What is wiki software?
Wiki software is a type of collaborative software that runs a Wiki system. It is usually implemented as a server-side script that runs on one or more web servers, with the content generally stored in a relational database management system, although some implementations use the server's file system instead.
The first such software was created by Ward Cunningham in 1995, but given the relative simplicity of the wiki concept, a large number of implementations now exist, ranging from very simple "hacks" implementing only core functionality to highly sophisticated content management systems. The primary difference between wikis and more complex types of content management systems is that wiki software tends to focus on the content, at the expense of the more powerful control over layout seen in CMS's like Drupal and WebGUI.
"Wiki software" could be interpreted as comprising all of the software required to run a wiki, which might include a web server such as Apache, in addition to the "Wiki engine" itself, which implements the wiki technology. In some cases, such as ProjectForum, or some WikiServers, the web server and wiki engine are bundled together as one self-contained system, which can often make them easier to install.
The majority of wiki engines are open source, often available under the GNU General Public License (GPL); large projects such as TWiki and the Wikipedia engine, MediaWiki, are developed collaboratively. Many wikis are highly modular, providing APIs which allow programmers to develop new features without requiring them to be familiar with the entire codebase.
It is hard to determine which wiki engines are the most popular, although a list of leading candidates might include UseMod, TWiki, MoinMoin, PmWiki and MediaWiki. Click here for a comprehensive list of wiki softwares.
Some wiki software is not intended for collaborative work, but for either content management or for personal information organising.
This info was taken from Wikipedia and is freely distributable according to the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License (GNU FDL).
What is a wiki?
A wiki (pronounced [wɪkiË], [wiËkiË] or [viËkiË] is a web application that allows users to add content, as on an Internet forum, but also allows anyone to edit the content. The term Wiki also refers to the collaborative software used to create such a website.
Wiki (with an upper case W) and WikiWikiWeb are both used to refer specifically to the Portland Pattern Repository, the first wiki ever created. Wiki proponents often spell 'wiki' with a lower case "w". The name is based on the Hawaiian term wiki wiki, meaning "quick" or "informal". Sometimes wikiwiki (or Wikiwiki) is used instead of wiki.
A wiki enables documents to be written collectively (co-authoring) in a simple markup language using a web browser. A single page in a wiki is referred to as a "wiki page", while the entire body of pages, which are usually highly interconnected via hyperlinks, is called "the wiki"; in effect, a very simple database. Wikis can be used with podcasting.
A defining characteristic of wiki technology is the ease with which pages can be created and updated. Generally, there is no review before modifications are accepted. Most wikis are open to the general public without the need to register any user account. Sometimes session log-in is requested to acquire a "wiki-signature" cookie for autosigning edits. More private wiki servers require user authentication when required.
This info was taken from Wikipedia and is freely distributable according to the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License (GNU FDL).
Wetpaint Wikis
From Wetpaint Site:
"Wetpaint lets you build a rich, online community around the whatever-it-is that you’re really into. Utilizing the best features of wikis, blogs, forums and social networks, Wetpaint mixes everything you need so you can create, collect, and organize content on your own social website."
Features:
Partial Wetpaint Feature List (Scroll half-way down the page.)
User Screenshot:
Edit Page Screenshot:
Demo Link:
Developer resources:
Frequently Asked Questions:
System Requirements:
None. Wetpaint is a hosted wiki solution.
Helpful Resources:
Create a Wetpaint Wiki in 3 easy steps.
Wetpaint Blog
Wetpaint Support
Installation:
No installation required - wetpaint is a hosted solution.
License:
XWiki
From XWiki Site:
"XWiki is a WikiWiki clone written in Java which supports many popular features of other Wikis like:
* Wiki syntax (uses Radeox engine)
* Content management (view/edit/preview/save)
* Version Control
* Attachments
* Rights Management
* Full-text Search
XWiki also has many advanced features that many other wiki engines lack:
* Document Templates to ease creation of common documents.
* Relational Database storage using Hibernate.
* Design Engine for Meta-Data and Forms.
* In-place (inline) editing of form information in pages.
* Powerful programming API in documents (Velocity or Groovy)
* Search API for more detailed searching in the Meta-Data.
