MediaWiki Development

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  1. MediaWiki Development: A Beginner's Guide

MediaWiki is the free and open-source wiki software that powers Wikipedia and countless other websites. While often used as a content management system (CMS) with minimal customization, MediaWiki is incredibly powerful and *extensible*. This article will serve as a beginner’s guide to understanding and participating in MediaWiki development, covering everything from setting up a development environment to contributing code and understanding the core architecture.

What is MediaWiki Development?

MediaWiki development involves modifying the core software, creating extensions, or building skins to alter the functionality and appearance of a MediaWiki installation. This isn’t just about changing text colors; it’s about adding features, improving performance, fixing bugs, and tailoring the wiki to specific needs. Development can range from small tweaks to major overhauls, impacting everything from ParserHooks to database interactions. Understanding the underlying principles is key to successful development. It's akin to understanding Technical Analysis in financial markets – you need to know the fundamentals before attempting complex strategies.

Prerequisites

Before diving into code, you’ll need a few things:

  • **PHP Knowledge:** MediaWiki is written in PHP. A solid understanding of PHP, including object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts, is essential. Resources like [1](https://www.php.net/manual/en/) are invaluable. Consider studying design patterns like the Factory Pattern to understand the codebase better.
  • **MySQL/MariaDB Knowledge:** MediaWiki uses a relational database (typically MySQL or MariaDB) to store its data. You'll need to understand SQL for database interactions. Learning about database Trend Analysis can help you optimize queries.
  • **HTML, CSS, and JavaScript:** For front-end development (skins and some extensions), you'll need these web technologies. Understanding Moving Averages in JavaScript can be useful for creating dynamic UI elements.
  • **Git:** MediaWiki’s development is managed using Git. You'll need to be familiar with basic Git commands like `clone`, `commit`, `push`, and `pull`. Think of Git branches as different Trading Strategies, allowing for isolated development.
  • **A Development Environment:** You'll need a local web server (like XAMPP, MAMP, or Docker) with PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, and a web browser. Setting up a stable environment is crucial - consider it your Risk Management plan for development.

Setting Up a Development Environment

1. **Download MediaWiki:** Obtain the latest stable release from [2](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Download). 2. **Install Dependencies:** Ensure your local web server has PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, and any required PHP extensions installed (check the MediaWiki documentation for specific requirements). 3. **Configure MediaWiki:** Follow the on-screen instructions to configure MediaWiki, including setting up the database connection. 4. **Git Repository:** Clone the MediaWiki core repository from [3](https://github.com/wikimedia/mediawiki). This gives you access to the latest development code. Use `git clone https://github.com/wikimedia/mediawiki.git`. 5. **Linking Local Installation to Git:** This can be tricky. The most common approach is to apply patches from the Git repository to your local MediaWiki installation. This avoids directly modifying the Git repository itself. Tools like `git apply` are used for this.

Understanding the MediaWiki Architecture

MediaWiki’s architecture is complex, but understanding the key components is crucial.

  • **Core:** The foundational code that handles basic wiki functionality, like page rendering, user management, and database interactions.
  • **Parser:** Responsible for interpreting wiki markup (like `link`, `bold text`) and converting it into HTML. This is where Candlestick Patterns of wiki syntax are translated into visual output.
  • **Database Schema:** The structure of the database tables that store wiki content, user data, and other information. Analyzing the database schema is like performing Fundamental Analysis on a company.
  • **Hooks:** Points in the code where extensions can intervene and modify behavior. Hooks are a powerful mechanism for extending MediaWiki without directly modifying the core code. They're like Trading Signals, triggering specific actions.
  • **Skins:** Control the visual appearance of the wiki. Skins are built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Consider different skins as different Chart Patterns, each presenting data in a unique way.
  • **Extensions:** Add new features and functionality to MediaWiki. Extensions can range from simple tools to complex applications. They're akin to adding Indicators to a trading chart.
  • **API:** Allows external applications to interact with MediaWiki. The API is vital for creating bots, integrations, and mobile apps.

Contributing to MediaWiki

There are several ways to contribute:

  • **Bug Reporting:** If you find a bug, report it on [4](https://bugs.wikimedia.org/). Detailed bug reports are invaluable.
  • **Documentation:** Improving the documentation is a great way to help others. The documentation is available at [5](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Contents).
  • **Code Contributions:** If you're a developer, you can contribute code by submitting patches through Gerrit ([6](https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/)). Follow the coding standards and guidelines.
  • **Extension Development:** Create extensions to add new features or customize existing functionality.
  • **Skin Development:** Design and develop new skins to change the look and feel of the wiki.
  • **Translation:** Translate MediaWiki into different languages.

Developing Extensions

Extensions are the most common way to customize MediaWiki. Here's a basic outline:

1. **Extension Entry Point:** Create a PHP file (e.g., `MyExtension.php`) that defines the extension. 2. **`Extension.json`:** This file provides metadata about the extension, such as its name, version, and dependencies. 3. **Hooks:** Implement hooks to modify MediaWiki’s behavior. For example, you might hook into the `ArticleViewBeforeDisplay` hook to add custom content to every page. 4. **Special Pages:** Create special pages to provide custom functionality. 5. **Database Tables:** If your extension needs to store data, define new database tables. 6. **Configuration:** Allow users to configure the extension through the `LocalSettings.php` file. 7. **Files:** Organize your extension's files (PHP, CSS, JavaScript, images) in a logical directory structure.

Consider extensions as specialized Trading Systems designed for specific tasks.

Debugging MediaWiki

Debugging can be challenging due to the complexity of the codebase.

  • **Enable Debugging:** Set `$wgDebug` to `true` in `LocalSettings.php`.
  • **Error Reporting:** Enable error reporting by setting `error_reporting( E_ALL );` and `ini_set( 'display_errors', 1 );` in `LocalSettings.php`.
  • **Logging:** Use MediaWiki’s logging functions to track events and identify issues.
  • **Xdebug:** Use a debugger like Xdebug to step through the code and inspect variables. Xdebug is like having a detailed Heatmap of the code execution.
  • **Browser Developer Tools:** Use your browser’s developer tools to inspect HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  • **Profiling:** Use profiling tools to identify performance bottlenecks.

Best Practices

  • **Follow Coding Standards:** Adhere to MediaWiki’s coding standards to ensure code quality and maintainability.
  • **Write Unit Tests:** Test your code thoroughly to prevent bugs.
  • **Use Version Control:** Use Git to manage your code and track changes.
  • **Comment Your Code:** Add comments to explain your code and make it easier to understand.
  • **Keep Extensions Lightweight:** Avoid adding unnecessary features or dependencies.
  • **Security:** Be mindful of security vulnerabilities and take steps to prevent them. Security is your Stop-Loss Order – it protects your system.
  • **Performance:** Optimize your code for performance to ensure a smooth user experience. Performance optimization is like Scalping – maximizing small gains.
  • **Documentation:** Provide clear and concise documentation for your extensions.

Resources


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