Category talk:Extensions/Archive 2007 to 2013

Where to discuss extensions?
If I would like to ask the community if, a kind of functionality exists in an extension, where would be the right place to ask? And if the answer is that the functionality does not currently exist, where would I request that the developer community consider creating it? Would this page be the right venue, or is there an existing forum? Thanks! — Epastore 18:16, 27 January 2007 (UTC)


 * There is currently no central place - to find an existing extension Google is probably still your best bet. Category:Extensions and meta:Category:MediaWiki extensions are good places to look if you want browsable indexes that may not be terribly complete, and you may want to look into the other sources of communication as well.
 * Regarding 'extension requests' - there is no formal process for making requests, and to be honest any such requests are likely to be ignored, as the volunteer developers will work on the extensions they want to write, not what someone else is asking for. You basically have three options:
 * Log it on bugzilla, though this (as I say) is likely to be ignored unless it is seen as 'very desirable' for Wikipedia or its sister projects.
 * Chat to a developer on IRC or some other forum and persuade them that your idea is really good and worth them spending their time over.
 * Pay someone to write the extension for you.
 * Hope that helps... --HappyDog 00:53, 7 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Maybe, but even if such requests were ignored by most developers, it still might be a good idea to have a page with wanted extension functionality. Sometimes people out there just think it is easy to accomplish and have fun writing such an extension. --GunterS 12:49, 12 March 2007 (UTC)


 * True, so long as it is clear that such requests may not get any response. --HappyDog 12:50, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

Recent reversion
Hi, I reverted this edit by Patrick, as this is not the right place to include such a link. It probably needs it's own page in the Extension namespace, but I haven't checked the link in detail so perhaps there is somewhere else it should go as well/instead. --HappyDog 13:43, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Calender Extensions
Maybe all the Calender Extensions could be consolidated under a single link?--Rovo 01:21, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

This is a wiki. You can create a new category "Calendar Extensions" as a subcategory for Extensions and put all calender extensions in that. And yes, it would be helpful. --GunterS 12:44, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Where to put a new extension?
Hi. Where can I submit a new extension I made? actually, more than an extension, I changed some code on the Wiki -thx, Chris


 * Create a page in the Extension: namespace. For example if your extension was called MyExtension then you would create a page at Extension:MyExtension.  The easiest way is to go to Template:Extension and use the box at the bottom of the page. --HappyDog 14:56, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

Extension categorization
I have manually sub categorized the extensions, and put them under category:extensions by category. Would anyone agree with removing category extension and keep only the extension subcategory. It would be easy to sub categorize the extensions that way, because the extensions with sub categories would no longer be in the extension category. Bouncingmolar 23:28, 24 June 2007 (UTC)
 * although I just realised it would be difficult to remove the extension category once a subcategory has been assigned, since the category:extension is embedded into the extension template - Bouncingmolar 23:40, 24 June 2007 (UTC)
 * What I might do is create a duplicate extension template which doesn't include the category:extension for use with sub categorized extensions. that way it could be easily reversed by readding category:extension to the duplicate template Bouncingmolar 01:05, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

Sub categorization discussion
Please explain the rationale for changing a large number of extension pages to use a template which, so far as I can see, provides no additional benefit. Examples of this are, , and. robchurch | talk 14:27, 27 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Hi robchurch. Yes I have made a template called extension categorized which is a duplicate of the extension template. The only difference is that it does not contain the category:extension.
 * The rational behind this move is that I have been going through every single extension manually and sub categorizing them and placing them within the subcategory category:extensions by category. I created a duplicate template because it is easy to revert if my work is disputed with the trade off of having an identical duplicate template. However I hope that you can see that I am slowly making progress. Why remove the you may ask? Well the main reason is that it is extremely difficult to sub categorize the extensions because it is hard to tell which ones are already sub categorized. This way the sub categorized ones are nolonger within this category and the uncategorized ones are retained in the extension category. I was using the category convention used in wikipedia. I just assumed it applied to mediawiki as well.
 * "Articles should not usually be in both a category and its subcategory. For example Golden Gate Bridge is in Category:Suspension bridges, so it should not also be in Category:Bridges."
 * I realise this rule doesn't apply to everything so if you think I should revert them all once i've finished sub categorizing everything let me know... however sub categorizing is proving to be a very slow process.
 * -Bouncingmolar 14:48, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

