Is local good for checking how updating php will affect an actual site

[GrahamClements]

Issue Summary

I have just started using local, and I have updated a website on I loaded on it to a php 8.0, it did cause a problem with one plugin and I rectified that. Is Local an accurate platform for checking out what will happpen when I update php on the actual site. How do I check out the effect on mobiles using local? I use a simulator on chrome: Smartphone simulator on computer - test your mobile site is there a better way?

Troubleshooting Questions

• Does this happen for all sites in Local, or just one in particular?

• Are you able to create a new, plain WordPress site in Local and access it in a Browser?

Replication

Describe the steps that others can take to replicate this issue. If you have screenshots that can help clarify what is happening, please include them!

System Details

• Which version of Local is being used?

• What Operating System (OS) and OS version is being used?

  • For example: macOS Catalina or Windows 10 Professional

• Attach the Local Log. See this Help Doc for instructions on how to do so:

  • Retrieving Local’s Log

Security Reminder

Local does a pretty good job of scrubbing private info from the logs and the errors it produces, however there’s always the possibility that something private can come through. Because these are public forums, always review the screenshots you are sharing to make sure there isn’t private info like passwords being displayed.

[sambrockway]

Hi there @GrahamClements - welcome to the Local community!

Local is a great choice for checking various PHP versions and ensuring everything is running smoothly with the site, plugins are working and compatible, etc.

However, if you had any special coding or custom functionality that relies on very specific extensions, Local might not be the best fit in that case.

For example, if a plugin makes heavy use of Imagemagick for things like generating custom PDFs, then Local might not be a good tool for testing because not all of our PHP versions have Imagemagick installed and configured.

That said, for an existing site that you’d like to test with new versions of PHP, Local will work and help with that troubleshooting process.

As far as mobile goes, that simulator you mentioned should work just fine for a site in Local opened up in Chrome.

Let me know if that helps answer your question!

Sam

[GrahamClements]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I have checked a few websites using Local and changing the php version and so far only one had problems, which the plugins makers had a fix for.