[Foundation-l] Why is MediaWiki so low-tech?

[Tim Starling]

Virgil Ierubino wrote:
> Why is MediaWiki so low-tech?
> 
> I understand the imperitive for maximal accessibility, but is it not also
> true that, these days, fewer and fewer people are using browsers that can't
> handle advanced features? The fact of the matter is that a website's
> *usability* is improved by taking advantage of the higher-tech architecture
> that modern browsers allow you to use. Can't MediaWiki default to its
> current state, but offer a per-user preference to turn on advanced options?
> 

We have several JS/AJAX features, and I have attempted to encourage the
development of more. See

http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikitech-l/2006-August/025991.html
http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikitech-l/2006-September/026387.html

The answer to your question is that we have far fewer developers (in
full-time equivalent terms) than Facebook, Flickr or any of the other
major AJAX-based sites. We will work towards improved client-side
functionality, but it could take years to reach the level of functionality
you're talking about.

-- Tim Starling