Hello, everyone
I am not interested in the policy of wikipedia at all. While
it can be better still, I think the current policy (NPOV,
for instance) and the syntax (wiki-markup language) are
adequate and have no intention to discuss them.
My concern is about the administration of wikipedia, or the
server, database stuff and the development of wikipedia. It
seems there is a lot of problems and they are goind to be
even worse.
In theory, yes, CVS of wikipedia code is open for anyone who
is willing to contribute and should be work just like wiki.
Alas! the reality is different, if not totally. As we know,
quite a few of people are actually coding, compared with the
number and diversity of wikipedians. Unlike the article in
wikipedia,
I posted this for responding to the advice by Jimbo.
However, if here is not appreciate place to submit this kind
of mail, please let me know and I will seek another place to
conduct the discussion.
Therefore,
I would like to proposal:
1. Disclose more information
While none of details are hidden, surely strangers have
almost no information to hack. ("How to become a wikipedia
hacker" in meta-wikipedia has a lack of critical information
and is heavliy underused.)
2. Organize the development system
See UseMod. It has a far better developer community then
wikipedia software.
We should stop immediately relying on the individual
efforts. For example, many people simply post a bug to
Brion, knowing he is responsible for the wikipedia software.
Even he encourages people to report a bug to *him*. I don't
blame him as well as others like him but really appreciate
them. But such a case is not ought to be in wikipedia.
3. Make wikipedia software more visible and independent
Maybe we need a nice name for wikipedia software to make it
more recognizable.
-- Therefore, --
the practical solution (I think but should not be limited
to) is probably:
set up
hacker.wikipedia.org or sister project dedicated to
development software tools for wikipedia. In additon to the
server software hosting wikipedia, the software programs may
include another useful tools for wikipedians (maybe chat
tools, if someone would like to persuite )
The site can embrace services for the sites hosting
wikipedia software other than
wikipedia.org (actually I am
planning to switch the wiki program of my wiki to wikipedia
software).
If you know UseMod and meatball, my proposal is akin to the
relationship among UseMod and meatball.
Yes, there is a meat-wikipedia. But as we know, meta-
wikipedia doesn't work well. There are plenty of dead stuff,
which look weird and make strangers difficult to
participate. There are even non-English stuff. Meta-wiki may
be good place to put a draft, submit a proposal but it is
not suitable for developers.
What do you think?
Best wishes,
Takuya Murata
takusi(a)manjiro.net