[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #31138: Backup of a plugin / theme directory.

[WordPress Trac]

#31138: Backup of a plugin / theme directory.
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 Reporter:  aercolino        |       Owner:
     Type:  defect (bug)     |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal           |   Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Upgrade/Install  |     Version:  4.1
 Severity:  normal           |  Resolution:
 Keywords:                   |     Focuses:
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Changes (by aercolino):

 * keywords:  close =>


Comment:

 Replying to [comment:1 toscho]:
 > Always use the '''upload''' directory for custom files. This is the only
 location with guaranteed write access and a built-in collision prevention
 for a multisite.

 Good tip. Unfortunately, you are talking about how to implement custom
 files before you release a plugin, taking into account this WordPress bug.
 I'm talking instead about how to recover custom files many years after you
 released a plugin that used its same directory to store custom files (not
 sure about the write access: what did you mean? Is not WP_CONTENT_DIR
 always usable for plugins and themes?).

 However here it is why I consider this a WordPress bug.

 Universal mantra (1): ''Always make a backup of the stuff you are going to
 replace.''
 Universal mantra (2): ''Always keep your stuff together.''

 Why isn't `WP_Upgrader` making a backup of the packages before replacing
 them? Why is it WordPress forcing third party developers and users to have
 closely related stuff in different places?

 This no-feature, the lack of a transparent backup, is a bug that appeared
 with the (fantastic) ''update now'' functionality. I mean, not only it
 didn't implement a backup, but before it was released, a backup wasn't
 needed. In fact, each user was aware (before or after help requests) of
 the proper procedure to properly install / update a plugin.

 Do you remember? First you had to download it to your PC, then you had to
 open an FTP connection to your site, then, if it was an update, '''you'''
 had to make a backup and then delete the old directory contents or, if it
 was a new install, you had to create a new directory, and lastly you could
 upload all plugin's files to that directory.

 Did I say I love the ''update now'' link?

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/31138#comment:2>
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