Add 1.8.1 announcement blog + changelog

src/routes/blog/post/appwrite-1-8-1-self-hosted-release/+page.markdoc

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+---
+layout: post
+title: Announcing Appwrite 1.8.1 for self-hosted deployments
+description: Appwrite 1.8.1 brings improved stability, modern web framework support, enhanced database operators, and more to self-hosted deployments.
+cover: /images/blog/appwrite-1-8-1-self-hosted-release/cover.png
+date: 2025-12-31
+timeToRead: 7
+author: steven
+category: announcement
+featured: false
+callToAction: true
+---
+
+Appwrite 1.8.1 delivers a focused set of improvements and fixes that further stabilize and extend Appwrite 1.8.0 on the self-hosted offering.
+
+This release benefits teams running Appwrite on their own infrastructure who want smoother deployments, better compatibility with modern frontend frameworks, and more control across Sites, Functions, Databases, and Storage.
+
+Here’s what’s new in Appwrite 1.8.1.
+
+# Sites & frontend compatibility
+
+Modern frontend frameworks continue to evolve rapidly, and 1.8.1 ensures Appwrite Sites stays up to date.
+
+## TanStack Start support
+
+This release introduces support for TanStack Start when deploying Sites, enabling auto-detection of framework and a smoother deployment experience with TanStack’s full-stack tooling.
+
+{% arrow_link href="/blog/post/tanstack-start-support-in-appwrite-sites" %}
+Read the official announcement
+{% /arrow_link %}
+
+## Next.js standalone support
+
+Appwrite 1.8.1 introduces support for Next.js standalone output, enabling easier deployment of optimized builds in self-hosted environments where container size, startup time, and dependency control are crucial.
+
+{% arrow_link href="/blog/post/nextjs-output-modes" %}
+Learn why Next.js standalone mode matters
+{% /arrow_link %}
+
+## ElevenLabs text-to-speech site template
+
+Appwrite 1.8.1 also includes the ElevenLabs text-to-speech site template for self-hosted Sites. This integration lets developers quickly deploy an AI-powered voice experience that converts text into realistic speech using the ElevenLabs API.
+
+{% arrow_link href="/integrations/ai-elevenlabs-text-to-speech" %}
+Learn how to deploy the template
+{% /arrow_link %}
+
+# Functions & runtimes
+
+## Updated Flutter default runtime
+
+The default Flutter build runtime has been updated to Flutter 3.35, ensuring better compatibility with the latest Flutter tooling and SDK improvements.
+
+This update brings improved stability, faster builds, and alignment with the current Flutter ecosystem for self-hosted Sites and Functions.
+
+# Storage & image handling
+
+## Bucket-level image transformation controls
+
+You can now enable or disable image transformations per bucket, giving you precise control over how files are handled.
+
+This is particularly useful when you need to restrict buckets to serve only original files or want to avoid unexpected transformation charges.
+
+{% arrow_link href="/changelog/entry/2025-11-21" %}
+Read the changelog
+{% /arrow_link %}
+
+# Email & integrations
+
+## Resend integration
+
+Appwrite 1.8.1 introduces support for Resend, expanding your options for transactional and application email delivery in self-hosted environments.
+
+This provides teams with more flexibility in selecting email providers that best suit their specific infrastructure needs.
+
+# Database improvements & fixes
+
+## Database operators support
+
+Appwrite 1.8.1 introduces database operators to self-hosted users. Database operators allow developers to perform inline, atomic updates to existing data without needing to go through the usual read–modify–write cycle. Instead of sending new values, you describe the action: increment, append, replace, or adjust. Appwrite applies that instruction directly in the database, performing the change in a single atomic step and keeping your data consistent without extra logic in your application code.
+
+{% arrow_link href="/blog/post/announcing-db-operators" %}
+Learn more about database operators
+{% /arrow_link %}
+
+## Additional database fixes
+
+- Improved handling of duplicate row creation during file uploads
+- Fixes for batch write edge cases
+- Better validation for nullable fields
+- Memory leak fixes in stats tracking
+
+Together, these updates improve consistency and reliability for applications running at scale.
+
+# Stability, security, and reliability fixes
+
+Appwrite 1.8.1 focuses on reliability, observability, and compatibility improvements for developers managing their own environments. As a patch release, it delivers a number of critical fixes that improve day-to-day operations for self-hosted users, including:
+
+- Fixed external deployment authorization errors
+- Improved WebP image library handling
+- Resolved file token expiry edge cases
+- Fixed issues with password updates and MFA challenges
+- Improved Next.js compatibility and runtime stability
+
+# Upgrade your self-hosted instance
+
+As with all Appwrite upgrades:
+
+- Back up your data before upgrading
+- Install Appwrite 1.8.1 using the following [Docker command](/docs/advanced/self-hosting/production/updates#install-next-version)
+
+    ```bash
+    docker run -it --rm \
+        --volume /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
+        --volume "$(pwd)"/appwrite:/usr/src/code/appwrite:rw \
+        --entrypoint="upgrade" \
+        appwrite/appwrite:1.8.1
+    ```
+
+- [Run migrations](/docs/advanced/self-hosting/production/updates#running-the-migration), even if you’re upgrading from 1.8.0
+
+To view the complete list of changes, fixes, and contributions, check out the full [release notes](https://github.com/appwrite/appwrite/releases/tag/1.8.1).

src/routes/changelog/(entries)/2025-12-31.markdoc

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+---
+layout: changelog
+title: Announcing Appwrite 1.8.1 for self-hosted deployments
+date: 2025-12-31
+cover: /images/blog/appwrite-1-8-1-self-hosted-release/cover.png
+---
+
+After multiple updates and fixes, we have now released Appwrite 1.8.1 for self-hosting!
+
+Most notably, this release includes:
+
+- Added branch-only deployments support
+- Added TanStack Start sites support
+- Added Next.js standalone support
+- Added Resend integration
+- Added option to enable/disable image transformations per-bucket
+- Added operators support
+- Added function and sites stats
+- Added disable count feature
+- Added ElevenLabs site template
+- Added suggested environment variables
+- Updated GeoDB database
+- Updated Flutter default build runtime
+- Upgraded runtimes
+
+Head over to our [migration guide](https://appwrite.io/docs/advanced/self-hosting/production/updates) to learn how you can upgrade your Appwrite instance. Please run the [migrate command](https://appwrite.io/docs/advanced/self-hosting/production/updates#running-the-migration) even if upgrading from 1.8.0.
+
+For the complete list of updates and fixes, check out the [release notes](https://github.com/appwrite/appwrite/releases/tag/1.8.1) on GitHub.
+
+{% arrow_link href="/docs/advanced/self-hosting/production/updates" %}
+Upgrade your self-hosted instance
+{% /arrow_link %}