Hi:

I build sites for clients. I build them, initially, in a MAMP local installation – especially since I’m rebuilding many classic themes or replacing classic themes with FSE themes for clients so I want to get the styling figured out BEFORE replacing the theme on a live site.

I have been using the Greenshift theme as a starting point and then create child-themes. So I eventually need to export or make a sibling or clone to move to the live server and I’m not clear which is the best approach.

I want to keep Greenshift as a starting point so I don’t want to change IT too dramatically. So I’ve been creating a child-theme out of the gate and then make changes to IT, but when I export it or make a sibling theme I always seem to lose some of the changes when I activate it in the new server. I always load Greenshift theme first, then the child-theme. Then I end up having to go back in and make changes to templates or blocks. It’s like I get 90% of the changes I made in MAMP but have to re-do 10%.

My goal is to be able to completely style a site locally then take all those changes to a different server. (I know I have to reload images.)

Can you recommend the best approach?

Create child theme immediately, work on, export when done?
Create child theme immediately, work on, create sibling when done? I don’t know what the difference is between exporting and making a sibling.

Or is there a better approach? Start with Greenshift and clone it?

Help appreciated!

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