Introduction to WordPress version control<\/h2>\n
So, what is this fascinating term called version control? There are two basic functions of version control. First, it keeps track of a directory of files by documenting what changes were made,\u00a0who made the changes, and when the changes were made.<\/strong><\/p>\n Most of the time, WordPress version control is focused on the first point (creating checkpoints).<\/p>\n There are many version control systems, each with its own set of pros and cons. And while each has its own interface, the core concept\u00a0of data management through regular backups and restores<\/a> is the same.<\/p>\n Generally, there are two sets\u00a0of data you want to control with WordPress:<\/p>\n To make the process as simple as possible, you should just use your entire WordPress directory as your file base. And you should also take periodic backups of your database to keep multiple versions.<\/p>\n The main value<\/strong> of why you should consider experimenting with version control is this:<\/p>\n Enabling WordPress version control ensures that your data is safe *<\/span> and you also have access to older versions of your site. In case you find\u00a0any errors on your website, you can safely roll back changes to an older version\u00a0thanks to WordPress version control.<\/p>\n For example, even if you follow all update best practices<\/a>, things can still go wrong. That’s why version control can be so helpful!<\/p>\n*<\/span>\u00a0To be absolutely safe, you need to keep offsite backups<\/a>. Otherwise, even WordPress version control can’t save you if a virus wipes out your entire server.<\/em><\/p>\n Revisr is a WordPress version control plugin that lets you manage your WordPress files and database directly from your WordPress dashboard. In order to fully understand the plugin, you should probably go through the\u00a0basics of Git<\/a>\u00a0first (the next plugin we feature is a bit more beginner friendly).<\/p>\n When you install and activate Revisr, it shows you the status of your current repository. But Git isn’t tracking any files yet.\u00a0You first need to select the files you want to track, “stage” them, and then “commit” them. You may want to skip your uploads folder\u00a0as Git is not very efficient at handling non-text files.<\/p>\n Imagine a commit as a snapshot of the state of your project. Once a commit is created, it enables you to revert\u00a0to that state of your project at a future date. You can create a detailed commit message to identify a commit. At the system level, a commit is identified by a large hexadecimal number, called the commit hash. These terms are a little complex – so again, the next plugin offers a simpler way.<\/p>\n Revisr also supports branching in Git<\/a>. Branching in Git enables you to create divergent workflows from a common point in history, identified by a commit. Branching is especially useful when you want to try out an experimental change, but may want to revert back to the original state if it fails or in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n Further, once you have set up Revisr and Git on your local machine, you can send the whole repository to the cloud using the push feature.<\/p>\n One word of caution when using Revisr. Upon\u00a0creating a Git repository in your root directory, Revisr automatically creates a At this point, you might realize that Revisr does a lot of what Git already does.\u00a0Why, then, do you need a second plugin? Well, Revisr may end up being a bit too complicated for the beginner, which is why the creators of VersionPress<\/a> decided to make things simpler in a few different ways.<\/p>\n VersionPress documents each change and lets you roll back.<\/p><\/div>\n Once active, VersionPress tracks every change in WordPress like version control tracks changes to files in a repository. Unlike Revisr, it does not require you to make commits, but automatically does so after every change.<\/p>\n For instance, when you create a post or install a plugin, VersionPress tracks it. For every change that it documents, VersionPress gives you an option to either undo an action without affecting other actions or roll back to the stage before\u00a0you performed the action.<\/p>\n WordPress version control is a great way to keep track of your WordPress site’s code and get easy snapshots that you can revert to if necessary. But which of these two version control plugins should you actually pick?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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WordPress version control with Revisr<\/h2>\n
![\"Using](\"https:\/\/mllj2j8xvfl0.i.optimole.com\/cb:c5QE.37290\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/themeisle.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/wordpress-version-control-1.png\")
<\/p>\n.git<\/code> directory that\u00a0contains all the information about your repository and its changes. Make sure this directory is inaccessible on your site, as a potential attacker can gain unhindered access to your project in that case.<\/p>\nWordPress version control with VersionPress<\/h2>\n
![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/mllj2j8xvfl0.i.optimole.com\/cb:c5QE.37290\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/themeisle.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/wordpress-version-control-2.png\")
Final thoughts<\/h2>\n