Talk:Wiki

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Using the wiki

I created this page in January 2018 to provide some ideas about how we might use the wiki.

Policies

Yesterday, December 5, 2018, Eric asked me to propose policies for using the wiki.Frankst (talk) 16:28, 5 December 2018 (EST)

Some basics include:

  • Provide training in how to use the wiki, including MakerNexus policies.
  • Encourage Members to create a wiki account, and create a user page. The user page is a good place to tell about yourself.
  • Only the account owner should modify his/her user page.
  • Discussion pages are a place to leave a message for another user.
  • Always sign your messages using four tildes.
  • Do not remove content from discussion pages. If you change your mind, use strike-out font.
  • Use your sandbox for experimenting.
  • Before creating a new page, be sure a page on that topic does not already exist.

Platforms we use

Other policies depend upon the purpose of the wiki. Management will have to decide which platform is for what purpose. The platforms that I am aware of include:

  • The website - for stable information that rarely changes. also used now for class enrollment
  • The wiki - for information that we want to share with the world.
  • EZFacility - used for our CRM, equipment reservations, and membership renewal
  • Slack - contemporaneous chatting. best for small group communication. (Ask Jim Schrempp if you want to be added.) Works only with recent versions of browsers, OS, and features, limiting its general usage as a communication tool.
  • Basecamp (we no longer use Basecamp)
  • Google drive - storage of rich text documents and documents that we need to maintain access control over. For example, GDrive gives us a permission based system to differentiate between editors, commenters, and viewers of a document.
  • Google Suite for non-profits (each MN member will get a makernexus.org email address in the near future)
  • Facebook
  • Signup Genius - for coordinating work parties
  • Email
  • A white board on site
  • bulletin board system for ongoing discussions will become available shortly
  • Trello is being tested as a to-do list management system. (ask Jim Schrempp if you want to be added)
  • and others

Frankst (talk) 16:28, 5 December 2018 (EST)

Note that we do have a Terms of Service page in the wiki now. Jschrempp (talk)

Next steps

After the purpose of the wiki is decided and documented, other decisions can follow:

  • Decide what Namespaces we should use, and for what purpose.
  • Create a structure of categories to help organize the wiki.
  • Complete the installation of wikimedia with essential tools, such as Lua scripting
  • Clone useful templates from Wikipedia.
  • Decide who will monitor the wiki to verify changes according to policy.

Frankst (talk) 00:47, 6 December 2018 (EST)

  1. Can you describe why we need Lua Scripting on our wiki?
  2. Which templates do you think we need to install?

Jschrempp (talk)

Many of the templates used on wikipedia require Lua to work, for example, Navigation templates and Sidebar template. Unfortunately, MetaWiki does not automatically come with templates. You have to create them one by one, as needed. We desperately need navigation templates to organize the wiki. Frankst (talk) 23:52, 6 December 2018 (EST)
I added a infobox to FLUX 3D printer, so I could display properties in a structured manner. I also cloned the Template:Infobox machine, along with all its dependencies. However it does not work correctly, because it requires modules written in Lua. Frankst (talk) 16:07, 7 December 2018 (EST)
Here is an example of a navigation template. See how it pulls 26 articles together, and gives them structure. Frankst (talk) 23:35, 7 December 2018 (EST)