Mastering Git for WordPress: A Beginner’s Ultimate Guide

During my early days as a freelancer, I made a code change that accidentally broke a client’s website. Fortunately, I had a backup, so I quickly restored the site, but I lost the modifications I had already implemented.

That’s when I began using Git. Git is a version control system that allows you to save all your changes effortlessly and revert to previous versions whenever necessary.

Whether you’re working solo or as part of a team, Git keeps track of every update, no matter how minor. This helps maintain organization in your projects and enhances collaboration.

In this guide, I will take you through my process of using Git for WordPress development. I will provide a detailed, step-by-step approach to setting it up and managing your themes and plugins like an expert.

Here’s a summary of everything I will discuss in this guide. You can click the links below to navigate directly to any section:

What Is Git and Why Is It Important?

Git is a free, open-source version control system that efficiently manages everything from small to large projects, allowing you to track changes in your code or files over time.

All your project files are stored in a folder known as a repository, or ‘repo’ for short. This acts as a central location where Git tracks all changes to your project.

Git is primarily utilized by developers engaged in various software development projects, enabling multiple users to clone the main codebase onto their own computers.

Individuals can make changes on their local machines without affecting the original files. Once they finish their modifications, they can submit their updates to a platform like GitHub, which facilitates the management and organization of team contributions.

Understanding the Difference Between Git and GitHub

Many beginners often confuse Git with GitHub. If you’re new to these tools, it’s easy to mix them up. Here’s a straightforward comparison:

There are alternative Git hosting services available, such as Bitbucket, Launchpad, and Assembla. However, GitHub remains the most popular choice due to its additional features and user-friendly interface.

GitHub is particularly beneficial for teams and remote workers handling large projects. You can monitor every change, add comments, and revert to previous versions when necessary.

Additionally, since all your work is stored in the cloud, you won’t lose your progress if your computer crashes or is misplaced.

Next, we will explore the scenarios in which using Git and GitHub is beneficial for WordPress development.

A Comprehensive Guide to Using Git and GitHub for WordPress Development

At CanadaCreate and our partner companies, we primarily utilize Git and GitHub for developing custom WordPress plugins and websites. These tools help us maintain organization while managing various versions and updates. Here are the main applications:

• Creating custom WordPress themes and plugins:GitHub can store the entire codebase. You can clone the repository, make modifications, and test them on a local site before deploying to the live version.
• Working collaboratively with a team of developers:Git enables multiple developers to contribute to the same project without overwriting each other’s code.
• Managing code changes and safely reverting when necessary:Git’s version control allows you to revert to any previous version of your code if a bug is detected.
• Contributing to open-source WordPress projects:Numerous WordPress plugins and themes on GitHub are open-source. Anyone can ‘fork’ the repository, address bugs or develop new features, and submit their contributions through a pull request.

You can use GitHub to download WordPress plugins or themes and install them manually. However, remember that GitHub is not designed to function like cloud storage services such as Dropbox or Google Drive.

Next, we will guide you through the process of modifying a local plugin file and uploading it to GitHub, step by step.

How to Set Up a Local WordPress Environment for Git

Before you start using Git and GitHub, it’s important to create a local WordPress environment. This allows you to work on your project, make changes to your WordPress site, test your new code, and develop plugins and themes.

Having a local environment ensures that your live website remains unaffected by changes until you decide to deploy them. If something goes wrong, you can easily make adjustments and debug your code on your local site.

To begin, you can use local web software that enables you to host sites on your computer rather than on a staging or live server.

For instance, tools like Local WP (formerly Local by Flywheel), MAMP, XAMPP, and WampServer are excellent for creating local environments. They are free and straightforward to set up.

You can find more information by checking our guides on how to install WordPress on a Windows computer and how to install WordPress locally on a Mac.

Before we begin installing Git, it’s essential to understand what the command line is. This is a text-based interface for your computer, and it’s not as intimidating as it seems! On Mac or Linux, it’s referred to as Terminal, while on Windows, you can use Command Prompt or a special tool called Git Bash that we’ll install.

Installing Git Locally and Setting Up a Repository

Step 1: Verify if Git is Already Installed

Once your local environment is prepared, the first step is to check if Git is already installed on your machine. Many modern computers, particularly those running macOS and Linux, come with Git pre-installed. To verify, open Terminal (Mac/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows) and enter the following command, then press Enter:

git --version

If Git is installed, you will see its version number displayed. If you encounter an ‘unknown command’ error, it indicates that you need to install Git.

