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Documentation: Introduction: Difference between revisions
Fix a few terminology issues and capitalisation, and update some old links and wiki syntax
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{{handbook sidebar|handbook note}} | {{handbook sidebar|handbook note}} | ||
This is PART 1: Introduction - General Information and Architecture of the [[Documentation|MediaWiki documentation]]. | This is PART 1: Introduction - General Information and Architecture of the [[Documentation|MediaWiki documentation]]. | ||
== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
This is a general, non-technical introduction to the | This is a general, non-technical introduction to the MediaWiki software. | ||
=== Some Basic Terminology: MediaWiki, Wikimedia, and Wikipedia === | |||
; ''MediaWiki'' : MediaWiki is the software program that runs [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia Wikipedia] and [https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Our_projects other Wikimedia projects]. For the software project's history see https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki_history. | |||
; ''Wikimedia'' : Wikimedia (or Wikimedia Foundation) is the overarching non-profit that coordinates all management and development of Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. | |||
; ''Wikipedia'' : Wikipedia is the Encyclopedia project, that initiated the development of the MediaWiki software. | |||
; ''Meta-Wiki'' : Meta-Wiki (or Meta for short) is the central community site meant to coordinate discussion and documentation of about Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. See [https://meta.wikimedia.org/]. | |||
=== What is MediaWiki? === | === What is MediaWiki? === | ||
MediaWiki is the software program released under the GNU GPL that runs | MediaWiki is the software program released under the GNU GPL that runs [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia Wikipedia] and [https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Our_projects other Wikimedia projects]. | ||
MediaWiki is a [[en: | MediaWiki is a [[en:Wiki|WikiWiki]], meaning that anyone can easily edit any article and have those changes posted immediately. The software contains a lot of [[Documentation:Features|features]], also. If you want to learn more about editing and other aspect of the user's point of view, you might want to read the | ||
* [[User's Guide]] | * [[User's Guide]] | ||
The name "MediaWiki" was coined by Wikipedia contributor Daniel Mayer as a play on Wikimedia [https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikipedia-l/2003-July/011021.html]. Before that, the software was known as "Wikipedia software Phase III". | |||
The MediaWiki | The MediaWiki software project is hosted in Git at https://gerrit.wikimedia.org; if you're interested in the code, you might want to read the following pages: | ||
* | * https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:MediaWiki_Developer%27s_Guide | ||
* | * https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/How_to_become_a_MediaWiki_hacker | ||
=== What is MediaWiki - not? === | === What is MediaWiki - not? === | ||
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The current MediaWiki software is built on top of an ''AMP'' environment; in this case, this means, that MediaWiki utilizes | The current MediaWiki software is built on top of an ''AMP'' environment; in this case, this means, that MediaWiki utilizes | ||
* the [[en:Apache|Apache httpd]] [[en:Web server|web server]] for delivering web pages, | * the [[en:Apache|Apache httpd]] [[en:Web server|web server]] for delivering web pages, | ||
* the [[en:DBMS|relational database management system]] [[en:MySQL|MySQL]] as a database backend for storing the content, and | |||
* the [[en:Scripting language|scripting language]] [[en:PHP|PHP]] for the application logic that glues together these components. | |||
== System Requirements == | == System Requirements == | ||
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* Disk space - also depending on your requirements; if you want to start a small WikiWikiWeb on your own, a few Megabytes of disk space will be enough. If you want to completely mirror the English Wikipedia with all images, you'll at least need 3 Gigabytes (?) | * Disk space - also depending on your requirements; if you want to start a small WikiWikiWeb on your own, a few Megabytes of disk space will be enough. If you want to completely mirror the English Wikipedia with all images, you'll at least need 3 Gigabytes (?) | ||
* Network Interface Card (NIC) - anything that is supported by your operating system can be used. | * Network Interface Card (NIC) - anything that is supported by your operating system can be used. | ||
=== Networking === | === Networking === | ||
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* The MediaWiki software is licensed under terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) | * The MediaWiki software is licensed under terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) | ||
