Wikitech-l February 2014

wikitech-l@lists.wikimedia.org

152 participants
162 discussions

18 Feb '14

I'm starting a new RFC to discuss ways we can improve our PHP profiling. https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Requests_for_comment/Better_PHP_profiling Please feel free to help expand and/or comment on the talk page if you've got ideas :) -Chad

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Latest Snowden docs & MediaWiki
by Philip Neustrom 18 Feb '14

18 Feb '14

The latest Snowden docs have some great screenshots of the NSA-internal MediaWiki installation Snowden is alleged to have obtained a lot of his material from: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/article/2014/02/18/snowden-docs-reveal-c… Looks like a static HTML dump, as a few of the external extension images haven't loaded. The last details on their technical infrastructure indicated that Snowden used "web crawler" (love the quotes) software to obtain information from their internal wiki: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/us/snowden-used-low-cost-tool-to-best-nsa… What's not mentioned in the NYT piece is that their MediaWiki instance likely didn't have any read-only ACLs set up, or if they did they were buggy (are any of the third-party ACL extensions good?) -- which was perhaps one reason why Snowden was able to access the entire site once he had any access at all? "If you actually need fancy read restrictions to keep some of your own people from reading each others' writing, MediaWiki is not the right software for you." -brion. ..like, if you're a nation-state's intelligence agency, or something :P I think it's fascinating that this technical decision[1] by the MediaWiki team long ago may have had such an impact on the world! And much more fascinating that the NSA folks may not have read the docs. -Philip 1. http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Preventing_access#Restrict_viewing_of_…

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Re: [Wikitech-l] [Design] Should MediaWiki CSS prefer non-free fonts?
by Ryan Kaldari 17 Feb '14