In that case, please make the change to the template in use. We do not wish to encourage forking of templates with an identical purpose, as it doubles the maintenance overhead. I would suggest making a complete list of all pages which need to be processed prior to removing the categorisation from the template, and then updating these. robchurch | talk 14:57, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
 * I see what you are saying Rob; that we don't need identical templates because if a new version of the template is made we have to update both. However the templates are not identical (even if it is only a minor difference). The Main purpose of the alternative template is that it has the removed. The problem with  modifying the original template:extension is that the category:extension information is stored there!(as i mentioned on the category:extension talk page.) :If i remove the extension category from the template then un categorized extensions will not be listed in the main extension category nor the extension subcategories. Which is a problem! So what the modified template does is it allows me to retain the original template structure without removing the category from all of the uncategorized extensions. I hope that makes sense.
 * Bouncingmolar 15:06, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

No, the categorisation difference is trivial. As I suggested above, use a list to store current categorisations and update the pages with them, or keep a list of extension pages which have been updated.

The current behaviour, introducing a useless extra template that will need to be changed back later is disruptive and redundant. You also provided no justification in the form of edit summaries, which is considered courteous in the least. robchurch | talk 15:13, 27 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Ok... making a list in either form as you suggest is easy to say but to do is another story. To illustrate my point I have already today sub categorized approximately 200 extensions. That requires loading each extension page and editing it (as well as reading most of them to understand what category they belong). It has taken me several hours to get this far and I am not even close to completing 1/4 of the extensions listed under the extension category. Unless you have an automated way of doing this I can't see an easier way to do it. Furthermore this is only todays progress. I created the category: extension by sub category and extension by author and some of the extension sub categories which I moved hundreds of extensions into prior to today.
 * I'm sorry that you think that my efforts to sub categorize the extensions is disruptive. but in my opinion it will make it easier for everyone to find the extension with the features they want, which is a huge improvement from sifting through every single extension, many oddly named. On a side note, because I think that the edit summaries is an entirely different and minor issue, I apologize for a lack of edit summaries. Unfortunately I gave up after the first few extensions, but if you have a tool I can use let me know! i'm all ears! Bouncingmolar 15:38, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
 * I just realised. this may be the list you are after? Special:Whatlinkshere/Template:Extension_categorized Bouncingmolar 15:42, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
 * OK I've figured out where sub categories can be added to the type field in the template:extension but I still have the problem that I can't tell which extensions are already sub categorized. I'm not going to make a list unless there is a way to tell which extensions are uncategorized. Currently if someone added a new extension I wouldn't know. I suggest removing the template that I have created after I have been able to sub categorize everything. Then we can as you have suggested modify the original template to include the sub categories under the 'type' field. But at the moment making a template which will have to be removed later is the easiest way i can think of doing it. Maybe a little help would not go astray. Bouncingmolar 16:13, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

Bouncingmolar: The forked template will not be kept. It is unnecessary to fork in this manner - instead a new field should be added to the existing template. All your edits that involve a switch to this new template will need switching back, and adapting to use the new field in the main template. See below for further discussion. I will look at the template and try and fix it to help you figure out what has and hasn't been categorised, but we need to agree to the structure I suggest below (with whatever modifications we choose to make) before I do that. You can hold of making the switch back until Template:Extension is updated though. --HappyDog 17:04, 27 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Happydog: yes I totally agree that removing the template... infact I think i've already said that in the last sentence I wrote. What i also said though was that this is an intermediate step. Since I am currently the only (or was the only) person sub categorizing them I had to do this as an intermediate step. I am perfectly happy to edit all of the template:extension categorized extensions after I have sub categorized them all. more discussion in the discussion below.... Bouncingmolar 10:43, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

How should extensions be categorised?
Here is how I think the extensions should be categorised. The top-level Category:Extensions just contains the sub-cats listed here. Each of the sub-categories (except 'All extensions') also contains only further sub-categories. Any pages in the categories themselves are awaiting classification. This will all be achieved automatically by Template:Extension, once we have agreed the structure.


