Ghost Release: 3.21.0

TL;DR

Ghost 3.21.0 introduces new API endpoints for managing Stripe connections, enhances the members modal with customization options, and improves image loading performance with better sizes attributes. This release also includes significant refactoring of members CSV handling code into separate modules and fixes for validation errors during member imports. The update focuses on improving developer experience, site performance, and giving site owners more control over their membership features.

Highlight of the Release

• New API endpoints for managing Stripe Connect integration
• Enhanced members modal with customizable settings
• Improved image loading performance with better sizes attributes
• Tags sidebar navigation for editors
• Modularized members CSV handling code

Migration Guide

No specific migration steps are required for this release. The changes are mostly additive and should not break existing functionality.

If you're using the members import functionality, you'll now receive more detailed error messages when validation issues occur, which should help troubleshoot any import problems more effectively.

Upgrade Recommendations

This is a recommended upgrade for all Ghost users, especially those who:

• Use Stripe for memberships and need better management options
• Want more control over the members modal appearance and functionality
• Would benefit from improved image loading performance
• Are editors who work with tags frequently

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

Bug Fixes

Members Import Validation

• Fixed handling for grouped validation errors during members import
• Model's validation errors are now properly flattened before returning to the client, providing more insight into what went wrong during imports

Package Management

• Fixed package version to be exact, following repository convention

New Features

New API Endpoints for Stripe Management

• Added /admin/members/hasActiveStripeSubscriptions endpoint to check for active Stripe subscriptions
• Added /admin/settings/stripe/connect endpoint to delete a Stripe Connect integration when there are no active subscriptions

Enhanced Members Modal Customization

• Added new settings for members modal customization:
  • portal_button controls the visibility of the beacon in members modal
  • portal_name controls the visibility of the name field in signup
  • portal_plans controls which plans are available for member signup
• Added Stripe connect check to determine if Stripe is properly set up

Image Loading Improvements

• Added sizes attribute to in-content <img> elements with media queries that match typical content widths
• Fixed srcset output where "unknown" sizes were causing 302 redirects and slowing image loading

Editor Improvements

• Added tags sidebar navigation for editors to improve content organization workflow

Security Updates

No specific security fixes were mentioned in this release.

Performance Improvements

Image Loading Performance

• Added sizes attribute with media-queries to in-content <img> elements, giving browsers better hints about which responsive image size to fetch
• Fixed srcset output issues that were causing unnecessary 302 redirects and slowing down image loading

Dependency Updates

• Updated dependency jwks-rsa to v1.8.1
• Updated dependency eslint to v7.3.0
• Upgraded @tryghost/members-api to 0.23.0

Impact Summary

Ghost 3.21.0 brings several quality-of-life improvements for site owners and developers. The new Stripe management endpoints provide more control over payment integrations, allowing site owners to safely disconnect Stripe when needed. The members modal customization options give more flexibility in how the membership features appear to end users.

Performance improvements for image loading will benefit all Ghost sites with image-heavy content, potentially improving Core Web Vitals scores and overall user experience.

The refactoring of members CSV handling code into separate modules continues Ghost's journey toward a more modular codebase, which will benefit developers working with the platform. This change, while mostly internal, sets the foundation for future improvements to the members import/export functionality.

For editors, the addition of tags sidebar navigation improves the content organization workflow, making it easier to manage and categorize content.

Full Release Notes