You’ve just launched a new WordPress website that looks great now, but what about in a few days, months, or even years? Chances are, you’ll need to make updates, whether they’re small tweaks or big changes. That’s where WordPress source control, also known as WordPress version control, comes in. It helps you keep track of different versions of your site, like taking snapshots of your site at various points in time.
Read on to discover what WordPress source control is, how it operates, and the options available for implementing it.
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What Is WordPress Source Control And Do I Need It?
WordPress source control is a system that helps you track and manage changes made to your site. Think of it as a way to keep a detailed record of updates and modifications so you can easily revert to previous versions if something goes wrong.
Here are some examples of changes you might want to track with source control:
- Switching to a new theme
- Updating WordPress to the latest version
- Adding or removing plugins
- Creating or editing pages and posts
- Making styling changes across your site
- Editing theme files that affect how content is displayed
In all these cases, WordPress source control provides an extra layer of security, ensuring you can safeguard your site from potential issues. It’s not just for file changes; source control is also crucial for WordPress database version control.
Why Use WordPress Source Control?
- Version Tracking: Version control systems like GitHub and GitLab keep a detailed history of every change made to your WordPress site’s code. It means you can see what was changed, when, and by whom, whether it’s an update to a theme or a plugin tweak. This history is crucial for understanding and troubleshooting changes.
- Collaboration: When multiple developers work on a WP site, source control facilitates smooth teamwork. Each developer can work on separate branches (or versions) of the site without affecting the main codebase. Once their changes are ready and tested, they can be merged into the main branch, keeping the workflow efficient and organized.
- Backup And Recovery: Source control acts like a safety net. If something goes wrong during an update or modification, you can quickly revert to a previous, stable version. It minimizes downtime and helps keep your site up and running smoothly.
- Code Review and Quality Assurance: With version control, reviewing code becomes easier. Team members can review each other’s changes, suggest improvements, and ensure coding standards are met. It helps catch issues early and maintain high-quality code.
Adding Source Control To WordPress
Incorporating source control into your WordPress workflow is a game-changer for managing and maintaining your site’s code. Here’s how you can enhance your site’s reliability and streamline your WordPress development process:
Git Repository:
Creating a repository on platforms like GitHub, Bitbucket, or others allows you to track and manage all your site’s files, whether they’re WordPress core files, theme files, or plugin files. It provides a central location to monitor and manage any modifications.
Post Revisions:
WordPress includes a built-in feature that lets you access and restore previous versions of pages and posts directly from the post editor.
Solid Backups:
This premium plugin provides a complete- backup of your WordPress site’s files and database. You can download and store these backups locally or set them up for automatic storage elsewhere for added security.
Staging Site:
Setting up a duplicate of your WordPress site, known as a staging or development site, allows you to test changes before applying them to your live site. This staging environment provides a secure area for experimentation, remaining invisible to the public.
By integrating WordPress source control into your strategy, you safeguard your site’s integrity and streamline your development workflow, paving the way for smoother updates and greater site stability. Passion8Press can enhance this process by providing expert support for setting up and managing your source control system, ensuring your WordPress site remains secure and well-maintained. With Passion8Press’s knowledgeable team at your side, you can focus on growing your site while they handle the technical details of source control.
Passion8Press provides expert solutions for WordPress development, transforming concepts into dynamic websites that captivate and engage audiences. They specialize in creating versatile plugins and themes that integrate smoothly with existing sites. They also ensure website safety through reliable core file and database backups stored on external servers, with a convenient 1-click restore feature for easy recovery when needed.
Limitations Of Built-In WordPress Source Control
The built-in source control in WordPress has a few limitations:
No Drafts For Existing Posts:
While you can save new pages or posts as drafts before publishing, this feature doesn’t apply to existing published content. Edits to existing posts must be published- immediately. To draft changes for future publication, you’ll need to clone the post and manually transfer the changes when ready.
Lack Of Source Control For Widgets, Menus, And Source Files:
It manages source control for WordPress pages and posts- but it doesn’t extend this to widgets, menus, or source files. This means multiple users can make simultaneous changes to these elements, leading to version control conflicts.
No Source Control For Media Library Files:
WordPress does not track versions of files in the Media Library, such as PDFs or images. To manage different versions of these files, you would need a WordPress file manager plugin with source control, such as Document Library Pro.
These limitations may affect WordPress’s position in comparison, where some platforms offer more robust version control. However, you can address these gaps by installing a WordPress plugin version control.
Also Read,
WordPress Version Control: The Best Guide
Top 7 WordPress Development Best Practices To Make Your Website Shine
Wrapping Up
Implementing WordPress source control for your website is more than just a safeguard; it’s a strategic move to ensure the integrity and continuity of your online presence. By incorporating source control systems like Git, you empower your development process with greater transparency, collaboration, and security. With Passion8Press’s support, you gain expert assistance, benefit from live external backups for your core files and database on reliable servers, and can hire WordPress developer to further enhance the development process.
Embracing WordPress source control with Passion8Press is a step toward a more robust and resilient website.
FAQs
Q: Does WordPress support source control?
A: Yes, WordPress can benefit from using a source control system. This allows you to track changes made to your site, providing a record of modifications and the ability to revert to previous versions if needed.
Q: Why is source control important for WordPress sites?
A: Source control is important because it provides a systematic way to track changes, manage versions, and collaborate with others. It also helps in rolling back to earlier versions if updates cause issues, enhancing the site’s stability and security.
Q: Can I edit the WordPress source code?
A: Yes, WordPress offers a built-in code editor for modifying theme and plugin files directly from the dashboard. However, many developers prefer using external code editors and uploading changes via FTP for better safety and version control.
Q: What are some best practices for managing WP code with source control?
A: Best practices include using a version control system like Git, regularly committing changes with clear messages, maintaining separate branches for development and production, and frequently backing up your site’s code.
