Last week I hopped on a call with three Codeable experts—Edith Allison (WooCommerce), Tome Pajkovski(performance), and Elson Ponte (front‑end & project management)—to talk about that moment every site owner dreads: when a plugin update breaks the site.
Below is a quick‑read recap for busy agency owners and DIY site builders, followed by the fully edited transcript if you’d like to dive into the complete discussion.
5 Key Takeaways
- Every plugin update is a security update. Most WordPress vulnerabilities start in plugins. Staying current closes the door before attackers get in.
- Staging isn’t optional. Spin up a staging site, run updates there, test critical paths (forms, checkout, log‑in), thenpush live.
- Automation + eyeballs = safest combo. Kinsta’s automatic updater handles the busywork—rolling back if screenshots don’t match or PHP errors appear—but a human still needs to test payments and watch for alert emails.
- Know when to call a pro. If checkout fails, a plugin is abandoned, or a security breach occurs, hire a vetted developer. Codeable’s fixed‑price model removes guesswork.
- Give limited access. Start freelancers on Kinsta’s staging‑only Site Developer role; promote privileges only when trust is earned.
🚀 Ready to update without stress? Test Kinsta and get the first month free and practice safe updates in staging. Need expert help? Post your project on Codeable — you might hear from Edith, Tome, or Elson directly.
Full Edited Transcript
(Time stamps removed, filler words trimmed for clarity.)
Roger Williams: What’s your process when an update breaks something?
Elson Ponte: I try to prevent disasters by testing on a local or staging server first. If something breaks in production, I check the logs, identify the culprit plugin, roll it back, and clear any caching or minification that might mask the real issue. Then I bring the site back up as fast as possible.
Roger: Good point. For non‑technical readers: server logs are your friend. In MyKinsta you can view them in the dashboard or via SSH.
Roger: Today I’m joined by Elson, Tome, and Edith from Codeable. We’re talking about WordPress plugin updates—why they matter and how to handle them. Quick intros?
Edith Allison: I’m based in Austria and specialize in WooCommerce development.
Tome Pajkovski: I’m from Skopje, Macedonia. I do a bit of everything, but performance is my passion.
Elson Ponte: I live on Madeira Island, Portugal. I started as a front‑end dev and now wear a project‑management hat as well.
Why Updates Matter
Roger: Patchstack says 97 percent of WordPress vulnerabilities come through plugins. Edith, from a store‑owner perspective, why else should we update?
Edith: Security is obvious, but performance is huge. Plugin authors constantly reduce queries and streamline code. If you don’t update, you’re stuck with last year’s speed.
Tome: And some plugins connect to external services. If those APIs change, only the new version keeps working.
Automatic vs Manual Updates
Roger: WordPress Core now auto‑rolls back fatal errors, and Kinsta’s updater adds visual regression tests. When do you still choose manual?
Edith: I don’t automate on shops. I update every other week at a quiet hour, then monitor orders for the day.
Tome: Start on staging. Update gradually. The higher the business risk, the slower you go.
Keep a Human in the Loop
Elson: Automation is great, but someone must click a form, place a test order, and watch alert emails. If Kinsta rolls back an update, the site stays up—but you still need to find out why it failed.
Troubleshooting 101
Elson: Logs first. Disable the problem plugin. Roll back. Clear cache. Test again. Document everything.
Edith: Have a second browser or your phone open—not logged in—so you see what customers see.
Tome: Don’t hand freelancers the master login. Use limited roles.
When to Hire a Developer
Roger: Red‑flag moments?
Edith: Broken checkout.
Tome: Abandoned plugins or tanking Core Web Vitals.
Elson: Security breaches.
Roger: That’s where Codeable shines—vetted experts, fixed bids, payment on success.
Performance & WooCommerce
Tome: Lab scores are diagnostics. Real users matter.
Edith: Fifty good plugins beat one bloated mega‑plugin every time.
Closing Thoughts
Roger: Prevention beats all‑nighters. Use staging, stay updated, and keep a trusted dev in your contacts.
Tome / Edith / Elson: Thanks, Roger.
End of Transcript