Title: Staging Environment
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# Staging Environment

 *  [joshvickerson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/joshvickerson/)
 * (@joshvickerson)
 * [13 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/staging-environment/)
 * So, I’m considering various ways to create a nice staging environment for things
   like updating (for example, to 3.5.1, which I havent yet), as well as experimenting
   with layout changes.
 * I’m wondering, if I set up a directory for staging.mydomain.com, for example,
   is it safe to simply copy the production WordPress directory there, make my changes
   and test everything, then copy it back? My only real concern is how it interacts
   with the database.
 * My WordPress site is nothing more than a blog with a single user, me, so it’s
   nothing very complex. I figured something like what I’ve just asked about is 
   reasonable but I wanted to be sure before I screwed something up.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [Daiv Mowbray](https://wordpress.org/support/users/daiv/)
 * (@daiv)
 * [13 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/staging-environment/#post-3405672)
 * I would use a sub domain and a plugin for copying your site to the subdomain,
   one which will move all files and database. Do a search in extend/plugins
 *  Thread Starter [joshvickerson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/joshvickerson/)
 * (@joshvickerson)
 * [13 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/staging-environment/#post-3405824)
 * I tried doing a number of searches but couldn’t find a plugin with that functionality.
 * I guess the real question is, what do I need to copy to create a staging environment
   where I can test changes and easily push those changes to production?
 *  Thread Starter [joshvickerson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/joshvickerson/)
 * (@joshvickerson)
 * [13 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/staging-environment/#post-3405826)
 * More extensive searching with Google has offered up some solutions I may be able
   to look into.
 * None of them are terribly simple, though. I’d like to see WordPress improve in
   this regard.
 *  [markemark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/markemark/)
 * (@markemark)
 * [12 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/staging-environment/#post-3406050)
 * me too on this one, somewhere I can test themes plugins, and promote to a live
   site, but keep users / posts on the live environment when migrating from the 
   staging environment.
 * joshvickerson what setup are you currently using ?

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Staging Environment’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [staging](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/staging/)
 * [testing](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/testing/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 4 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [markemark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/markemark/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/staging-environment/#post-3406050)
 * Status: not resolved

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