MediaWiki
Overview
MediaWiki is a free and open-source wiki software platform written in PHP and originally developed for use on Wikipedia. It is now used by a variety of projects and organizations to create collaborative and dynamic websites. MediaWiki is designed to handle large-scale projects and offers a robust set of features for content management, user administration, and extensibility.
History
MediaWiki was initially developed by Magnus Manske in 2002 as a replacement for the original UseModWiki software used by Wikipedia. The software underwent significant revisions and improvements, leading to the release of MediaWiki 1.0 in December 2003. Since then, MediaWiki has seen continuous development, with contributions from a large community of developers.
Architecture
MediaWiki's architecture is designed to be highly scalable and efficient. It uses a LAMP stack, consisting of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. The software is modular, allowing for the easy addition of extensions and customizations.
Core Components
- **Database Layer:** MediaWiki uses MySQL or MariaDB as its primary database management system, although it also supports other databases like PostgreSQL and SQLite.
- **Caching:** To improve performance, MediaWiki employs various caching mechanisms, including Memcached and Varnish.
- **Parser:** The parser is responsible for converting wikitext into HTML. It supports a wide range of formatting options and templates.
- **Skinning System:** MediaWiki's skinning system allows for the customization of the user interface. The default skin is Vector, but other skins like Monobook and Timeless are also available.
Features
MediaWiki offers a comprehensive set of features designed to facilitate content creation, management, and collaboration.
Content Management
- **Namespaces:** MediaWiki uses namespaces to organize content. Common namespaces include Main, Talk, User, and Template.
- **Templates:** Templates are reusable content snippets that can be embedded in multiple pages. They are often used for infoboxes, navigation boxes, and other repetitive elements.
- **Categories:** Pages can be categorized to facilitate navigation and organization. Categories are hierarchical and can contain subcategories.
User Management
- **User Accounts:** MediaWiki supports user accounts with different permission levels, including administrators, bureaucrats, and regular users.
- **User Groups:** User groups allow for the assignment of specific permissions to groups of users.
- **Watchlists:** Users can add pages to their watchlists to receive notifications of changes.
Extensibility
- **Extensions:** MediaWiki's functionality can be extended through the use of extensions. Popular extensions include VisualEditor, Semantic MediaWiki, and ParserFunctions.
- **APIs:** MediaWiki provides a robust API for programmatic access to its features. The API supports actions like querying pages, editing content, and managing users.
Use Cases
MediaWiki is used by a wide range of organizations and projects, from small community wikis to large-scale enterprise solutions.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is the most well-known example of MediaWiki in action. It serves as a testament to the software's scalability and robustness.
Corporate Wikis
Many corporations use MediaWiki for internal knowledge management and documentation. It allows for the collaborative creation and maintenance of company knowledge bases.
Educational Institutions
Educational institutions use MediaWiki to create collaborative learning environments. It is often used for course management, student projects, and research collaboration.
Installation and Configuration
Installing and configuring MediaWiki involves several steps, including setting up the server environment, downloading the software, and configuring the database.
Prerequisites
- **Server Requirements:** A web server running Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (LAMP stack).
- **Software Dependencies:** Required PHP extensions include mbstring, xml, and json.
Installation Steps
1. **Download MediaWiki:** The latest version of MediaWiki can be downloaded from the official website. 2. **Extract Files:** Extract the downloaded archive to the web server's root directory. 3. **Configure Database:** Create a new database and user for MediaWiki. 4. **Run Installer:** Navigate to the MediaWiki installation script in a web browser and follow the on-screen instructions.
Security
MediaWiki includes several security features to protect against common web vulnerabilities.
User Authentication
MediaWiki supports various authentication methods, including LDAP, OAuth, and SAML.
Access Control
Access control is managed through user groups and permissions. Sensitive actions, like deleting pages or blocking users, are restricted to administrators.
Data Encryption
MediaWiki supports HTTPS to encrypt data transmitted between the server and clients. It also supports database encryption for sensitive information.
Performance Optimization
To ensure optimal performance, MediaWiki employs several techniques.
Caching
MediaWiki uses various caching mechanisms, including object caching with Memcached and HTTP caching with Varnish.
Load Balancing
For high-traffic sites, load balancing can be used to distribute requests across multiple servers.
Database Optimization
Database optimization techniques, such as indexing and query optimization, are employed to improve performance.
Community and Support
MediaWiki has a large and active community of developers and users.
Documentation
Comprehensive documentation is available on the official MediaWiki website. It includes guides for installation, configuration, and customization.
Support Channels
Support is available through various channels, including mailing lists, IRC, and forums. The MediaWiki community also hosts regular hackathons and conferences.
Future Development
MediaWiki continues to evolve, with ongoing development focused on improving performance, security, and usability.
Roadmap
The MediaWiki roadmap outlines planned features and improvements. Upcoming releases will focus on enhancing the user experience and expanding API capabilities.
Community Contributions
Community contributions play a significant role in MediaWiki's development. Developers are encouraged to contribute code, report bugs, and participate in discussions.