Slides from my talk "Don't get left behind WordPress Updates"

1. WordPress for Content Creators
"Only floss the teeth you want
when you're 60."
Yes, he was tall too

2. WordPress for Content Creators
WELCOME
Welcome

3. WordPress for Content Creators
ABOUT MIKE
Web Developer, WordPress Specialist, WP Site
Management
CodenameMikeD.com
yes I'm also sooooo clever
About Mike

4. WordPress for Content Creators
ALSO
Haven't had a public speaking gig in a while
Kinda nervous
Be Gentle

5. WordPress for Content Creators
ALSO ALSO
This is all IMNSHO
as you will see :)

6. WordPress for Content Creators
Let's Get Started

7. WordPress for Content Creators
HOW MANY OFYOU HAVE SEENTHIS?
OMG

8. WordPress for Content Creators
OMG Again
OMG! WHAT DO I DO!?!

9. WordPress for Content Creators
OMG! WHAT DOYOU DO?!?
• Panic
• Scared to break stuff, so ignore
• Too busy to figure it out, so ignore
• Dunno what it means so ignore
OMG Again Again

10. WordPress for Content Creators
Don't lose your head

11. WordPress for Content Creators
THISTALK WILL COVER
• How to update stuff
• Other stuff to know about updates
Stuff happens

12. WordPress for Content Creators
TL;DL
Updates
• Do them when you see they are available
• Leave Automatic Updates on
In case you fall asleep

13. WordPress for Content Creators
THATS IT!
j/k

14. WordPress for Content Creators
Lets roll

15. WordPress for Content Creators
WHYYOU NEEDTO KNOWTHIS
Two major benefits of updating
• Improve security
Updates fix minor and serious security problems (this is the big
one)
• Improve usability:
Updates add new features and fix minor annoyances (bugs)
Updates / Why

16. WordPress for Content Creators
A BIT ABOUTVERSION NUMBERS
Version numbers are an easy way to see how current
your software is
• Further away from current = more out of date
• All software uses a version number
• You all already know what these look like
Aside / Version Numbers 1

17. WordPress for Content Creators
Buy your own MAMP serial number

18. WordPress for Content Creators
HOW ALMOST EVERYTHING OTHER
THAN WORDPRESS WORKS
Three Number Format: a.b.c
a = Major version number
Major potential changes: new code/UI, new functionality, possible breaking
changes
b = Minor version
Minor potential changes: typically bug fixes to existing code; usually safe
c =Very minor version, or 'revision'
Typically minor changes to a single issue, or a focussed security fix; usually
safe and recommended
General Guidelines Only,YMMV

19. WordPress for Content Creators
Straightforward

20. WordPress for Content Creators
HOW WORDPRESS WORKS
Three Number Format, but different meaning: a.b.c
a.b = Major version number
Major potential changes: new code/UI, new
functionality, but very rarely breaking changes
c = Minor version, or 'revision'
Typically minor changes to a single issue, or a focussed
security fix; usually safe and recommended

21. WordPress for Content Creators

22. WordPress for Content Creators
KEY DIFFERENCES
• With plugins, first number is major
• With WordPress, first two numbers are major
• With plugins, 2.9 to 3.0 is usually a major change
• With Wordpress, 2.9 to 3.0 is no different than 3.1 to 3.2

23. WordPress for Content Creators
SAID ANOTHER WAY
Feature Updates
• usually change they way it looks and/or works
• may contain updates requiring config changes
• usually means that previous major versions will no
longer get minor/security updates (except WP itself)
IOW

24. WordPress for Content Creators
SAID ANOTHER WAY
Security Updates
• usually a minor version or revision number
• usually more frequent
• usually very important
IOW

25. WordPress for Content Creators
QUESTIONS?
Hit me

26. WordPress for Content Creators
THINGSTHAT CAN BE UPDATED
WordPress itself
Plugins
Themes
trifecta of terror

27. WordPress for Content Creators
WORDPRESS UPDATES
The most important updates to perform
WP mantra is backwards compatibility so they are safe
Just do them
Don't argue corner cases, just do it

28. WordPress for Content Creators
HOW TO UPDATE WP
Two Ways
Automatic
Manual
or git..or wp-cli...or...

29. WordPress for Content Creators
THE DREADED DATABASE
UPDATE SCREEN
If you see this, do not freak out
This is now known as the "freakout slide"

