Wikipedia:PHP script

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Wikipedia was switched to new software, written especially for Wikipedia using the PHP programming language, on January 25, 2002. Previously Wikipedia had used UseModWiki software. The PHP script was given a major update in July 2002 (see wikipedia:Software Phase III).

Information and discussion about this software can be found on the following pages:

Magnus Manske was the original author of the software, which is written in PHP and uses an underlying MySQL relational database. The software is released under the GPL. Other programmers are strongly urged to get involved. Some discussion of the script and requirements are ongoing on Wikipedia-L and especially on Wikitech-L.

The code can be obtained via anonymous CVS from the Sourceforge Wikipedia project at http://wikipedia.sourceforge.net (browse CVS online).

To download the latest (Phase III) code, use

  CVSROOT = ":pserver:[email protected]:/cvsroot/wikipedia"
  Module: phpwiki
  no password
  Directory: newcodebase

From the command line:

  ~> cvs -d :pserver:[email protected]:/cvsroot/wikipedia login
  (Logging in to [email protected])
  CVS password: <RET>
  ~> cvs -d :pserver:[email protected]:/cvsroot/wikipedia checkout phpwiki/newcodebase

This last one doesnt work right with Windows Clients, try this instead:

  ~> cvs -z3 -d:pserver:[email protected]:/cvsroot/wikipedia co phpwiki/newcodebase

Will download into ~/phpwiki/newcodebase

Note: do not download the tar.gz file from sourceforge, it is outdated.

There is also an occasionally-updated snapshot at: http://www.wikipedia.org/tarballs/wikipedia-phase3-fromcvs.tar.gz ; but if you want to be sure you have the latest code, please use the CVS archive.

If you're looking for downloadable dumps of Wikipedia's article database, see Wikipedia:Database download. If you just want the description of the database format and fields, see schema.doc.