* The content created by the MediaWiki can be licensed under terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, as it has been done on Wikipedia and Wiktionary, but you are free to choose another type of licensing. | * The content created by the MediaWiki can be licensed under terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Free_Documentation_License], as it has been done on Wikipedia and Wiktionary, but you are free to choose another type of licensing. | ||
See also: [[Meta-Wikimedia:Copyrights|Copyrights]] and [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_FDL]. | See also: [[Meta-Wikimedia:Copyrights|Copyrights]] and [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_FDL]. | ||
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== Feature list == | == Feature list == | ||
You may wonder if you should use [[MediaWiki]] for your own wiki. This depends on what kind of wiki you want to run. | You may wonder if you should use [[MediaWiki]] for your own wiki. This depends on what kind of wiki you want to run. Wikipedia's software has many useful features that grew out of the needs of the users and the ideas of the developers -- but features also mean complexity. The functionality can be overwhelming, even though we try to do everything we can to keep things easy to use. Complexity also means that there are lots of places where you may have to customize the script for your own use. | ||
Before you decide to use the Wikipedia script, please do take a look at other Wiki Engines and see if one of them might meet your requirements better. For small wikis, is always a safe bet -- it supports <nowiki>[[free links]]</nowiki> (as opposed to [[:en:CamelCase|CamelCase]]) and does not need (or support) a database. This is, of course, also a bottleneck in terms of functionality. | |||
Before you decide to use the Wikipedia script, please do take a look at other Wiki Engines and see if one of them might meet your requirements better. For small wikis, [http://www.usemod.com/cgi-bin/wiki.pl UseMod] is always a safe bet -- it supports <nowiki>[[free links]]</nowiki> (as opposed to [[:en:CamelCase|CamelCase]]) and does not need (or support) a database. This is, of course, also a bottleneck in terms of functionality. | |||
=== Look and feel === | === Look and feel === | ||
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* Wikipedia - English, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page] etc. - Great to see what can be done with the MediaWiki software, to learn about the conventions used in Wiki editing, and to see lots of helpful markup samples. | * Wikipedia - English, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page] etc. - Great to see what can be done with the MediaWiki software, to learn about the conventions used in Wiki editing, and to see lots of helpful markup samples. | ||
* September 11 Memorial Wiki, [http://sep11.wikipedia.org/] - Another example of the MediaWiki software in use. | * September 11 Memorial Wiki, [http://sep11.wikipedia.org/] - Another example of the MediaWiki software in use. | ||
* Wikipedia database download, [http://download.wikipedia.org/]. | |||
* ... | |||
== Project Communication - Getting in contact and keeping in touch == | == Project Communication - Getting in contact and keeping in touch == | ||
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The Phase III software is robust, and under active development. Many more features have been, and are expected to be, added to the Phase III software, together with bug fixes and improvements in stability. You are encouraged to submit bug reports. | The Phase III software is robust, and under active development. Many more features have been, and are expected to be, added to the Phase III software, together with bug fixes and improvements in stability. You are encouraged to submit bug reports. | ||
* Wikipedia software Phase III = MediaWiki - based on LAMP/AMP. The name "MediaWiki" was coined by Wikipedia contributor Daniel Mayer | * Wikipedia software Phase III = MediaWiki - based on LAMP/AMP. The name "MediaWiki" was coined by Wikipedia contributor Daniel Mayer as a play on Wikimedia.[http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikipedia-l/2003-July/010966.html] Before that, the software was known as "Wikipedia software Phase III"; it was was replaced by what is now called MediaWiki in June 2002. | ||
* "Wikipedia software Phase IV", | * "Wikipedia software Phase IV" [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Wikipedia:Software_Phase_IV], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:wikitech-l]. | ||
The next version of the software is Phase IV. | The next version of the software is Phase IV. | ||
== Where to go from here == | == Where to go from here == | ||
* If you want to setup a | * If you want to setup a MediaWiki on your own, go to the [[Documentation: Administrator's Guide|Administrator's Guide]]. | ||
* If you want see MediaWiki live, go to [http://www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia] or one of its [[Sister sites|sister sites]]. | |||
* If you want to learn how to use MediaWiki, go to the [[User's Guide]]. | |||
* If you want to dive right into the code, continue reading the [[Documentation: Developer's Guide|Developer's Guide]] and [[How to become a MediaWiki hacker|How to become a MediaWiki hacker]]. | |||