WikiFAQ

• Wikiwiki is Hawaiian for "quick." Why Hawaiian? No idea.

• A wiki is a text-centered, readily-edited web of pages that can be created and modified by its users. It has no central editor, or central authority. Think shared notebook. But wikis tend to be more collaborative than an individual's journal.

• The original [WikiWikiWeb FAQ] addresses some other common questions - and leaves more to discuss.

FAQ

How does it work?

This wiki is a set of perl scripts running (as of August 2003) on a Mac G4, in conjunction with the Apache web server. The pages and links are created automatically and stored in a database. The scripts (from UseMod:Wiki) are small and open source (that is, free). They run on Unix, and since Mac is Unix, the scripts run on Macs.

It's free?

The scripts are free, and so is the Apache server. Since the computer is up and running anyway, running the wiki takes little computing effort.

Can anyone create pages?

On this wiki, anyone with the password can. On many wikis, anyone is everyone: they do not use passwords to restrict participants. Because this is a classroom wiki, it uses a password it to protect it from vandalism - but that's not really the wiki way.

And anyone can edit pages?

Anyone with the password.

Anyone can change what I write?

Yep. Respect suggests that people might add to and comment on what you write - until it gets to a point where what's on the page can be re-thought and revised. And respect suggests that if others edit your language they do so to increase the grace, clarity, and insight. But, yes: people can edit your words in helping shape ideas. It's a balance between ego and developing knowledge. Sign your work and be respectful of the words and ideas of others.

But why should I contribute if someone might change what I write?

Because you have something to contribute, and if others change it, they will only make it better.

So other participants could change your words and you would never know it?

I might not even remember what I wrote originally. The wiki tracks recent changes, but anyone can set an anonymous username when they edit. Again, respect keeps contributers on the up and up.

What's to prevent someone deleting stuff?

Technically, nothing. Wikis work on the honor system, keeping the doors open with the implicit idea that if you've been invited to contribute, you'll act in the spirit of things. Respect.

That makes me nervous.

Watch your back.

How do I add a page?

Find a page to link from. Think of a title for the page. Keep it concise for ease of use. Click on "Edit This Page" to gain access to the page. Type your page title where you want it to appear on the page using CamelCaps? or double brackets. (While you're at it, fix any errors you find in others' stuff or tighten up the prose where it can use it.) The link to your new page will be created when you save your changes. Follow the link to the new page.

What can I add to the wiki?

Anything appropriate to what we're doing in this course. Anything that will contribute to the class or to students in the class now or in future semesters.

Where should I put it?

Where it's appropriate. That's part of writing. But if you can't find a page to start from, use the StufftoAdd? page. Use that as a starting point and someone will figure out where it will go later.

Do I get credit for adding stuff?

You can have a puppy.

But it doesn't do html or java or cool images...

True: wiki isn't about animations, images, drop down menus, cool formatting (although you can include a link to an image in a wiki page). Wiki is about creating and developing well-structured written pages. The formatting codes are simple in order to make reading the text while editing easy. They are limited for clarity. The wiki doesn't read much html and won't run javascripts so that the wiki can't be hijacked. The wiki is specialized for and tuned for developing writing.

Discussion and Questions