MusicBrainz Wiki
You are here. This is the MusicBrainzWiki. It is located at http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/.
When WikiDocs will be implemented this will not be as easy. You will then be able to view the content of this page through the WikiWebService without being in the wiki. See the section The Wiki and WikiDocs below for more details.
Status of the Wiki
We ported the wiki to a MoinMoin wiki-engine. See MoinMoinWikiSyntax for changes to the old UseMod syntax. Also you will have to register again with your old WikiName.
This wiki is a permanent WIP (work in progress). The project to RestructureTheWiki is largely complete and we are now RestructuringTheDocumentation. There is information on the StatusOfThisWiki to tell you which parts are stable and which are "in progress". Things will probaly get worse during the time we implement WikiDocs.
When editing this wiki please stick to GoodWikiStyle. You can also use the SandBox (or the other Sandbox) if you just want to test the MoinMoinWikiSyntax.
The Wiki and WikiDocs
In the future the MusicBrainzWiki will be the source for all content of MusicBrainz. There will only be very few exceptions (about 20 pages that form the MainSiteStructure).
In the WikiDocsConcept the MusicBrainzWiki is seen as a community. This community uses, changes and develops the content of docs, help pages, discussions, guidelines etc. The wiki community has been very efficient in doing this because bot the experts (the solution providers) and the non-experts (the question posers) collaborate in the same space.
Thus, most of the wiki will be open for everyone to edit. We will not control the content in the wiki. We will, however, excerce some control over that part of the wiki's content which is integrated into the MainSite. This happens via the ModeratedWikiMirror.
Accessing the Wiki
The MusicBrainzWiki will be accessible in two ways:
- as a wiki, and
- through a WikiWebService
Accessing the Wiki as a Wiki (via MoinMoin)
If you access the wiki through the MoinMoin interface, you will be able to edit (nearly) all pages. This interface (I think they are called "themes" in MoinMoin) should have a look and feel that is similar to but still distinct from the MainSite. I suggest somthing like a light violet background, or perhaps an icon.
Accessing the Wiki via the Wiki Web Service
A visitor of MusicBrainz will first see the MainsiteStucture's content. Then he will seamlessly move into the ModeratedWikiMirror which will be served to him via the WikiWebService. If a page does not exist in the ModeratedWikiMirror, the web service will serve the resepective page from the MusicBrainzWiki. None of these pages are editable.
The page a user sees is directly taken from the wiki. It should have the same structure like the MainSite, but marker that makes clear that this is not the same as the rest of the home page. Such a marker could be the light violet background or the icon. There should probably also be a note that says that this page is maintained by the wiki community and a link to the same page in the MoinMoin wiki interface so that it can be edited there.
Changes in Wiki Culture
The wiki community will know that they create the content for the home page. Then WikiNeedsaNewCenter. We have therefore moved the center from HomePage to WikiHome. WikiHome should become the homepage for the wiki as a wiki. While the "homepage" for the moderated wiki content will of course be the MainSite.
