We have been requested not to use meta templates. But they are used on the Commons a lot for other language. In the template Copyvio there's even two meta templates ( http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:Copyvio ) .
Who were we requested by? Or do you mean, in a general sense, as in [[w:Wikipedia:Avoid using meta-templates]]?
- Question: Is this really detremental for the server
performance? To me it seems possible that the extra server power it takes to invoke templates on Wikipedia projects is an extra strain on server resources (as it were an additional meta template). What do the developers say?
Brion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Avoid_using_meta-templates/Archi...
I don't think the meta templates we're using are the kind people on en.wp get worried about. They're talking about complex, nasty beasts like [[template:qif]] rather than just nested templates like we use... I think. Plus Duesentrieb's meta-templates are empty, AFAIK, so I doubt they can do much harm. And lastly... Commons doesn't have anywhere near the traffic of en.wp.
Furthermore, I find it useless to have links to translation of templates for all minor languages such as Alemannisch, Asturianu, Brezhoneg, etc. To me, it is sufficient to have translation in French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, etc (the larger languages). Isn't this Alemannisch , etc, just some kind of vanity thing? I mean, they would have to know at least one other language anyways.
What is the alternative? Only allow people to translate into "allowed" languages? I don't think so. People will only translate what they want. Banning people from translating into Alemannisch will not make them translate into a more popular language. So who does the extra (if superfluous) translation hurt? No one. Who does it help? Well, possibly someone. It might also, as I think Arnomane once said, shame the speakers of more popular languages into keeping their translations up to date. :)
Brianna (User:pfctdayelise)
-- "Mathematicians do it with Nobel's wife."