MediaWiki Tips and Tricks

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How to Install and Configure the PageForms Extension for MediaWiki

Why PageForms? PageForms (formerly Semantic Forms) lets you turn templates into user‑friendly forms. It’s the go‑to solution for structured data entry, bulk editing, and query forms – all without writing PHP. Prerequisites * MediaWiki ≥ 1.40 (the latest stable release is recommended). * PHP ≥ 7.4 (the same version that

How to Secure MediaWiki with Two‑Factor Authentication and SSO Integration

Why strengthen MediaWiki login? MediaWiki powers public wikis like Wikipedia and many private knowledge bases. Even a well‑configured password policy is not enough against credential stuffing, phishing or insider threats. Adding a second factor and centralising authentication through Single Sign‑On (SSO) raises the security bar dramatically while keeping

How to use Git for MediaWiki page versioning and collaboration

Why put a wiki under Git? MediaWiki already tracks every edit in its database, but that history lives only on the server. By pulling the wiki into a git repository you get: * offline access to the full page tree. * the ability to create branches, squash commits and cherry‑pick changes.

Mastering MediaWiki Caching: Strategies for High-Traffic Sites

Why “Caching” Is the Lifeblood of a Busy Wiki When a MediaWiki installation starts to see a few thousand page‑views per minute, the server’s CPU and DB threads begin to scream “slow down!”. The first thing most sysadmins learn—sometimes the hard way—is that raw PHP execution

How to install and configure a MediaWiki

A practical, copy-and-paste friendly guide that covers a simple manual install (Ubuntu / Debian), a quick Docker Compose option, and the essential post-install configuration and hardening steps.

Mastering MediaWiki Templates: Creating Reusable Content Structures

Why Templates Matter in MediaWiki Ever stared at a dozen pages that look almost identical, then spent an afternoon hunting down a stray bold‑tag or a missing reference? You’re not alone. In the wild world of wikis, repetition is a silent productivity killer. A well‑crafted template is

Mastering MediaWiki's Parser Functions: A Developer's Guide

Why parser functions matter

Demystifying MediaWiki Extension API

Pulling the Curtain on MediaWiki Extension API Ever stared at the MediaWiki API docs and thought, “Is this a secret club or a user‑friendly toolbox?”—you’re not alone. The Extension API is that quiet backstage crew that lets you whisper to a wiki, pull data out, or even

Mastering ParserFunctions in MediaWiki: Logical and String Functions for Dynamic Content

ParserFunctions Unleashed: From Simple Logic to String Sorcery Ever stared at a wiki page that felt as static as a marble statue? Then you probably missed the hidden gears of ParserFunctions humming underneath. Imagine you could ask, “Show this text only if the user is logged in,” or “Trim a

Why ConfirmEdit is a Must‑Have Extension on Every Wiki

Why ConfirmEdit is a Must‑Have Extension on Every Wiki Running a public MediaWiki installation means you constantly battle automated spam, credential‑stuffing attacks and low‑quality edits. While MediaWiki ships with basic anti‑spam filters, they are not enough to stop bots that can programmatically submit forms. The ConfirmEdit