Ghost Release: 5.20.0

TL;DR

Ghost v5.20.0 introduces the ability to edit newsletter links after sending, allowing site owners to fix typos or broken links without resending emails. This release also adds audience feedback features, improved analytics with sentiment tracking, and better CSV import/export functionality. The update includes significant refactoring of the Tiers system and various UI improvements to the post analytics page.

Highlight of the Release

• Edit newsletter links after sending to fix typos or broken URLs
• Improved post analytics with sentiment tracking and filtered events
• Refactored Tiers system with better event handling
• Enhanced CSV import with strict field mapping for better data integrity
• Better UI for newsletter link editing with clear success/error states

Migration Guide

Tiers System Changes

If you're a developer working with the Tiers system, note that it has been significantly refactored:

• Tier object now uses camelCase property names exclusively
• Added support for Tier events (TierCreatedEvent, TierNameChangeEvent, TierPriceChangeEvent, TierArchivedEvent, TierActivatedEvent)
• Updated Tier to use core slug generation
• Fixed validation for trialDays to default to 0

CSV Import/Export Changes

The members CSV importer now uses strict field mapping:

email: 'email',
name: 'name',
note: 'note',
subscribed_to_emails: 'subscribed',
created_at: 'created_at',
complimentary_plan: 'complimentary_plan',
stripe_customer_id: 'stripe_customer_id',
labels: 'labels',
products: 'products'

Members export now contains "tiers" instead of "products" for informational purposes (cannot be imported back).

Upgrade Recommendations

This is a feature release that adds valuable functionality for newsletter publishers and site administrators. The ability to edit newsletter links after sending is particularly useful for fixing mistakes without resending emails.

Recommendation: Upgrade is recommended for all users, especially those who regularly send newsletters and want to ensure their links are always correct. There are no breaking changes reported, making this a safe upgrade for most installations.

For developers working with the Tiers system or CSV imports, review the migration guide to understand the architectural changes.

Bug Fixes

Fixed Newsletter and Email Issues

• Fixed newsletter links to prevent unnecessary requests when loading comment counts
• Fixed handling for unsuccessful comments API requests
• Fixed cached redirects for edited newsletter links
• Fixed loading animation for Safari

Fixed Member-Related Issues

• Fixed PromiseObject related errors thrown from members activity list
• Fixed comped tier assignment when archived tiers exist in the system

Other Fixes

• Fixed permissions for links endpoint
• Fixed broken ember-svg-jar asset viewer
• Fixed overflow for newsletter links
• Fixed period filter not appearing on smaller screens on dashboard
• Fixed visibility property on Tiers
• Fixed jumping of links on edit in analytics
• Fixed row hover effects in dark mode

New Features

Edit Newsletter Links After Sending

Site owners can now edit links in newsletters that have already been sent out. This feature allows fixing typos or broken URLs without needing to resend the newsletter. When a link is edited:

• All matching links in the newsletter are updated
• Click counter for the edited link resets to 0 (to track clicks on the new link)
• Overall click count remains unchanged
• Clear success/error states provide feedback during editing
• An "edited" indicator appears next to modified links

Improved Post Analytics

• Added sentiment ordering and filtering for posts
• Added filtered events tables to the analytics page
• Improved source attribution display
• Better responsive design for analytics modules
• Enhanced UI with clearer headers and layout

Enhanced Audience Feedback

• Added conversions count and separate analytics page
• Added feedback events to the activity feed
• Updated feedback buttons URL handling
• Added post_id filter and total count to activity feed API

Security Updates

No specific security fixes were mentioned in this release.

Performance Improvements

Improved Request Handling

• Fixed unnecessary requests with loading comment counts
• Added handling for unsuccessful comments API requests
• Improved caching for edited newsletter links

Better Code Organization

• Refactored Tiers logic into a separate package
• Moved resources to the new style
• Added 'getDefaultProduct' convenience method to product repo
• Reused getDefaultProduct where possible to reduce code duplication

Impact Summary

Ghost v5.20.0 significantly improves the newsletter publishing experience by allowing post-send link editing, a feature that helps publishers maintain professionalism even when mistakes happen. The enhanced analytics with sentiment tracking and filtered events provides deeper insights into content performance.

For site administrators, the improved CSV import with strict field mapping ensures better data integrity when importing members. The refactored Tiers system lays groundwork for future improvements to the membership system.

The UI improvements across the platform, particularly in the post analytics page, make the system more intuitive and user-friendly. Overall, this release focuses on quality-of-life improvements that make Ghost more robust and easier to use for publishers of all sizes.

Full Release Notes