Ghost Release: 5.85.0

TL;DR

Ghost v5.85.0 introduces performance improvements with a new database index for posts.updated_at, enhancing search operations. The update also fixes cursor movement issues in the excerpt-in-editor beta feature and adds a loading indicator for internal linking popups. This release focuses on improving the editor experience and database query performance for content management operations.

Highlight of the Release

• Added database index on posts.updated_at field for improved query performance
• Fixed cursor movement issues in the excerpt-in-editor beta feature
• Added loading indicator for internal linking popups during searches
• Updated several dependencies including yjs, tailwindcss, and cssnano

Migration Guide

No specific migration steps are required for this release. The database index for posts.updated_at will be automatically added through the standard Ghost update process.

If you're using the excerpt-in-editor beta feature, you'll notice improved cursor movement between fields after updating.

Upgrade Recommendations

This release is recommended for all Ghost users, especially those using the excerpt-in-editor beta feature or sites with large post databases that would benefit from the performance improvements provided by the new database index.

As always, it's recommended to back up your database before upgrading and to test the update in a staging environment if possible.

Bug Fixes

Fixed cursor movement across fields in excerpt-in-editor beta

This release resolves an issue with cursor movement between fields in the excerpt-in-editor beta feature. During the previous subtitle-to-excerpt rename, some instances were missed, resulting in the excerpt field element not being registered correctly. The fix ensures proper cursor navigation and field registration by renaming remaining instances of "subtitle" and correcting mismatched action names.

Fixed double shadow issue on toast component story

Resolved a visual inconsistency in the toast component story where shadows were appearing twice, creating an unintended visual effect.

New Features

Added loading indicator for internal linking popups

When searching for content to link within the editor, a new loading spinner now appears during the search process. This provides better visual feedback to users when searches are in progress, improving the overall editing experience.

Added database index for posts.updated_at

A new database index has been added to the posts.updated_at field, which will improve the performance of queries that filter or sort by the last update time of posts. This enhancement addresses the issue tracked in ONC-82 and should result in faster database operations for certain content queries.

Security Updates

No security fixes were included in this release.

Performance Improvements

Database query optimization with posts.updated_at index

This release adds a new database index on the posts.updated_at column, which will significantly improve the performance of queries that filter or sort by post update time. This enhancement is particularly beneficial for sites with large post databases, as it reduces the need for full table scans when retrieving recently updated content.

The index was implemented through a database migration and has also been added to the schema definition for consistency.

Impact Summary

Ghost v5.85.0 delivers targeted improvements to the editor experience and database performance. The addition of the posts.updated_at index will improve query performance for operations that filter or sort by update time, which is particularly valuable for sites with large content databases.

Content creators will benefit from the fixed cursor movement in the excerpt-in-editor beta feature, making the editing process more intuitive. The new loading indicator for internal linking searches provides better visual feedback during the content creation process.

This release also includes several dependency updates to keep the platform current with the latest package versions. Overall, this update focuses on quality-of-life improvements and performance optimizations rather than introducing major new features.

Full Release Notes