Too many updates, slight rant

  • I’m starting to really dislike all these updates (as of today the latest one is 2.8.3). The problem is that with every update my theme files get over-written and I have to re-edit them by adding adsense, analytics code, etc, as well as other edits to get the pages to display the way I want. I suppose I could just copy and paste the theme files (such as footer.php, single.php etc) from the old version into the new, but my concern is that the latest theme files will have changes so I can’t just do that. And in fact I have noticed a few small changes in the theme files as the latest versions have come out.

    Now, I can do the edits fairly quickly, and I know there’s plugins to handle some of that, but that means having to stay on top of them and keeping them updated as well (not to mention dealing with bug fixes, compatibility with latest versions, etc.).

    So no matter what, it seems that to keep my wordpress blog “alive” and running well I have to always be prepared for the next update and do the housekeeping/fixing that follows; which is not so much of a problem except that it’s so OFTEN. It’s annoying, even though I can do the edits to the theme files fairly quickly. It’s like having to re-tune your car engine every few weeks because the manufacturer keeps finding things he would like to add, or things that went wrong and didn’t take the time the FIRST TIME to get all the issues sorted out BEFOREHAND.

    Funny thing is, with all these supposed great new features on WordPress I find that I only have use for a few of them, and what works great now might be compromised on a later version, so I might have to tweak one of the php files to get it working right (such as pictures in posts being horizontally compressed too much – so I have to tweak part of the code to fix that).

    The way I see it, the problem is this. Even though people vote democratically on what changes they would like to see in WordPress, it’s ONLY the power users which suggest changes; the guys who live and breathe this stuff and don’t mind devoting a significant chunk of their lives to maintaining their systems. But the vast majority of us only want the thing to work and look nice (myself included), but we are FORCED to play catch up when new releases come out, simply because of those power users who have the time, inclination, motivation, desire, technical know-how etc to recommend changes and basically steer the direction of WordPress. It’s unavoidable that a system like this skews in the favor of these users, even though technically speaking it is democratic and anyone can influence change just by participating – but the problem is that, to participate I need to know a lot more about how the thing works and devote time to it, which I don’t care to do – unavoidably this means I play catch up. So I end up getting frustrated when I have to go in yet again and make changes and check stuff because a new version is out a few weeks later because the developers missed something, and/or they wanted to add something cool (which I don’t need). Every few months is okay but lately it’s been every few weeks.

    I have a blog on blogger and I can tell you that it does almost everything I want and the few things it doesn’t have that WordPress does, is made up by the fact that I NEVER have to do any work to maintain it. That’s a big plus for me, and for anyone that has other stuff they’d rather be doing.

    I fear that WordPress is becoming more and more geared towards the power users, and average users (the majority) are being pushed off to the side due to the constant re-engineering and “improvement” that goes on. But it doesn’t have to be that way if the developers just take the time to make the new releases INFREQUENT, and DOUBLE CHECK that you don’t miss stuff which would require another new release to fix it, and have rules on how often new releases come out (no matter how much the power users might want it asap). I have a saying, the more you add in the way of complexity, the more you have to add in the way of complexity. Please try to keep it simple. There’s no reason why you can’t. But lately it seems that the quality checks have been sub-par and it’s getting bloated just to keep the power users happy.

    I appreciate what the developers have done and WordPress has come a long way, but it’s important to not forget about the average user as you’re making WordPress as good as it can be. We are the majority after all. Thanks

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 21 total)

  • I’m not sure why you are having to change your theme after every update. You shouldn’t have to change your theme at all.

    Are you modifying the default theme without changing the name and file locations? If so, you should look at creating your theme with a different name, which would save you having to update it each time.

    There have been a lot of updates recently, but as the past two have been reactions to important security issues, it is best that they are released rather than allowing hundreds of sites to remain vunerable.

    Thread Starter Franco_N

    (@franco_n)

    With each new update I have to go in and re-edit the following php files: footer, header, sidebar, single, functions, and style.css. This is to insert adsense, analytics, put sidebar on every page, and fix the aspect ratio for the pictures in posts.

