How to set up a test site

The best way to develop is with WAMP, MAMP, LAMP or Xampp and an installation of WordPress on your local machine. As an alternative for that, it is typically not difficult to add a development site at ‘https://richsride.org/development’ although I do not know the details for doing that at GoDaddy. Either way, however, you would ultimately copy /wp-content/ into place, update the new database to ‘https://richsride.org’ in place of ‘https://richsride.org/development’ and then edit the original site’s wp-config.php to switch to that database.

https://www.google.com/search?q=WAMP+MAMP+LAMP++Xampp+WordPress

Thanks for the info. Can you narrow it down a bit?

The best way to develop is with … ????

I read some of the articles at the Google link but there’s a lot of tech jargon. Which do I choose? Which is best?

Window 8 machine if that matters.

Sorry to be so dense. Gotta say, this seems like a pretty common question. Surprised WP doesn’t have a more plug-n-play solution, but maybe it’s simpler than I’m making it.

BTW…do you know anything about this:

https://serverpress.com/get-desktopserver/

Thoughts?

I know nothing about ‘DesktopServer’, and I use WAMP in Win7. So…
https://www.google.com/search?q=wamp+wordpress+windows+8

I had no trouble getting WAMP up and running in Win7 and then adding an installation of WordPress…and then after that is when you would download the database and all of your /wp-content/ folder to use in your local installation. If you want to give WAMP a try, get it running and post back if you need help (and you likely will) with “moving WordPress” to local. Overall, the advantage of local is the ability to leave everything alone at the server for now and then later “migrate to live” using essentially the same methods needed if your development site was already there.

https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Moving_WordPress

https://www.google.com/search?q=moving+wordpress+from+local+to+live

Did some reading…the WAMP seems straightforward.

Just watched a video about this plugin:

https://www.ads-software.com/plugins/duplicator/

If it works, it seems like it’s the magic solution. Know anything about it?

Worth trying?

Disclaimer

This plugin does require above average technical knowledge.

https://www.ads-software.com/plugins/duplicator/

Nope, never tried it. For someone moving, migrating and/or otherwise copying sites on a regular basis, it makes complete sense. But for a novice such as myself, I already know I can move, migrate and/or otherwise copy a site in less time than it would take me to learn to use that plugin.

Wow, appreciate that.

Copying the files seems simple. What concerns/scares me is the database. I’m afraid I’ll screw something up and I really don’t understand how they work.

Guess I’m going to have to jump in. Thanks so much for the responses.

Database stuff is less scary if you make exports/dumps of data before making big changes. Knowing there’s a backup gives you peace of mind!