Just to give you guys an update, we have all the text data we need converted to MediaWiki format, in the process of getting Orain to gin up the site and figuring out the best way to import the image content.
As the QA tester for this, I can say the following.
* First, MediaWiki and PmWiki are somewhat similar in page layout despite some parser differences, and MediaWiki was chosen after the customized wiki engine fell through due to ease of porting the content as loyally as possible. I cannot guarantee it is perfect, since some PmWiki syntax does not perfectly translate in MediaWiki (especially a lot of Fast Eddie's custom alterations to the stock PmWiki code), but between vorticity hammering out as many flaws in the conversion parser as possible and me hunting them down, the text should be more or less intact with the appropriate markup. Some quote markup is a bit flawed and will need some fixing and we're still working on importing the images, and we'll have to use some custom/imported templates to fill in some blanks, but the good news is that I have most of that already covered.
* After extensive testing on a localhost wiki, I can replicate most if not all features of TV Tropes most of you expect, including:
** Custom namespace skins for Darth/Sugar Wikis (and other namespaces as appropriate)
** Colored and strikeout text (removed in TV Tropes)
** Forums (if need be)
** Page type selection (lays out the basic framework of a page so all you have to do is fill in the blanks)
** The accordian styled folderization scheme used on TV Tropes (slightly modified, but works the same way)
** Site notices (which can be dismissed)
** A variety of user options, including seeing "alternative titles" for pages, auto adding categories, features for inserting custom markup from drop down/customized menus, and a lot more.
** Ability to add hottips/labelnotes (or "references, via the Cite extension)
Note: we have fully functional spoiler code, but no ability to toggle its visibility at present.
There are other features that can be added that I have tested, but I'd prefer to wait until we have something to talk about before discussing those.
More as we get an actual wiki set up, but I just wanted to add a closing note:
I plan to mostly be the tech guy for the wiki. Unlike Fast Eddie, I prefer to make decisions by consensus, and I will not be the only admin. We haven't hammered out how administration issues will be handled, but even though I will be the wiki founder, I refuse to be a wiki dictator, and the community WILL have a voice in how the wiki is run and managed. In fact, I confessed to vorticity I did not want to be the only one making administrative decisions out of fear of becoming drunk with power (I'm sure no one wants me to become Fast Eddie Mk. 2), so I repeat, the troping community on ATT will have more say than they would on TV Tropes, though we'll hammer out the specifics once we have a site up.
Also, I'm not some MediaWiki genius. Converting this stuff to MW format took trial and error, and I had to ask a lot of people for help, Brent "vorticity" Laabs especially. Anyone who has MediaWiki coding (CSS/JS code especially) or wiki admin experience is encouraged to offer their advice and services, and anyone who just wants to say hello or ask a question is more than welcome, as I have an open door policy and want ATT to be laid back and relaxed and a place to have fun like the TVT of old.
Will give more updates when the wiki is finally up, but I wanted to give everyone a status report.
As the QA tester for this, I can say the following.
* First, MediaWiki and PmWiki are somewhat similar in page layout despite some parser differences, and MediaWiki was chosen after the customized wiki engine fell through due to ease of porting the content as loyally as possible. I cannot guarantee it is perfect, since some PmWiki syntax does not perfectly translate in MediaWiki (especially a lot of Fast Eddie's custom alterations to the stock PmWiki code), but between vorticity hammering out as many flaws in the conversion parser as possible and me hunting them down, the text should be more or less intact with the appropriate markup. Some quote markup is a bit flawed and will need some fixing and we're still working on importing the images, and we'll have to use some custom/imported templates to fill in some blanks, but the good news is that I have most of that already covered.
* After extensive testing on a localhost wiki, I can replicate most if not all features of TV Tropes most of you expect, including:
** Custom namespace skins for Darth/Sugar Wikis (and other namespaces as appropriate)
** Colored and strikeout text (removed in TV Tropes)
** Forums (if need be)
** Page type selection (lays out the basic framework of a page so all you have to do is fill in the blanks)
** The accordian styled folderization scheme used on TV Tropes (slightly modified, but works the same way)
** Site notices (which can be dismissed)
** A variety of user options, including seeing "alternative titles" for pages, auto adding categories, features for inserting custom markup from drop down/customized menus, and a lot more.
** Ability to add hottips/labelnotes (or "references, via the Cite extension)
Note: we have fully functional spoiler code, but no ability to toggle its visibility at present.
There are other features that can be added that I have tested, but I'd prefer to wait until we have something to talk about before discussing those.
More as we get an actual wiki set up, but I just wanted to add a closing note:
I plan to mostly be the tech guy for the wiki. Unlike Fast Eddie, I prefer to make decisions by consensus, and I will not be the only admin. We haven't hammered out how administration issues will be handled, but even though I will be the wiki founder, I refuse to be a wiki dictator, and the community WILL have a voice in how the wiki is run and managed. In fact, I confessed to vorticity I did not want to be the only one making administrative decisions out of fear of becoming drunk with power (I'm sure no one wants me to become Fast Eddie Mk. 2), so I repeat, the troping community on ATT will have more say than they would on TV Tropes, though we'll hammer out the specifics once we have a site up.
Also, I'm not some MediaWiki genius. Converting this stuff to MW format took trial and error, and I had to ask a lot of people for help, Brent "vorticity" Laabs especially. Anyone who has MediaWiki coding (CSS/JS code especially) or wiki admin experience is encouraged to offer their advice and services, and anyone who just wants to say hello or ask a question is more than welcome, as I have an open door policy and want ATT to be laid back and relaxed and a place to have fun like the TVT of old.
Will give more updates when the wiki is finally up, but I wanted to give everyone a status report.