Update Smart: Use a Staging Site!
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The document outlines the importance of using a staging site for website updates to prevent disruptions on the live site, facilitate thorough testing, and address potential issues without impacting users. It details various methods for creating a staging site, including using backup plugins, web host features, third-party services, and local setups. Additionally, it provides workflows for managing updates and suggests considerations for responsibilities and resources related to site maintenance.
Update Smart: Use a Staging Site!
- 1. Update Smart: Use a Staging Site! Meagan Hanes
- 2. Has this ever happened to you?
- 4. The Solution: Use a Staging Site!
- 5. What is a Staging Site? ★ ideally on the same server ★ robots.txt/Dashboard set to hide the site from search engines ★ in contrast to your "Production" or "Live" site a private copy of your site
- 6. Why do we use Staging Sites? ★ websites get hacked via non-updated WordPress files ○ plugins, themes, and WP core files ★ but "doing it live" is NOT the best way! to keep our websites healthy
- 7. Why do we use Staging Sites? ★ updates are done without affecting the live site ★ go slowly through updates, actually read update notes ★ test thoroughly without polluting live site’s database perform updates carefully
- 8. Why do we use Staging Sites? ★ if a plugin problem is found, live users are not impacted ○ super important for e-commerce sites & forums ★ eliminates SEO-crippling / BI problems eliminate mistakes&downtime
- 9. How to Create a Staging Site
- 10. How to Create a Staging Site use a backup plugin ★ use a tool that many sites already have installed ★ bonus: become more familiar with restoring websites ★ BackupBuddy, VaultPress, UpdraftPlus, Duplicator, etc
- 11. How to Create a Staging Site use your web host ★ many web hosts include one-click staging ★ WP Engine, LiquidWeb, Flywheel, Siteground ★ GoDaddy & A2Hosting (Managed WordPress)
- 12. How to Create a Staging Site use a staging site service ★ third-party services like WPStagecoach.com ★ automatically deletes the site after inactivity ★ is not free; does not work with Multisite
- 13. How to Create a Staging Site manually clone the site ★ great opportunity to better understand WordPress ★ copy over all files (WP, plugins, themes, media uploads) ★ export & import your database; replace all URLs
- 14. How to Create a Staging Site create a local site clone ★ use an all-in-one solution like Local by Flywheel ★ 100% private, on your local machine only ★ will likely not be identical to your server
- 15. Update Workflow with a Staging Site
- 16. STEP 4 Perform plugin update on live site STEP 3 Test each plugin’s functionality STEP 2 Perform updates one at a time on staging site STEP 1 Identify items with updates; create update plan Website Update Workflow: Staging Sites could also re-migrate entire website + database
- 17. Workflow #1 - Manually 1. Make a backup of both environments 2. Review list of updates available 3. Perform updates one-by-one on Staging site 4. Test each update with specific cases 5. Review Staging site’s front page after all plugin updates are applied. 6. Apply these updates on Production with confidence! 7. If there’s an error, roll back step by step and discover what is causing the problem 8. Resolve the problem / apply other plugin updates
- 18. Workflow #2 - Use Version Control (Git) 1. Make a backup of both environments 2. Review list of updates available 3. Create and checkout a new Git branch for your updates 4. Perform updates one-by-one on Staging site 5. Test each update with specific cases 6. Review Staging site’s front page after all plugin updates are applied. 7. If it looks good, push the branch, then merge this branch into your Production branch 8. Deploy to Production with confidence! 9. If there’s an error, roll back step by step and discover what is causing the problem 10.Resolve the problem / apply other plugin updates
- 19. Workflow #3 - Use WP Engine’s Tools 1. Make a backup of both environments 2. Ensure no content is on Staging that will be lost! 3. Clone your Production site down to Staging 4. Review list of updates available 5. Perform updates one-by-one on Staging site 6. Test each update with specific cases 7. Review Staging site’s front page after all plugin updates are applied. 8. Use WP Engine’s built-in tool to push the Staging site to Production with confidence! 9. If there’s an error, revert to your recent backup and ask LiveChat kindly :) 10.Resolve the problem / apply other plugin updates
- 20. Wise Questions regarding Staging Sites
- 21. Wise Questions You Should Consider who’s job is this? ★ who exactly is responsible for making these updates ★ how often will updates be performed ★ schedule this task; be firm with its importance
- 22. Wise Questions You Should Consider should i pay someone else? ★ time = $$$ especially when updates go wrong ★ many maintenance services include daily/weekly backups ★ frees up internal resource for more important work
- 23. Bonus Staging Site Tips
- 24. Bonus Tip: Change Your Dashboard Colours Live Site Staging Site
- 25. Bonus Tip: Change Your Dashboard Colours Live Site Staging Site
- 26. Bonus Tip: Nuke It With Fire ★ Common situation with staging sites: ○ “Testing some things out” ○ “Working on new content” ○ “Don’t update it PLEASE!!!111!1” ★ Solution: Company policy regarding staging site deletion ○ Staging may be overwritten at any time sans notice ★ But perform a quick backup regardless
- 27. Upcoming Canadian WordCamps August 10 - 11: Montreal 2019.Montreal.WordCamp.org September 7: Halifax 2019.Halifax.WordCamp.org October 19th: Niagara 2019.Niagara.WordCamp.org
- 28. Update Smart: Use a Staging Site! Meagan Hanes