Wikimedia Archive

  • Black and white photograph of tools leaning on a table

    Scaling up Software development for Wikimedia websites (Part II: Tools)

    I have previously explained why the current setup of the Wikimedia bug tracker is not ideal. I have also advocated for a more managed & scientific software development strategy. This article aims to discuss an appropriate tool to support this strategy, and at the same time fix what is broken.

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  • Electronic and computer equipment on a desk, behind a semi transparent glass showing another room with a video camera.

    Scaling up Software development for Wikimedia websites (Part I: Human resources)

    Our human resources are currently focusing on what happens after the code has been written: we review it, we try to ensure quality, we try to automate testing, we file bugs, etc. However, there is little preparation before the development is actually done. This has led to a developer-driven design, resulting in an interface based on the implementation model. We need a more systematic approach to User experience and development management if we want to scale up properly.

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  • A red japanese teapot in the foreground on the left, colored glasses and a bottle in the blurry background on the right

    Wikimedia User experience programs: a systematic approach

    Where I discuss the benefits of a systematic UX approach, rather than having a separate UX entity.

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  • A bug on a sunflower

    Wikimedia & MediaWiki bugs, issues and requests

    During the past few weeks, I have been thinking about how to improve (or rather, kick off) a more structured way to manage software and product development within the Wikimedia community. The result of this thoughts is a list of ideas and recommendations I have compiled and submitted to the relevant staff members at the Wikimedia Foundation. I am also publishing them here in order to allow for a wider feedback. This article is the first of a series dedicated to this topic.

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  • Wikipedia pins arranged into a W

    More Wikimedia documents!

    During the meet-up of Wikimedians from the San Francisco Bay Area last week-end, people were talking about the need for various kind of documents and goodies to hand out at the Maker Faire. I realized that we could actually organize some sort of Marketing Marathon during the next meet-up.

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