Visit https://docs.varbase.vardot.com/updating-varbase for an up-to-date and further detailed documentation process.
### Before You Update
# Updating a Varbase Site
Updating Varbase is best done through composer. When you installed Varbase, we will assume that you have done so through the Composer-based project template [varbase-project](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-project) by running the command: `composer create-project Vardot/varbase-project:^8.6 YOUR_PROJECT --no-dev --no-interaction`
## Before You Update
This will create the Varbase project directory that will look like this: `/path/to/YOUR_PROJECT` with the Drupal codebase installed via Varbase installation profile in `/path/to/YOUR_PROJECT`.
Updating Varbase is best done through Composer. We will assume that you have [installed Varbase the recommended way](../getting-started/installing-varbase.md) through the Composer-based project template [varbase-project](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-project) by running the command: `composer create-project Vardot/varbase-project:^8.6 YOUR_PROJECT --no-dev --no-interaction`
Follow the online documentation for more detailed updating process. Visit: https://docs.varbase.vardot.com/updating-varbase
This will create the Varbase project directory that will look like this: `/path/to/YOUR_PROJECT` with the Drupal 8 codebase installed via Varbase installation profile in `/path/to/YOUR_PROJECT/docroot`.
### The Update Process
There are two main update processes we will cover. 1\) Automated process using a tool we've developed to ease the update process for Varbase called [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater). 2\) Manual process if you wish to take take matters into your own hands.
## The Update Process
#### OPTION 1: Automated Process — Using Varbase Updater \([varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater)\)
There are two main update processes we will cover. 1\) Automated process using a tool we've developed to ease the update process for Varbase called [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater). 2\) Manual process if you wish to take matters into your own hands.
### OPTION 1: Automated Process — Using Varbase Updater
If you previously used our Composer-based project template to install Varbase [varbase-project](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-project), complete the following steps to update your codebase’s installed version of Varbase:
If you previously used our Composer-based project template to install Varbase [varbase-project](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-project), complete the following steps to update your codebase’s installed version of Varbase:
1. From a command prompt window, navigate to your project: `cd /path/to/YOUR_PROJECT`
1. From a command prompt window, navigate to your project: `cd /path/to/YOUR_PROJECT`
2. If you're using Varbase 8.6.2 or older, install [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater) through composer `composer require vardot/varbase-updater:^1.0` If you're using Varbase 8.6.3 or newer, skip this step; [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater) comes pre-installed with your Varbase project.
2. If you're using Varbase 8.6.2 or older, install [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater) through Composer.`composer require vardot/varbase-updater` If you're using Varbase 8.6.3 or newer, skip this step; [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater) comes pre-installed with your Varbase project.
3. Run the Varbase update tool `/bin/update-varbase.sh`
3. Run the Varbase update tool.`./bin/update-varbase.sh`
4. Follow the wizard.
4. Follow the wizard.
_You can learn about what is going on in the wizard in Varbase Updater wizard section._
_Curious?_ [_Learn more_ ](understanding-varbase-updater-package.md)_about what's going on in the Varbase Updater wizard._
5. Buy yourself a drink! You're done.
5. Buy yourself a drink! You're done.
6. After the update finishes and you get a success message, navigate to **admin/reports/varbase-updates** to learn about the new changes and updates introduced in your Varbase site.
6. After the update finishes and you get a success message, navigate to _http://my.varbase-site.local/**admin/config/development/update-helper**_ \(where my.varbase-site.local is the URL for your website\) to learn about the new changes and updates introduced in your Varbase site.
At the end of the update process, two log files are useful to troubleshoot your update:
*`varbase_update_error.log`: a log of all errors that occurred during the update process.
*`varbase_failed_patches.log`: a log of all patches that failed to apply during the update process.
#### OPTION 2: Manual Process — Do it Yourself
### OPTION 2: Manual Process — Do it Yourself
1. From a command prompt window, navigate to your project: `cd /path/to/YOUR_PROJECT`
1. From a command prompt window, navigate to your project: `cd /path/to/YOUR_PROJECT`
2. Edit your _composer.json_ file to be ready for updates. You have two choices.
2. Edit your _composer.json_ file to be ready for updates. You have two choices.
1.**The hard way:** Edit your _composer.json_ to include all the new updates made in [varbase-project](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-project/blob/8.6.x/composer.json). This includes the new components required and its versions _"require"_, _"repositories"_, _"extra"_, and any other important config. You can use a diff tool such as [Meld](http://meldmerge.org/) or [DiffMerge](https://sourcegear.com/diffmerge/) to help you diff between your old _composer.json_ and the new one from [varbase-project](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-project/blob/8.6.x/composer.json).
1.**The hard way:** Edit your _composer.json_ to include all the new updates made in [varbase-project](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-project/blob/8.6.x/composer.json). This includes the new components required and its versions _"require"_, _"repositories"_, _"extra"_, and any other important config. You can use a diff tool such as [Meld](http://meldmerge.org/) or [DiffMerge](https://sourcegear.com/diffmerge/) to help you diff between your old _composer.json_ and the new one from [varbase-project](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-project/blob/8.6.x/composer.json).
2.**The easy way:**
2.**The easy way:**
1. If you're using Varbase 8.6.2 or older, install [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater) through composer `composer require vardot/varbase-updater:^1.0` If you're using Varbase 8.6.3 or newer, skip this step; [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater) comes pre-installed with your Varbase project.
1. If you're using Varbase 8.6.2 or older, install [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater) through Composer.`composer require vardot/varbase-updater` If you're using Varbase 8.6.3 or newer, skip this step; [varbase-updater](https://github.com/Vardot/varbase-updater) comes pre-installed with your Varbase project.
2. Then run`composer varbase-refactor-composer composer.new.json docroot` where _docroot_ is your Drupal project codebase.
2. Then run:`composer varbase-refactor-composer composer.new.json docroot` where _docroot_ is your Drupal project codebase.
3. Move your new composer file _composer.new.json_ in place of the old one. `mv composer.json composer.json.b; \ mv composer.new.json composer.json`
3. Move your new Composer file _composer.new.json_ in place of the old one. `mv composer.json composer.json.b; \ mv composer.new.json composer.json`
3. Back up your code and database
3. Back up your code and database
4. Execute composer update to download updates to modules and libraries `composer update`
4. Execute Composer update to download updates to modules and libraries. `composer update`
5. Run your database updates `drush updatedb` or by navigating to http://my.varbase-site.local/update.php \(where _my.varbase-site.local_ is the URL for your website\) and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Run your database updates. `drush updatedb` or by navigating to _http://my.varbase-site.local/update.php_ \(where _my.varbase-site.local_ is the URL for your website\) and follow the on-screen instructions.
6. After the update finishes and you get a success message, navigate to **admin/reports/varbase-updates** to learn about the new changes and updates introduced in your Varbase site.
6. After the update finishes and you get a success message, navigate to _http://my.varbase-site.local/**admin/config/development/update-helper**_ \(where _my.varbase-site.local_ is the URL for your website\) to learn about the new changes and updates introduced in your Varbase site.
