Install

Install Rudel with Composer and activate it like a normal WordPress plugin.

composer require rudel/rudel
wp plugin activate rudel

Check the runtime status:

wp rudel status

Install the bootstrap

Rudel needs an early bootstrap line in wp-config.php so it can select a sandbox before WordPress finishes loading.

wp rudel bootstrap install

The bootstrap is idempotent. Running the command again does not duplicate the injected line.

Create a sandbox

wp rudel create --name=alpha --theme=twentytwentyfour

Rudel creates a generated sandbox ID, clones the host WordPress tables into a sandbox-specific table prefix, copies the active theme into the sandbox directory, and stores the runtime record in the host WordPress database.

Use WP-CLI inside a sandbox

RUDEL_ENVIRONMENT=alpha-1234 wp option get siteurl

Route HTTP into a sandbox

curl -H 'X-Rudel-Environment: alpha-1234' http://localhost:8000/

You can also use the rudel_environment cookie for browser sessions.

Next steps

• Creating Environments
• Managing Environments
• Isolation
• Runtime State