In the action API, there are two ways to parse a page/revision: using
action=parse, or using the rvparse parameter to action=query&prop=revisions.
Similarly, there are two ways to get a diff: using action=compare, or using
parameters such as rvdiffto to action=query&prop=revisions. And then
there's action=expandtemplates versus the rvexpandtemplates parameter to
prop=revisions. This is a somewhat annoying bit of code duplication.
Further, the prop=revisions versions of these features have somewhat
strange behavior. rvparse forces rvlimit=1. rvdiffto and related parameters
will sometimes output "notcached" with no way to directly handle the
situation.
This, the 'rvdifftotext', 'rvdifftotextpst', 'rvdiffto',
'rvexpandtemplates', 'rvgeneratexml', 'rvparse', and 'rvprop=parsetree'
parameters to prop=revisions are all deprecated, as are the similarly named
parameters to prop=deletedrevisions, list=allrevisions, and
list=alldeletedrevisions.
--
Brad Jorsch (Anomie)
Senior Software Engineer
Wikimedia Foundation