Best practice for development/ production versions

[firstexact]

Hello all- new user here. I've installed Prestashop OK (nice work, I'm not that technical but it was pretty easy to follow). I've also installed WAMP on my PC, and I've installed another instance of Prestashop there.

So I now have 2 installs- question is, if I want to test out any new modules, additions, hacks etc on the test site, and then transfer over to the live site, what do I do? On the Wiki there were instructions on a dev version setup, but it ended with the cryptic message

"Note : This method is for modifying PrestaShop application files only. Do not use a test version of the SQL database."

So does this mean that I should connect to my live database on my WAMP instance? Or have 2 seperate databases? If I make changes in the WAMP (test) instance, and then decide to deploy these, what do I do- which files do I copy over? The changes I am likely to make are configuring modules, front end theme changes and the like, also configuration changes with things like shipping rates.

Any help appreciated, thanks

Tom

[tomerg3]

I have written some installation tips that cover this as well, check out http://www.presto-changeo.com/content/14-prestashop-installation-tips

[firstexact]

Thanks for the reply, and your guide was one of several I had open when I was installing the app, so thanks for helping with a smooth install. However, while your guide mentions why a dev environment is a good idea, and even talks about the methodology, it doesn't help with my specific question, which is whether I should be conencting to my live SQL database with my dev (local) version, or if I should have 2 SQL databases, one local and one live. Also, I wanted to know what I need to copy over when I decide to go from dev to live. Eg let's say I've installed some modules, done some tweaks to the code, added some elements to the templates, and it all works on the test server. What do I copy over? The whole site? Just certain files? Recently changed files? Do I touch the underlying database or not?

Sorry if I wasn't clearer, and thanks again for your guide, which I did read in depth this morning before installing

Tom

PS- one other question. Do I need to change file permissions every time I copy files from my local WAMP server to the live server? Apologies this is more newbie dev questions rather than Presta specific, but we all got to start somewhere!

[tomerg3]

You should keep them as separate database.

You should copy over all the files that you change, and if you added a module to the test site, you should install it on the live site (just as you did on the test)

Permissions usually only need to be set once.

[firstexact]

Thanks- appreciate your help and thanks again for the guide, it was really useful