folderblog 0.2.9: Fixes from a full QA pass, and podcast addresses that stay put

folderblog 0.2.9 is a maintenance release that resulted from an extensive quality assurance review of the 0.2.8 version. The update addresses various issues and introduces enhancements, including podcast-related refinements and improvements to the blog's overall functionality. Most of the changes are minor refinements aimed at enhancing user experience and ensuring stability.

Three key modifications stand out from this release. First, the podcast feed's title has been updated to include the blog name, making it clearer when the feed belongs to the same blog rather than just a link. Podcast applications will now automatically adopt this new title. If users prefer to retain the old title, they can specify it explicitly in podcast/index.md or using the [podcast] title field.

Another notable addition is the introduction of a new file, dates.toml, which stores date information for posts that lack their own. Previously, this data resided in the .blog/ folder and was only accessible when cloning a new instance of the blog. However, with the updated dates.toml in the blog folder, cloned posts will retain their original addresses, eliminating any potential discrepancies.

The inclusion of a [podcast.storage] prefix setting in version 0.2.9 is a significant improvement that pinpoints the folder where episode files reside on the hosting platform. This change prevents the need for manual renaming of blog folders, as the system now maintains consistent file addresses even when the blog folder is relocated. If this setting is omitted, the existing behavior remains unchanged.

One of the most significant updates in this release pertains to podcast episodes and their associated notes. When publishing a new episode through folderblog podcast publish --episode, or by using the MCP publish_episode tool, only the draft line is modified. This change ensures that existing comments and metadata within the template are preserved, preventing loss of valuable information during the publishing process.

Additionally, the check command now scans draft episodes, providing warnings and suggested GUIDs for any encountered issues, such as missing identifiers. These features help streamline the podcast publishing workflow and minimize potential errors.

Several other improvements have been made to enhance the overall user experience. The default podcast page no longer displays a doubled title, reading "Blog · Blog" instead of the redundant combination. Furthermore, S3-compatible storage documentation has been added, providing clear instructions on how to configure the system with type = s3, including the necessary configuration variables (FOLDERBLOG_STORAGE_KEY_ID and FOLDERBLOG_STORAGE_SECRET) or access to a key file.

This documentation ensures that users can seamlessly integrate folderblog with their preferred storage solutions.

The release also addresses various other minor issues and enhancements. Clearer error messages have been implemented, offering honest retry suggestions without ambiguity. The status command now explicitly indicates whether a machine is running within a systemd user session, facilitating troubleshooting for machines lacking this environment. In cases where machines do not possess a systemd user session, folderblog status will provide guidance on alternative installation methods.

Moreover, the check command has been refined to better identify and display information about images in posts and pages that are not referenced by any page. This feature aids users in managing their media assets more effectively, ensuring that unused images are promptly identified and addressed. Additionally, the documentation has been updated to provide clearer instructions for installing folderblog, including specific package commands for various operating systems (such as Arch Linux, Debian, Fedora, and RHEL) and instructions for installing from source using GitHub.

The release package and a plain tarball are available on the v0.2.9 release page, along with the complete source code on GitHub.