 * Category:Extensions
 * Category:All extensions (all extensions go in here)
 * Category:Extensions by function/Category:Extensions by purpose (filled in from a new "function" or "purpose" field, whichever makes the most sense - however not "category", as that is just confusing.)
 * Category:Extensions by status (filled in from 'status')
 * Category:Extensions by type (filled in from 'type')
 * Category:Extensions by author (filled in from 'author')

Personally, I don't see any need for the 'by author' category. To me this appears to be categorisation for the sake of it. It might be more useful to have an 'extension authors' category that links to user pages of extension authors. Anyway - if people see a need for this, it is fairly easy to add from the template. Bear in mind that having a 'by author' category will require a lot of empty category pages to be created (in mulitple languages?), often holding just one item...

The above categories can all be filled in automatically from the existing template, with a few minor tweaks. The newly forked template should be deleted and all changes reverted/incorporated into the existing template.

Thoughts about this before any changes are made?

--HappyDog 17:04, 27 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Very good idea HappyDog, I like it. :-)


 * However, I'd like if you'd drop the Category:Extensions by author - I think it's the best if it will be added manually. Sometimes the author is unknown, or has written only one extension, so we'd end up with dozens of almost-empty categories this way...thoughts? -- Sayuri 17:11, 27 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Well - I don't think we need it at all (whether filled automatically or not). If someone could give an example of why it might be useful (rather than just encouraging authors to list their extensions on their user page) then please say so, otherwise I suggest we omit it entirely. --HappyDog 17:18, 27 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I agree - it can be kept as a parameter on the template, no need for those categories. -- Sayuri 17:42, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Look just to keep the sub category extension by author in context. I didn't actually make the sub category and pull up a bunch of extensions and extract the author information. What actually happened when I was trying to sub categorize everything a few extension authors had made a sub category after their name. These categories were listed directly under the extension category. I also thought they were pointless but I also did not want to anger the authors of the extensions so I retained their categories but moved them under the category:extensions by Author. Go to that category and you will see author categories which I have absolutely nothing to do with creating! If you have a problem with authors creating their own categories then perhaps you should tell them. I was just trying to move them out of the extension category to reduce the clutter to make my sub categorizing easier for my self. In my opinion which you may think does not count for much, I say let them have their small kilobyte of glory, but lets just move it out of the way. Bouncingmolar 10:47, 28 June 2007 (UTC)
 * by the way I like the proposed extension tree you have created happydog. If you guys make a protocol that you can follow yourself... (ie not just me slogging it out by myself) then I would be happy to help subcategorize everything Bouncingmolar 10:53, 28 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Hi Bouncingmolar. The point about authors was in no way directed at you.  Most author categories exist because the extension pages that were imported from meta included the cat tag and it was never removed here, so given that they were red-linked it is unsurprising that the categories were subsequently created here, and it was helpful of you to organise them in the way you have.  However it seems the general view so far (and one I very much agree with) is that the author cats should be removed entirely.  Once we have agreed the structure (I'd give it a few more days at least, to see if there are any more comments) then I will make the necessary changes to the template and the top-level cats, as well as moving any existing cats to the right place.  I will probably leave the creation of new categories to other people though.  Before that happens, you will need to switch all your changes back to using the standard template, as I will delete that when I make the changes.
 * Re: Purpose/function/whatever - This category will hold sub-cats listing extensions by their pupose/functionality. E.g. 'calendar extensions', 'youtube extensions', 'authentication extensions', etc.  We need to decide (a) what to call this parameter (I think neither 'purpose' nor 'function' are ideal), and (b) how it should be implemented.  Ideally it will simply be a new line "|purpose=calendar" or similar, which will display "Purpose: Calendar" in the infobox and add the extension to Category:Calendar extensions.  However this will only work if extensions belong only to one 'purpose' category.  Are there situations where this is not the case?  If so some other method is needed.  (Bouncingmolar: you may want to wait until this is decided before 'switching back' your pages, as you could then do both (change back, plus add the new field) in one go.) --HappyDog 12:02, 29 June 2007 (UTC)
 * What about "type" or "category" (or even cat1, cat2) . Bouncingmolar 07:22, 1 July 2007 (UTC)
 * ah... you said not 'category' . is 'subcategory' better?
 * Yes I've put any changes I was going to make on hold. Google calendar is one example of an extension that would go under category:calendar extensions And category:google extensions(i suppose google extensions isn't really a purpose category) There are probably better examples than that,(1st one that popped into my head). Would having one main sub category in the template be ok? and then list the additional subcategories at the bottom of the page? or will that get messy? Bouncingmolar 07:22, 1 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I have done the status categories, and moved the extensions from the top-level to 'Category:All extensions', which should tidy things a bit, and make the tree-style navigation of the categories a bit easier. I have run out of time now, but I will do the type field next.  We haven't yet properly decided how to handle the function/purpose field (primarily, what name to use, and how to handle situations where extensions need to be in more than one cat) so I haven't done that yet.  Bouncingmolar - I know this is moving a little slower than you would like, but please be patient.  There is no point doing all your hard and valuable work in updating the extension pages if you end up having to change it all again once the template is finished.  If you want to do something useful right now, then see if you are able to sort out the extensions without status in Category:Extensions with invalid or missing status (though I don't know how easy that will be...). --HappyDog 13:41, 13 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I have been looking at the pages with missing status. Is it possible to have a robot which makes the status unknown if there is an existing empty status on the extension page? Bouncingmolar 06:48, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * There would be no point in that. If there is no value to separate out items where the status is 'unknown' from where the status is missing, then I will alter the template so only invalid values end up in this category (with blank values being equivalent to 'unknown'.  I did it like this so that the data could be fixed up, but if this turns out to be too difficult for anyone other than the extension author to do then it might be worth making the above change. --HappyDog 18:16, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure how it can be fixed without manually testing each extension to see if they work, so maybe it is something the author needs to do? or people who have tested the extension to see if they work. I doubt people who try the extensions will fix the page, but there is always that. I suppose in the end it doesn't effect the overall sub categorization progress, so it doesn't matter too much to leave it the way it is. Bouncingmolar 00:21, 15 July 2007 (UTC)


