Ghost Release: 4.0.0-rc.1

TL;DR

Ghost 4.0.0-rc.1 is a release candidate for the upcoming major 4.0 release, bringing significant updates to the platform. This version includes URL handling improvements, updated default settings and fixtures for a refreshed look and feel, and numerous package updates to prepare for the final 4.0 release. Key fixes address issues with URL transformations in settings, AMP content, and mobiledoc errors during upgrades from older versions. The release also introduces a new default accent color scheme and optimized database migrations.

Highlight of the Release

• Fixed URL transformation issues in settings and AMP content
• Updated default accent color scheme for better visual consistency
• Improved database migration performance
• Updated Portal to v1.0.0
• New fixtures and default settings for a refreshed look and feel

Migration Guide

Upgrading to Ghost 4.0.0-rc.1

This is a release candidate for the upcoming 4.0 major release. As with any major version upgrade, please take the following precautions:

1. Backup your database before upgrading
2. Test the upgrade on a staging environment if possible
3. Review the full changelog for any breaking changes that might affect custom themes or integrations

Accent Color Changes

• Existing sites without a custom accent color will receive #15171A (black) as their default
• New installations will use #FF1A75 (pink) as the default accent color
• No action is required, but site owners may want to customize this setting after upgrading

Mobiledoc Structure Changes

If you've been using custom cards or modifications to the editor, be aware that this release includes updates to the mobiledoc structure. Custom implementations may need to be updated accordingly.

Upgrade Recommendations

As this is a release candidate (RC) for Ghost 4.0, it's recommended for:

• Development and testing environments
• Early adopters who want to test the new features and provide feedback
• Those who want to prepare their sites and custom code for the upcoming 4.0 stable release

Production sites should wait for the final 4.0.0 stable release unless they are specifically testing for compatibility issues or are comfortable managing potential issues that may arise with pre-release software.

When upgrading from versions earlier than 3.0, please review the migration guides for intermediate versions as well, as there may be multiple breaking changes to consider.

Bug Fixes

URL Transformation Fixes

Several critical fixes for URL handling have been implemented:

• Fixed settings images (cover_image, logo, etc.) displaying with raw __GHOST_URL__ replacement strings
• Fixed AMP URLs not being transformed to absolute URLs
• Fixed __GHOST_URL__ appearing in settings values after edit
• Moved URL transformations from API serializers to the model layer for consistency

Mobiledoc Error Fixes

• Fixed mobiledoc errors when upgrading from v1/v2 to v4
• NOOPed 2.0 and 3.0 migrations to eliminate incompatibility errors with card-markdown cards
• Reduced processing requirements during upgrades

Other Fixes

• Fixed a foreign key to point to the correct column
• Added default value to accent_color setting
• Added regression tests for Admin API /site endpoints

New Features

Updated Default Settings and Fixtures

Ghost 4.0 introduces a completely refreshed set of default settings and fixtures designed to improve the onboarding experience for new users:

• Brand new version of Casper theme
• Updated default navigation settings
• New default accent color scheme:
  • New sites: #FF1A75 (pink) to highlight customization options
  • Existing sites upgrading: #15171A (black) as a sensible fallback

Portal v1.0.0

The Portal membership component has been updated to version 1.0.0, bringing it out of beta status.

Updated Content Structure

• Regenerated post content using updated mobiledoc structure
• Switch from British to US English in default content
• New fixture posts covering key features and providing better introduction to Ghost functionality

Security Updates

No specific security fixes were mentioned in this release.

Performance Improvements

Database Migration Optimization

• Removed queries against information_schema to speed up migrations
• Instead of checking database state before operations, the code now attempts the desired action and catches relevant errors
• This significantly improves performance for database configurations with many databases on a single MySQL instance

Testing Improvements

• Added --trace-warnings flag to tests to help identify and fix warning issues

Impact Summary

Ghost 4.0.0-rc.1 represents a significant step toward the final 4.0 release, focusing on polishing the user experience and fixing critical issues. The improvements to URL handling resolve several edge cases that could cause broken images and links, particularly in settings and AMP content.

The refreshed default settings and fixtures provide a more modern and intuitive starting point for new Ghost users, while the updated accent color approach ensures visual consistency across the platform. For developers, the optimization of database migrations will be particularly welcome, especially for those managing larger installations.

This release candidate brings Ghost closer to a stable 4.0 release with numerous package updates moving from RC status to final release versions. The updates to Portal, Koenig editor components, and the Members packages indicate that the Ghost ecosystem is aligning for this major version update.

Site administrators should note the changes to default settings and prepare for testing their themes and customizations against this release candidate before the final 4.0 release.

Full Release Notes