Ghost Release: 2.0.2

TL;DR

Ghost 2.0.2 is a minor patch release that removes the requirement for having git installed when installing Ghost. This change makes Ghost more accessible for users deploying on servers where git might not be available, as the installation now uses tarballs instead of git links for dependencies.

Highlight of the Release

• Removed requirement for having git installed when installing Ghost
• Changed oembed-parser dependency to use tarball instead of git link
• Improved compatibility with minimal server environments

Migration Guide

No migration steps are required for this release. The changes only affect new installations or reinstallations of Ghost.

If you're upgrading from version 2.0.1, the update process is standard:

ghost update

For manual installations, update your package.json and run npm install as usual.

Upgrade Recommendations

This is a minor patch release that improves installation compatibility.

• For existing installations: This update is not critical for functioning Ghost sites, but upgrading is recommended to maintain version consistency.
• For new installations: This version is recommended as it removes the git dependency, making installation possible on more server configurations.

The update is low-risk and should not cause any disruption to existing Ghost sites.

Bug Fixes

Installation Dependency Fix

The primary bug fix in this release addresses an installation issue where Ghost previously required git to be installed on the server:

• Modified package.json to change the oembed-parser git link to use a tarball instead
• Removed implicit dependency on git being available during installation
• This resolves issues for users attempting to install Ghost on servers where git is not available or cannot be installed

New Features

No new features were added in this release. This is a bug fix and compatibility improvement release focused on installation requirements.

Security Updates

No security fixes were included in this release.

Performance Improvements

No specific performance improvements were included in this release. The changes were focused on installation compatibility rather than runtime performance.

Impact Summary

Ghost 2.0.2 makes a small but significant change to the installation process by removing the requirement for having git installed on the server. This change primarily impacts system administrators and hosting providers who can now deploy Ghost on more minimal server configurations.

The modification changes how the oembed-parser dependency is referenced in package.json, switching from a git link to a tarball. This is particularly beneficial for server environments where installing git is not feasible or desirable, such as certain shared hosting environments, containerized deployments with minimal images, or security-hardened servers with limited system utilities.

While this change doesn't add new functionality to Ghost itself, it does remove a barrier to installation and makes Ghost more accessible to a wider range of deployment scenarios.

Full Release Notes