Wersja polska w przygotowaniu

We must assume that everyone knows the difference between a normal site and a forum. Great. So now let's take a look at what a wiki, or wiki site is all about...

Why a forum may be inconvenient?

If you need a site for ongoing discussions of something or to interact with someone, then the first thing that may come to mind is a forum. However, forums quickly become inconvenient, because of the following:

• Forums have a clear, previously defined structure — for example, “rooms” — some of which contain threads, while others contain messages..
• Forum messages are arranged in chronological order. Practically speaking, this isn't very useful if you're trying to do something more than just interact with someone, i.e., get something accomplished in a collaborative way.
• The capability to format text is extremely limited, if not absent altogether.

Forum messages can't potentially be published for more than just these three reasons. Messages do not have permanent URLs (addresses). In addition, the moderator has power over everyone; in practice, nobody has their own “personal corner.”

How can a wiki help?

What does a wiki bring to the table?

• Structure, which is defined in a completely free manner by users
• A “view” of this structure from any perspective
• A broad range of capabilities for formatting text that does not reqire a knowledge of HTML

A wiki is a site that can be built on the fly. By default, all users have the right to do anything. Each can creat new pages and edit existing pages. The database can provide information on what has changed on a particular page in the recent past, who changed what on the page, and previous versions can be restored, if necessary.

Ways of using a wiki

In the final analysis, a wiki can be used in different ways. Here is a short list:

• A database for some subject
• A personal “notebook” or organizer
• A method for managing personal or group to-do lists and checklists
• A tool for creating and maintaining real-time documentation for a project
• A means of organizing one's own thoughts

And:

• Wiki Or Word?