Major Deployments of MediaWiki in Consumer Web Businesses

MediaWiki, an open-source wiki software that underpins Wikipedia, has seen extensive use beyond its original context. Many consumer web businesses have adopted MediaWiki due to its powerful collaboration features, customizability, and robust performance. This article explores some of the prominent deployments of MediaWiki by consumer web businesses, showcasing how this versatile software has become a go-to solution for various applications.

MediaWiki: The Platform Unveiled

MediaWiki is a PHP-based wiki platform that powers numerous websites and applications worldwide. Its primary development is associated with Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia, but its functionalities have been adapted and utilized by many other web platforms. The platform is known for its ease of use, powerful flexibility, and security features, making it an attractive choice for businesses seeking a robust collaboration tool.

Largest Sites Using MediaWiki

The following are some of the largest and most notable websites that have adopted MediaWiki:

Wikia

Wikia is a platform that hosts over 800,000 user-created wikis across various categories, from celebrity news to gaming guides. Wikia uses MediaWiki on its backend, allowing for user-driven content creation and maintenance. This adoption has significantly contributed to the growth and engagement of its community.

Marvel Universe

The Marvel Universe wiki provides a comprehensive overview of all things Marvel. From comic books to movies, the wiki offers a detailed and interactive experience for fans. MediaWiki’s ability to handle vast amounts of content while maintaining usability is evident in its implementation here.

WikiHow

Perhaps the most well-known and widely used wiki, WikiHow, has been a pioneer in providing how-to guides and instructional content. The platform relies heavily on MediaWiki to manage the large volume of articles, ensuring that users can contribute and edit content seamlessly. Its success is a testament to MediaWiki’s robustness and user-friendly interface.

Dramatica

Dramatica, known for its comprehensive guide on screenwriting, is another example of MediaWiki’s versatility. The platform provides detailed articles on various aspects of storytelling and screenwriting, offering a valuable resource for professionals and aspiring writers alike. MediaWiki’s capacity to support complex content structures and frequent updates is critical in maintaining its relevance.

MetaCafe Wikicafe

MetaCafe Wikicafe combines video sharing with collaborative content creation, allowing users to watch videos and contribute to wiki entries. The integration of MediaWiki within this platform enhances the interactive nature of the site, enabling users to engage with each other’s content and foster a community-driven ecosystem.

WeRelate

WeRelate is a free genealogy web application that leverages MediaWiki for organizing and managing family histories. The platform’s flexibility and ease of use make it an ideal choice for genealogists and family historians, who can use it to compile and share information about their ancestors.

World of Warcraft (WOW)Pedia

WOWPedia, the official wiki for World of Warcraft, serves as a multiplayer online game’s official repository of information. MediaWiki’s stability and performance in handling high volumes of content and traffic are crucial in providing an uninterrupted experience to millions of players.

List of MediaWiki-Based Wikis

$69,000,000 was the notional value of the top 1994 MediaWiki-based wikis, as compiled by the Foundation. This staggering number underscores the widespread adoption and impact of MediaWiki. Among these sites are:

WikiHow

As mentioned earlier, WikiHow is one of the most prominent user-driven platforms that rely on MediaWiki. With over 1,000,000 articles, its success is a clear example of MediaWiki’s ability to support large-scale content creation and maintenance.

Wikia

Another notable Mediawiki-based wiki is Wikia. This platform hosts a vast array of user-created content across multiple topics, from pop culture to lifestyle guides, demonstrating the versatility of MediaWiki in handling diverse content types.

Wikinvest

Wikinvest is a stock market wiki that uses MediaWiki to provide financial data and analysis. The platform’s ease of use and powerful collaboration features make it an invaluable resource for investors and financial analysts.

Conclusion

The deployment of MediaWiki in consumer web businesses has demonstrated its versatility and effectiveness. From large-scale wikis to specialized applications, this open-source platform continues to shape the landscape of online collaboration and content creation. As technology evolves, MediaWiki’s adaptability and open-source nature will likely continue to make it a favoured choice for businesses and communities alike.