 * If the status is blank. doesn't that mean that we don't know the status and so it is unknown? Is there a situation where an authors would make an extensions and then purposely say that the status is unknown?
 * Have done type now. There is more work to be done at Category:Extensions with invalid or missing type too.  Also, any extensions still listed in Category:Extensions have a manual link to that category, which should be removed. --HappyDog 14:03, 13 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Cool good work! And thanks for directing my efforts to something useful, I shall start extensions without status. I'll let you know if I have any problems- Bouncingmolar 04:27, 14 July 2007 (UTC)

Proposed format for hypothetical "function/purpose field" in Template:extension
The things we need to consider are:
 * 1) What is the name of the field?
 * 2) What happens when there is more than one subcategory
 * Bouncingmolar 04:46, 14 July 2007 (UTC)

Name Suggestions

 * 1) How about Subcategory, I think it is sufficiently different from category to avoid confusion with mediawiki categorys?
 * Bouncingmolar 04:46, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * 1) I'm currently leaning towards subject.  That is sufficiently vague to allow "subject=calendar" and "subject=google", which is otherwise difficult if you use something like "purpose" or "function".  Category/sub-category is bad because you can have a "Category:Extensions by category" without it just being confusing. --HappyDog 18:21, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Ok that seems to make sense. Would renaming "category:extensions by category" to "category:extensions by subcategory" work? I suppose we are trying to find a way of naming extension subcategories without using the word category. Perhaps you would prefer "category:extensions by subject". Which I'm not opposed to. My only criticism is that subject may not be the most obvious replacement for subcategory. but then again, most people should be able to figure out that subject will show subcategories of extensions. My alternative suggestion would be "extension by type" but that is already used for the extension method so unless we change the name of that as well that is not a good idea either.Bouncingmolar 00:35, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

