This page attempts to provide some basic orientation for those either unfamiliar with wiki, or just new to our KPLUG wiki.

What is wiki?

A wiki site is like any other website with the difference that users can edit pages and create new pages.

Here are some additional definitions and links to places to find out more:

• A wiki is a collaborative web application which allows users to edit content. .. from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki. (Actally quoted from the "_(disambiguation)" pge linked from there.)
• Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. (excerpt) from http://wiki.org/wiki.cgi?WhatIsWiki. The rest of the description there is worth reading.

What is the purpose of this wiki?

The KPLUG wiki is the collaborative part of the general KPLUG website. In general, it serves the interests of our user group members and friends. The combination of web plus collaboration hopefully yields an of, by, and for democratic flavor as well as a potential for continuous improvement to the value of the information content.

Here is an attempt to categorize some of the interests that might be well served by this wiki:

• Help for Linux users .. HOWTOs, FAQs, tutorials, ..
• General Linux advice .. requirements, hardware compatibility, distributions, advocacy, ..
• Links to sources of additional information or software
• Ratings, recommendations, case studies, anecdotes, ..
• Projects: brainstorming, workspaces, specs, ..
• Archives of anything KPLUG-related
• (what else?)

Is that really going to work?

Everybody new to wiki always worries about vandalism and the web-equivalent of food fights (I suppose). The risks are real, but are mitigated by several factors provided by wiki technology and tradition.

• All changes are stored in a database (or equivalent), and prior versions are easily restored.
• In large part, vandals evidently lose interest when there is so little challenge, and when their work is so easily undone.
• Requiring registration (as this wiki does) adds a little bit of traceability that can help resolve problems.
• If required, pages can be locked, or restricted to members with special access permissions.

How do I use the wiki?

For just finding information (or perhaps entertainment), you can just browse around like any other website. Click on your browser back-buttton or any link such as the next (frontpage) link. The FrontPage, should lead you to various ways to discover and explore the information on this wiki.

If you wish to contribute, you do have to register as a wiki user (requires an email address). You can find instructions at WikiBasics and additional help resources at WikiEditing.

Remember that the KPLUG website is the container for the KPLUG wiki, so if a link takes you to a page that does not have ../wiki/.. in it's address, then you have gotten outside the wiki portion.

Related pages

• If you want more information about wiki in general, the links at the top of this page are good starting points, or you can check out our own WikiWiki page.