Modules

Modules

Introduction

Modules are a powerful and fundamental feature of MediaWiki, enabling the reuse of code and content across multiple wiki pages. They allow you to encapsulate complex logic, formatting, and data into a single, manageable unit, which can then be *included* into any page that needs it. This dramatically reduces redundancy, simplifies maintenance, and promotes consistency throughout your wiki. Think of them as functions in programming – they take input, process it, and return output. In MediaWiki, that output is typically wikitext that is rendered on the page. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing Modules in MediaWiki, geared towards beginners. We will cover the basics of module creation, inclusion, parameters, best practices, and common use cases. This is crucial for building a scalable and maintainable wiki, especially as it grows in complexity.

Why Use Modules?

Before diving into the technical details, let’s highlight the key benefits of using Modules:

**Code Reusability:** Avoid repeating the same code snippets across multiple pages. Define the logic once in a module and reuse it wherever needed. This is a core principle of software engineering and applies equally well to wiki development.
**Centralized Maintenance:** When you need to update a piece of logic or formatting, you only need to modify it in the module. Changes are automatically reflected on all pages that include the module. This drastically reduces the risk of inconsistencies and errors.
**Improved Readability:** Modules can break down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable units, making your wiki pages easier to understand and maintain. This is especially important for collaborative projects where multiple editors contribute to the content.
**Consistency:** Modules ensure consistent formatting and behavior across your wiki. This is particularly important for things like templates, navigation elements, and standardized information displays.
**Enhanced Organization:** Modules help to organize your wiki's code and content, making it easier to find and manage. This is crucial for long-term maintainability.
**Abstraction:** Modules allow you to hide complex implementation details from the user. Users only need to know how to use the module, not how it works internally. This simplifies the user experience and reduces cognitive load.

Creating a Module

Modules are created as special pages within the `Module:` namespace. To create a new module, you simply create a page with a name that starts with `Module:`. For example, `Module:MyModule`.

Here's a simple example of a module, `Module:HelloWorld`:

```wiki

HelloWorld Module

This module simply returns the text "Hello, World!".

function main(frame) return "Hello, World!"; end ```

Let’s break down this example:

`== HelloWorld Module ==`: This is a standard heading, providing a descriptive name for the module.
` ... `: This tag is *crucial*. It prevents MediaWiki from interpreting the Lua code within as wikitext. Everything inside the `` tags is treated as literal text. * `function main(frame)`: This defines the main function of the module. All modules *must* have a `main` function. The `frame` parameter provides access to the arguments passed to the module when it's included. * `return "Hello, World!";`: This is the core logic of the module. It returns the string "Hello, World!". The `return` value is what will be displayed on the page where the module is included. * `end`: This marks the end of the `main` function. MediaWiki Modules are powered by [[Lua]], a lightweight, embeddable scripting language. You'll need a basic understanding of Lua syntax to create more complex modules. Resources for learning Lua are plentiful online (see the "External Resources" section at the end). == Including a Module == Once you've created a module, you can include it in any wiki page using the `#invoke` parser function. The syntax is as follows: ```wiki {{#invoke:ModuleName|FunctionName|Parameter1|Parameter2|...}} ``` * `#invoke`: This is the parser function that tells MediaWiki to execute a module. * `ModuleName`: This is the name of the module you want to include (e.g., `HelloWorld`). Remember to omit the `Module:` prefix. * `FunctionName`: This is the name of the function within the module that you want to call. In our example, it's `main`. * `Parameter1`, `Parameter2`, ...: These are the arguments you want to pass to the function. To include our `Module:HelloWorld` module on a page, you would use the following code: ```wiki {{#invoke:HelloWorld|main}} ``` This will display "Hello, World!" on the page. == Modules with Parameters == Modules become truly powerful when you start using parameters. Parameters allow you to pass data to the module, making it more flexible and reusable. Let's create a module that takes a name as a parameter and returns a personalized greeting: ```wiki == Greeting Module == This module takes a name as a parameter and returns a personalized greeting. <nowiki> function main(frame) local name = frame.args[1] if name == nil then name = "World" end return "Hello, " .. name .. "!"; end

```

Here's what's new:

`local name = frame.args[1]`: This line retrieves the first argument passed to the module from the `frame.args` table. `frame.args` is a table that contains all the arguments passed to the module. Arguments are indexed starting from 1.
`if name == nil then name = "World" end`: This is a conditional statement that checks if a name was provided. If no name was provided (i.e., `name` is `nil`), it defaults to "World".
`return "Hello, " .. name .. "!";`: This line constructs the personalized greeting using the `..` operator to concatenate strings.

Now, let's include this module on a page:

```wiki {{#invoke:Greeting|main|John}} ```

This will display "Hello, John!".

If you omit the parameter:

```wiki {{#invoke:Greeting|main}} ```

This will display "Hello, World!".

