Hello all,
Seeing discussions around the topic of upgrading Wikibases, we wanted to
highlight how upgrading your Wikibase installation to the latest Long-Term
Support (LTS) version of MediaWiki provides several advantages:
-
Stability and reliability: It is tested and widely adopted for
production use.
-
Security updates: Provides continued protection against vulnerabilities.
-
Bug fixes and performance improvements: Smoother and more efficient
operation.
-
Longer support lifecycle: Supported for an extended period.
-
Easier upgrades and compatibility: It avoids larger jumps later and
ensures compatibility with extensions and tools.
-
Access to modern features: It makes use of improvements in newer
versions.
-
Better ecosystem and community support: You can align with where most
development and documentation efforts are focused.
-
Be more discoverable by being able to join our index of Wikibases via
the Call Back feature!
Upgrading helps ensure your Wikibase remains secure, stable, and
well-supported. We understand that there could be concerns or issues you
face while doing so. Please feel free to reach out on the mailing list or
on our telegram channels.
We would also love to host a Learning Clinic specifically focused on
upgrading to the latest version. In this format, we can all get together
and work through all the issues that you might face while upgrading. If
this is something you would like to be a part of, please let me know.
I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week and happy installing!
Best regards,
--
Deepesha Burse
Developer Advocate
Wikimedia Deutschland e. V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0)30-577 11 62-0
https://wikimedia.de
Keep up to date! Current news and exciting stories about Wikimedia,
Wikipedia and Free Knowledge in our newsletter (in German): Subscribe now.
Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the
sum of all knowledge. Help us to achieve our vision!
https://spenden.wikimedia.de
Wikimedia Deutschland — Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V.
Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Charlottenburg, VR 23855 B.
Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für Körperschaften I Berlin,
Steuernummer 27/029/42207. Geschäftsführende Vorstände: Franziska Heine.
Hello everyone,
Wikidata's 13th birthday is fast approaching, and you're invited to a
community call to celebrate 🎁
Please join us online on *October 29, 2024, at 17:00 UTC* (in your timezone
<https://zonestamp.toolforge.org/1761757200>) for:
- Community presents and birthday messages
- Fun games
- A special *surprise announcement* from WMDE
*You can even add your own
<https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Thirteenth_Birthday/Presents_%26_mes…>
gift to the celebration! Contribute a script, tool, visual, message, poem,
etc...Anything that celebrates Wikidata and its amazing community.*
Get the call link here: Event:Wikidata Thirteenth Birthday/Presents &
Messages Call
<https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Event:Wikidata_Thirteenth_Birthday/Presents_%…>
Cheers,
-Mohammed
On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 2:43 PM Mohammed Sadat Abdulai <
mohammed.abdulai(a)wikimedia.de> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> Are you planning to host a celebration for Wikidata's 13th birthday but
> haven’t added it to the calendar yet? Join the party of ~40 events already
> scheduled, and add yours too:
> https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Thirteenth_Birthday/Calendar
>
> It’s also the perfect time to contribute a birthday present or message to
> this list:
> https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Thirteenth_Birthday/Presents_%26_mes…
> Gifts can be anything that celebrates Wikidata and its amazing community
> like a script you’ve written, a tool improvement, a visual, a poem, etc
> ... 🎉
>
> If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me.
>
> Cheers,
>
> -Mohammed
>
> On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM Mohammed Sadat Abdulai <
> mohammed.abdulai(a)wikimedia.de> wrote:
>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> A quick follow-up to my earlier email about Wikidata’s 13th birthday
>> celebrations. Two important reminders:
>>
>> -
>>
>> *Funding deadline coming up!*
>> If you’d like microgrant support from Wikimedia Deutschland for your
>> event or birthday gift idea, please remember that the *application
>> deadline is September 1* (just one week away). Apply here
>> <http://lime.wikimedia.de/index.php/897743?lang=en> via LimeSurvey.
>> -
>>
>> *Add your event to the calendar.*
>> The list of birthday events is already growing, and it would be great
>> to see yours there too! Whether you’re planning something small and local,
>> or a larger online gathering, please add it to the
>> <https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Thirteenth_Birthday#Events_calendar>birthday
>> page events list
>> <https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Thirteenth_Birthday#Events_calendar> so
>> others can find and join.
>>
>> Thanks to everyone who’s already planning something. It’s inspiring to
>> see the ideas coming in.
>>
>> If you have any questions, you're welcome to respond here or get in
>> touch with me.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> - Mohammed
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM Mohammed Sadat Abdulai <
>> mohammed.abdulai(a)wikimedia.de> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> Wikidata turns 13 this October, and it’s time to start preparing for the
>>> birthday celebrations! Since launching on 29 October 2012, Wikidata has
>>> grown into a thriving open-source knowledge base, thanks to all of you.
