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[edit] Learn MediaWIki With Me
I just installed MediaWiki (features). The installation was a bit more complex than DokuWiki. Furthermore, I had to Google around a bit which is sort of unusual. I usually install new softwares without too much problem. But, it did install okay, and I'm going to start developing this Wiki around the theme of a total beginner learning how to rock the software. And, I'm going to be comparing it's functionality against DokuWiki. I already see a difference in syntax for making text bold. Let me find the WikiMedia syntax page and link to it now. The syntax for linking to external sites also differs a bit from DokuWiki. I can see that working with both platforms simultaneously could easily get confusing if you weren't thoroughly familiar with both of them...and, probably even a bit confusing at times if you were.
The <nowiki> tag allows you to print markup on the screen without it rendering. I had to use the <nowiki>tag so you could even see the <nowiki> tag *grins*
Anyway, suffice to say, for now, that there are some syntax differences. We'll talk about that more later; but, I also want to talk about functionality differences. I see the MediaWiki software is considerably bigger than DokuWiki. MediaWiki was about 32 megs. The DokuWiki was more like 12. Should I presume that MediaWiki is going to offer a lot more? That can sometimes be a faulty assumption.
This MediaWiki wiki is being developed by Kemal Faruquee founder of the web development firm WebGlad.com While there's a lot of great MediaWiki documentation, I do strongly believe that a unique value is added to the web by documenting a first time user's step-by-step experience and learning process while working with a new software. I think it's a type of documentation that adds value to the existing documentation. I followed the same procedure with the DokuWiki software, and I think it turned out nicely.
Now, with a few hours of retrospect, I strongly recommend that before doing anything you read this page. This software is a bit more complex than I was expecting. Here are some older MediaWiki reviews, including somewhat harsh ones...the page indicates that it's there for historical interest. This review in particular caught my eye:
"The fact is, MediaWiki is a purpose-built software, and you aren't their purpose. On the support side of things, everyone is scrambling too hard to provide much support infrastructure. That isn't their purpose either. (IMO this is actually costing more developer time than building the appropriate infrastructure.) If you think you might need help setting up or maintaining a mediawiki site, well, that isn't the purpose of MediaWiki. It's a good software - power hungry but able to scale - but it is not designed for small setups and there is poor support for amateurs. Accept it as is, or be the change you want to see."
Well, that's fine. WebGlad.com doesn't shy away from coding that gets a little complicated. That's when things start getting fun. One thing that seems unusual, at first, is that there's not a traditional admin panel that you come to expect. Or, if there is...I've yet to find it. : ) The way that you change and configure is either through the "Special Pages" link in the Toolbox...but, really, more so it seems to me, through editing various files: in particular the LocalSettings.php file. That's cool. It reminds me a little of hacking around in old versions of phpBB. This is the type of software that you just have to play around with for a week...and, then it all will seem quite natural. After further inspection, I see that the options under Special Pages do change whether you are Bureaucrat or an Unregistered User more about permissions. That's one way to do it I suppose. Interesting. I guess I'm just really accustomed to having a special admin panel that only the admin can get into.
The one idea that does have my attention, though, concerns choosing the right tool for the right job. This software was constructed to run the ridiculously popular monster Wikipedia; it's unlikely, unfortunately, that any project of mine will reach that level of popularity. Boo hoo. For the stuff I do for myself and more particularly for my clients; my initial impression's that a smaller software with a friendlier administrator gui could be a better fit. But, let's march forward. I have the rest of today and tomorrow to sort through MediaWiki...so, let's do it!
[edit] Before going much further, let me talk a bit about installation
Soon as you install and sign on, this is listed at the top of the page:
MediaWiki has been successfully installed.
Consult the User's Guide for information on using the wiki software.
[edit] Getting started
[edit] More About Installation
Now, as indicated, the software platform is MediaWiki. And, after linking with double brackets "[[ ]]" in DokuWiki for the past four days, these single bracket links are throwing me a bit. But, this is version 1.13.2 that I installed. You do the typical stuff...unzip everything (in this case it seems like there were multiple unzips GZ file), then you name the folder and upload it to your server. I read that you don't want to install MediaWiki into your site's root. That's fine. I put it all into a folder called "mediawiki" and uploaded. Then you visit the url of your new Wiki, and it'll walk you through the installation process.
It appears that the installation problem I had was related to incorrect permissions, initially, on the config directory. With them set at 755, things went okay. Another factor to consider is your register globals setting. The software works either way; but, you still want to read the documentation on this so you understand the issue.
[edit] MediaWiki Templates
The default template is just too vanilla boring for me, and right off the top I want to change it to a template with a bit more flair. Eventually, I'll create my own based off the original. That way I feel confident that everything is tight. But, for now... Okay, I couldn't find any that I liked which I felt confident about. So, a little later, I'll tweak this one around. Although it's not everyone's cup of tea, I've always preferred a fixed-width layout. I'll be talking a lot about MediaWiki Template creation later.
[edit] MediaWiki Namespaces
Namespaces in MediaWiki are conceptually similar to those in DokuWiki. The difference is that MediaWiki appears to come with some built-in namespaces...and, I don't believe that's the case with DokuWiki. WIkiMedia divides namespaces into two possible categories: content and talk; while an interesting idea, I'm not sure that's necessary for most people's purposes. It would also appear that setting custom namespaces is considerably more involved with MediaWiki than DokuWiki.
[edit] Adding Images In MediaWiki
http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Upload
Adding images to MediaWiki has an easy syntax: see here.
Okay, here's the generic code:
[[Image:Example.jpg|center|thumb|100px|Sunflowers]]
Again, it's necessary to edit LocalSettings.php to get this image functionality rocking:
In MediaWiki version 1.5 and later, the attribute to be set resides in LocalSettings.php and is as follows: $wgEnableUploads = true; # Enable uploads This enables uploads, as one might expect. To disable them, set the attribute to false: $wgEnableUploads = false; # Disable uploads
Upload permissions
Per default, all registered users can upload files. To restrict this, you have to change Manual:$wgGroupPermissions:
* To prevent normal users from uploading files: $wgGroupPermissions['user']['upload'] = false; * To create a special group called "uploadaccess", and allow members of that group to upload files: $wgGroupPermissions['uploadaccess']['upload'] = true; * To allow "autoconfirmed" (non-newbie) users to upload files: $wgGroupPermissions['autoconfirmed']['upload'] = true;The right to replace existing files is handled by an extra permission, called reupload:
* To prevent normal users from overriding existing files: $wgGroupPermissions['user']['reupload'] = false; * To allow "autoconfirmed" (non-newbie) users to replace existing files: $wgGroupPermissions['autoconfirmed']['reupload'] = true;
And, there's a lot more. Follow the link above to see all of the documentation on this.
