Ghost, the node.js-based blogging platform that took Kickstarter by storm a few months ago, is set to release its first beta to the public in just a few weeks. Given the overwhelming dominance of WordPress in the blogging space, some may be surprised to see such a clamor around a new platform

Creator John O’Nolan has a simple explanation. O’Nolan, a former WordPress Contributor himself , opines that WordPress has grown up and is no longer really about blogs anymore. It’s become a full-fledged content management system, burdened with a lot of unnecessary complexity for those that are just looking to manage a blog.

The Ghost Dashboard

That is the thinking that has brought us Ghost. Ghost puts everything you need and only what you need right where you need it. By design, it is exquisitely simple, and it’s meant to do one thing and one thing only, better than all the rest: blogging.

A Standing Ovation

Open source projects are typically popular, and with the obvious tie-ins to their core business, it’s no surprise that a hosting company like Singlehop or a theme marketplace like Envato would be quick to sponsor the likes of Ghost.

The project’s success on Kickstarter was notable, as they reached their financing goal of £25,000 in less than 12 hours, tallying nearly 8 times their goal before they were done. The idea of a purely blog-oriented platform obviously struck a chord with many people that know what blogging should be about.

O’Nolan’s abilities and innovative approach garnered attention from more than just pocket investors, too. Forbes, Wired, TechCrunch and Mashable found Ghost worthy of mention, as well.

A Giant Stirs

Meanwhile in Redmond, other heads were turned. Internet Explorer joined in at the partner level, sending a strong message. Perhaps Microsoft sees a chance to reclaim some of its dwindling share of the browser market… or maybe it sees in Ghost the potential to turn the blogging space on its ear.

With Yahoo! pushing ahead with plans for their recent Tumblr acquisition, the timing for a truly disruptive force in the blogging world is perfect. Microsoft isn’t afraid to step into the ring with other big competitors; can we expect to see Ghost integrated into their cloud platform, Azure? They’ve already announced plans to develop an official Ghost plugin for Modern.ie – an IE browser testing suite. With the weight of the tech giant behind it, this platform could grow big, fast.

Something New

O’Nolan’s platform is innovative to say the least. Built on Node.js, Ghost is dynamic and lively. The choice to utilize markdown lends an ease to writing that makes it pleasant to compose text formatted for the web. Compared to WordPress’s bulky editor and aging PHP code base, the difference is striking.

Ghost uses Markdown in lieu of HTML

As you dig deeper into Ghost, you’ll find more nuanced details that make it evident that a designer drove this project rather than a developer. For instance, the native installation has no provisions for commenting, as it’s intended more for publishing than discussion. The dashboard is clean and beautiful, and the interface in general is free of clutter. O’Nolan, who filled the #2 slot on the WordPress UI team, knows exactly what he wants and he knows how to accomplish it.

As an open source platform, launched through a not-for-profit organization, Ghost is poised to attract both developers and designers in droves. Have a look for yourself – this could be a game-changer for the blogosphere.