WordPress is an open-source CMS (Content Management System) often used for blogging. WordPress is famous for its extended features via plugins and themes. You can install and configure plugins with minimal programming skills or even without any. And you can change your theme with one click. I have been using WordPress for my blog for two years now. I have developed one theme and use some plugins. As WordPress development and plugin development are separate, plugins sometimes clash with the WordPress core. The result, most of the time, is the WordPress blank screen of death.
Plugins are developed by the WordPress community, and it’s fast growing. But some of them are dead and no longer supported by the plugin author. So when the WordPress core updates, the plugins won’t work (in some cases). So my question is: should you upgrade your WordPress plugins or not? Or should you update your WordPress core? Well, I don’t have an exact answer for that. It depends — if you know what you are doing and you have a backup plan, then you are ready to go. Remember, shit happens.
In my personal opinion, I don’t really like updating WordPress plugins too much. But in some cases — like if it has a bug, or there are security fixes or better performance — I will definitely update it. And I always have a backup plan before upgrading. So if you want to upgrade your WordPress core or WordPress plugins, please check some points below:
1. Test it first on your local installation or test environment.
I have my clone website on my computer. I run it on XAMPP. Before I do a WordPress core update or plugins update on the live site, I do it locally first. If nothing is wrong or broken, then I’ll update my live site.
2. Always backup before update.
Please remember: shit happens! So be ready for it. Always have a backup before you do anything with your site. I have some scripts to do backups — just use the search function. Before I start configuring or updating, I always back up the current state first, then I feel ready to go.
3. Read the update logs.
See if it is worth upgrading/updating or not. Before you update, the author usually provides update logs — read them carefully and think about whether you need the fixes or not. But if it is a security fix, I will update it as soon as possible.
4. If it is not broken, don’t fix it!
I always remember that. I have my own playground to test and play, but it is not on my live site. I prefer stability over cutting-edge features. If the plugin is not broken, I won’t fix it unless it is necessary.
Think carefully, read more, and have a backup before you upgrade your WordPress core and your WordPress plugins. And another thing: see what people comment about the new updates. Visit the plugin’s website or the WordPress blog to learn more about the updates.
So should you upgrade your WordPress or not?