WordPress Version Control with Git

Summary of key points

• WordPress website versioning is critical, it can track changes, roll back to previous versions, and collaborate with other developers. Git is a popular choice, but it can be complicated to set up, especially when it comes to deciding what to commit, what to ignore, and how to synchronize database changes.
• VersionPress is an alternative to traditional Git for WordPress websites, which is easy to install and track every change of the website. It also allows undoing operations and rolling the entire website back to its previous state. Advanced users can manage VersionPress through their normal Git client.
• Some hosting providers (such as SiteGround) provide their own Git-based version control services without the need for a WordPress administrator to set up and maintain their own repositories. Regardless of the method you choose, version control is a key tool to keep your WordPress website updated, secure, and easy to manage.

This article is part of a series created in collaboration with SiteGround. Thank you for supporting the partners who made SitePoint possible.

Version control is an integral part of the web development workflow and is equally important for WordPress websites. However, setting up a WordPress website with version control (more specifically, using Git) can be challenging in several ways. Knowing what to submit to the Git repository and what to ignore can be challenging. This is also possible with synchronizing database changes. WordPress is easy to update directly to a live site, which makes it very easy to directly update a live site, breaking the version control process.

The following are several ways to use Git and WordPress, some information about VersionPress (the famous Git plugin), and a brief introduction to host-based Git implementation.

Using Git with WordPress

Using Git with WordPress can be challenging. Here are some tips that can help you move in the right direction (note that these tips assume you already have a basic understanding of Git):

Regarding your database connection, you should do one of two things: Use the exact same database name and credentials in development, staging and production environments so that there is no difference in your wp-config.php database connection information , or ignore your wp-config.php completely so that it will not be overwritten by information from the local development environment.

When it comes to what to ignore, you should probably also ignore your upload directory. Synchronous uploads are unnecessary, and uploads are the only content that may only be added to the production file system, so there is no need to cause unnecessary synchronization problems!

Disable some features in WordPress can also be useful.

• Disable automatic update by adding define( 'AUTOMATIC_UPDATER_DISABLED', true ); to wp-config.php. This will completely stop automatic updates on production sites.
• Disable the admin panel's file editor by adding define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true ); to prevent it from being used to modify theme code and other files on the production site.
• Or, use define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true ); to completely stop modifying or adding themes, plugins, etc. (make the previous wp-config.php recommendation unnecessary). This ensures that all updates are completed first in a development or staging environment and then manually pushed to the live site.
• Please note that the use of any of these restrictions should be combined with the creation process to ensure regular updates are performed. There is a reason for automatic updates, and if you don't make sure your sites are up to date, you'll make them reduce one risk and add another.

Backups created manually or through plug-ins should be stored somewhere outside the Git repository (preferably off-site or cloud backup).

Use VersionPress

VersionPress is an alternative to traditional Git repositories that use WordPress sites. Installing VersionPress is as easy as installing any other plugin! As part of the installation process, VersionPress checks for required prerequisites on the host system and warns you or stops the installation if it does not exist.

After the installation is complete, you are ready to start! VersionPress tracks every change to the site—added, modified, and deleted posts or pages, plugin changes, and more. You can view a list of tracked events, you can click Undo next to any single event to undo that particular past event, or you can click Rollback to roll back the entire site to the status when the event occurred . Very cool!

Most importantly, advanced users can use their regular Git client to manage VersionPress installations, because every action and command performed by VersionPress is directly powered by Git.

Git service provided by the host

Some hosts offer their own version control services, allowing WordPress administrators to benefit from using Git repositories to control their site without having to set up a repository somewhere and maintain it. For example, SiteGround uses a Git-based cPanel plugin that provides version control services directly in your cPanel, making it very easy to use.

Whatever you choose, WordPress administrators can still implement version control, which is the best way to keep your site updated, secure and manageable!

FAQs about using Git for WordPress version control

What is the importance of using WordPress version control?

Versioning is a system that records changes to files or sets of files over time so that you can call a specific version later. In WordPress, it allows developers to track changes, roll back to previous versions, and collaborate with other developers without worrying about overwriting or losing the original code. It provides a safety net and makes the development process more efficient and easier.

How does Git work with WordPress for version control?

Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in source code during software development. When used with WordPress, it allows developers to track all changes made to the code base. Git creates a file repository when the file changes, creating a change history that can be viewed or even rolled back if necessary. This makes it easier to collaborate with other developers and maintain project integrity.

If I were a separate developer, can I use Git for version control?

Absolutely. Even if you work alone, Git can be very beneficial. It allows you to keep a history of changes and can easily roll back if something goes wrong. It also makes it easier to manage updates and changes, especially when you work on large projects.

How do I start versioning with Git in WordPress?

To start versioning with Git in WordPress, you first need to install Git on your local computer. Once the installation is complete, you can initialize a new Git repository in the WordPress directory. From there, you can start tracking changes, committing changes to the repository, and pushing changes to the remote repository.

What are the best practices for using Git and WordPress?

Some best practices with Git and WordPress include submitting frequently and writing clear submission messages. This makes it easier to track changes and understand the history of the project. It is also recommended to ignore certain files in WordPress that do not require versioning, such as the wp-config.php file or the /uploads directory.

Can I use Git for version control on a live WordPress website?

Yes, but not recommended. Using Git on a live site can cause downtime and other issues. It is best to use Git locally or in a staging environment and then deploy the changes to a live site.

How to use Git to roll back to a previous version of a WordPress website?

To use Git to roll back to a previous version of your WordPress website, you can use the "git checkout" command followed by a commit hash. This will change your file back to the status at the time of the commit.

How does Git handle conflicts in WordPress?

Git handles conflicts by tagging conflicting areas in the code. Then you need to resolve these conflicts manually by choosing the version of the code you want to keep. Once resolved, you can submit the resolved code to the repository.

Can I use Git with other WordPress version control systems?

Yes, Git can be used with other version control systems such as Subversion or Mercurial. However, it is important to note that each system has its own advantages and disadvantages, and using multiple systems can sometimes lead to confusion or conflict.

What are some common challenges when using Git for WordPress versioning? How can I overcome these challenges?

When using Git for WordPress versioning, some common challenges include handling merge conflicts, managing large repositories, and understanding Git's complex command-line interface. These challenges can be overcome by learning more about Git commands, using Git GUI clients, and following versioning best practices.

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