You can pass multiple parameters. For example, if your module defined a function that took two parameters, you would call it like this:

```wiki {{#invoke:MyModule|MyFunction|Parameter1|Parameter2}} ``` Help:Magic words provides further information on parser functions.

Advanced Module Concepts

**Submodules:** You can break down complex modules into smaller, more manageable submodules. This helps to organize your code and improve readability. Submodules are created in the same `Module:` namespace.
**Data Modules:** Modules can also be used to store data, such as lists, tables, or configuration settings. This is a useful way to centralize data that is used across multiple pages.
**Iterators:** Lua provides powerful iterator functions that can be used to process data in modules.
**Error Handling:** It's important to include error handling in your modules to prevent unexpected behavior. Use `error()` to raise an error if something goes wrong.
**Module Documentation:** Always document your modules clearly, explaining what they do, how to use them, and what parameters they accept. Use the `== Module Name ==` heading format within the module page for documentation.
**Utilizing Data tables within modules for complex data manipulation.**

Best Practices

**Keep Modules Small and Focused:** Each module should have a specific purpose. Avoid creating monolithic modules that try to do too much.
**Use Descriptive Module Names:** Choose names that clearly indicate the purpose of the module.
**Comment Your Code:** Add comments to your code to explain what it does. This will make it easier for others (and your future self) to understand.
**Test Your Modules Thoroughly:** Test your modules with different inputs to ensure they work as expected. Create a dedicated test page for each module.
**Follow a Consistent Coding Style:** Use a consistent coding style to improve readability.
**Avoid Global Variables:** Use local variables whenever possible to avoid conflicts.
**Optimize for Performance:** Be mindful of performance when writing your modules. Avoid unnecessary calculations or loops.
**Use the Sandbox before deploying modules to live pages.**
**Consider using templates in conjunction with modules for complex layouts.**

Common Use Cases

**Infoboxes:** Modules can be used to generate infoboxes dynamically.
**Navigation Menus:** Modules can be used to create and maintain navigation menus.
**Date and Time Formatting:** Modules can handle complex date and time formatting.
**Mathematical Calculations:** Modules can perform mathematical calculations.
**Data Display:** Modules can format and display data in a consistent and organized manner.
**External API Integration:** Modules can be used to interact with external APIs. API integration can provide real-time data.
**Technical Analysis Indicators:** Modules can calculate and display Technical analysis indicators like Moving Averages, RSI, and MACD.
**Trading Strategy Implementation:** Modules can implement and backtest Trading strategies.
**Risk Management Calculations:** Modules can calculate Risk management metrics like position sizing and stop-loss levels.
**Market Trend Identification:** Modules can analyze data to identify Market trends like uptrends, downtrends, and sideways trends.
**Financial Data Retrieval:** Modules can fetch and process Financial data from external sources.
**Candlestick Pattern Recognition:** Modules can identify Candlestick patterns to generate trading signals.
**Statistical Analysis of Price Data:** Modules can perform Statistical analysis of price data to identify potential trading opportunities.
**Volatility Calculations:** Modules can calculate Volatility measures like Average True Range (ATR).
**Support and Resistance Level Identification:** Modules can identify Support and resistance levels on price charts.
**Fibonacci Retracement Calculations:** Modules can calculate Fibonacci retracement levels.
**Elliott Wave Analysis:** Modules can assist in Elliott wave analysis.
**Bollinger Bands Calculations:** Modules can calculate Bollinger Bands and interpret their signals.
**Ichimoku Cloud Analysis:** Modules can analyze the Ichimoku Cloud indicator.
**Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) Calculations:** Modules can calculate VWAP.
**Correlation Analysis:** Modules can perform Correlation analysis between different assets.
**Regression Analysis:** Modules can perform Regression analysis to identify trends.
**Monte Carlo Simulations:** Modules can run Monte Carlo simulations for risk assessment.
**Backtesting of Trading Strategies:** Modules can be used for Backtesting trading strategies using historical data.
**Portfolio Optimization:** Modules can assist in Portfolio optimization.
**Option Pricing Models:** Modules can implement Option pricing models like Black-Scholes.

External Resources

**Lua Documentation:** [1](https://www.lua.org/docs.html)
**MediaWiki Module Documentation:** [2](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Developer_documentation/Lua)
**Scribunto Documentation:** [3](https://scribunto.org/)
**Lua Tutorial:** [4](https://www.tutorialspoint.com/lua/index.htm)
**MediaWiki Help Pages:** Help:Modules and Help:Lua

Conclusion

Modules are an essential tool for building and maintaining a complex MediaWiki. By understanding the concepts outlined in this article, you can leverage the power of Modules to create a more organized, efficient, and consistent wiki. Don't be afraid to experiment and explore the possibilities – the more you practice, the more comfortable you'll become with using Modules to enhance your wiki.

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