I'm currently redesigning my personal website, which is built on an old version of Bootstrap for responsiveness. I'm considering switching to native CSS methods like Flexbox or Grid, or even trying out Tailwind CSS. I'm looking for advice on how to create an exact local copy of my website (not including the database, I think) so I can work on it locally. After I finish, I want to upload the changes to my web host. Right now, I only have FTP access to my site and I'd prefer not to upgrade to SSH access unless it's necessary. Also, if there's a simpler process that's effective without being too complex, I'd appreciate hearing about it. I'm using macOS, and I wonder if that changes anything.
2 Answers
The best approach is usually to migrate everything when you're redesigning. This way, you can make changes without risking the live site. After you're done, you can migrate it back. If your site is currently live, you might need to selectively copy over your database tables, so be cautious about that. Just make sure you have backups in place!
You can try using Local by Flywheel to create a local version of your WordPress site. It simplifies the process and handles database setups nicely, even though you might not need the database for your redesign. If you're unsure about the importance of the database, think about what themes or plugins you're using. They might rely on specific tables. If you have any trouble, feel free to reach out—I can help you through it!
How do I go about migrating everything? I remember setting up WordPress with MAMP before, but I’m a bit lost now. Any guidance on that?”