17 Feb '14

I took a closer look at Linux Libertine for possible use as a webfont for headers. Linux Libertine is a "classic" serif font that would match the character of the site (i.e. it looks "encylopedic"). It has a wide character coverage (over 2000 characters) and support for most ligatures. It even has its own bug tracker ( http://sourceforge.net/p/linuxlibertine/bugs/). It's only shortcoming is that it has an install base of pretty much no one. Unfortunately, the WOFF file for the base font (not including bold, italic, etc.) is 516K which is way too large to use as a webfont. I imagine this is due to the font's character coverage. One option would be for us to fork Linux Libertine, reduce the character coverage (for example, it's very rare to need math and symbol glyphs in headers), and see if we can get it small enough to try delivering as a webfont. This is probably not something we could do immediately, but I think it's an idea worth looking at. Another option would be seeing if we could convince some major Linux distros to include it as a default font. As far as it's aesthetic qualities (cover your ears, devs), it has been positively reviewed by several design sites.[1] Apparently the font designers put so much work into tweaking the kerning that it would cause some older word processors to run out of kerning memory! You can see samples of it here: http://www.linuxlibertine.org/index.php?id=86&L=1. The [1] See sidebar at http://www.linuxlibertine.org/index.php?id=2&L=1 Ryan Kaldari On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 11:49 AM, May Tee-Galloway <mgalloway(a)wikimedia.org>wrote: > We've been testing out Open Sans on the apps team, it's an open source > font. The goals with any font choice is high quality (legible, scannable, > well-kerned, etc), has wide character set, and since every font has its own > personality, we want the font choice to reflect us and our content, and > among that is credible, neutral, and high quality. > > Not all fonts are created equal. Helvetica is very widely used not only > because it's such a polished font but it was designed specifically to be > the font that is neutral and to have no implied meanings like many fonts > do. Sounds perfect, except for the not free part. > > We're actively looking and trying out helvetica neue alternative that's > open source but it's been challenging. They either don't come with enough > characters, not well-kerned, or has too much personality that is not us. > > I understand the preference for an open source font but we are giving up > certain areas that are probably just as important as being open source like > reading experience. > > As for Georgia or Helvetica, serif (Georgia) fonts are recommended with > larger texts because they don't reduce well on screen. Sans serif > (Helvetica) fonts are recommended with smaller texts because they retain > their general character shapes better than serif fonts. [1] One might argue > that our web body text is not that small, hence we can use serif. There are > three reasons why I wouldn't recommend that. 1. Content looks large and > fine on the web but when it's displayed on phones and tablets, it's not as > big anymore to use serif. 2. Why don't we use serif on web and sans serif > on other platforms? Because that causes inconsistency. Readers should > experience the same experience regardless of platform. WP content should be > the one that takes center stage, not "why is my content appearing different > on my tablet or phone?" We have fallback font options only when we must > choose an alternative. 3. Helvetica has a neutral font personality. Serif, > on the other hand, has many implications like traditional, Roman, formal, > etc. [2,3] > > We know the importance for using an open source font and we have been > looking for an alternative. We also know that we care deeply for our > reader's experience. Helvetica was chosen to use because it helped reflect > our content type, it's high quality, has good amount of character set (and > if it doesn't, it's fairly easy to find a similar-ish font to match). But I > can't lie it's a beautiful font, I can assure you we didn't judge Helvetica > by its cover though. ;P Hope this helps! > > [1] > http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2013/03/serif-vs-sans-the-final-battle/ > [2] > http://psychology.wichita.edu/surl/usabilitynews/81/PersonalityofFonts.asp > [3] http://opusdesign.us/to-be-or-not-to-be-the-serif-question/ > > May > > On Feb 15, 2014, at 9:07 PM, Ryan Kaldari <rkaldari(a)wikimedia.org> wrote: > > Frankly, I think there has been a large degree of intransigence on both > sides. The free font advocates have refused to identify the fonts that they > want to be considered and why they should be considered other than the fact > that they are free, and the designers have refused to take any initiative > on considering free fonts. The free fonts that I know have been considered > are: > * DejaVu Serif. Conclusion: Widely installed, but horribly ugly and looks > nothing like the style desired by the designers. > * Nimbus Roman No9 L. Conclusion: Basically a clone of Times. Most Linux > systems map Times to Nimbus Roman No9 L, so there is no advantage to > specifying "Nimbus Roman No9 L" rather than "Times" (which also maps to > fonts on Windows and Mac). > * Linux Libertine. Conclusion: A well-designed free font that matches the > look of the Wikipedia wordmark. Unfortunately, it is not installed by > default on any systems (as far as anyone knows) but is bundled with > LibreOffice as an application font. If MediaWiki were using webfonts, this > would likely be the serif font of choice rather than Georgia, but since we > are relying on pre-installed fonts, it would be rather pointless to list it. > * Liberation Sans. Conclusion: Essentially a free substitute for Arial. > Like Nimbus Roman, there is no advantage to specifying "Liberation Sans" > instead of "Arial" (which is at the bottom of the sans-serif stack) since > Linux systems will map to Liberation Sans anyway, while other systems will > apply Arial. > > As to proving the quality of Georgia and Helvetica Neue, I don't think the > designers have done that, but I also haven't seen any evidence from the > free font advocates concerning the quality of any free fonts. So in my > view, both sides of the debate have been delinquent. > > Ryan Kaldari > > > On Sat, Feb 15, 2014 at 4:16 PM, Greg Grossmeier <greg(a)wikimedia.org>wrote: > >> <quote name="Steven Walling" date="2014-02-15" time="16:08:41 -0800"> >> > On Sat, Feb 15, 2014 at 3:59 PM, Greg Grossmeier <greg(a)wikimedia.org> >> wrote: >> > >> > > <quote name="Federico Leva (Nemo)" date="2014-02-15" time="22:52:31 >> +0100"> >> > > > And surely, before WMF/"MediaWiki" tell the world that no free fonts >> > > > of good quality exist, there will be some document detailing exactly >> > > > why and based on what arguments/data/research the numerous free >> > > > alternatives were all rejected? Free fonts developers are an >> > > > invaluable resource for serving Wikimedia projects' content in all >> > > > languages, we shouldn't carelessly slap them in their face. >> > > >> > > I just skimmed the entire thread again, and yes, this has been >> requested >> > > a few times but no one from the WMF Design team has responded with >> that >> > > analysis (or if would respond with an analysis). The first time it was >> > > requested the person was told to ask the Design list, then the next >> > > message CC'd the design list, but no response on that point. >> > > >> > > I don't see much on https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Typography_refresh >> > > nor it's talk page. Nor >> > > https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Design/Typography >> > > >> > >> > There wasn't an answer because the question is a fundamental >> > misunderstanding of the way CSS works and options that are within our >> > reach. The question isn't "are there good free fonts?" the question is >> "can >> > we deliver good free fonts to all users?". I'll try to help the UX team >> > document the answer better. >> >> Thanks. >> >> I may be part of the misunderstanding-of-how-things-work-in-font-land >> contingent. Advice/clarity appreciated. >> >> Greg >> >> >> -- >> | Greg Grossmeier GPG: B2FA 27B1 F7EB D327 6B8E | >> | identi.ca: @greg A18D 1138 8E47 FAC8 1C7D | >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Design mailing list >> Design(a)lists.wikimedia.org >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/design >> > > _______________________________________________ > Design mailing list > Design(a)lists.wikimedia.org > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/design > > > _______________________________________________ > Design mailing list > Design(a)lists.wikimedia.org > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/design > >

