Subwiki:Subwiki versus Wikipedia - Revision history

Vipul: /* General-purpose versus specific-purpose */

2011-01-05T00:27:53Z

General-purpose versus specific-purpose

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:27, 5 January 2011
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	Wikipedia calls itself ''the free encyclopaedia that anybody can edit''([[wp:Main Page\|Wikipedia Main Page]]). It plans to be an ''encyclopaedia of everything'' with a ''let's all get together and do it'' attitude. Of course, much of the structure and organization of the wiki is determined by a small core group, but much of the activity is also carried out by the large mass of ordinary users.		Wikipedia calls itself ''the free encyclopaedia that anybody can edit''([[wp:Main Page\|Wikipedia Main Page]]). It plans to be an ''encyclopaedia of everything'' with a ''let's all get together and do it'' attitude. Of course, much of the structure and organization of the wiki is determined by a small core group, but much of the activity is also carried out by the large mass of ordinary users.

	While the aim of Wikipedia is to be a general-purpose encyclopaedia, the subject wikis aim to be neither general-purpose nor encyclopedic. Rather, ~~it aims~~ to cover ~~a very~~ specific ~~area~~ of mathematics in a particular fashion.		While the aim of Wikipedia is to be a general-purpose encyclopaedia, the subject wikis aim to be neither general-purpose nor encyclopedic. Rather, they aim to cover specific areas (of mathematics or other subjects) in a particular fashion.

	===What deserves an article===		===What deserves an article===

Vipul: /* Specific organizational paradigms */

2009-12-30T12:57:38Z

Specific organizational paradigms

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:57, 30 December 2009
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	===Specific organizational paradigms===		===Specific organizational paradigms===

	Each subject wiki uses a number of organizational paradigms specifically suited for the needs of the subject matter, though general ideas of the [[subwiki:type-based ~~paradigm~~\|type-based paradigm]], [[subwiki:property-theoretic ~~paradigm~~\|property-theoretic paradigm]], and [[subwiki:relational ~~paradigm~~\|relational paradigm]] are shared by a number of subject wikis. Even these general paradigms, however, require a cohesive and reasonably narrow subject matter domain.		Each subject wiki uses a number of organizational paradigms specifically suited for the needs of the subject matter, though general ideas of the [[subwiki:type-based organization\|type-based paradigm]], [[subwiki:property-theoretic organization\|property-theoretic paradigm]], and [[subwiki:relational organization\|relational paradigm]] are shared by a number of subject wikis. Even these general paradigms, however, require a cohesive and reasonably narrow subject matter domain.

	The paradigms on subject wikis guide the use of semantic information and category information, and allow for specific automatically generated information (for instance, automatically listing examples related to a fact, or properties between two given properties). These paradigms are also responsible for very similar article structures for articles of the same ''type'', but the article structures differ quite a bit for articles of different types. Once again, it is the focus on a narrow subject domain that permits the use of reasonably standard templates for articles of a given type.		The paradigms on subject wikis guide the use of semantic information and category information, and allow for specific automatically generated information (for instance, automatically listing examples related to a fact, or properties between two given properties). These paradigms are also responsible for very similar article structures for articles of the same ''type'', but the article structures differ quite a bit for articles of different types. Once again, it is the focus on a narrow subject domain that permits the use of reasonably standard templates for articles of a given type.

Vipul: /* The key differences between subject wikis and Wikipedia */

2009-12-30T12:56:25Z

The key differences between subject wikis and Wikipedia

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 ===First impressions===
-Wikipedia pages are typically designed well for ''accidental landing'' -- landing by people who aren't familiar with the topic and landed there by accident following links. In particular, Wikipedia pages start by setting the outermost context, then setting a further inner context, then setting a further inner context, and so on.
+Wikipedia pages are typically designed well for ''accidental landing'' -- landing by people who aren't familiar with the topic and landed there by accident following links. In particular, Wikipedia pages start by setting a broad context, and ''easing the reader into the subject''.
 Subject wiki pages are designed for people who have some familiarity with the topic area, so less effort is spent at the beginning of the page clarifying the general background.

Vipul at 12:30, 30 December 2009

2009-12-30T12:30:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:30, 30 December 2009
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	The extent to which large-scale collaboration is crucial to the success of something like Wikipedia, and whether the collaborative process as it has currently developed on Wikipedia is intrinsic to its mission, are moot points.		The extent to which large-scale collaboration is crucial to the success of something like Wikipedia, and whether the collaborative process as it has currently developed on Wikipedia is intrinsic to its mission, are moot points.

