The release of Loki version 1.5.0 introduces a significant change with the boltdb-shipper index, allowing the software to operate without a separate dedicated index store, thus simplifying deployment and reducing operational costs. This new feature, developed by Sandeep Sukhani and his team, uses an in-memory boltdb index to send snapshots to an object store like S3 or GCS, making the sharing of index information more efficient. However, the upgrade also includes substantial changes due to an updated Cortex library dependency, which may lead to config errors for existing setups, prompting operators to review and adjust their configurations accordingly. Additionally, the Loki Docker image now runs under a different user, which might require modifications to file permissions and directory mounts. The release includes other enhancements and bug fixes, with nearly 140 pull requests merged, and further details and future features are discussed in an upcoming GrafanaCONline talk.