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The place of language support in MediaWiki
by Gerard Meijssen 17 Feb '14

17 Feb '14

Hoi, There has been a lot of controversy about language support. Some of the arguments used indicate a lack of understanding what it is language support does. In my opinion language support is a primary requirement of MediaWiki. MediaWiki supports languages really well. In a blog post [1] I have written what language support is about and, I have indicated where Wikimedia engineers and developers are involved. What I hope to achieve is some clarity on this subject. When you find anything to add or have comments I really want to know. One final consideration, English is not even 50% [2] of our page views. Thanks, GerardM [1] http://ultimategerardm.blogspot.nl/2014/02/the-place-of-language-support-in… [2] http://stats.wikimedia.org/EN/TablesPageViewsMonthlyCombined.htm

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Visual Editor and Parsoid New Pages in Wikitext?
by Derric Atzrott 17 Feb '14

17 Feb '14

If I install the Visual Editor mediawiki extension on the Wiki that I manage here at my work and also setup Parsoid, will new pages be saved with Wikitext still? The documentation for the extension's installation mentions that after you install Visual Editor you won't be able to edit Wikitext pages, but you will be able to create new pages. It also mentions that with Parsoid you will be able to edit Wikitext pages again. This leaves unclear whether or not having Parsoid installed makes Visual Editor save new pages as Wikitext as well, or just previously existing pages. I'm thinking about letting folks try Visual Editor here, but I need to be able to work with Wikitext still as there are definitely some unusual things I do in Wikitext from time to time. Thank you, Derric Atzrott Computer Specialist Alizee Pathology

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GSoC 2014 Project
by Nitika 16 Feb '14

16 Feb '14

Hi Wikitech developers, I had sent an introductory mail itnroducing myself to the community around one week before but did not seek any reply from the mentors. On Sun, Feb 16, 2014 at 11:50 PM, shubham singhal < shubham.singhal464(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Everyone > > Firstly I, Shubham would like to introduce myself to the developers of this > commmunity. I am currently pursuing Computer Science and Engineering at IIT > Roorkee INDIA. I had got a good knowledge of the tools used for the > development of open source > software. > > Shubham I wonder how the skills can match exactly the same except java Language which you had mentioned over here. I had mentioned my skills in the same format one week before to the community and introduced myself. > My skills include Programming languages: GNU C/C++, Java, Python, > Javascript, > Version control systems Git/Github and SVN. I am also aware with many of > the web > development application tools and content management systems. I am an > ambitious person willing to > learn other technologies when need in future. > > Even you found the work of the community appealing because of the same reasons which I had mentioned before in my mail. You have exactly copied the first 3 paragraphs of the mail from my mail which was sent earlier. except you had mentioned the idea at last for discussion. It is good to see the way of expression and introduction of others with the community instead of just changing the name, university and post it after sometime to the mailing list. Infact I just want to work on my proposal instead of concentrating on others but don't copy the contents from the mail of others. > I choose this organisation for the contribution as the work the community > does looks very appealing and interesting to me and useful for the whole > community. The > skills used by the organisation for the development of open source software > matches with my > skills to much extent. > > I have ideas to improve and excel interest in lay people in Gene wiki* by > including the short interesting video based learning which takes the data > from Wikimedia and create a short video which helps the people to > understand easily. I need a help to work on this.* > > In this approach I would like to implement mechanism in which long > paragraphs will be extracted from geneWiki and organized in a way that can > be shown as pictures or frame of pictures. Through this mechanism people > would be able to learn easily because pictures or videos are remembered > more easily. > > Thanks > Shubham > _______________________________________________ > Wikitech-l mailing list > Wikitech-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikitech-l

