Transform Chaotic WordPress Sites into Streamlined Workflows

Key points:

• WordPress deployments fail due to database coupling, plugin version mismatches, and configuration drift between environments.
• Four-stage CI/CD pipeline transforms chaotic WordPress releases into predictable, automated workflows with proper testing.
• Advanced Custom Field (ACF®)’s Local JSON separates structure from content by storing field definitions as trackable files, solving WordPress’s database versioning challenge.

WordPress deployments present unique challenges that standard web applications avoid.

The platform stores configuration data, content, and settings in a database that must stay synchronized with the codebase. Plugin dependencies create compatibility matrices where a single version mismatch can break entire sites. File system changes happen across multiple directories – uploads, themes, plugins, and core files – making deployments unpredictable.

Manual deployment processes compound these issues, while version mismatches between local development and production environments cause the “works on my machine” problem.

Well-designed CI/CD pipelines solve these issues through automation and standardization. We’re going to show you how the greatest WordPress development teams deploy multiple times daily without fear of breaking production sites.

Why your WordPress deployments keep falling apart

WordPress development workflows lack the simplicity of editorial workflows, where automation tools like Oasis Workflow provide straightforward solutions.

The complexity stems from fundamental architectural decisions that create deployment friction:

• Version control issues stem from WordPress storing critical configuration in database tables that Git cannot track. Custom field definitions, menu structures, and widget settings exist only in MySQL, causing features to break when code deploys without the supporting database state.
• Plugin and theme incompatibilities occur when environments run different versions of the same components. A plugin update on local development can introduce database schema changes or new dependencies that break functionality on staging or production servers running older versions.
• Configuration drift happens when server environments differ in PHP versions, caching systems, or file permissions. Identical WordPress codebases behave unpredictably across environments because underlying infrastructure variations affect how plugins execute and features function.

These problems require systematic solutions that address each failure point through automation and standardization.

How to create a solid WordPress development workflow

This complete guide walks through creating a full CI/CD workflow for WordPress development. Pair it with our tips for advanced WordPress development, and you’ll be on your way to hassle-free deployment.

Phase 1: Local development environment

Standardize development environments across your team using Docker or LocalWP to match production specifications exactly. This eliminates the “works on my machine” problem by ensuring every developer runs identical PHP versions, MySQL configurations, and server settings.

If you’re working with custom data, use Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) instead of trying to DIY a solution from scratch. Enable its Local JSON to store custom field definitions as version-controlled files rather than database entries, allowing field structure changes to flow through Git like regular code.

Configure pre-commit hooks that run PHP_CodeSniffer and ESLint to catch syntax errors before they reach shared repositories.

Mirror production’s plugin versions, caching configurations, and file permissions locally to surface compatibility issues during development rather than deployment.

Enable WP_DEBUG and error logging to catch warnings that might become fatal errors in production environments with stricter PHP configurations.

Phase 2: Automated testing

Run automated tests to spot issues that you might miss before pushing your work to version control.

Start on unit tests with PHPUnit for custom functions and Jest for JavaScript components, targeting 70% code coverage on business logic to catch regressions early.

Browser testing with Playwright or Cypress should cover critical user flows like checkout processes, form submissions, and admin functionality that manual testing often misses.

Lock plugin and theme versions using Composer to ensure identical dependencies across all environments, preventing version drift that causes unexpected behavior.

Automated compatibility testing runs on every code change, verifying that plugin updates don’t break existing functionality before reaching staging environments.

Phase 3: Version control

Structure your Git workflow with main, staging, and feature branches where main branch requires pull request reviews and passing status checks before merges.

Track composer.lock and package-lock.json files to ensure dependency versions remain consistent, while excluding uploads/, cache/, and node_modules/ directories that contain generated or temporary files.

Commit database migration scripts or WP-CLI export commands alongside code changes to version control database structure modifications.

💡 ACF Local JSON automatically converts database-stored field groups into trackable JSON files, making custom field changes visible in diffs and deployable through standard Git workflows rather than manual database imports.

Phase 4: Deployment

Auto-deploy feature branches to isolated staging environments for testing, then require manual approval for production promotion to maintain deployment control.

Implement blue-green or atomic deployments using symlink switching to achieve zero-downtime releases with instant rollback capabilities if issues arise.

Configure post-deployment health checks that verify critical functionality, scan for broken links, and run smoke tests with Slack or email notifications for immediate failure alerts.

GitHub Actions provides the foundation for building custom workflows, but WP Engine users can take advantage of their official Action for direct deployment integration with automated database synchronization and file management.

Build smooth WordPress development workflows with ACF

Our four-stage pipeline makes every release predictable and reversible.

With local environment standardization and ACF Local JSON as your foundation, you can gradually layer in automated testing and deployment automation as your team’s confidence grows.

ACF’s Local JSON converts database-stored field groups into trackable files that flow through your Git workflow exactly like theme code or custom functions. Field structure changes become visible in pull requests, deployable through automation, and reversible through version control.

If you’re ready to transform your WordPress workflow, get started with ACF.