[If you don't write gadgets, user scripts or work on MediaWiki code feel
free to ignore this message]
Hey all!
Given the hackathon this weekend, now seemed like a good idea to talk about
us having a policy for code we write for gadget and user scripts developers
and as gadget and user script developers. TDLR: I am proposing a policy to
guide developers and authors of these kinds of scripts. I would like people
to read through my first draft
<https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/User:Jdlrobson/Extension:Gadget/Policy#Policy_(draft)>
[1] and give me feedback on the talk page. Please feel free to share on
wiki.
*What is being proposed*
A policy page that would be editable on wiki and linked to from the editing
interfaces on gadgets, to guide both parties on how to write code that's
sustainable and less prone to breakage.
*Why is this needed?*
Despite gadgets and user scripts (which will be referred from now on as
wiki-based code) being a key component of MediaWiki projects, up until now
frontend APIs (e.g. how wiki-based code should interact with source control
provided code) have been ill-defined leading to misunderstandings between
engineers and wiki-based code developers when wiki-based code break. This
also leads to code rot, where developers do not feel empowered to make
changes as it's unclear how their changes will impact wiki-based code
developers. On top of this, when wiki-based code breaks it's not clear who
can and will fix them.
To solve this a policy I have been pushing for some time to make the
contract between MediaWiki developers and wiki-based code developers
explicit and less confusing.
I hope on the long run a policy would restore trust and good faith between
the two parties.
*How can you help?*
To contribute to the policy please use the discussion page to raise
concerns, suggestions, removals or additions.
*What's the deadline?*
I'd like to have all feedback gathered by 30th May 2022
[1]
https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/User:Jdlrobson/Extension:Gadget/Policy#Polic…