A Step by Step Guide to WordPress Deployment

The WordPress deployment workflow enables taking a website from the stage of development and going live. The workflow or process goes through many stages like planning, development, testing before the website goes live. Each step in the workflow works at addressing different issues to optimize the website performance and ensure security. Using the structured workflow developers can offer a high quality website that meets the business objectives and expectations of users.

This method increases the efficiency of the website deployment while reducing the downtime to ensure that users have a consistent and smooth experience while using the website. 

In this article, I will explore the workflow for WordPress deployment and cover each step starting from initial setup to post deployment maintenance. 

Initial setup

Selection of the domain name and a hosting provider kicks off the first stage of the workflow. Hosting providers like WP Engine or SiteGround can help simplify this process. 
WordPress installation - It is possible to install WordPress by using the single-click feature that is given on the hosting site or alternatively it can be downloaded and installed from WordPress's own website.

Planning and requirement stage

In this phase, the stakeholders define the objectives of the project, its target audience and the key functionalities that the website hopes to offer. Requirements are clearly documented, which include the design preferences and the content along with any other specific features that may be needed. Through planning and understanding the requirements, it becomes possible for the development team to ensure that the project is as per the client’s requirement, which leads to a faster and smoother development process. 

Design and prototyping

The working or functional and the visual parts are designed during this phase. Website modes can help in understanding how the site will work, how the UI looks and whether the website looks good enough to use. The template serves as a guide to understand how the final product would look like and helps in giving the necessary feedback prior to the start of the development process. There are many tools like  Adobe XD, Sketch which can be used to develop templates that can be used to imitate the way in which users would interact with the website. The stage is important as it helps ensure that the design is in sync with the brand that the site is developed for. The development team uses the feedback to improve the design and minimize the risks associated in making changes.

Development 

Website building starts off in this phase. Developers start the process by setting up the environment for development using tools like Local by Flywheel or Docker. Coding of custom themes and plugins is then done based on the design templates and other functional requirements. The development stage involves writing efficient code as per WordPress coding standards to ensure that it is compatible and secure. At this stage, developers can also add any third party services and APIs while configuring the database to match the project requirements. The use of version control programs like Git are used to keep track of the changes and enable collaboration within the teams. Regular testing is done that helps in identifying and fixing errors at an early stage, which ensures that the site works smoothly and meets all the specifications and requirements. 

Testing and quality assurance

Testing and quality assurance is an essential part of the WordPress deployment workflow. In this critical stage the functionality, performance and the security of the site is tested before it goes live. The developers and QA testers perform through tests which can include unit tests, integration tests and end to end tests, using tools like PHPUnit and Selenium. These tests check for errors, bugs, issues in compatibility and performance issues, to ensure that all the features work on different devices, browsers and platforms. The use of automated testing scripts helps catch errors at an early stage of development. Developers also perform User acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure that the website is as per the client requirements and gives users a smooth working experience. 

Deployment 

The website goes live. Here the final code, databases and the media files are loaded on to the production server. This process can be done manually using FTP or SSH or using automated tools like Jenkins, Buddy, or GitHub Actions. It is essential that the existing site is backed up before deployment, to prevent data loss. Developers also ensure that all configurations like permalinks, caching and security settings are all correctly installed. After deployment, checks are done to make sure that all the functions work as per design and expectations. 

Launch

This is the final stage where the website goes to production. In this phase checks are performed to ensure that the website is fully functional and can be opened to the public. Some of the main activities in this phase is to verify that changes to the code have been tested, ensuring that the databases are completely migrated and that the media files are properly synced. The website is then posted on a live server and final tests are done to ensure that all functionalities are working as intended. 

Maintenance and updates 

Maintenance and updates are an important part of the workflow that keeps a website secure and functional. In this phase regular updates are applied that provide protection against the vulnerabilities and enhance performance. The process can be further streamlined by using tools like SafeUpdates which can detect availability of updates, performing tests and then deploying these updates. It is also possible to use CI/CD pipelines that can automate applying updates and reduce the risk of human errors. This approach helps in maintaining that the site remains reliable and offers a smooth user experience.

Conclusion

A WordPress deployment workflow is necessary to ensure that the launch of a website is smooth and efficient. Using the expertise of a WordPress web development service provider helps businesses in the deployment process and reduce downtime, while ensuring that the performance and security of the site are maintained.