To Upgrade Or Not To Upgrade, That Is The Question
TheSpot-er on December 19th, 2007
NOTE! If you enjoy this post, please feel free to
twitter it with the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/5jufuv and comment below. Thanks, I appreciate it and value your feedback! Alex Sysoef
WordPress plugins help us make our blogs unique and more interactive but as any Open Source scripts they are frequently updated by the authors. Since your overall blog experience relies on a combined effect of the core and all plugins anytime a new version becomes available one question on your mind should be…
To Upgrade Or Not To Upgrade?
Starting with WordPress 2.3 we have a new functionality of notifications when new version of plugin becomes available. I have covered the process of upgrade in my latest video tutorial “How To Upgrade WordPress Plugins Video Tutorial“. But does it mean you should immidiatelly?
I think NOT!
When author releases a new version of plugin it is done with good intentions; be it a new features, a fix or to address a possible security issue. There is no evil thought behind the process, he is not trying to screw up your blog but…
He can only test so much before releasing a new version and due to many different configurations on multiple hosts - new version might not work same way as it does during his testing. In fact, a plugin that deemed to be in perfect working order can make your blog completely out of whack! I generally follow a simple process before installing a new version of plugin:
- Get a backup of my database.
- Test new plugin on my development blog - I know this is not something available to everyone but if you host provides you with option to host multiple databases, installing exact copy of your blog in a separate folder like dev, test or something to that effect will go a long way. Keep it in sync with production blog but during install choose not to announce it to search engines and possibly make the directory password protected to disable all access to it except for yourself.
- Visit author’s blog and review comments. Usually if a new issue discovered it will be posted there. Review requirements specified by author and be sure your blog fits them. If a new release didn’t generate any comments - wait a couple of days and revisit just to be sure. Once you identify that plugin should be safe to install..
- Install new plugin and test the functionality it affects. Use a different browser if needed but do test it. It seems like every time I skip this step I get bitten by a problem, so don’t skip this step.
- Grab a cookie - you deserve it!
Plugins are essential and keeping them updated is important but we shouldn’t ignore overall blog integrity wen approaching the process. After all - it is your blog and when something is broken - it is up to you to fix it and I much rather prevent it if possible by following simple steps outlined above.
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Some good thoughts, Alex. For myself, when I see that there’s a new version of a plug-in available, I look at what the plug-in is, first of all. If it’s something that I rarely use I might not upgrade it at all. But I do check to see what exactly is addressed in the upgrade, and if it’s a security issue, I’ll consider that to be a little more urgent.
Like you, I have a sandbox blog that I’m able to test new versions on before I put them on the live site. I wouldn’t want to do it any other way.
Rod Templeton’s last blog post..Pet peeves about blogs
Rod,
Thanks for commenting. Unfortunately not everyone follows basic steps and creates problems easily avoided. Hence I decided to share.
Alex
great advice. I have had a lot of issues as far as these sorts of upgrades go. So I do as you do - have a test server and use that first.
Matt Ellsworth’s last blog post..ArticleSnatch December 17th, 2007 Newsletter
I think upgrading is a necessary evil. It can be time consuming and painful and even more so, if you have multiple websites, Etc., however, the smartest thing to do is to factor in the time and cost involved in such an exercise upfront. If I am doing a site for a customer, I often offer them an “upgrate/maintenance” plan upfront that they can choose to buy.
Nice tip Suzanne!
Thanks for sharing. Although I don’t do installs of client sites (I prefer to show how people can do it themselves) it can be a very useful considering the time involved…
Alex
Backing up your database is certainly an essential prerequisite before upgrading! Better safe than sorry.
WP is releasing its 2.4 version on January 2008, or so I’ve heard.
I am using 2.3.1
Marisa Duma’s last blog post..Thank you, Ireland.
I’m not much of a plug-in guy, but I do have a few plug-ins in my blog which I think are necessary. Before I install a plug-in, I ask myself this question - is it really essential for my blog? If the answer is yes, i try it out. Fortunately, so far I haven’t had any problems but for the one created by bad behavior, which you helped out.
“it is your blog and when something is broken - it is up to you to fix it ” - Tell me about it. :))
Krishnan’s last blog post..Cell Phone Ads - Reach your customers via text messages
@ Marisa - you are correct.
@Krishnan - well in my opinion plugins are a necessary evil
or a blessing, depends on how you look at it. I Like them because they greatly extend functionality but I also install many to try and then remove …
Most often I trust the plugin author that he knows what he is doing. And if a bug slipped in, for sure there will be a fix.
James’s last blog post..Laure Manaudou Naked Pics And Video
Alex,
Through this post you have open eye to new way of testing plugins.
Thanks.
Sunday
Hi Alex,
I discovered your blog this morning on Bloggingzoom.com. I have since been clicking through the site and finding wonderful information and lots to think about.
I started building by blog 2 years ago and wish I had the knowledge I have now.
As for plug-ins, I don’t install any that I haven’t read about in a blog like yours and seen pros and cons. I’m not very tech savvy so I use caution to avoid trouble spots. Most plug-ins I’ve installed successfully, and I always get a thrill when the plugs install properly.
I am looking for a simple easy to install plug-in for social networks. I don’t like installing into the blog template since I wouldn’t know how to fix any problems,
is there one that works like the bloggingzoom plug-in?
Love your blog.
Nick
Nick Grimshawe’s last blog post..The Future, The Past and Now: A SunShine Dialogue
Nick, they used to have one … but they had some issues with hackers wiping them out and last I checked blog was still not restored. Once they get back into action, you should find plugin on their blog.