Local copy for design and testing

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  sirhoff · Member · Jan 8, 2013 at 8:25 pm

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  Hi, I’m going to be switching my site to WordPress. Is it possible to keep a local copy to design/develop/test before uploading live to the server?

  What is a typical development workflow for this?

  Thanks.

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  rachelmcr · Member · Jan 8, 2013 at 11:43 pm

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  Do you plan on installing WordPress on a self-hosted website or using the WordPress.com platform? If you aren’t sure of the difference, see this page: http://support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

  (If you plan on having a self-hosted WordPress website, you will want to ask these questions in the WordPress.org support forums.)

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  sirhoff · Member · Jan 8, 2013 at 11:52 pm

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  I’m using the wordpress.com platform. I’m an amateur developer basically looking for a better understanding of it and good workflow practices. I’d love to design locally if possible.

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  raincoaster · Member · Jan 8, 2013 at 11:54 pm

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  It is absolutely not possible at WordPress.com, nor will any local version on your computer work the same as one live here. The WP.com software is very modified from the WordPress.org software that you’d be able to put on your computer.

  Here, we cannot modify the function of themes, we can only modify their appearance via CSS editing, and then only with a paid upgrade. It sounds like you’d be better off with paid hosting and a WordPress.org install.

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  auxclass · Member · Jan 8, 2013 at 11:56 pm

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  You can develop on a local host (your own PC) – can be done for free and you have access to all the code – you need to make friends over at WordPress.ORG for help getting a local host version running – one down side to a local host install is that nobody can see your site so if you need help it can be a bit more difficult to get it since people can’t see your site and the code

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  sirhoff · Member · Jan 9, 2013 at 12:00 am

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  I most definitely will be using the .com and my own web host.

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  rachelmcr · Member · Jan 9, 2013 at 12:09 am

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  I think you may have the WordPress.com and WordPress.org options mixed up. WordPress.org is the version that you use with your own web host.

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  raincoaster · Member · Jan 9, 2013 at 12:39 am

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  “the .com” is the opposite of using your own web host. WordPress.COM software is only available to people hosting their blogs at WordPress.COM. That version of WP software cannot be downloaded and run on your computer at all.

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  sirhoff · Member · Jan 9, 2013 at 12:45 am

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  Sorry yes I seem to have the terminology mixed up. Possibly I’m in the wrong forum as well?

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  raincoaster · Member · Jan 9, 2013 at 12:46 am

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  Yes. Don’t worry, it’s a common mistake. This forum has more google juice than the other because it’s MUCH more active, as you can see.