			==The key differences between subject wikis and Wikipedia==

			===First impressions===

			Wikipedia pages are typically designed well for ''accidental landing'' -- landing by people who aren't familiar with the topic and landed there by accident following links. In particular, Wikipedia pages start by setting the outermost context, then setting a further inner context, then setting a further inner context, and so on.

			Subject wiki pages are designed for people who have some familiarity with the topic area, so less effort is spent at the beginning of the page clarifying the general background.

Vipul: /* About Wikipedia and similarities between subject wikis and Wikipedia */

2009-12-30T12:26:24Z

About Wikipedia and similarities between subject wikis and Wikipedia

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:26, 30 December 2009
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	Just because different wikis use the same underlying software and thus often have similar page layouts ''does not mean'' that they host similar content or are organized similarly. The differences between different wikis could be as small as the difference between different newspapers or as large as the difference between a newspaper and an academic journal.		Just because different wikis use the same underlying software and thus often have similar page layouts ''does not mean'' that they host similar content or are organized similarly. The differences between different wikis could be as small as the difference between different newspapers or as large as the difference between a newspaper and an academic journal.

	(To confuse matters further, MediaWiki is not the only software used to power wikis. You can see a fairly long list at the [[wikipedia:wiki software\|wiki software page]] or the [[wikipedia:comparison of wiki software page]] on Wikipedia. One example is [http://www.pmwiki.org/wiki/PmWiki/PmWiki PmWiki].		(To confuse matters further, MediaWiki is not the only software used to power wikis. You can see a fairly long list at the [[wikipedia:wiki software\|wiki software page]] or the [[wikipedia:comparison of wiki software\|comparison of wiki software page]] on Wikipedia. One example is [http://www.pmwiki.org/wiki/PmWiki/PmWiki PmWiki].)

	===Distinctive features of Wikipedia===		===Distinctive features of Wikipedia===

Vipul at 12:24, 30 December 2009

2009-12-30T12:24:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:24, 30 December 2009
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	For many people using the Internet, "Wikipedia" is synonymous with "wiki" and also with the general appearance of a Wikipedia page. Thus, a lot of users who come to subject wiki pages simply think they have come to Wikipedia or some offshoot of Wikipedia.		For many people using the Internet, "Wikipedia" is synonymous with "wiki" and also with the general appearance of a Wikipedia page. Thus, a lot of users who come to subject wiki pages simply think they have come to Wikipedia or some offshoot of Wikipedia.

	Before proceeding, it is important to clarify some distinctions. "Wikipedia" is a specific wiki-based [http://www.wikipedia.org multilingual encyclopedia] (since you're reading this, you have probably used the [[wp:Main Page\|English-language version]] and possibly many other language versions). Each language Wikipedia can be viewed as a separate encyclopedia aiming to cover the entire range of encyclopedia-worthy knowledge. All the Wikipedias use a certain software called MediaWiki, which can be downloaded [[mediawikiwiki:Main Page\|here]]. This software can also be used by other sister wikis to Wikipedia, such as [http://wikisource.org Wikisource], wikis independent of Wikipedia, such as those hosted at [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] or [http://www.wiki-site.com Wiki-site] or [http://editthis.info Editthis.info] or independent wikis such as [http://wikileaks.org Wikileaks] or [http://www.sourcewatch.org SourceWatch].		Before proceeding, it is important to clarify some distinctions. "Wikipedia" is a specific wiki-based [http://www.wikipedia.org multilingual encyclopedia] (since you're reading this, you have probably used the [[wp:Main Page\|English-language version]] and possibly many other language versions). Each language Wikipedia can be viewed as a separate encyclopedia aiming to cover the entire range of encyclopedia-worthy knowledge. All the Wikipedias use a certain software called MediaWiki, which can be downloaded [[mediawikiwiki:Main Page\|here]]. This software can also be used by other sister wikis to Wikipedia, such as [http://wikisource.org Wikisource], wikis independent of Wikipedia, such as those hosted at [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] or [http://www.wiki-site.com Wiki-site] or [http://editthis.info Editthis.info] or independent wikis such as [[wikitravel:Main Page\|Wikitravel]], [http://wikileaks.org Wikileaks] or [http://www.sourcewatch.org SourceWatch].

