Ghost Release: 1.1.0

TL;DR

Ghost 1.1.0: Introducing Hemingway Editor Mode & SDK Renaming

Ghost 1.1.0 introduces a new "Hemingway Editor Mode" that disables the backspace key, encouraging writers to move forward with their thoughts rather than constantly editing. This release also includes an important file renaming from ghost-url.js to ghost-sdk.js, which affects theme developers and custom integrations. While a small release in terms of changes, these updates improve the writing experience and lay groundwork for future SDK development.

Highlight of the Release

• Introduction of Hemingway Editor Mode that disables backspace to encourage forward writing momentum
• Renaming of ghost-url.js to ghost-sdk.js for better clarity on the file's purpose
• Ghost-Admin updated to version 1.1.0

Migration Guide

Updating from ghost-url.js to ghost-sdk.js

If you're a theme developer or have custom integrations with Ghost, you'll need to update references to the renamed JavaScript file:

1. Search your theme files for any references to ghost-url.js
2. Replace all instances with ghost-sdk.js
3. Test your theme to ensure all functionality works as expected

Example change:

- <script type="text/javascript" src="{{asset "js/ghost-url.js"}}"></script>
+ <script type="text/javascript" src="{{asset "js/ghost-sdk.js"}}"></script>

This change is necessary as the file has been renamed to better reflect its purpose as a software development kit rather than just a URL utility.

Upgrade Recommendations

This is a minor version update (1.0.2 → 1.1.0) that introduces new features and includes a potentially breaking change with the SDK file renaming.

Who should upgrade immediately:

• Sites that want to take advantage of the new Hemingway Editor Mode
• New Ghost installations (to start with the latest features)

Who should plan a careful upgrade:

• Sites with custom themes or integrations that may reference ghost-url.js
• Production sites that should test the SDK renaming impact on their specific setup

The upgrade process follows the standard Ghost update procedure, but theme developers should pay special attention to updating file references as noted in the migration guide.

Bug Fixes

No specific bug fixes were mentioned in this release.

New Features

Hemingway Editor Mode

Ghost 1.1.0 introduces a new writing experience called "Hemingway Editor Mode." This feature disables the backspace key during writing, encouraging authors to focus on moving forward with their thoughts rather than constantly editing as they write.

Named after Ernest Hemingway's famous writing style that emphasized forward momentum, this mode helps writers:

• Overcome writer's block by preventing constant self-editing
• Focus on getting ideas down without interruption
• Adopt a "write first, edit later" approach to content creation

This optional mode can be toggled on when writers want to experiment with a different writing flow.

Security Updates

No security fixes were mentioned in this release.

Performance Improvements

No specific performance improvements were mentioned in this release.

Impact Summary

Ghost 1.1.0 represents a modest but meaningful update to the platform. The introduction of Hemingway Editor Mode provides content creators with a new tool to improve their writing process, potentially leading to more efficient content creation by reducing the tendency to self-edit during initial drafting.

The renaming of ghost-url.js to ghost-sdk.js signals Ghost's continued evolution of its developer tools and APIs. While this change requires updates to themes and custom integrations, it better reflects the file's purpose and sets the stage for future SDK enhancements.

Overall, this release balances new user-facing features with important behind-the-scenes refinements that maintain Ghost's trajectory as a modern publishing platform. The changes are targeted and focused, suggesting a deliberate approach to platform development rather than introducing sweeping changes.

Full Release Notes