Step 2: Download and Install Git

Visit the official Git website and navigate to the ‘Downloads’ section.

Click on the link corresponding to your operating system to download the installer. Once the download is complete, run the installation wizard and follow the on-screen instructions, accepting the default settings.

Step 3: Set Up a Local Git Repository

With Git installed, the next step is to specify the folder you want it to track. Begin by navigating to the files of your local WordPress site. Locate the wp-content folder and enter the specific plugin or theme directory you are working on. Then, open your command-line interface within this folder.

• Universal Method for All Systems:Launch your command line tool (such as Terminal or Command Prompt). Type cd followed by a space, then drag and drop your project folder into the command line window. This action will paste the path of the folder. Press Enter to navigate to it.
• Shortcut for Windows Users: If you selected the option during installation, you can right-click anywhere inside your project folder and choose ‘Open Git Bash Here’.

Once your command line is open in the correct directory, enter the following command and press Enter. This will initialize a new, empty repository.

git init

Step 4: Stage Your Files for Committing

Now, you need to specify which files you want to include in your first ‘snapshot’ or save point. You can think of this as placing all your files into a shopping cart before checking out. The following command adds all files in the current directory to the ‘staging area.’

git add .

Step 5: Commit Your Changes

A commit finalizes the changes you have staged. It’s similar to checking out at a store, making a payment, and receiving a receipt for your purchase. This command saves your staged files as a new version in the repository’s history, accompanied by a descriptive message.

git commit -m "Initial commit"

You can substitute “Initial commit” with any message that accurately describes the changes you made. This practice is very useful for maintaining a record of your work.

After executing these commands, you will notice a hidden ‘.git’ folder in your project directory. This folder is where Git keeps all its tracking information.

Uploading Your Local Project to a New GitHub Repository

Step 1: Create a Free GitHub Account

First, visit the GitHub website and sign up for a free account. You only need to provide your email and follow the instructions on the screen.

Step 2: Set Up a New Repository

Once you are logged into your GitHub dashboard, click the ‘+’ icon in the upper right corner and select ‘New repository’.

On the following screen, enter a name for your repository. You can also include a description and choose whether to make it public or private. When you are finished, click the ‘Create repository’ button.

Step 3: Copy the Repository URL

After creating the repository, you’ll be directed to a setup page. Copy the URL found under the ‘Quick setup’ section.

Step 4: Connect Your Local Repository to GitHub

Return to your command-line interface (Git Bash, Terminal). Enter the following command, replacing ‘URL’ with the repository link you just copied. This command informs your local Git project where its remote counterpart is located on GitHub.

git remote add origin URL

Step 5: Upload Your Local Files to GitHub

Finally, execute the following command to ‘push’ or upload all your commits from your local machine to the remote repository on GitHub.

git push -u origin main

The first time you run this command, you might be prompted to log in to your GitHub account to authorize the connection. Once completed, refresh your repository page on GitHub to view all your local files.

How to Fetch Updates from GitHub to Your Local Machine

If you or a teammate make changes directly on GitHub, you’ll need to synchronize your local files. The ‘pull’ command retrieves all changes from the remote repository and integrates them into your local project, ensuring you are always working with the most current version.

To begin, open your command-line interface in the project directory and enter the following command:

git pull origin main

After making changes to your local files, the next step is to upload them to your live website.

How to Deploy GitHub Themes and Plugins to Your Live WordPress Site

Once you’ve completed the development of your WordPress plugin or theme, the final step is to deploy it on your live website. While you can manually use Git commands for this process, utilizing a WordPress plugin like WP Pusher simplifies it significantly.

1. Visit the WP Pusher website and download the plugin ZIP file to your computer.
2. In the dashboard of your live WordPress site, install and activate the WP Pusher plugin. For assistance, refer to our guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
3. After activation, go to WP Pusher in your WordPress dashboard and select the ‘GitHub’ tab. Then, click on the ‘Obtain a GitHub token’ button.

4. A new window will pop up requesting you to authorize the connection to your GitHub account. Click the ‘Authorize wppusher’ button.

