What is a Wiki?
Mithat Konar
2013-03-11
Definitions
- wiki: “a Web application whose content is collaboratively added, updated, and organized by its users.” (Mitchell)
- Emphasis in a wiki is on:
- Letting users create pages quickly.
- Making it easy to link pages to each other.
- wiki engine: the program that runs a wiki.
- wiki markup language: simple text-based system for writing pages.
History
“Wikis can be dated to 1995, when American computer programmer Ward Cunningham created a new collaborative technology for organizing information on Web sites. Using a Hawaiian term meaning 'quick,' he called this new software WikiWikiWeb.” (Britannica)
Typical wiki features
- Easy writing
- Editing history
- Editing protection
Easy writing
- Central features of a wiki markup language:
- simple text syntax for creating new pages
- simple text syntax for creating crosslinks between internal pages
- support for hyperlinks
- Each wiki engine tends to have its own markup language.
- Creole is an attempt to create a standard markup language for wikis.
Easy writing
- Sometimes, a toolbar will be provided on the editing screen with icons to insert the most commonly used markup.
- Sometimes a wiki will supply a WYSIWYG interface for writing pages, similar to what you would find in a word processor.
Editing history
- Many wiki engines maintain a history of your page editing.
- Every change you make to a page is kept track of so you can compare the current version to an older one.
- Especially important in an open wiki in case someone makes some really bad changes–on purpose or by accident.
Editing protection
- Wikis can be
- open: anyone can view and edit pages
- closed: anyone can view pages, you must have an account to edit pages
- private: you must have an account to view and edit the wiki
Ways to get a wiki of your own
- It is easy to create your own wiki.
- Two choices:
- Use a hosted service.
- Install a service yourself.
Hosted service
- There are a number of service providers that let you create a wiki on their servers (often at no cost).
- Pro:
- They've done the hard work of setting up the service for you.
- Cons:
- Typically will insert advertising into your pages to make money.
- Many limit the number and/or size of pages in their free offerings.
- May go out of business–and take your wiki with them!
Hosted service
- Popular hosted wiki services:
Self-installed service
- To install your own wiki service, you will need to have an account with a Web hosting service.
- Then you can usually install a wiki engine by uploading the needed files or sometimes just enabling an engine in the Web host's control panel.
- Pro
- Your wiki will be free from advertising and won't have space and other limitations.
- Con
- You may have to fix any problems that come up and make backups yourself.
Self-installed service
References/sources
Mitchell, Scott. “Easy Wiki Hosting, Scott Hanselman's blog, and Snagging Screens.” MSDN | Microsoft Development, Subscriptions, Resources, and More. Microsoft, Inc., 1 July 2008. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. <http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc700339.aspx>.
“Wiki: What Is Wiki.” Wiki: Welcome Visitors. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. <http://www.wiki.org/wiki.cgi?WhatIsWiki>.
“wiki (Web site) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia.” Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1192819/wiki>.