I understand that cites such as wikipedia uses an open source software called MediaWiki, But I don’t understand how that software really works.
In particular, if I log on to wikipedia and try to write an article - what happens technically? Does the act of writing an article change the software’s source code? And how is the article stored? What do I actually do when I contribute to wikipedia?
Thanks
Only the "developers" at Wikipedia have sufficient knowledge and permissions to alter the wiki software used by the site. The reason you have to use codes when editing Wikipedia is that despite nearly a decade of promises, a nearly $1 million grant from the Stanton Foundation two years ago, and millions in cash reserves, the Wikimedia Foundation has yet to install WYSIWYG software.
This is why when you edit, all you are altering is the displayed text. If the code you type in is wrong, then the faulty codes display as well. However, the source code itself is in no way altered. Wiki software is designed to keep a history of all the revisions to a page. You can click on the "History" tab to get access to prior revisions. However, admins with "oversight" permissions can permanently delete certain revisions if they so choose, and these will not show up in "History".
When you contribute to Wikipedia, you are playing a role in the world’s largest free MMORPG. Although Wikipedia pretends to be a general use encyclopedia, it is not for a number of reasons. How big or small your role is on Wikipedia depends on how much time and effort you devote to it and what sort of reputation you get amongst its already established elites. Unlike most MMORPGs, however, its point system is more implied than specific, and the actually written rules are applied against you or ignored according to how the power users feel about you. There are arbitrary unwritten rules as well.