Upgrading WordPress Without a Glitch

That dreaded time in a DIY webmaster’s life is back. It’s time to do an upgrade !straight! WordPress 2.3 “Dexter” has been released.

In a nutshell

Upgrading WordPress is fairly simple. Just delete your current files - AFTER you have made a backup that is - then upload the new files. Upload your backed up configuration file and then run the upgrade script and presto!

Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Well, because it is. That is if you don’t have any plugins installed.

Upgrading when you have plugins

Chances are you DO have certain plugins installed. If this is the case, then you will need to deactivate your plugins before you do everything else. And then pray really hard that you don’t experience any technical problems (you know, a computer crash or a sudden loss of internet connection or something) during the upgrade, because your site will look … umm … broken.

You then proceed with the same steps as if you didn’t have any plugins. When upgrade is complete, activate your plugins one by one. This step will determine whether your site survives the upgrade or not. Not all plugins are compatible to a WordPress upgrade.

Though incompatibility of some plugins may go unnoticed by your website visitors, others will leave an impression that you’d rather they do not have.

If you are unfortunate enough to be in this position, you have three choices:

1. Convince the plugin author that it is in their best interest (and yours) that they upgrade their plugin.
2. Find a replacement plugin.
3. Re-layout your blog to not need the plugin.

When all else fails, don’t worry, there’s always that backup that you made before you did the upgrade.

Are you ready? Check out what WordPress Dexter has to offer.