Automating WP core/plugin/theme upgrades

[AdamC]

So, I am finishing up some code that uses WP hooks to lock down the WP admin interface for newbies, which is great and does what I need. This will be rolled out to potentially 100s of sites (hosted by I) which raises the issue of upgrades.

The users wont be performing the upgrades, which I want to keep control of (unless they explicitly ask).

Obviously I dont want to be logging into 100s of WP admin panels and kicking off the upgrade process.

I've looked at some of the WP core scripts to do with upgrading, but doesnt appear to be any useful hooks.

I want this to be transparent for the end user, they wouldnt be aware of any upgrading.

Ideally I'd just test out the upgrade then call a script on each install to automate the upgrade(s), if they are safe.

I did think of just over-writing the core wp files/folders which is fine, but DB upgrades might be a bit more tricky if they modify post/user tables

Google isn't helping me out on this one, if anyone has any insight it'd be appreciated.

Failing that i'll be knocking something up myself.

 

[Drake]

What are you doing? Giving some free wordpress blogging to people?

Why not use WPMU that has been brought into Wordpress? Create A Network « WordPress Codex

Or Multiblogger? http://striderweb.com/nerdaphernalia/features/virtual-multiblog/

Or one of the programs that does multi WP networks?

 

[AdamC]

Hi,

I dont want to use WPMU as it's quite possible the user might want to move their site away from me or make modifications not compat with WPMU, keeping seperate WP installations will be easier in the long run, providing I can get the automated upgrades sorted!

 

[Kiopa_Matt]

See sig!