Ghost Release: 1.25.0

TL;DR

Ghost 1.25.0 introduces significant changes to the Koenig editor's HTML output structure, requiring theme updates for compatibility. This release includes improvements to the Koenig editor beta with new features like word count display and text editing shortcuts, along with several bug fixes. The release also includes ES6 migrations for server components and adds a Koenig demo post to help users understand the new editor.

Highlight of the Release

• Breaking change to Koenig editor HTML output structure requiring theme updates
• New word count display in the Koenig editor
• Full set of text editing shortcuts implemented
• Koenig demo post added to help users understand the new editor
• Multiple bug fixes for Firefox and Safari in the Koenig editor

Migration Guide

Theme Migration Guide

The HTML output structure of the Koenig editor has changed significantly in this release:

1. Removed wrapper: The <div class="kg-post"> wrapper around post content has been removed entirely

2. Image card class changes:

   • .kg-image-wide and .kg-image-full classes have been renamed to .kg-width-wide and .kg-width-full
   • These classes are now applied to the <figure> element instead of the <img> element

Before:

<div class="kg-post">
    <figure class="kg-image-card">
        <img class="kg-image kg-image-wide" src="...">
        <figcaption>example wide image</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>

After:

<figure class="kg-image-card kg-width-wide">
    <img class="kg-image" src="...">
    <figcaption>example wide image</figcaption>
</figure>

For detailed guidance:

• If your theme is already Koenig compatible, review the themes changelog
• If your theme is not yet Koenig compatible, refer to the Ghost 2.0 Theme Compatibility forum topic

Upgrade Recommendations

Theme developers should upgrade with caution and make necessary theme adjustments before updating production sites. This is a breaking change for themes that are already Koenig-compatible.

For all users: This release contains important updates to the Koenig editor beta that improve usability and fix several bugs. If you're using the Koenig editor beta, upgrading is recommended for the improved experience.

Testing recommendation: Test your site thoroughly after upgrading, especially if you have a custom theme or have been using the Koenig editor beta, to ensure compatibility with the new HTML output structure.

The changes in this release are preparing for the upcoming Ghost 2.0 release, so upgrading now will help ensure a smoother transition when Ghost 2.0 is released.

Bug Fixes

Editor Bug Fixes

• Fixed Firefox issue where cursor would get stuck on cards when pressing Up
• Fixed required double-click on (+) button when cursor is not in the same paragraph
• Fixed Safari scrolling to bottom of post when using link input
• Prevented double-clicks from triggering toolbar buttons when entering markdown card edit mode

Other Fixes

• Added fallback to owner user if Ghost Author user doesn't exist when creating demo post

New Features

Koenig Editor Enhancements

• Word Count Display: Added a word count feature to help writers track their content length
• Text Editing Shortcuts: Implemented a comprehensive set of text editing shortcuts for improved writing efficiency
• Improved Card Interaction: Added Ctrl/Cmd+Enter shortcut to exit card edit mode
• Koenig Demo Post: New installations and existing blogs will receive a demo post showcasing Koenig editor capabilities

Technical Improvements

• ES6 migration for server/api components
• ES6 migration for server/apps/amp components
• Updated documentation links to use versioned URLs (preparing for Ghost 2.0)
• Updated Casper theme to version 2.4.0

Security Updates

No specific security fixes were mentioned in this release.

Performance Improvements

Code Modernization

• Continued ES6 migration efforts for server components, improving code maintainability and potentially performance
• Streamlined HTML output by removing unnecessary wrapper elements

Impact Summary

Ghost 1.25.0 introduces breaking changes to the HTML output structure of the Koenig editor, which will require theme updates to maintain compatibility. This is a significant change that prepares the way for Ghost 2.0.

The removal of the .kg-post wrapper and the renaming and repositioning of image card classes from the <img> to the <figure> element will affect how themes style Koenig content. All theme developers need to update their CSS to accommodate these changes.

On the positive side, content creators will benefit from several new features in the Koenig editor beta, including word count display and text editing shortcuts, along with bug fixes that improve the overall editing experience.

The addition of a Koenig demo post will help users understand the capabilities of the new editor, which is particularly valuable as Ghost transitions toward making Koenig the default editor in version 2.0.

The ES6 migrations for server components represent ongoing modernization of the Ghost codebase, which should lead to better maintainability and potentially improved performance in the future.

Full Release Notes