30. WordPress for Content Creators
AUTOMATIC WP UPDATES
• Minor updates (i.e., 4.2.1 to 4.2.2) are applied
automatically unless you have turned that off
• Do not disable unless you have a damn good
reason to because they are usually security related
• How to disable? I'm not going to tell you
*koff*google*koff*

31. WordPress for Content Creators
AUTOMATIC WP UPDATES
• If you log in and see the Dreaded Database
Update screen, do not freak out (see freakout slide)
• It means things are working and an update was
automatically applied while you were off having a
life
This is a good thing

32. WordPress for Content Creators
MANUAL WP UPDATES
• Major updates (i.e., 4.1 to 4.2) must be done
manually unless you turn that feature on manually
• May involve a DB update; see freakout slide
• You'll be notified via a nag and a red circle
*koff*google*koff*

33. WordPress for Content Creators
It's subtle but it's there

34. WordPress for Content Creators
WP UPDATE DEMO
Part A

35. WordPress for Content Creators
QUESTIONS?
Hit me

36. WordPress for Content Creators
UPDATING PLUGINS
You will do this a lot

37. WordPress for Content Creators
HOW DO YOU KNOW A PLUGIN
NEEDS UPDATING?
that's how

38. WordPress for Content Creators
PLUGIN TYPES
• Free
• Freemium (free part and a paid part)
• Paid

39. WordPress for Content Creators
UPDATING PLUGINS
Two Choices
1. Use the WP System
This is the correct answer 98% of the time
2. Use some other method
This is for Paid plugins that have special
requirements; vendor will provide
instructions; no demo

40. WordPress for Content Creators
PLUGIN UPDATE DEMO
Part C

41. WordPress for Content Creators
QUESTIONS?
Hit me

42. WordPress for Content Creators
UPDATING THEMES
pretty

43. WordPress for Content Creators
WHAT IS A THEME?
WordPress 'skin'
Changes the look and feel of your site
Sometimes they add functionality
Zillions of them

44. WordPress for Content Creators
WHERE ARE MY THEMES?
Under the Appearance menu
There they are

45. WordPress for Content Creators
HOW DO YOU KNOW A THEME
NEEDS UPDATING?
Depends
WP Default theme updates show up in the WP
update system
For everything else it depends, but usually involves
you getting an email and uploading the theme files
manually. Follow the supplied instructions.
Check your spam folder

46. WordPress for Content Creators
IF I UPDATE MY THEME, WILL I
LOSE MY DESIGN SETTINGS?
Probably not
• If you edited the theme files manually in any way, then yes you will lose
those changes and possibly break stuff
- moral is don't edit your theme, not don't update
• If you didn't, you're probably safe
- IANAL
• If in doubt, ask the theme developer or read the readme file that came
with it
google child themes

47. WordPress for Content Creators
QUESTIONS?
Hit me

48. WordPress for Content Creators
UPDATE NUGGETS
Tips to store away in your brain
Cliff Clavin time

49. WordPress for Content Creators
NUGGET #1: PLUGINS INCLUDED WITHTHEMES
ARE NOTTREATED LIKE OTHER PLUGINS
• Some themes include plugins baked in
• They are not treated as actual plugins:
• Not monitored for updates
• Cannot be updated using the WP Update system
• Do not show up on Plugins page
• To update, get help, ask the author, or change theme
I'm looking at you,Avada

50. WordPress for Content Creators
NUGGET #2: MU-PLUGINS ARE NOT
TREATED LIKE OTHER PLUGINS
• mu = "Must-Use" = important plugins that are always
enabled and cannot be disabled using the admin screens
• These must be manually updated in a specific way
• If you have any of these, they were put there purposefully by
someone, so ask them how to update
You'll know it if you have them

51. WordPress for Content Creators
NUGGET #3: UPDATING PARENT AND
CHILDTHEMES
From the WP Codex: "A child theme is a theme that inherits the
functionality and styling of another theme, called the parent theme. Child
themes are the recommended way of modifying an existing theme."
• If you update the
parent theme, the
changes in the
child theme are
usually safe
IANAL

52. WordPress for Content Creators
NUGGET #4: DON'T DELETE THE
DEFAULT THEME
• TwentyFifteen,TwentyFourteen, etc
• If something goes really wrong with your theme,WP
will look for one of these defaults instead
• Keep at least one of them
They aren't hurting anything

53. WordPress for Content Creators
QUESTIONS?
Hit me

54. WordPress for Content Creators
TL;DL
Updates
• Do them when you see they are available
• Leave Automatic Updates on
In case you fell asleep

55. WordPress for Content Creators
THANKS
Remember to floss
TIA