troubleshooting wordpress - tips & advice

Troubleshooting

WordPress

by Joe Manna

#WPAZ @joemanna

WordPress is natively technical.

People … are not.

#WPAZ @joemanna

You [might not] care about Javascript, minification, CSS, caching database queries, file sizes, hooks, actions, filters, permissions, DNS, security, metadata, plugin updates,

core updates, CDNs or shared vs. managed hosting

… #WPAZ @joemanna

You just want it to work.

(It’s not always this easy.)

#WPAZ @joemanna

Problems happen.

(If they didn’t, we wouldn’t have QA, coders,

systems engineers, plugin developers, technical

support, support forums, WordCamps or Meetups.)

#WPAZ @joemanna

• Why troubleshooting is important

• Reacting to technical issues

• A.P.S.T.N.D.P.

• WordPress Architecture

• How this helps you

• Win your next WordPress challenge

• Q&A

#WPAZ @joemanna

Why troubleshooting matters

• Tech support = people support

• Auto mechanic and costly repairs

• Proper diagnosis = proper cure

• Curiosity doesn’t kill the cat

• Lowers the fear of technology

• Gives you confidence

#WPAZ @joemanna

Reacting to Technical Issues

PANIC!1. Stay calm

2. Reproduce the issue

3. Document the problem

4. (If applicable, communicate it.)

5. Gather the facts

6. Identify the cause(s)

7. Attempt the fix

8. Confirm fix works and has no side-effects

#WPAZ @joemanna

APSTNDP (OSI Layers)

Turns “Hello!” into

“010010000110010101101100011011000110111100100001”

and back reliably.#WPAZ @joemanna

APSTNDP (OSI Layers)

“All people seem to need data processing.”

• Useful for diagnosing and identifying

causes

• Simplifies and focuses efforts

• Complexity Increases: Physical

Application

• Principles can translate to other machines

#WPAZ @joemanna

WordPress Simplified Architecture

File SystemDatabase“Server”

PluginsThemes

“Customizations”

ContentImages

“Variable Content”

HTML/CSSPerformance

“End-User Output”

WordPress

WordPress Architecture

WordPress “Backend”

#WPAZ @joemanna

WordPress “Core”

WordPress “Templates”

#WPAZ @joemanna

WordPress – "What Users See”

#WPAZ @joemanna

So, how can this help you in the

WordPress community?

• Interpret and understand technical issues

• Communicate issues clearly to plugin

devs, hosting provider and IT staff

• Better support WP users at WordPress

events

• Empowered to investigate and lead

#WPAZ @joemanna

Win your Next WordPress

Technical Challenge!

• Get familiar with:

– Ping, Traceroute, DNS (local and website)

– UNIX File Permissions (640 vs. 777)

– How caching works, detecting quirks (db, dns, web...)

– How to perform backups AND restores

– WordPress Debugging (hint: wp-config.php)

• Break stuff – really, it’s okay!

• Document issues in greater detail

• Search WordPress Support Forums

• Share lessons with others#WPAZ @joemanna

Thanks!

@joemanna #AZWP

joemanna@gmail.com

blog.joemanna.com