Multiple Subcategory suggestions

 * 1) Have a single subcategory within the template, but ad extra subcategories manually to the page?
 * 2) Is it possible to have multiple empty fields within the template for extra subcategories? or does that create problems with filtering extensions without subcategories?
 * Bouncingmolar 04:46, 14 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Current thoughts - We have a 'subject' field and an optional 'subject2' & 'subject3' fields. The template uses as many of these as are present.  If we find we need more, then subject4,5,6 etc. can be added.  At the moment I can't think of a better method than this, but there may be someone else who can. --HappyDog 18:21, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Agreed. I have found that I have categorized some of the extensions to use 3 subcategories for some extensions, so that should be fine. Bouncingmolar 12:55, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

extensions that haven't used the template
Hi happydog or sayuri, is there a way to make a dynamic list of extensions that haven't used the template? Bouncingmolar 05:43, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * i think it would be useful for finding extensions which have masked the absence of a template by adding the required categories manually Bouncingmolar 06:50, 14 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Not without a dedicated bot, I don't think. Perhaps you could somehow compare Special:Whatlinkshere/Template:Extension with Special:Allpages (extension namespace)? --HappyDog 18:25, 14 July 2007 (UTC)


 * is there a tool that can be used to do the comparing? Bouncingmolar 00:13, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

The physical subcategorization process
I have been thinking about the practicality of the process required. The biggest obstical to assigning categories to uncategorized extensions is being able to tell which extensions have no category. i.e knowing the uncategorized extensions makes an easy shortlist for subcategory addition. So if we are going to use the template modification mentioned by happydog there needs to be a way to separate categorized from non categorized. Otherwise there is always the temporary duplicate template idea which can be deleted again after subcategorization. Bouncingmolar 08:34, 29 June 2007 (UTC)


 * This will be handled by my changes to the extension template. Extensions with no category will 'drop through' to a suitable category which is just for this purpose. The templating system here is pretty advanced - there is NEVER any need for duplicate templates!  --HappyDog 12:05, 29 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Awesome sounds good! Bouncingmolar 13:09, 29 June 2007 (UTC)
 * When shall I start reverting the extensions with the temporary template? Bouncingmolar 13:11, 29 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Will we also be able to tell these apart from the extensions that have not used the template at all?

There has been no progress since we began this conversation so I have begun the intermediate step again of sub categorizing all of the extensions using a template which i will single handedly revert later. Until someone can make the template and satisfy the requirements: being able to tell what still needs to be sub categorized. then I am still happy to get rid of my template but only after I have sub categorized them all. and since I seem to be the only one categorizing the extensions, please give some constructive criticism if you are not going to help. Thanks Bouncingmolar 12:06, 10 July 2007 (UTC)

In response to a message left on my talk page
 * Okay, just stop it. If you want to categorize extensions, fine. Just don't use that forked template, template:extension categorized. It was never meant to be used. Use template:extension instead. Thanks. -- Sayuri 08:07, 11 July 2007 (UTC)
 * please read my response below. you may need to help modify the template:extension to address the obstacles to categorization listed below. I do not know how to manipulate the template to meet those requirements. Cheers Bouncingmolar 08:11, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

Bouncingmolars Categorization strategy
Before anyone else criticises my efforts to sub categorize the extensions please read this. Please read the Bouncingmolars four steps of categorization and please read obstacles that need to be addressed by alternative methods of categorization. If you read those and provide a logical and feasible alternative to my plan then I will be incredibly happy to follow your suggestion.

Bouncingmolars four steps of Categorization

 * 1) Manually visit, every single extension page and place an appropriate sub category
 * 2) place completed sub categorized extensions into a temporary forked template called template:extension categorized please don't stop reading here you have to read all four steps to understand my logic
 * 3) Once all extensions have been sub categorized there will now be no extensions within the category:extension list except for uncategorised extensions; I can then go through every single extension manually and remove all occurrences of my intermediate fork and ultimately delete the template:extensions categorized template.
 * 4) all existing extensions are categorized.

