Fork: Difference between revisions

In {{tag|software}} engineering, a project '''fork''' happens when developers take a copy of source code from one software package and start independent {{tag|Software development|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 [[:Category:Media|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 [[mirror]]ing, which is a similar concept where one site hosts <u>identical</u> content to another site.

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

A [[mirror]] website is an archive. It duplicates or re-uses content originated elsewhere (hopefully, with proper attribution) but normally is not an originator of new content.

A fork creates an entire second project, which uses a common set of content as a starting point, but then builds a community and creates its own new, unique content.

The creation of [[Wikivoyage]] after [[Wikitravel]] was sold to Internet Brands is a fork. Conversely, the various sites which merely provide an archived copy of [[Wikipedia]] content online (such as the "NationMaster Encyclopedia") without originating new content are mirrors.

Forking is common on [[:Category:Wikia|Wikia]], usually because of its constant [[:Category:Skins|skin]] changes, poor community support, [[global blocking]], social features, and / or independent servers being more versatile.  Where this occurs, the [[:Category:GoalAbandoned|abandoned]] Wikia version of the site – invariably left [[:Category:OpenEdit|open]] and [[:Category:Dormant|dormant]], is commonly referred to as the '[[:Category:Spoon|spoon]]'.

From the outset of [[WikiIndex]], the long-term goal is to have an entry – and therefore an [[Template:Wiki|infobox]] – for ALL wiki sites, even [[:Category:Dead|dead]] and/or dormant wiki.  Forked wiki are treated the same, therefore, we have a specific method of dealing with forked wiki.  Fundamentally, a forked wiki article will have two infoboxes, ideally on the same article.  The two versions of wiki can be separated on the same page by using [[template:Clear]], and this will prevent the prose of the forked wiki 'crowding' the infobox of the original wiki.