Dear Wikibase Community,
This is my last message for this year.
Be aware, it’s a longer one, but it contains nothing but gratitude and
enthusiasm.
I've been reflecting on what these last months looked like, and I would
like to mention that you've played a big role in it.
How so?
You've helped me understand Wikibase better. Yes, I'm still learning - just
like all of us - but I can see how I can make much more sense of your
conversations and requests today.
You introduced me to an open and welcoming culture, where new users can
find support and guidance when needed.
You responded to our surveys
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wikibase_Cloud_UX_Research.pdf>
and took the time to help us understand where we needed to look more
closely and realign our goals.
You've been so patient. All these ElasticSearch struggles we've been
through. Wow. I can promise, we will do our best to make this experience as
smooth as possible in the future because we have definitely learned more
about the hick-ups of that specific feature.
You've been great advocates! I loved following your visits to presentations
where you showed your Wikibase projects to existing and new audiences.
You've been honest. There is nothing better than constructive feedback, and
I would like to thank you for that as well. Not everyone can like a logo or
a website or a new design, and that is what makes a community with
different perspectives. I appreciate that we communicate on a ground where
compliments and criticism can co-exist.
Specifically for Cloud users: you've been great co-pilots in moving from
close to open beta. We are beyond excited about this development and we can
already see the outcomes. Since we've made that change, we've seen 162
Wikibases created on Wikibase Cloud and using it.
I would also like to use this space and highlight some product successes
this year:
-
Wikibase Cloud was established as a product in its own right: hosting
nearly 800 Wikibases, with 358 active ones accessible through the Discovery
tool <https://www.wikibase.cloud/discovery> released in summer this
year, and a distinct identity, complete with a logo and homepage
<https://www.wikibase.cloud/>.
-
Infrastructure enhancements have significantly improved Wikibase Cloud's
uptime and data/service availability.
-
We transitioned from a private beta to an open beta in September,
underlining our confidence in the platform and ongoing commitment to
expanding Wikibase Cloud.
-
The Docker packages of Wikibase Suite are now in sync with the MediaWiki
releases, with the latest release for version 1.40.
-
Significant work was put into the Wikibase release pipeline to improve
and simplify the experience of people self-hosting and managing Wikibases.
-
Valuable insights from research initiatives have driven improvements,
especially in documentation <https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikibase>,
and more will be addressed in 2024.
On a sad note, we have to say goodbye to our great Product Manager Evelien
Zandbergen. See announcement
<https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikibase-cloud@lists.wikimedia.org/thread/BUQEVT4ZAJ4KH3BXRIICMOELNC6SLEZJ/>
here.
If you want to read more about what we did this year, you can check the updates
section <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikibase/Wikibase.cloud> on our
meta page.
On a more general note, I thought it’d be nice to link to some other
highlights.
-
We visited ICOM conference this year. Take a look at our pictures
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikimedia_Stand_at_20th_ICOM_CC_Trienial_Conference_Val%C3%A8ncia_2023?uselang=es>
and the blog post
<https://diff.wikimedia.org/2023/11/28/wikimedia-at-the-icom-conference-2023/>
of this meaningful week.
-
Pilot Workshops
<https://meta.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikibase_in_Nigerian_Libraries/Phase_Two_-_Pilot_Project>
at Nigerian Library
-
Workshop <https://www.goethe.de/ins/gr/el/ver.cfm?event_id=24683756> at
Goethe Institute in Thessaloniki, Greece
-
We had great conversations with Wikibase users who shared their
experiences with Wikibase. They resulted in blog posts that are available
to everyone. You can find them with this link
<https://tech-news.wikimedia.de/>. (Spoiler, you will see many more
articles coming up on this blog in the future!)
-
We created a new visual identity
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikibase_logos#> for
Wikibase!
Let’s meet again for our next Live Session on the 25th of January, where we
will announce our quarterly goals as well as the outcomes of our end of the
year survey. :-)
Thanks again for your patience, your support and your great engagement!
Yours,
Valerie on behalf of Wikibase Cloud, Suite and Software Communications.
Valerie Wollinger (She/Her)
Community Communications Manager Wikibase
Wikimedia Deutschland e. V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0)30-577 11 62-0https://wikimedia.de
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