated Stats app to handle tab changes with URL updates for better navigation
• Improved CI workflow by removing duplicate steps and streamlining configuration

Impact Summary

Ghost v5.127.0 significantly enhances the analytics capabilities of the platform, giving content creators and site administrators more insight into post performance and visitor behavior. The addition of visitor counts and member attribution to the posts list makes it easier to track content performance at a glance, while the new active visitor count provides real-time engagement metrics.

The release also improves the platform's adaptability to different configurations, with UI elements that intelligently show or hide based on whether features like paid memberships or web analytics are enabled. This creates a more focused and relevant experience for users with different needs.

Email rendering improvements fix issues with newsletter titles and tracking pixel spacing, ensuring a better experience for newsletter recipients. The addition of updated Hindi translations for Comments continues Ghost's commitment to internationalization.

For developers, the new end-to-end testing framework with Playwright and analytics data generator scripts provide better tools for testing and development.

Full Release Notes