	Just because different wikis use the same underlying software and thus often have similar page layouts ''does not mean'' that they host similar content or are organized similarly. The differences between different wikis could be as small as the difference between different newspapers or as large as the difference between a newspaper and an academic journal.		Just because different wikis use the same underlying software and thus often have similar page layouts ''does not mean'' that they host similar content or are organized similarly. The differences between different wikis could be as small as the difference between different newspapers or as large as the difference between a newspaper and an academic journal.

			(To confuse matters further, MediaWiki is not the only software used to power wikis. You can see a fairly long list at the [[wikipedia:wiki software\|wiki software page]] or the [[wikipedia:comparison of wiki software page]] on Wikipedia. One example is [http://www.pmwiki.org/wiki/PmWiki/PmWiki PmWiki].

	===Distinctive features of Wikipedia===		===Distinctive features of Wikipedia===

	Wikipedia is a wiki-based ''encyclopedia''. Both the choice of content and organization of content reflect the goal of being an encyclopedia. Specifically, pages on topics in Wikipedia have to meet criteria of [[wikipedia:wikipedia:notability\|notability]] and facts in these pages must meet criteria of [[wikipedia:wikipedia:verifiability\|verifiability]]. There are also guidelines against [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:OR\|putting original research on Wikipedia]], reflecting the fact that encyclopedias are secondary and tertiary sources of knowledge rather than primary sources.		Wikipedia is a wiki-based ''encyclopedia''. Both the choice of content and organization of content reflect the goal of being an encyclopedia. Specifically, pages on topics in Wikipedia have to meet criteria of [[wikipedia:wikipedia:notability\|notability]] and facts in these pages must meet criteria of [[wikipedia:wikipedia:verifiability\|verifiability]]. There are also guidelines against [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:OR\|putting original research on Wikipedia]], reflecting the fact that encyclopedias are secondary and tertiary sources of knowledge rather than primary sources.

			==Two related reasons for the use of MediaWiki or similar software to maintain linked content==

			There are many reasons for choosing MediaWiki to organize, store, and maintain linked content on the web, but we focus here on two of them:

			* The ''organizational advantage'', which is the advantage of being able to maintain and organize a large amount of related content and the way the pieces of the content are interrelated.
			* The ''collaboration advantage'', which is the idea that the content can be edited collaboratively by large numbers of people.

			These are both related. The organizational advantage includes significant modularization, which allows different people to edit different pieces, making collaboration easier. Similarly, more collaboration helps with more organization.

			However, it is important to note that these two kinds of advantages, though related, are distinct. Further, some projects use MediaWiki or other wiki software primarily for the collaborative advantage -- the fact that large numbers of people can edit the same page, create new pages, etc. Here, wikis compete with mailing lists, discussion forums, and blog discussion threads. They have their advantages and disadvantages in these respects. Some of the earliest wikis, including Ward Cunningham's [http://c2.com/cgi/wiki WikiWikiWeb] and [http://www.meatballwiki.org/wiki/ MeatBallWiki] were focused on carrying out such discussions as a process to create new ideas.

			Other projects use MediaWiki primarily for the organizational advantage. In some of these cases, the greater ease of collaboration is crucial but still instrumental and not the final goal. In others, large-scale collaboration may be desirable but not crucial, and in yet others, large-scale collaboration may not be desirable. For instance, in the case of Wikipedia, the reason for using MediaWiki was to create a better-organized encyclopedia by combining the ease of organizing with the possibility of large-scale collaboration. Something similar is true for [[Wikitravel:Main Page\|Wikitravel]].

			The extent to which large-scale collaboration is crucial to the success of something like Wikipedia, and whether the collaborative process as it has currently developed on Wikipedia is intrinsic to its mission, are moot points.

Vipul: /* About Wikipedia and similarities between subject wikis and Wikipedia */

2009-08-21T15:20:25Z

About Wikipedia and similarities between subject wikis and Wikipedia

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:20, 21 August 2009
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	For many people using the Internet, "Wikipedia" is synonymous with "wiki" and also with the general appearance of a Wikipedia page. Thus, a lot of users who come to subject wiki pages simply think they have come to Wikipedia or some offshoot of Wikipedia.		For many people using the Internet, "Wikipedia" is synonymous with "wiki" and also with the general appearance of a Wikipedia page. Thus, a lot of users who come to subject wiki pages simply think they have come to Wikipedia or some offshoot of Wikipedia.

