MediaWiki is a robust, complex platform. As it evolves and expands, new users and administrators will need resources and information to help build and manage their MediaWiki installations. This list of resources is meant to catalog the bits and pieces I find useful when building, maintaining, and managing RichmondWiki.org.

I hope you find this information helpful. If you know of anything that I should review and add, please leave a comment. Thanks!

Jump to:

• MediaWiki (Daniel J. Barrett, O’Reilly Publishing)
• WikiPatterns (Steward Mader, Wiley Publishing)
• MWUsers.com Forums

O’Reilly MediaWiki Book

Daniel J. Barrett, Safari Publishing
A very detailed and information-packed book that is divided into separate sections for MediaWiki users, administrators, and sysadmins. Even experienced Wikipedia editors can learn some advanced article construction techniques to enhance their editing capabilities. Administrators and sysadmins can reference the appropriate sections to better understand not just the “what” of MediaWiki, but the “why” and the “how” as well. This is extremely important for maintaining a robust, scalable, secure installation.

Not everything described by Barrett is as thorough. Many recommendations throughout the book mention things like “NEVER do this…” or “Don’t use this syntax…” but don’t get into the reasons behind them. I can only assume that they aren’t proper wiki protocols but I would have liked to know more about whether it’s going to break something or if it’s just bad form.

All in all, I would recommend this as a must-buy for anybody serious about editing Wikipedia or building, maintaining and administering a MediaWiki installation. I bought it with the intent of making my bookshelf a little heavier (and to use as an occasional reference) but ended up reading it cover to cover and learning just how much I didn’t know about MediaWiki and its applications.

• Official Site
• Buy on Amazon (Affiliate link, will provide a few sheckles to help maintain RichmondWiki.org)

WikiPatterns

Stewart Mader, Wiley Publishing
I haven’t read this yet, but the synopsis is promising. I’ll update with a more detailed review when I’ve read it.

This book provides practical, proven advice for encouraging adoption of your wiki project and growing it into a useful collaboration tool or vibrant online community. (Via Amazon.com)

• Official Site
• Buy on Amazon.com (Affiliate link, will provide a few sheckles to help maintain RichmondWiki.org)

MediaWiki Forums

There are some useful MW tips in the mwusers.com forums. We post under RichmondWiki.