[Wikimedia-l] [X-POST] Universal Language Selector(ULS) Deployment - Phase 1

[Peter Coombe]

What is the rationale for moving ULS from the personal toolbar to the
interlanguage links on some sites? I find this change odd:

* makes location and appearance of ULS inconsistent between sites
* personal toolbar seems the conventional place for per-account settings
and tools
* features it is replacing like WebFonts live in the personal toolbar
* interlanguage links are something rather different, taking the user to a
wholly different site

Pete / the wub


On 5 June 2013 20:52, Runa Bhattacharjee <rbhattacharjee at wikimedia.org>wrote:

> Hello,
>
> The Universal Language Selector (ULS)[1] provides a flexible way to
> configure and deliver language settings like interface language,
> fonts, and input methods (keyboard mappings). It combines the features
> of two earlier Mediawiki extensions Narayam[2] and WebFonts[3]. From
> June 11, 2013 on, ULS will be made available to all Wikimedia wikis in
> 5 phases[4].
>
> # Phase 1: In the first phase, ULS will replace the Narayam and
> WebFonts extensions on 84 wikis[5]. User preferences from the replaced
> extensions will not be preserved. Affected communities will be
> informed by the Wikimedia Language Engineering team of the upcoming
> change.
>
> # Phase 2: In the 5 weeks that follow, ULS will be deployed on
> Wikipedias in size 11-20,
>
> # Phase 3: All projects without language versions
>
> # Phase 4: English language Wikipedia
>
> # Phase 5:  All other wikis
>
> The ULS can be visible in two ways:
>
> 1. In the sidebar for wikis with language versions, like Wikipedia, or
> 2. In the personal toolbar at the top of wiki pages for wikis without
> language versions, like Wikimedia Commons and Meta-Wiki.
>
> Based on the geographic location of users, the initial set of language
> preferences is presented. Users can set the input methods and fonts to
> that they want to use. Logged-in users can also change the language
> for the MediaWiki menu items.
>
> ULS is already available on several Wikimedia wikis like Wikimedia
> Commons[6] and Meta-Wiki[7]. The beta installation of English
> Wikipedia on Wikimedia Labs[8] shows what will be available as the
> look and feel. A cog icon is present in the “Languages” section of the
> sidebar menu. Clicking the cog icon opens the Language settings panel
> that can be used to set the display and input settings.
>
> Please have a look at the Universal Language Selector feature
> description[9] or the Frequently Asked Questions[10] for more detailed
> information.
>
> Thank you.
>
> regards
> Runa
>
> [1] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:UniversalLanguageSelector
> [2] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Narayam
> [3] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:WebFonts
> [4]
> https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/UniversalLanguageSelector/Deployment/Planning
> [5]
> https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/UniversalLanguageSelector/Deployment/Planning#List_of_affected_wikis_.2884.29
> [6] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
> [7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
> [8] http://en.wikipedia.beta.wmflabs.org/
> [9] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Universal_Language_Selector
> [10] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Universal_Language_Selector/FAQ
>
> --
> Language Engineering - Outreach and QA Coordinator
> Wikimedia Foundation
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Runab_WMF
>
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