Obstacles that need to be addressed by alternative methods of categorization
If you think that categorization should be done differently please consider all four of the following obstacles I have faced and offer a solution, otherwise categorization of extensions is virtually impossible.
 * 1) There is no way to tell what has already been categorized. (my steps move sub categorized extensions out of the extension category and into the subcategory, meaning that anything left in the extension category is uncategorised)
 * 2) How do you tell which extensions are new. (new extensions using my method, are found within the extension category, anything in the extension category does not have a subcategory therefore needs to be sub categorized. if all extensions are there, how can you tell which one is the uncategorised one?
 * 3) Some extensions have not used any template at all and so making changes to the current template does not pull these extensions into any hypothetical extensions to be categorized category.
 * Is there a way to create a dynamic list of extensions that don't have templates? or is it already done!?

Current Criticisms that Bouncingmolar agrees with

 * 1) Happydog: "The forked template will not be kept. It is unnecessary to fork in this manner"
 * agreed. the forked template at the end of the day is useless and should be deleted which is my final goal
 * 1) Happydog: "This will be handled by my changes to the extension template. Extensions with no category will 'drop through' to a suitable category which is just for this purpose"
 * yay bring it on!... unfortunately i don't know how to do that myself. I already have alot of templates to manually revert and i havn't heard any response for a couple of weeks of abstinence so what is a few more extensions to revert later.... i'm going to be the only one doing it anyway...

please don't kill me
before I finish defending myself, I'd just like to say that I in no way want to vandalize mediawiki, and I feel that my intentions are good. I don't know how to make extensions, but I am willing to waste many days of my life for this cause. So if you have criticisms please help me channel this energy or I might just walk away leaving it half done. my ultimate goal is to have subcategories for the extensions so that they are easy to find. and easy to add new extensions. Happydogs idea of modifying the template sounds like the ultimate goal, but unless someone can show me how to do some tricky stuff with it like having an automatic category for uncategorised extensions and a category for extensions without templates, I have no idea how to do it. Bouncingmolar 06:37, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

criticisms of Bouncingmolars logic with a better solution
If your idea is to help me categorize jump on board it gets awful lonely reading through all these extensions.

Bouncing Molars Todo list

 * 1) remove manual category:extensions from remaining extensions in category:extensions
 * 2) *partially complete, still extensions with no templates within category:extensions
 * 3) sort out the extensions without status in Category:Extensions with invalid or missing status
 * 4) *awaiting reply regarding having an autobot replace empty status with unknown.
 * 5) sort out Category:Extensions with invalid or missing type too
 * 6) * oof! i'm putting that one in the too hard basket. I don't have enough knowledge to be able to determine the type when reading the extension pages.
 * 7) revert changes made to extensions containing template:extensions categorized
 * cool some robot fixed it for me... it even saved my subcategory changes woohoo Bouncingmolar 05:37, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
 * 1) research info to add to pages within category:Extension page to be updated

Add Wikimedia tool
Hiya, can you add to the page a link to Daniel's tool for building the extensions into packages ( @ http://tools.wikimedia.de/~daniel/repository/extensions/ ) --Stinkfly 16:43, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

Where to request extensions?
Is there a good place to request extensions? I have ideas from time to time but may not have the time or the skills to bring them to fruition.

One idea I had was for a "What Redirects Here" extension. At the bottom of the Edit page, there would be a list of pages which #REDIRECT to the current page, with a text field at the bottom of the list to automatically create a new redirect to the current page. This would save me a lot of time trying to figure out what pages were lacking adequate inbound redirects. -- Jonathan Kovaciny 21:18, 3 July 2007 (UTC)
 * You may ask them on BugZilla. I have limited skills too, so I may ask me for help as well. Huji 16:18, 10 July 2007 (UTC)
 * You can try Extension_Requests - Bouncingmolar 00:49, 15 July 2007 (UTC)