In a recent Business Bloomer Club Slack thread, a developer asked for advice on managing WooCommerce theme development across multiple devices.
Switching between local machines and keeping code in sync is a common challenge, especially for developers who alternate between local environments and live sites. The community shared several strategies, including using Git, virtual environments, and syncing tools to streamline multi-device development.
Here’s a breakdown of the recommended approaches, along with tools and workflows for each.
1. Using Git for Code Versioning and Syncing
Git is a reliable way to manage and sync code changes across devices, providing version control and easy backups. Here’s how to integrate Git into your workflow:
- Local Setup: Set up a Git repository on your main development machine. Commit your changes locally and push them to a remote repository (e.g., GitHub, GitLab).
- Sync Across Machines: Clone the repository to each development device. By pulling updates from the remote repo, you can keep your code in sync across all machines.
- Deployment to Live or Staging: Use Git to push updates to a staging environment or deploy code changes directly to production, depending on your setup. This allows you to manage updates and test changes before going live.
This setup is ideal if you’re familiar with Git or willing to learn. It offers robust version control, allowing you to track changes and revert if needed.
2. Virtual Environments: Docker and VirtualBox
For developers who prefer a consistent environment across machines, using Docker or VirtualBox provides a way to package your entire development setup:
- Docker: Docker allows you to create a containerized environment with all the dependencies needed for WooCommerce. You can define this environment in a
docker-compose.ymlfile and run it on any machine that has Docker installed. - VirtualBox: With VirtualBox, you can create a virtual machine with your WooCommerce development environment and sync it across devices. This method requires more setup time initially but ensures a consistent environment on every machine.
These virtual setups can be powerful for complex projects, but they come with a learning curve if you’re new to containerization or virtual machines.
3. Cloud-Based Solutions: DevKinsta and Local by Flywheel
For those working on WooCommerce sites hosted on platforms like Kinsta, tools like DevKinsta and Local by Flywheel offer convenient development environments:
- DevKinsta: Allows you to develop WooCommerce sites locally and push changes directly to staging environments on Kinsta. It supports Git integration, making it easy to sync code changes across devices.
- Local by Flywheel: Similar to DevKinsta, Local lets you create and manage local environments. You can also connect it to remote repositories, enabling seamless development across multiple machines.
Both tools provide user-friendly local development environments that sync well with cloud hosting providers.
4. Direct Syncing with FTP Tools
For developers who prefer working on live sites or staging environments, FTP tools like Sublime SFTP or FileZilla can create a direct connection to the server:
- Sublime SFTP: This Sublime Text package connects to your FTP server, allowing you to edit files locally and save changes directly to the live server.
- FileZilla: A reliable FTP client that enables manual file transfers to live or staging environments.
While this approach offers real-time updates, it’s best suited for minor changes and may lack the backup and revision features provided by Git or virtual environments.
Conclusion
The best solution for syncing WooCommerce development across multiple devices depends on your familiarity with tools like Git, Docker, and virtual machines. Git is a versatile choice for version control, while Docker and VirtualBox provide consistent environments across machines. For a cloud-connected workflow, DevKinsta or Local by Flywheel offer robust local development with easy deployment to staging sites. Each approach has its strengths, so choose one that aligns best with your workflow and project needs.