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non-Latin
by Amir E. Aharoni 16 Feb '14

16 Feb '14

[private reply] 2014-02-16 11:48 GMT+02:00 Steven Walling <steven.walling(a)gmail.com>: > > What consideration > > did the designers give to non-Latin? > > > The beta feature has involved lots of testing in non-Latin scripts. > Which non-Latin scripts? Where can I see the results? -- Amir Elisha Aharoni · אָמִיר אֱלִישָׁע אַהֲרוֹנִי http://aharoni.wordpress.com ‪“We're living in pieces, I want to live in peace.” – T. Moore‬

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Conflict resolution wikis
by James Salsman 15 Feb '14

15 Feb '14

Please see "WikiWinWin: A Wiki Based System Together with Win Win Method for Collaborative Requirements Negotiation" by Ledan Huang, Xiaobo Wu and Yangu Zhang (2013) http://www.atlantis-press.com/php/download_paper.php?id=10885 Does someone want to do a Mediawiki extension for Google Summer of Code or the like to implement a riff on that? It's applicable to more than just software development, and the software development it talks about includes collaborative documentation. I suspect that it is very similar to general accuracy maintenance automation, and it still works better with a human participant driving the process schedule (to the extent that human is skilled at it) but there are some very attractive opportunities for e.g. Wikidata and maintenance bot integration down the road if it works out. Best regards, James Salsman

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Parsing templates into associative arrays or objects
by Toni Hermoso Pulido 15 Feb '14

15 Feb '14

Hello, sorry for the maybe naïve question. Within an extension, is there a specific method (via Parser class, for instance) or a more or less direct way that could turn a template in a wikitext string into an object or associative array. Let's say: {{Example|Name=John|Last=Smith}} into: { "Example": { "Name": "John", "Last": "Smith" } } Thanks, -- Toni Hermoso Pulido http://www.cau.cat

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Deployment and roadmap highlights - week of February 17th
by Greg Grossmeier 14 Feb '14

14 Feb '14

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the weekly Deployments and Roadmps update. For the full (and most up to date) schedule of planned deployments, see: <https://wikitech.wikimedia.org/wiki/Deployments> For next week, the highlights include: == Monday == NO DEPLOYS - US Holiday (Presidents' Day) == Tuesday == MediaWiki deploy window, currently following the 1.23 schedule * group1 to 1.23wmf14: All non-Wikipedia sites (Wiktionary, Wikisource, * Wikinews, Wikibooks, Wikiquote, Wikiversity, and a few other sites) ** <https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki_1.23/Roadmap#Schedule_for_the_depl…> ** <https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki_1.23/wmf14> == Thursday == MediaWiki deploy window, currently following the 1.23 schedule) * group2 to 1.23wmf14 (all Wikipedias) * group0 to 1.23wmf15 (test/test2/testwikidata/mediawiki) ** <https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki_1.23/wmf15> * Wikidata Repository code updated on testwikidata * Pending tests on testwikidata, Wikidata Repository code updated on * wikidata.org == Long term == You can see what is known to be upcoming here: <https://wikitech.wikimedia.org/wiki/Deployments#Next_month> As always, questions welcome, Greg -- | Greg Grossmeier GPG: B2FA 27B1 F7EB D327 6B8E | | identi.ca: @greg A18D 1138 8E47 FAC8 1C7D |

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Wikitech-l February 2014