How to Use WP-CLI for Managing WordPress Sites Efficiently

Introduction to WP-CLI

WP-CLI is a command-line tool for managing WordPress sites. It helps developers and site administrators automate tasks and perform bulk operations efficiently.

Installation and Setup

1. Install WP-CLI on your server:

curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wp-cli/builds/gh-pages/phar/wp-cli.phar
chmod +x wp-cli.phar
sudo mv wp-cli.phar /usr/local/bin/wp

2. Verify installation:

wp --info

Essential Commands

Core Management

Update WordPress core:

wp core update

Check current version:

wp core version

Plugin Management

Install and activate a plugin:

wp plugin install plugin-name --activate

Update all plugins:

wp plugin update --all

List all plugins with status:

wp plugin list

Theme Management

Install and activate a theme:

wp theme install theme-name --activate

Update all themes:

wp theme update --all

Database Operations

Export database:

wp db export backup.sql

Import database:

wp db import backup.sql

Search and replace URLs (useful for migrations):

wp search-replace 'old-domain.com' 'new-domain.com'

Content Management

Create a new post:

wp post create --post_type=post --post_title='New Post' --post_status=draft

List users:

wp user list

Best Practices

1. Always backup before major operations:

wp db export backup_$(date +%Y%m%d).sql

2. Use --dry-run flag to test commands:

wp search-replace 'old' 'new' --dry-run

3. Create aliases for common commands in your .bashrc:

alias wplu='wp plugin update --all'

Security Considerations

1. Restrict WP-CLI access to authorized users
2. Use SSH keys for remote access
3. Keep WP-CLI updated
4. Never run untrusted commands

Common Pitfalls

1. Not checking server requirements
2. Running commands in wrong directory
3. Forgetting to backup before operations
4. Not testing commands with --dry-run

Useful Helper Tools

1. WP-CLI Power Tools: Extends WP-CLI functionality

   • GitHub Repository

2. WP-CLI Toolkit: Collection of useful commands

   • Official Site

Time-Saving Tips

1. Use command completion:

wp cli completion bash > wp-completion.bash
source wp-completion.bash

2. Create custom commands for repetitive tasks:

wp scaffold command custom-command

3. Use --format=json for scripting:

wp plugin list --format=json

Automation Examples

Create multiple posts with featured images:

for i in {1..5}; do
  wp post create --post_title="Post $i" --post_status=publish
  wp media import sample.jpg --post_id=$(wp post list --posts_per_page=1 --format=ids)
done

Bulk optimize database tables:

wp db tables --format=csv | tr ',' '\n' | xargs -I % wp db query "OPTIMIZE TABLE %"

Remember to always test commands in a development environment first and maintain regular backups of your site.

These examples should give you a solid foundation for using WP-CLI effectively in your WordPress development workflow.