Why You Need a Local Testing Environment

Need a safe way to test features on your WordPress website? Create a local testing environment!

One thing all websites have in common is they all eventually need maintenance. Maybe a layout change is needed, maybe a software update goes out, or maybe we are just trying to find a more efficient way to operate. Seldom, however, do things happen exactly as planned. Whenever you change something on your website you should be prepared for some surprise problems. These problems could be small coding issues, or website breaking nukes.

That’s a terrifying thought. How are we supposed to perform maintenance on our websites if we risk breaking something in the process? After all, site updates are meant to make things easier, not create more work. Lucky for all of us, there is a way to tinker, update, and alter to a heart’s content, without risking your site’s integrity…with a local testing environment!

What is a local testing environment?

Without going into all of the technical jargon, a local testing environment is a place where you can set up a copy of your website that will still function like the real thing.

It provides a place for you to test themes, plugins, updates, and anything really before you make alterations to your actual site.

There are several types of test environments, but they all serve the same common purpose, cloning your site for experiments (Cue lightning crackle and mad scientist laugh)!

3 reasons you need one now!

There’s quite a few good reasons to put together a local testing environment. They all have one thing in common: making life easier for you. After the initial work of setting one up, testing in your new playground will save you the headache of fixing something you’ve messed up on your live site. We’ve all done it. It’s only a matter of time before this pays off big for you!

1. A testing site gives you a safe place to play

For those that have been through it, it’s an experience that few forget:

You’re at your workstation and updating your website, it could be anything from changing a theme, modifying a small piece of code, updating your plugins, or even trying out a new plugin, when suddenly your site loads broken, or you’re faced with a slew of error messages.

Whether you have a backup of your site or not the results are the same, you have some work to do, restoring your site and figuring out what went wrong. A testing environment saves you lots of time and effort for when these accidents happen.

2. Testing changes locally means you don’t break your live site

While you’re trying to get your pages up and running again, users are still trying to log in to see your content, and are instead met with a broken webpage. You want your user experience to be as easy and pleasant as possible, and if they are faced with a broken website, there is a very good possibility that they will leave to find a solution elsewhere.

By testing changes before they go live, you can make sure your site stays functional while you prepare the next update behind the curtain.

3. Your local can become an emergency backup

It never hurts to have a backup of your site in the event that something goes wrong. In fact, if you set up a test site that has its own hosting service, then you can also redirect your main site to your test site while you make corrections or update to your primary. Basically, there’s no reason not to have one.

How do I create a local testing environment?

So creating a whole second website might sound like a daunting task, but there are several systems out there to help you out. Take a look and explore some of these options to see what will fit your needs. If you feel overwhelmed, don’t worry. They are all great options.

DevKinsta

DevKinsta is a completely free tool helping you creating a WordPress environment on your local machine. DevKinsta is available for macOS, Windows, and Ubuntu. Within a few minutes, you are ready to build your next WordPress site, test new plugins and themes, and debug any issues related to your site without touching the live environment. It supports different PHP versions, has a built-in local email tester and a database manager using Adminer. Besides the documentation, DevKinsta has a dedicated forum where you can ask any questions and get help from the creators of DevKinsta.

MAMP

MAMP is a very popular option that has both a free and Pro version. Even better, it has a very straightforward installation process. If you are trying to get set up as quickly as possible, this is a great option. MAMP also comes with a huge amount of support through its documentation. Really give this one a look to see if it fits your needs.

Docker

Docker is a little more complicated than what we have mentioned so far. What makes Docker different is that it uses a software process called a container. A container is a self-contained piece of software that will run without outside code or influence. In this way, you can set up a test site that will not impact your main site at all. Docker is a little more set up heavy than the earlier options, but it is made to fit your needs, based on what type of site you have. See what it can do for you.

Local by Flywheel

Local by Flywheel is an amazing and free option. In addition to testing features on your site, you can also create demo URLs to explore your site and share with others. Local by Flywheel is still being developed, so there are sure to be more features to come. The one downside to using Local is it’s not user-friendly trying to upload a site once you have updated it. Though there are ways to do this, the option recommended using Duplicator. Nevertheless, if what you are looking for is a solid local host of your website, this is a fine option.

Insert Status: Testing Guru

There you have it! Several great options you can use to establish a local testing environment for your site. It’s a safe-guard tool that every developer should implement to keep their site up and running. Do you have a method of testing that works for you that we didn’t mention here? Be sure to share it in the comments below and let us know! Happy Crafting.