5. Once authorized, GitHub will provide you with a token code. Copy this code.

6. Return to your WordPress dashboard, paste the token into the designated field, and click ‘Save GitHub Token’.

7. You can now proceed to install your project. Visit WP Pusher » Install Plugin (or Install Theme). You have the option to click ‘Pick from GitHub’ to locate your repository or directly paste its URL. Finally, click the ‘Install plugin’ button to complete the process.

8. After installation, navigate to Plugins » Installed Plugins and click the ‘Activate’ link under your newly installed plugin to begin using it.

How to Install WordPress Plugins and Themes from GitHub

You can also directly download plugins and themes from GitHub, which is helpful if they are not listed in the official WordPress.org directory. Many WordPress developers host their projects on GitHub.

1. Go to the repository of the plugin or theme you wish to install on GitHub.
2. Click the green ‘Code’ button and choose the ‘Download ZIP’ option to save the files to your computer.

3. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins » Add New » Upload Plugin (or Appearance » Themes » Add New » Upload Theme) and upload the ZIP file you just downloaded.

For more information, please refer to our guide on how to install WordPress plugins and themes from GitHub.

Essential Git and GitHub Terminology You Should Understand

As you begin using Git and GitHub for WordPress development and other projects, you’ll encounter various terms. Here are some essential concepts you should familiarize yourself with:

• Branches – A branch acts as a separate line of development, allowing you to make changes and experiment without impacting the main branch or the live site.
• Merge – Merging is the process of integrating changes from one branch into another. This can only be done if the branches are part of the same repository or a fork.
• Pull – Pulling involves retrieving changes from a remote repository and merging them into your local environment. For instance, if someone updates a file in the repository, you can pull those updates to keep your local files current.
• Pull Requests (PR) – A pull request is a way for a user to propose changes to a repository, which can then be reviewed and either accepted or rejected by other collaborators.
• Fork – A fork is your own copy of someone else’s repository, allowing you to make changes without affecting the original project.
• CommitA commit represents a specific change made to a file within the repository. When you commit changes, Git generates a unique ID to document these alterations, along with details about who made the changes and when they occurred.
• PushPushing refers to the process of uploading your changes to a remote repository on GitHub. For example, if you modify a file on your local machine, you can push those changes so that others can access them.

Bonus Resources

At CanadaCreate, we take pride in seeing our beginner readers progress to advanced levels and start coding. If you’re interested in WordPress development, here are some valuable resources to assist you.

• Essential WordPress Code Snippets for Beginners (Expert Recommendation)
• How to Automatically Deploy WordPress Theme Changes Using GitHub and Deploy
• Top WordPress Development Tools (Free and Paid Options)
• How to Add Sample Content for Theme Development in WordPress
• 19 Best WordPress Starter Themes for Developers

Frequently Asked Questions About Using Git with WordPress

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve encountered.

Is Git challenging for beginners to learn?
Getting started with Git can be challenging due to its learning curve, but you only need to master a few essential commands. This guide covers those basics. Once you grasp the key concepts of committing, pushing, and pulling, using Git will become much simpler.

Is it possible to use Git for a live WordPress site without a local environment?
While it is technically feasible, it is highly discouraged. Making direct changes on a live website can be risky. A local environment provides a secure space to thoroughly test your code before deploying it, which is the primary purpose of using a version control system like Git.

What are the main benefits of using GitHub alongside Git?
The primary benefits include enhanced collaboration and backup options. While Git tracks versions on your local machine, GitHub offers a centralized, cloud-based platform to store your code, collaborate with team members, review changes, and safeguard your project against potential computer failures.

Is GitHub exclusively for coding?
Not at all! Although GitHub is primarily designed for software development, its version control capabilities are beneficial for any project that requires tracking changes over time. It is used for writing books, managing academic research, collaborating on legal documents, and even monitoring changes to design files.

What is GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot is an AI-driven tool that functions like a collaborative programming partner. While you code, it provides suggestions for entire lines or even complete functions in real-time. This tool enhances developers’ productivity, aids in learning new programming languages, and minimizes the time spent searching for coding solutions.

I hope this article has helped you understand how to use Git with WordPress. You might also be interested in exploring our recommendations for the best mobile apps to manage your WordPress site, as well as a guide to the most common WordPress errors and their solutions.

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