I recently started a job focused on IT, where my responsibility includes maintaining our website. Although I don't have a background in web development, I'm willing to learn. We use GoDaddy for hosting, and while I know it has its critics, it's not my choice. I've been wondering if there's a simpler way to set up a test environment for editing the website code without the hassle of repeatedly uploading files to GoDaddy. I edit with VS Code and would love to find a more efficient way to test changes as I make them, since the current process feels cumbersome.
2 Answers
What type of coding are you focusing on? If it’s just HTML and CSS, you can simply run your files from a local folder by opening the index.html in your browser. But if your site references files in a specific way, that could get complicated. For a more robust solution, consider setting up a local server using Docker—it can closely match your GoDaddy setup. Look into Git for version control, too; it'll be a game-changer!
It sounds like you might be pushing changes directly to the live site without any local testing. That's risky! I recommend establishing a local environment where you can work on your changes first, then have a staging area for others to review before going live. Also, consider backing up your site regularly. Using Git for version control is really important for tracking changes, especially as you grow in your role. It's not just for professional devs; it's a useful practice for anyone working on code!
I’ve actually set up test pages for our site where I make changes before updating the live version, which helps a lot. But I still struggle with seeing changes in real time. Is there a straightforward way to run files locally to preview my edits?
Thanks for the tip! I’m mainly dealing with plain HTML and CSS, so I’ll try the local folder approach first before diving into Docker.