	Before proceeding, it is important to clarify some distinctions. "Wikipedia" is a specific wiki-based [http://www.wikipedia.org multilingual encyclopedia] (since you're reading this, you have probably used the [[wp:Main Page\|English-language version]] and possibly many other language versions). Each language Wikipedia can be viewed as a separate encyclopedia aiming to cover the entire range of encyclopedia-worthy knowledge. All the Wikipedias use a certain software called MediaWiki, which can be downloaded [[mediawikiwiki:Main Page\|here]]. This software can also be used by other sister wikis to Wikipedia, such as [http://wikisource.~~orgwikis~~ independent of Wikipedia, such as those hosted at [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] or [http://www.wiki-site.com Wiki-site] or [http://editthis.info Editthis.info] or independent wikis such as [http://wikileaks.org Wikileaks] or [http://www.sourcewatch.org SourceWatch].		Before proceeding, it is important to clarify some distinctions. "Wikipedia" is a specific wiki-based [http://www.wikipedia.org multilingual encyclopedia] (since you're reading this, you have probably used the [[wp:Main Page\|English-language version]] and possibly many other language versions). Each language Wikipedia can be viewed as a separate encyclopedia aiming to cover the entire range of encyclopedia-worthy knowledge. All the Wikipedias use a certain software called MediaWiki, which can be downloaded [[mediawikiwiki:Main Page\|here]]. This software can also be used by other sister wikis to Wikipedia, such as [http://wikisource.org Wikisource], wikis independent of Wikipedia, such as those hosted at [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] or [http://www.wiki-site.com Wiki-site] or [http://editthis.info Editthis.info] or independent wikis such as [http://wikileaks.org Wikileaks] or [http://www.sourcewatch.org SourceWatch].

	Just because different wikis use the same underlying software and thus often have similar page layouts ''does not mean'' that they host similar content or are organized similarly. The differences between different wikis could be as small as the difference between different newspapers or as large as the difference between a newspaper and an academic journal.		Just because different wikis use the same underlying software and thus often have similar page layouts ''does not mean'' that they host similar content or are organized similarly. The differences between different wikis could be as small as the difference between different newspapers or as large as the difference between a newspaper and an academic journal.

Vipul: Created page with 'This page discusses some important differences between subject wikis and Wikipedia. ==About Wikipedia and similarities between subject wikis and Wikipedia== ===Quick introducti…'

2009-08-21T15:18:25Z

Created page with 'This page discusses some important differences between subject wikis and Wikipedia. ==About Wikipedia and similarities between subject wikis and Wikipedia== ===Quick introducti…'

New page

This page discusses some important differences between subject wikis and Wikipedia.

==About Wikipedia and similarities between subject wikis and Wikipedia==

===Quick introduction===

For many people using the Internet, "Wikipedia" is synonymous with "wiki" and also with the general appearance of a Wikipedia page. Thus, a lot of users who come to subject wiki pages simply think they have come to Wikipedia or some offshoot of Wikipedia.

Before proceeding, it is important to clarify some distinctions. "Wikipedia" is a specific wiki-based [http://www.wikipedia.org multilingual encyclopedia] (since you're reading this, you have probably used the [[wp:Main Page|English-language version]] and possibly many other language versions). Each language Wikipedia can be viewed as a separate encyclopedia aiming to cover the entire range of encyclopedia-worthy knowledge. All the Wikipedias use a certain software called MediaWiki, which can be downloaded [[mediawikiwiki:Main Page|here]]. This software can also be used by other sister wikis to Wikipedia, such as [http://wikisource.orgwikis independent of Wikipedia, such as those hosted at [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] or [http://www.wiki-site.com Wiki-site] or [http://editthis.info Editthis.info] or independent wikis such as [http://wikileaks.org Wikileaks] or [http://www.sourcewatch.org SourceWatch].

Just because different wikis use the same underlying software and thus often have similar page layouts ''does not mean'' that they host similar content or are organized similarly. The differences between different wikis could be as small as the difference between different newspapers or as large as the difference between a newspaper and an academic journal.

===Distinctive features of Wikipedia===

Wikipedia is a wiki-based ''encyclopedia''. Both the choice of content and organization of content reflect the goal of being an encyclopedia. Specifically, pages on topics in Wikipedia have to meet criteria of [[wikipedia:wikipedia:notability|notability]] and facts in these pages must meet criteria of [[wikipedia:wikipedia:verifiability|verifiability]]. There are also guidelines against [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:OR|putting original research on Wikipedia]], reflecting the fact that encyclopedias are secondary and tertiary sources of knowledge rather than primary sources.