    I used to never have to re-edit these files when a new version came out, but now with every new update they get over-written. Is there some way to avoid having to re-edit every time?

    As I say, if you are editing the default theme and using the auto-updater, then it will get overwritten. You need to make a new set of theme files with your edits in them so that they will not be overwritten.

    Thread Starter Franco_N

    (@franco_n)

    That’s right, I am using the default theme. So you’re saying I need to insert a new theme, edit the php files as before, and then they won’t get over-written?

    Why doesn’t WordPress just not over-write no matter what theme you’re using?

    Just copy (or rename) the default theme to something like my_default. Make all the changes (to my_default) you like and they’ll still be there 10 updates from now.

    These updates are necessary and for YOUR (and my) own good!

    I don’t mean to sound hard, but “Suck up and deal with it!”

    Even though people vote democratically on what changes they would like to see in WordPress, it’s ONLY the power users which suggest changes; the guys who live and breathe this stuff and don’t mind devoting a significant chunk of their lives to maintaining their systems. But the vast majority of us only want the thing to work and look nice (myself included), but we are FORCED to play catch up when new releases come out, simply because of those power users who have the time, inclination, motivation, desire, technical know-how etc to recommend changes and basically steer the direction of WordPress. It’s unavoidable that a system like this skews in the favor of these users, even though technically speaking it is democratic and anyone can influence change just by participating – but the problem is that, to participate I need to know a lot more about how the thing works and devote time to it, which I don’t care to do – unavoidably this means I play catch up. So I end up getting frustrated when I have to go in yet again and make changes and check stuff because a new version is out a few weeks later because the developers missed something, and/or they wanted to add something cool (which I don’t need). Every few months is okay but lately it’s been every few weeks.

    you do not have to use wordpress. im NOT being smug, or dismissing what you are saying. Im stating a fact.

    lastly, there is no such thing as democracy on the web. anywhere.

    One way not to have the default theme overwritten is to do the manual backup.

    Thread Starter Franco_N

    (@franco_n)

    Where do I rename the default theme? Is that all I have to do?

    See the answer from GadeTerbob.

    The reason why the auto-upgrade overwtites the theme is because sometimes there are important security updates to it. It doesn’t update other themes because the assumption is that they would be maintained by their owners.

    Moderator Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)

    (@ipstenu)

    ?????? Advisor and Activist

    Where do I rename the default theme? Is that all I have to do?

    1) COPY the folder default as ‘my-default’ or whatever.
    2) Open the style.css in your new folder, and under theme name, change that to ‘My Default’
    3) Go into your admin site and select your theme to be ‘My Default’
    4) Profit.

    I second this rant. And I know I don’t HAVE to use wordpress, but really this is a good tool and it would be better if I didn’t have to check up on it every week.

    j_royce

    (@j_royce)

    I third this rant. Too much updating. It’s become part of the general social media bloat time-sink.

    nythemes

    (@nythemes)

    As much as i dislike the constant updates myself, this is inevitable with any system, software. Hackers are hacking, and wordpress needs to respond with better security and features. WordPress has made it very easy to upgrade to the newest version, if only you could upgrade your WINDOWS Version the same way the world would be a better place.

    As far as the default theme being overwritten for OP, like previous posters suggested just rename the default theme to something else and you should be fine,, without having to update your theme every time, (wow what a hassle that must have been, i hear ya), i wish you have asked sooner.

    While I am concerned about hackers…been there!….it feels like these updates are happening every few days now…and with multiple blogs/plugins to monitor and maintain it is a bit disconcerting.

    5 steps across 8 blogs!

    1. backup 2. deactivate plugins 3. upgrade 4. reactivate plugins 5. pray plugins still work

    Since August, there have been 8 upgrades?

    I love WordPress but at some point I fear it will just be too much!

    Auto update?

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 21 total)
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