The on-wiki version of this update is here:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Abstract_Wikipedia/Updates/2021-07-22
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In the last few weeks, the Wikifunctions prototype has passed a few
critical milestones. We have massively improved the testability of our
codebase and increased the robustness of our tests. There’s still plenty to
do, but, considering the development ahead, it is reassuring to see the
code becoming more robust.
Another step is that the first parts of evaluating function composition are
now working. We can neatly compose any combination of built-ins,
code-based implementations, and other compositions.
I found myself having quite a bit of fun working with the prototype. Last
week, in order to capture some of the possibilities, I made a video where I
set up a new Wikilambda instance and defined a few functions for Boolean
algebra. Booleans are one of the types that come pre-loaded with a
Wikilambda instance. The main reason why they come as a pre-loaded type is
because they are necessary for the builtin If function, and the If function
is extremely useful.
In the demonstration video, I defined the Negate function, which takes one
of the two Boolean values (i.e. either True or False) and returns the
other. Then I implemented the Negate function using the If function: If
true then false else true. I followed this by implementing a few other
Boolean functions with two parameters, such as the And function
(conjunction), the Or function (disjunction), the Nand function, and the
Exclusive or function. Some of the functions are implemented using solely
the built-in If function; others combine previously composed functions
together (such as Nand, implemented as Not And).
The video also shows how to call these newly-created functions and see that
they work. You will notice a number of bugs in the video. Most of them are
already filed and being worked on; some of them have even been solved
already. A number of the workflows that you see have already been improved,
such as creating an implementation directly from a newly defined function,
etc. Also, please remember that the UX is still intentionally rough, and we
will give it a complete overhaul before we launch.
The video runs for 24 minutes and is available on Commons:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boolean_Algebra_with_very_early_Wik…
Thanks so much to the team for getting the prototype so far! I am very
proud, and looking forward to what comes next.
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We are hiring! We are looking for an Engineering Manager:
https://boards.greenhouse.io/wikimedia/jobs/3270135 Our hires can be based
remotely.
The next opportunity to meet us and ask us questions will be at Wikimania.
On 14 August, at 17:00 UTC, we will host a 1.5 hour session on
Wikifunctions and Abstract Wikipedia. This year, Wikimania will be an
entirely virtual event and registration is free. Bring your questions and
discussions to Wikimania 2021:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wikimania-2021-tickets-161884957265
And a reminder that all Wikimedians are invited to attend the Grammatical
Framework Summer School from 26 July to 6 August 2021 for free. The link
explains how to register and gives more background:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Abstract_Wikipedia/Updat…