* Plugin System in Java.
* Scalability and Performance using J2EE.
* Complete Design Skin System (templates content as well as CSS) have a look to nice websites powered by XWiki
* RSS output and display of external RSS feeds
* Multi-Lingual capabilities
* XML/RPC Remote API
* Portlet Integration
* Integrated Statistics
* PDF Export
* WYSIWYG HTML Editing"
XWiki Features:
XWiki User Screenshot:
XWiki Edit Page Screenshot:
XWiki Demo Link:
XWiki Documentation:
XWiki Frequently Asked Questions:
XWiki System Requirements:
XWiki Download Info:
XWiki Installation:
XWiki Guides:
XWiki Developer's Guide
XWiki Administrators Guide
XWiki Users Guide
Helpful Resources on the XWiki Site:
XWiki Homepage
XWiki Blog
XWiki Tutorial
The Best of XWiki (skins and more...)
XWiki Mailing Lists
XWiki Contacts
The XWiki Syntax
List of Wikis Comparable to XWiki
Other XWiki Resources:
XWiki Freshmeat Listing
XWiki Sourceforge Page
XWiki License:
GoWiki
From GoWiki Site:
"GoWiki is the 'engine' underlying Sensei's Library which presents the pages and diagrams based on a pure text version stored in a database.
GoWiki is a collection of [ext] PHP scripts which interface with a [ext] mySQL database, custom made for Sensei's Library.
GoWiki is based on [ext] PhpWiki which can be found at Sourceforge."
Features:
No features page available.
User Screenshot:
Edit Page Screenshot:
Demo Link:
Documentation:
Frequently Asked Questions:
No FAQ's Available
System Requirements:
No system requirements listed. PHP and mySQL are necessary.
Helpful Resources:
GoWiki :
Installation:
No installation instructions available.
License:
TiddlyWiki
From TiddlyWiki Site:
"Welcome to TiddlyWiki, an experimental MicroContent WikiWikiWeb built by JeremyRuston. It's written in HTML, CSS and JavaScript to run on any modern browser without needing any ServerSide logic. It allows anyone to create personal SelfContained hypertext documents that can be posted to any WebServer, sent by email or kept on a USB thumb drive to make a WikiOnAStick."
Features:
TiddlyWiki has a very interesting way of displaying information which is incredibly cool, but does not leave the linking to of certain parts of the site as easy as more standard sites. This is neither good not bad, just unique and different. Thus, this posting will be unlike the others in that it will simply link to the TiddlyWiki Site where you can find all the info usually linked directly to in a Free Wiki posting.
User Screenshot:
Edit Page Screenshot:
Demo Link:
Documentation:
Frequently Asked Questions:
System Requirements:
TiddlyWiki System Requirements
Helpful Resources:
TiddlyWiki Developer Site
TiddlyWiki User Google Group
TiddlyWiki Developer Google Group
Download:
Installation:
TiddlyWiki Installation Instructions
License:
Added TWiki to the Line Up
Posted July 31st, 2005 by freewiki
The TWiki project really caught my attention. It is solid and very pretty as well - nice CSS.
There is lots of documentation and plenty of serious companies out there that use it (not that that means much as such, but you get the point).
TWiki
From TWiki Site:
"Welcome to TWiki, a flexible, powerful, and easy to use enterprise collaboration platform. It is a Structured Wiki, typically used to run a project development space, a document management system, a knowledge base, or any other groupware tool, on an intranet or on the internet. Web content can be created collaboratively by using just a browser. Users without programming skills can create web applications. Developers can extend the functionality of TWiki with Plugins."
Features:
Partial TWiki Feature List (Scroll half-way down the page.)
User Screenshot:
Edit Page Screenshot:
Demo Link:
Documentation:
Frequently Asked Questions:
System Requirements:
Helpful Resources:
TWiki Developer Site
TWiki User Guide, Reference Manual and Site Tools
TWiki Sourceforge Page
TWiki Freshmeat Listing
Download:
Installation:
TWiki Installation Instructions
License:
Added UseMod, a wiki software written in Perl
Posted July 18th, 2005 by freewiki
I added UseMod, a wiki software written in Perl.
More for the line up!
