WordPress is my platform of choice when designing websites and blog sites.  This is a freeware/open source program that is continually being improved on.  This makes keeping websites based on WordPress up-to-date a challenge.  There is a plugin that solves this dilema.

http://techie-buzz.com/wordpress-plugins/wordpress-automatic-upgrade-plugin.html

1. Backs up the files and makes available a link to download it.
2. Backs up the database and makes available a link to download it.
3. Downloads the latest files from http://wordpress.org/latest.zip and unzips it.
4. Puts the site in maintenance mode.
5. De-activates all active plugins and remembers it.
6. Upgrades wordpress files.
7. Gives you a link that will open in a new window to upgrade installation.
8. Re-activates the plugins.