[Foundation-l] dumps

[Chad]

On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 2:44 PM, David Gerard <dgerard at gmail.com> wrote:

> 2009/2/23 Newyorkbrad (Wikipedia) <newyorkbrad at gmail.com>:
>
> > However, one question that I have is whether the dump includes, or should
> > conclude, all namespaces, or only articles.  In the past, there have
> > allegedly been instances in which database dumps have been utilized for
> > purposes such as harvesting oversighted edits in userspace and utilizing
> the
> > information for purposes of harassment.  I am not sure whether there is
> > value to providing dumps of other than the content spaces.  Comments?
>
>
> The value of providing good dumps is forkability, in case WMF is hit
> by a meteor, hit by a legal meteor, goes collectively insane, etc.
> Imagine trying to fork Wikipedia without being able to take the
> project spaces with you.


You mean we haven't already gone collectively insane?

To answer Brad's original question: different dumps contain different
information. There's the article-only dump that most mirrors, etc. use
and there's the larger full-wiki dump. It's the latter that is most prone
to failure and tends to kill the overall dump process.

-Chad