DesktopServer Review

Over the years, I’ve used a lot of different apps, services, and methods to develop WordPress sites. While I still don’t think there’s anything wrong with developing on a test subdomain hidden from search engines, I’ve also become a fan of developing locally thanks to DesktopServer from ServerPress.

Setting up DesktopServer is a breeze and only takes a few minutes. Once I created a blueprint of my preferred WordPress install (with all the plugins I normally use, as well as the Genesis framework and my starter child theme), I could spin up a development site in a matter of seconds. No more manual installations of the things I need to get work done, and no more time spent waiting for files to transfer via FTP.

DesktopServer does have a free version, but I upgraded to the premium version for two main reasons:

• Support: It’s rare for me to need support, but the ServerPress team is amazingly responsive, whether on social media or via their ticket system. It’s nice to get a response within minutes, especially if I have a problem I can’t solve on my own.
• BackupBuddy importing: The premium version of DesktopServer integrates with BackupBuddy, which is a huge advantage. When I work on a new theme for an existing site, I can download a backup of the live site and import it into DesktopServer in a few seconds. This helps me get an idea of what the launch process will be like on the actual site, since I’ll be able to deal with any plugin conflicts, errors, etc. on my local machine instead of panicking during launch.

With DesktopServer 4.0 set to arrive later this year, now is the time to take control of your development processes with an application that is easy to use and minimizes headaches. You can preview what’s coming in 4.0 here.

If you’re not developing locally, you are really missing the boat. You can get so much done in a fraction of the time, especially if you have DesktopServer in your toolbox.