User:Mcktimo/on organizing the wiki

This might be something we consider implementing. There are many extensions. Out of the box it would be a nightmare to support.

User:Mcktimo/on organizing the wiki/problems with the current organization

create a more democratic space
Users and User(Working)groups can have their own page hierarchy, useful for collecting and sharing and organizing within that group but not in the main page space. The idea of a public face existing alongside a 'workspace'.

One might say the existing wiki is a collection of manifestos read only by their authors. Ok so now everyone has a personal set of pages where they can put their own stuff. Perhaps this is an important part of developing our community.

leave the hierarchy flat
Don't pretend to know how this space will organize. Allow it to organize itself. Rules about /WG/OBIT/littlebit are not really in the spirit of wiki. Look at mediawiki, millions of articles all in the main page space.

that being said...

put Working groups in the user: space
Consider the wiki as serving 2 functions. One is to present a compelling collection of ideas in support of the occupy movement. The other function is as a space that helps to grow this movement. This part is a little messier. I propose encouraging the user: space as the place for the latter.

Working Groups could reflect these 2 functions as follows: Perhaps there could be a naming convention to differentiate Working Groups from regular users eg: 'WG-transparency'.
 * 1) a public face that includes a presentation of the best and most succinct work of the group. The focus is on people not in the group per se.
 * 2) a workspace for the work group with random ideas, links, discussions and drafts that are mercilessly edited in good spirit.

Another reason to be in a namespace instead of a made up / space is that you automatically get a link trail thingy to get back to the user page.

OBIT's role
(or the wiki subgroup of OBIT) (after putting out the transition fires) would be to...
 * decide on the sidebar menu,
 * maintain the main_page
 * create overall (css) look
 * decide on how much functionality we can uncover $wgturnWhichVariableOn or how come I can't see the image below on the page? Upload file is such a pain.
 * decide and act on extension requests
 * provide integration with other occupyboston websites
 * provide good training and help







/help file
A draft help file.