Wiki Patterns

What is it?

Distinguish between two types of versions in the edit history:

• minor versions that represent edits by anyone
• major versions that require some stamp-of-approval by an authority figure.

Motivation and Usage

This pattern seeks a balance between anarchy and control. It allows anyone to edit, but provides a mechanism for an authorised person to review, moderate and approve the content. The approval process can be a necessary step in contexts where information accuracy is important.

• All edits increment a minor version counter.
• An authorised user can turn any minor version into a major version.
• The existence of a major version typically means that someone has checked the content for accuracy, clarity and adherence to stylistic conventions.

As a result readers can easily differentiate between stuff written by anyone with no guarantee of accuracy, and content that has been checked and confirmed by a designated executive editor.

Example

This is the standard process implemented in the Wiki that's built into Microsoft SharePoint.

In some sites, there is a meaningful separation of information collection and information dissemination: for instance, a company may collaborate internally to produce content that is exposed to external users once some approval process is completed. So minor versions are used to formulate/discuss/adjust information, while major versions allow the final content to be published to a larger audience.

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