Fork: Difference between revisions

In software engineering, a project '''fork''' happens when developers take a copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct piece of software.

The term {{tag|fork}} is also used in the [[wikisphere]].  For instance, the above text was forked from the [[English Wikipedia]]!  Most [[free content]] [[:Category:Wiki License|licenses]] allow people to copy material in part or whole – to create their own versions of that content: be it a cultural work, a piece of media, software, or some intellectual pursuit.

Sometimes, forking results in [[fragmentation]], whereby two separate [[Wiki Community|communities]] have overlapping goals.  There are strengths and weaknesses to this.  On the one hand, different communities can meet different needs, and problem-solve in new ways.  This also keeps one cultural work from being dominated or controlled by a single individual or small subset of [[:Category:Wiki People|people]].  On the other hand, fragmentation can create redundancy and confusion amongst people.

Forking starts as [[mirroring]], which is a similar concept where one site hosts identical content to another site.

See also [[federated wiki (wiki)]].

Forking is common on [[:Category:Wikia|Wikia]], usually because of its constant skin changes, poor community support, [[global blocking]], social features, and/or independent servers being more versatile.  The Wikia version of the site, invariably left open and [[:Category:Dormant|dormant]], is commonly referred to as the "spoon".