>>>
>>> Each year, we come together to mark this milestone. Events and
>>> contributions happen throughout October and November 2025, across
>>> regions and languages, online and offline.
>>>
>>> Why we celebrate:
>>>
>>> -
>>>
>>> To recognize the work and impact of the Wikidata community
>>> -
>>>
>>> To connect and engage with others who care about open knowledge
>>> -
>>>
>>> To share Wikidata with new audiences and grow the movement
>>>
>>> How you can take part:
>>>
>>> 🎉 Join an Event: Birthday celebrations are already being planned.
>>> Whether you’re after a hands-on editathon or an informal hangout, there are
>>> many ways to get involved. 👉 Keep an eye on the list of events
>>> <https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Thirteenth_Birthday/Calendar>
>>> and find one near you.
>>>
>>> 🎈 Host Your Own: Organize something with your local community. A short
>>> Wikidata intro, an editathon, or even a cake-cutting meetup -- every
>>> contribution counts. 👉 Visit the birthday page for support and
>>> resources
>>> <https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Thirteenth_Birthday/Run_an_event>
>>> to help you promote it.
>>>
>>> 🎁 Prepare a Birthday Gift: Every year, volunteers create “birthday
>>> presents” for the community; new features, playful content, documentation,
>>> and more. 👉 Take a look at previous gifts
>>> <https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Twelfth_Birthday/Presents> and
>>> add your idea to this year’s list.
>>>
>>> 💬 Join the Online Call On October 29*:* we’ll host a call where people
>>> can present their gifts, share updates, and celebrate live with the global
>>> community. Details will be published soon.
>>>
>>> 💡 Need support for your event or gift idea? Microgrants are available
>>> through Wikimedia Deutschland to help cover costs. You can apply until September
>>> 1st via this Lime Survey form
>>> <http://lime.wikimedia.de/index.php/897743?lang=en>.
>>>
>>> For questions, feel free to reply here, contact me directly, or leave a
>>> note on the talk page
>>> <https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata_talk:Thirteenth_Birthday>. If
>>> you'd like to discuss WikidataCon 2025, which will take place during the
>>> birthday period, feel free to reach out to my colleague Danny
>>> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Danny_Benjafield_(WMDE)>.
>>> Looking forward to celebrating together again!
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> --
>>> Mohammed S. Abdulai
>>> *Community Communications Manager, Wikidata*
>>>
>>> Wikimedia Deutschland e. V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
>>> Phone: +49 (0) 30 577 116 2466
>>> https://wikimedia.de
>>>
>>> Grab a spot in my calendar for a chat: cal.com/masssly.
>>>
>>> A lot is happening around Wikidata - Keep up to date!
>>> <https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Status_updates> Current news
>>> and exciting stories about Wikimedia, Wikipedia and Free Knowledge in our
>>> newsletter (in German): Subscribe now
>>> <https://www.wikimedia.de/newsletter/>.
>>>
>>> Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in
>>> the sum of all knowledge. Help us to achieve our vision!
>>> https://spenden.wikimedia.de
>>>
>>> Wikimedia Deutschland — Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V.
>>> Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Charlottenburg, VR 23855 B.
>>> Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für Körperschaften I Berlin,
>>> Steuernummer 27/029/42207. Geschäftsführende Vorstände: Franziska Heine
>>>
>>
Hi everyone,
The next Wikidata + Wikibase Office Hour
<https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Events#Office_hours> will be held
on Wednesday, October 15th, at 16:00 UTC (18:00 Berlin) on the Wikidata
Telegram channel <https://t.me/joinchat/IeCRo0j5Uag1qR4Tk8Ftsg>.
*What’s the Wikidata + Wikibase Office Hour?*
It’s your chance to:
✅ Hear about what the WMDE development team has been working on and our
plans for the year ahead
✅ Ask questions, discuss topics that matter to you, and share your thoughts
on all things Wikidata and Wikibase
✅ Connect with fellow community members and discover what everyone’s been
up to.
📅 Make sure to mark your calendars!
Cheers,
--
Mohammed S. Abdulai
*Community Communications Manager, Wikidata*
Wikimedia Deutschland e. V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0) 30 577 116 2466
https://wikimedia.de
Grab a spot in my calendar for a chat: cal.com/masssly.
A lot is happening around Wikidata - Keep up to date!
<https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Status_updates> Current news and
exciting stories about Wikimedia, Wikipedia and Free Knowledge in our
newsletter (in German): Subscribe now <https://www.wikimedia.de/newsletter/>
.
Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the
sum of all knowledge. Help us to achieve our vision!
https://spenden.wikimedia.de
Wikimedia Deutschland — Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V.
Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Charlottenburg, VR 23855 B.
Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für Körperschaften I Berlin,
Steuernummer 27/029/42207. Geschäftsführende Vorstände: Franziska Heine