How to Use DDEV and Git for Drupal Deployments on Shared Hosting

Staff Reporter

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In a practical guide for Drupal developers, Leonardo Signorelli shares a detailed walkthrough in his blog post titled “A Complete Drupal Workflow: Local to Live Deployments on Shared Hosting Using DDEV and a Simple Deploy Script”. The article focuses on bridging local development with shared hosting using DDEV, Git, and a basic Bash script — ideal for solo developers, freelancers, or teams without access to complex CI/CD systems.

The tutorial begins by setting up a DDEV-powered Drupal instance locally, emphasizing consistent environment control. Git is used for version tracking, and a custom deploy.sh script handles uploads and file syncs to the production server via SSH and rsync. The author clearly distinguishes the responsibilities of local versus live environments — including how to manage .gitignore and site-specific configurations.

Practical advice is provided on structuring your Drupal project folder, handling file permissions, and avoiding common pitfalls with configuration exports. The script used in the tutorial automates most of the deployment process — from database import/export to syncing the sites/default/files directory — making it suitable for repeatable use.

While the guide doesn’t rely on advanced tools like GitHub Actions or hosting-specific integrations, it delivers a realistic and replicable solution for those working within tight constraints. It’s especially valuable for those hosting on platforms like cPanel, where SSH access is limited but still usable.

Reference: A Complete Drupal Workflow: Local to Live Deployments on Shared Hosting Using DDEV and a Simple Deploy Script by Leonardo Signorelli (astralmemories) (20 November 2025)

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