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Developing locally with DDEV and deploying from GitHub on Pressable

By Fathi Arfaoui · Updated · 7 min read · Disclosure

Pressable supports a real development workflow: work locally in DDEV, keep code in GitHub, and let pushes deploy automatically, without FTP.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • DDEV Local Sync: ddev pull pressable brings the live database and media to your laptop; ddev push pressable sends local changes up.
  • Push overwrites the live database, including orders and comments since your last pull.
  • GitHub integration deploys a repository branch to a site on every push.
  • WP-CLI and Bash run from the dashboard; Search & Replace has a dry run.

DDEV Local Sync

The add-on uses your SSH and WP-CLI access, so there's nothing to install on Pressable's side. URLs are rewritten safely, including inside serialized data. It works on macOS, Linux and Windows (WSL2), and first-time setup takes about 15 minutes, according to Pressable.

  1. Add an SSH key under Settings → SSH Keys.
  2. Install DDEV and the Pressable add-on (linked from the dashboard's setup guide).
  3. Run ddev pull pressable, work locally, and ddev push pressable when ready.

Never push to a live store or a site with fresh comments: the push replaces the database.

Pressable DDEV Local Sync pulls a live site into a local development environment
DDEV Local Sync page with pull and push commands.

GitHub deploys

Authorize GitHub once at account level, then connect a repository and branch to a site. Pushes to that branch deploy automatically, so themes and custom plugins live in Git instead of being edited over SFTP. Pair it with staging: deploy a staging branch to the staging site and main to production.

Pressable GitHub integration deploys from a repository branch
Account-level GitHub integration.

WP-CLI, Bash and Search & Replace

  • Bash Commands runs WP-CLI from the browser, e.g. wp plugin list. Don't put passwords or keys in commands; they're stored in plain text.
  • Search & Replace updates the database with a dry-run preview, handling serialized data.
  • Cron Jobs runs real server cron; Pressable randomizes start times slightly and allows up to 3 concurrent jobs per site.
Pressable Bash Commands tool to run WP-CLI from the dashboard
Bash and WP-CLI commands.
Pressable database Search and Replace with dry-run preview
Search & Replace with dry run.
Pressable server cron jobs manager
Server cron jobs.

FAQ

Does Pressable support Git deployments?

Yes, through its GitHub integration, which deploys a branch on each push.

Is DDEV Local Sync free?

It's an open-source add-on that uses your existing SSH and WP-CLI access.

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WRITTEN BY

Fathi Arfaoui

Fathi Arfaoui has helped people choose web hosting, start blogs and build WordPress sites since 2013. He founded SiteHostingFinder to replace opinion-based hosting reviews with real prices and public data. He has been a HostGator customer since 2013 and has hosted 40-50 WordPress sites on Pressable since 2017.