MediaWiki.org: Difference between revisions

:''Note: this page is about the [[wiki]] specifically for help, administration and [[:Category:Software development|development]] of the MediaWiki '[[:Category:Wiki Engine|wiki engine]]' software.

{{for|a comprehensive list here on WikiIndex of the diverse array [[WhatIsWiki|wikis]] powered by the MediaWiki software|category:MediaWiki}}

{{Wiki <!--see 'Template:Wiki' for full detail-->

|logo            = [[File:MediaWiki-2020-logo.svg|135px|MediaWiki.org wiki logo]]

|mobile URL      = https://m.MediaWiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki

'''MediaWiki.org''' is the official [[wiki]] site for the 'MediaWiki' [[:Category:Wiki Engine|wiki engine]] {{tag|software}} and associated add-ons, called '[[mw:Category:Extensions|Extensions]]' — and nothing else related to MediaWiki or the {{tag|Wikimedia Foundation}} (WMF).

The '''MediaWiki.org wiki''' now provides all {{tag|documentation}}, technical support, {{tag|Software development|development}}, and surrounding {{tag|information}} for the MediaWiki software.  Historically, before the MediaWiki.org [[WhatIsWiki|wiki]] was created, most of the development and user support information was to be found at [[Wikimedia Meta-Wiki]]; an older site, which deals with [[:Category:Meta|meta]] subjects relating to <u>all</u> WMF projects and wikis.  The slightly newer MediaWiki.org wiki became the sole place for development, support and {{tag|documentation}} of the MediaWiki software, and much of the earlier software-specific content originally created on the Wikimedia Meta-Wiki has now been moved across to the MediaWiki.org wiki.

Both sites are run by the '[[:Category:Nonprofit|not-for-profit]]' Wikimedia Foundation (WMF); who oversee {{tag|MediaWiki}} development, and who also own and run the {{tag|Wikipedia}} empire, and all its sister projects.  MediaWiki.org wiki is an extremely active and dedicated community; its members include software [[developer]]s (for both the core MediaWiki software, and the many add-on [[mw:Category:All extensions|Extensions]]), editors of other WMF wikis, and owners/[[sysop]]s of other independent wikis which also use the MediaWiki software.  Major portions of the MediaWiki.org wiki are {{tag|Wiki Multilingual|multilingual}}, but the primary working language is {{tag|Wiki English|English}}.

Textual content of the MediaWiki.org wiki is released under a {{tag|Wiki MultiLicense|dual license}}: the {{tag|Wiki Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike|Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License}} (CC BY-SA 3.0) ''and'' the earlier {{tag|Wiki GNU Free Documentation License|GNU Free Documentation License}} (GNU FDL or GFDL), as detailed in the Wikimedia Foundation [[wmf:Terms of Use|Terms of Use]].  However, the actual MediaWiki ''software'' is released for [[:Category:Free software|free]] under version 2 of the [[:Category:GNU General Public License|GNU General Public License]] (GPL v2), whereas the many related add-on extensions may be released under the GPL or any other license which their original developer deemed fit.

The MediaWiki.org wiki has very few written [[:Category:Policy|policies]] and [[:Category:Guidelines|guidelines]], and sysop actions are rarely discussed in any centralized forums.  Deletion decisions, for example, are usually made unilaterally by sysops, rather than being processed through 'x for deletion' pages.  Therefore, MediaWiki.org has been compared to Hollywood depictions of the 'old west' in which, after sheriffs (i.e. sysops) have been selected, there is little oversight of what they do.

|wikiFactor= <!--preferred, if unknown leave void, see: Category:wikiFactor-->

|wikiFactor URL= https://www.MediaWiki.org/wiki/Special:PopularPages

*[[Meta-Wiki:MediaWiki.org|MediaWiki.org]] at [[Wikimedia Meta-Wiki]]

*[https://Stats.Wikimedia.org/wikispecial/EN/TablesWikipediaMEDIAWIKI.htm MediaWiki Statistics] — Stats.Wikimedia.org at [[Wikimedia Statistics]]