Mediawiki: Difference between revisions
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MediaWiki is a free software [[wiki]] package written in PHP, originally for use on Wikipedia. It is now used by several other projects of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation and by many other wikis, including this website. | MediaWiki is a free software [[wiki]] package written in PHP, originally for use on Wikipedia. It is now used by several other projects of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation and by many other wikis, including this website. | ||
We use MediaWikis in several other projects, including [[writing-to-learn]] wikis in high schools. Since MediaWikis are complex systems and somewhat difficult to use, you may consider another [[wiki]] technology for populations that are technically a bit challenged (most people, including the so-called digital natives). Consider using a Mediawiki in education, if you (a) plan to create a real [[hypertext]] and (b) have your students work on it for many many hours (not just 2-3 lessons). | We use MediaWikis in several other projects, including [[writing-to-learn]] wikis in high schools. Since MediaWikis are complex systems and somewhat difficult to use, you may consider another [[wiki]] technology for populations that are technically a bit challenged (most people, including the so-called digital natives). Consider using a Mediawiki in education, if you (a) plan to create a real [[hypertext]] and (b) have your students work on it for many many hours (not just 2-3 lessons). Another good reason for using a Mediawiki is the fact that its survival is guaranteed because it's the Wikipedia's engine. | ||
== Extensions == | == Extensions == | ||
=== Must-have | === Must-have MediaWiki extensions for educational wikis === | ||
Here is a list of useful extensions that may want to install according to your needs (basically a sub-set of extensions we use for | Here is a list of useful extensions that may want to install according to your needs (basically a sub-set of extensions we use for Edutech Wiki) | ||
; Crucial extensions | ; Crucial extensions | ||
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* [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:EditWarning EditWarning] shows a warning message if the user edits a page that is being edited by other users at the same time. | * [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:EditWarning EditWarning] shows a warning message if the user edits a page that is being edited by other users at the same time. | ||
* [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:FCKeditor_(Official) FCKeditor] enables a more intuitive WYSIWYG editor when editing pages on a MediaWiki-based site. This extension can create bad wiki code and doesn't work with all outdated browser versions. Therefore, I didn't install it yet in this wiki since I really care about having clean code and pages. But we do use in the [[fr:Accueil|french]] version and other wikis for which I care less. I expect a better version for MW 1.6 (fall 2009). - [[User:Daniel K. Schneider|Daniel K. Schneider]] 16: | * [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:FCKeditor_(Official) FCKeditor] enables a more intuitive WYSIWYG editor when editing pages on a MediaWiki-based site. This extension can create bad wiki code and doesn't work with all outdated browser versions. Therefore, I didn't install it yet in this wiki since I really care about having clean code and pages. But we do use in the [[fr:Accueil|french]] version and other wikis for which I care less. I expect a better version for MW 1.6 (fall 2009). - [[User:Daniel K. Schneider|Daniel K. Schneider]] 16:53, 2 July 2009 (UTC). | ||
; Helper extensions | ; Helper extensions |
Revision as of 18:53, 2 July 2009
Definition
MediaWiki is a free software wiki package written in PHP, originally for use on Wikipedia. It is now used by several other projects of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation and by many other wikis, including this website.
We use MediaWikis in several other projects, including writing-to-learn wikis in high schools. Since MediaWikis are complex systems and somewhat difficult to use, you may consider another wiki technology for populations that are technically a bit challenged (most people, including the so-called digital natives). Consider using a Mediawiki in education, if you (a) plan to create a real hypertext and (b) have your students work on it for many many hours (not just 2-3 lessons). Another good reason for using a Mediawiki is the fact that its survival is guaranteed because it's the Wikipedia's engine.
Extensions
Must-have MediaWiki extensions for educational wikis
Here is a list of useful extensions that may want to install according to your needs (basically a sub-set of extensions we use for Edutech Wiki)
- Crucial extensions
- Collection - An extension for creating wiki books. See Help:Books for this wiki.
- Wikilog - A blogging modules. As of June 2009 this is still in Beta, but it does work. E.g. see the transcluded blog entries, i.e. the News in our main/home page or the Wikilog central page, or [[Blog:DKS|the blog of Daniel K. Schneider]]
- SyntaxHighlight to display various kinds of computer code. A must have for technical wikis, also useful to get better rendering for the Collection extension.
- PageBy. An extension that inserts authors on top of the page if you add a tag. Useful if you believe that writing should be attributed. This actually should not be an extension tag, but a standard Mediawiki option to be configured.
- DiscussionThreading. Transform the discussion pages into threaded forums (else you quickly will get a mess. Useful if you plan to have students comment and ask questions.
- EditWarning shows a warning message if the user edits a page that is being edited by other users at the same time.
- FCKeditor enables a more intuitive WYSIWYG editor when editing pages on a MediaWiki-based site. This extension can create bad wiki code and doesn't work with all outdated browser versions. Therefore, I didn't install it yet in this wiki since I really care about having clean code and pages. But we do use in the version and other wikis for which I care less. I expect a better version for MW 1.6 (fall 2009). - Daniel K. Schneider 16:53, 2 July 2009 (UTC).
- Helper extensions
- ParserFunctions (needed by some other extensions)
- Others
There exist dozens of more or less useful and well working extensions and hundreds in total. Look at our Version page to see what we currently use or wade your way through MediaWiki.org, where most extensions are listed and categorized.
Links
- General
- MediaWiki.org. Official Home Page
- Sites using MediaWiki
- Other edutechwiki pages
- Mediawiki SvGViz extension, an extension that graphically shows links in a page. Developped by Romain Sauvain and Urs Richle for EduTech wiki for MediaWiki 1.10 and more recent versions (still runs in MW 1.15).
- Mediawiki collection extension installation. Our own installation notes.