wp-update

name	wp-update
description	Check and apply WordPress core and plugin updates via SSH. Verifies site responds after each update. Skips premium/private plugins. Supports check-only mode to see what's outdated without applying changes.
triggers	["update WordPress","update plugins","check for updates","WordPress outdated","plugin updates available"]

Skill: wp-update

Checks wordpress.org for available updates to WordPress core and free plugins, and optionally applies them. Verifies the site is still responding after each update — stops the chain if the site goes down.

Usage

# Check what's outdated (no changes made)
python scripts/management/wp-update.py --config config/config.yaml --check-only

# Update WordPress core only
python scripts/management/wp-update.py --config config/config.yaml --core

# Update specific plugins
python scripts/management/wp-update.py --config config/config.yaml --plugins elementor,rank-math,wordfence

# Update everything (core + all free plugins)
python scripts/management/wp-update.py --config config/config.yaml --all

# Preview what --all would do
python scripts/management/wp-update.py --config config/config.yaml --all --dry-run

Important notes

Premium plugins (Elementor Pro, WooCommerce paid extensions, WPML, ACF Pro, etc.) are not on wordpress.org — the script skips them automatically. Update these via WP Admin > Plugins or via your plugin provider's account.

Safety: the script checks HTTP 200 from site_url after each update. If the site goes down, it stops and reports. You must investigate manually before updating further.

Always backup first

python scripts/management/wp-backup.py --config config/config.yaml
python scripts/management/wp-update.py --config config/config.yaml --all

Regular maintenance schedule

Weekly:
  wp-backup → wp-update --check-only   (see what's outdated)
  
Monthly:
  wp-backup → wp-update --all → wp-scan  (update + verify clean)

Checking which version is installed

# Via SSH:
grep wp_version /path/to/wp-includes/version.php

# Via this script:
python scripts/management/wp-update.py --config config/config.yaml --check-only