In simple English
This program lets you build your own online encyclopedia or shared knowledge base. It is the exact engine that runs Wikipedia and other large reference sites. Anyone can read, edit, and link pages together in a web browser. It costs nothing to download and run on your own server. You will need some technical skill to set it up and keep it updated.
What it is
MediaWiki is a free and open-source wiki software package written in PHP (a programming language used to build websites). It provides page history, user accounts, and thousands of add-ons for a large knowledge site.
What it is good for
Solo builders who want to create a massive shared reference site, document a complex project, or run an internal knowledge base for a team.
- Runs on most standard web servers with PHP and a database.
- Includes hundreds of extensions to add new features and layout tools.
- Translated into over 350 languages for global audiences.
- Custom licence terms require careful reading before commercial use.
- Requires ongoing server maintenance and security updates.
- Setup can be complex for users who are not web developers.
Static HTML files or paid hosted wiki services
Apache or Nginx web server and a MySQL database
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Download the software archive from mediawiki.org and follow the instructions in the INSTALL file to set it up on your web server.