What is a WIKI? - or - How to find/make a WIKI.

Well, here it is, another post. Wiki is my focus on this one…

I see it everywhere. Wiki-this and Wiki-that. I don’t even know what a wiki is. But I want one. I think.

So here goes… I’m gonna Google: ‘What is a Wiki’…

… and the answer(s) is…
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[ short answer ]

“A website or similar online resource which allows users to add and edit content collectively.”
(Taken from the ‘definitive’ site Google lists below.)
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Regarding the Google results I show below:

My first question - is: “Why is the government of Australia the definitive source on WIKI?” Only Google knows…

And look at the last result - #10 - What on that page helps me out with a wiki??

The other results themselves, are fine and helpful, and have presented me with the newfound knowledge I have regarding: Wiki.

Allow me to share from what I’ve just learned:

The original description of Wiki is found in Ward’s dictionary:

“The simplest online database that could possibly work.”

WTF???

So here’s a little more in the way of details to help you out:

‘Wiki’ is a web-based program (on a website) that allows visitors to the site to freely create and/or edit the existing webpage content - using any web browser. Wiki works like any other web page with hyperlinks and is merely a simple method for creating new pages and cross linking between other pages on the site (s).

Wiki can have great benefits and great drawbacks, in that content is contributed from a wide range of users, thereby either having strengths or weaknesses in certain areas. There may be more experts of a given field contributing more regularily than lesser experts (in knowledge and numbers) in another field - that perhaps justifies having greater contributors… BUT, part of the wiki organizational functionality is the ability to categorize contibutors and categories - Thereby making organization of this myriad of information more easily manageable.

Historical Note: The first ever wiki site was created for the Portland Pattern Repository in 1995. That site now hosts tens of thousands of pages.

It seems to me like a wiki is just a newer version of the old ‘bulletin-board’ software, or the newer ‘blog’ software - just a different way to organize the info. Needed, I guess.

Anyway, after more consideration, I think I actually do need a wiki - maybe for this site? We could wiki about web-design stuff or flash or search engine optimization? Or - wikis? Maybe I’ll put one on my other site www.MensUnderwearPortal.com - and we can wiki about how to keep yer undies stain free…

But that’s another post…

…Peace.

Oh yeah, here’s what the BIG G gave me:
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Web definitions for Wiki
A website or similar online resource which allows users to add and edit content collectively.
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/… - Definition in context

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1. Wiki: What Is Wiki
   Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and … Wiki supports hyperlinks and has a simple text syntax for creating new pages …
   wiki.org/….

2. Wiki: Welcome Visitors
   This site supports the open source distribution of wiki and discussion related to the book, The WikiWay, by your hosts, BoLeuf and WardCunningham. …
   wiki.org/…

3. Wiki - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
   Sometimes wikiwiki (or Wikiwiki) is used instead of wiki (Hawaiian dictionary). Also, ʻāwīwī in the Hawaiian is used in place of wiki, Wiki, wikiwiki or …
   en.wikipedia.org/…

4. Main Page - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
   Shared media repository, Meta-Wiki Wikimedia project coordination … en.wikipedia.org/…

5. FrontPage - Atom Wiki
   Work area for writing specifications for syndicating, archiving and editing episodic web sites.
   www.intertwingly.net/…

6. Main Page - Wikinews
   Free-content online news source where any site visitor can add or edit stories.
   en.wikinews.org/…

7. EmacsWiki: SiteMap
   HowTo has more on how to use the wiki, including how to contribute. … EmacsBugs – note that this wiki is not the place to report bugs. …
   www.emacswiki.org/…

8. Front Page - css-discuss
   The css-discuss Wiki is a companion to the CssDiscussList mailing list. Among other things the wiki serves as a collective long-term memory for the list …
   css-discuss.incutio.com/…

9. Wikipedia
   The biggest multilingual open access encyclopedia on the internet. Over 500000 articles and still growing.
   www.wikipedia.org/

10. Main Page « WordPress Codex…
    Korean | Turkish | WordPress in Your Language …
    codex.wordpress.org/…