Evaluation for 2008 March 2009 By Michael Gaigg Wiki ( /wiːkiː/ )

Agenda Characteristics Definition of a wiki Components & Wiki Syntax Software Architecture Keys to get a wiki going Choosing a wiki: What to consider Keys to get a wiki going Critical Success Factors March 2009 Wiki

Characteristics

Definition of a wiki

Components & Wiki Syntax

Software Architecture

Keys to get a wiki going

Choosing a wiki: What to consider

Keys to get a wiki going

Critical Success Factors

Wiki = quick No editing in Dreamweaver No FTP-ing to the server No waiting for webmaster to update pages March 2009 Wiki Ward Cunningham developed the first wiki: WikiWikiWeb (1995), “ the simplest online database that could possibly work”.

No editing in Dreamweaver

No FTP-ing to the server

No waiting for webmaster to update pages

Characteristics Perpetual work in progress No one owns the content No specific organization (hyperlinks) Anyone can edit other people’s work Discussion area for each page Version control: list of all changes made to a page March 2009 Wiki

Perpetual work in progress

No one owns the content

No specific organization (hyperlinks)

Anyone can edit other people’s work

Discussion area for each page

Version control: list of all changes made to a page

Definition of a wiki A wiki is a page or collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content, using a simplified markup language. A wiki is a collaboration tool – it enables documents to be written collaboratively. March 2009 Wiki

A wiki is a page or collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content, using a simplified markup language.

A wiki is a collaboration tool – it enables documents to be written collaboratively.

Components March 2009 Wiki the wiki wiki page wiki page wiki page wiki page … user view (read) create (write) update (edit) links A wiki is a page or collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content...

view (read)

create (write)

update (edit)

Wiki Syntax March 2009 Wiki … using a simplified markup language Edit mode Output

Software Architecture March 2009 Wiki Application Server RDBS Web Server File System Web Browser web Iexplorer, Firefox,… e.g. MediaWiki IIS, Apache, … (+ extensions) e.g. MySql

Choosing a wiki: What to consider Criteria Cost (open source license) Programming language (PHP, C#, Java) Data backend (File system or DB) Extensibility & user community Features WYSIWYG editing & Syntax Version control & Discussions Permissions & Security March 2009 Wiki

Criteria

Cost (open source license)

Programming language (PHP, C#, Java)

Data backend (File system or DB)

Extensibility & user community

Features

WYSIWYG editing & Syntax

Version control & Discussions

Permissions & Security

Keys to get a wiki going Find dedicated helpers Partner with groups/people related to your mission Offer structural templates for new pages Add some content to major categories Do lots of marketing If possible, offer training March 2009 Wiki

Find dedicated helpers

Partner with groups/people related to your mission

Offer structural templates for new pages

Add some content to major categories

Do lots of marketing

If possible, offer training

Critical Success Factors Only 10% contribute; only 1% on a regular basis. Obey the characteristics of a wiki. Power to the people Trust the user Authority to change something Refuse defined structure March 2009 Wiki

Only 10% contribute; only 1% on a regular basis.

Obey the characteristics of a wiki.

Power to the people

Trust the user

Authority to change something

Refuse defined structure

Characteristics Perpetual work in progress No one owns the content No specific organization (hyperlinks) Anyone can edit other people’s work Discussion area for each page Version control: list of all changes made to a page March 2009 Wiki

Perpetual work in progress

No one owns the content

No specific organization (hyperlinks)

Anyone can edit other people’s work

Discussion area for each page

Version control: list of all changes made to a page