Running it alone
This section is for individuals who have launched their site and now keep it going, alone. The work is small if it is regular: roughly an evening a month, more around an update. Nothing here needs you to be a programmer, but some steps need a shell or your host's control panel.
Contents
The pages of this section
| Page | Read it when |
|---|---|
| Backups for one person | Before launch, then whenever you change how the site runs |
| Updates for one person | A release or a security fix is published |
| Two-factor sign-in | Before launch, for every account that can publish |
| Spam and security basics | Before you open forms, comments or registration |
| The writing assistant | You want help with drafts and accept an outside provider or a local model |
| When to hire help | A task is beyond your time or skills |
| Learning with the Student level | You want to learn Exponential properly, or teach it |
A year at a glance
| When | Do | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Every week | Glance at the site; read new comments and form submissions | Spam and security basics |
| Every month | The monthly upkeep checklist: backup check, updates, accounts, links | |
| After each release | Read the notes; apply security fixes promptly | Updates for one person |
| Twice a year | Restore a backup on another machine; review accounts and roles | Backups for one person |
| Once a year | Renew the domain; reread About and privacy texts; review the tag list | Domain names and HTTPS |
The customers section has the same rhythm for owners who have a provider: Owner's year at a glance.
The three things that matter most
If you do nothing else:
- A backup you have restored once, kept away from the server.
- Security updates applied within days, not months.
- Two-step sign-in on your administrator account.
Everything else makes the site better; these three keep it alive.
Related pages
- Individuals: start here
- Maintaining your website
- Keeping it healthy (customers)
- When something goes wrong
- Free documentation: this page is free to copy, translate and improve under the GNU FDL 1.3.
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