Hi! Today we will see how to easily install a wiki on Windows 10. A wiki is a website that allows users to add, modify, or delete its content directly from the browser. Consequently, it allows the creation of the website by its own users. Furthermore, it is generally focused on knowledge management, as well as communities and intranet. Also, to develop this purpose, we will use MediaWiki. This is a free project, written in PHP, well known to be used by Wikipedia. Well, I invite you to see how to install a wiki on your website.
Prerequisites
As mentioned, this software is programmed in the PHP language. In addition, a web server is required. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will use the Apache server. Moreover, a very simple way to configure everything related to a web server is using Xamp. Additionally, you need PHP from 7.2.9 and also MySQL from 5.5.8. Don’t worry, this is all included with the installation of Xampp.
How to download MediaWiki.
The first thing you have to do is go to the download section of the MediaWiki project page. Once there, please download the latest stable version. At the time of publication of this post, it is version 1.34.2. Please note that this is a compressed file in .tar.gz format. Therefore, you can use a software like 7z or WinRar to decompress it.
After the download is completed, two steps are necessary. First, unzip the file and place it at the root of the website. That is, in the httdocs directory of the Xamp installation. Then assign the directory the name you want to appear on the website. For example, if you want the name wiki to be displayed, then rename the folder that way. Check out the screenshot below.
Now, with the web server running please open this address in your web browser: http://localhost/wiki. An image like the one shown below will be immediately displayed. Please click on set up wiki first.
Configuring MediaWiki
In the first place you set the language of the user and the wiki. Please press Continue
The wizard will then validate the prerequisites for the installation. Once the environment parameters have been checked, it is time to start the installation by clicking on Continue
Then it’s time to set up the database aspects. That is, the name, user and password. If this does not exist, then select the superuser account. Please leave the password field blank.
Then confirm the parameters to use the same account for the installation.
Now it’s time to name the wiki. In addition, you must configure the namespace of the project. Finally, set the wiki administrator credentials.With these settings, you are ready to start the MediaWiki installation. With this intention, select the option to start the installation
Finally, confirm the options to start the installation process.
After a few moments, the installation will be completed. Please click on Continue.
After the installation is completed, the wizard will generate the file LocalSettings.php. Also, the download will start automatically. If not, a link is provided to force the download.
After downloading the file, it is time to place it in the root of the installation. That is to say, in the directory where the file index.php
Finally, we are ready to enter the wiki of our website.
Conclusion
Ultimately we have seen how to install a wiki in Windows 10. As you can see, it is a simple process to carry out. Which will also allow you to add this functionality to your website. I hope you enjoyed this post. Bye!
