Wikimedia Engineering/June 2017 changes/Update on Discovery

Message from Foundation Audiences and Technology Management

 *  This message, "link1>mailarchive:wikimedia-l/2017-June/087777.html|Update on Discovery Projects", was sent by the Foundation Audiences and Technology Management on 13 June 2017. 

Hi everybody,

You may have seen the recent link2>Wikimedia_Engineering/June_2017_changes|communication about the product and tech tune-up which went live the week of June 5th, 2017. In that communication, we promised an update on the future of Discovery projects and we will talk about those in this email.

The Discovery team structure has now changed, but the new teams will still work together to complete the goals as listed in the [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_Plan/2017-2018/Draft draft annual plan]. A summary of their anticipated work, as we finalize these changes, is below. We plan on doing a check-in at the end of the calendar year to see how our goals are progressing with the new smaller and separated team structure.

Here is a list of the various projects under the Discovery umbrella, along with the goals that they will be working on:

 Search Backend 


 * Improve search capabilities:
 * Implement ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_to_rank learning to rank]’ and other advanced machine learning methodologies
 * Improve support for languages using new analyzers
 * Maintain and expand power user search functionality

 Search Frontend 


 * Improve user interface of the search results page with new functionality:
 * Implement link5>Cross-wiki_Search_Result_Improvements/Testing#A.2FB_test:_Add_.27explore_similar.27_pages_and_categories_for_search_results|explore similar
 * Update the link6>Extension:CirrusSearch/CompletionSuggester|completion suggester box
 * Investigate the usage of a Wiktionary link7>Cross-wiki_Search_Result_Improvements/Testing#A.2FB_test:_Add_Wiktionary_widget_to_search_results_page|widget for English Wikipedia

 Wikidata Query Service 


 * Expand and scale:
 * Improve ability to support power features on-wiki for readers
 * Improve full text search functionality
 * Implement SPARQL federation support

 Portal 


 * Create and implement automated language statistics and translation updates for Wikipedia.org

 Analysis 


 * Provide in-depth analytics support:
 * Perform experimental design, data collection, and data analysis
 * Perform ad-hoc analyses of Discovery-domain data
 * Maintain and augment the [https://discovery.wmflabs.org/ Discovery Dashboards], which allow the teams to track their KPIs and other metrics

 Maps 


 * Map support:
 * Implement new map style
 * Increase frequency of OSM data replication
 * As needed, assist with individual language Wikipedia’s implementation of link9>Maps/how_to:_embedded_maps|mapframe
 * Note: There is a possibility that we can do more with maps in the coming year; we are currently evaluating strategic, partnership, and resourcing options.

 Structured Data on Commons 


 * Extend structured data search on Commons, as part of the [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Structured_data structured data grant] via:
 * Research and implement advanced search capabilities
 * Implement new elements, filters, relationships

 Graphs and Tabular Data on Commons 


 * We will be re-evaluating this functionality against other Commons initiatives such as the structured data grant. As with maps, we will provide updates when we know more.

We are still working out all the details with the new team structure and there might be some turbulence; let us know if there are any concerns and we will do our best to answer them.

Best regards,

Deborah Tankersley, Product Manager, Discovery

Erika Bjune, Engineering Manager, Search Platform

Jon Katz, Reading Product Lead

Toby Negrin, Interim Vice President of Product

Victoria Coleman, Chief Technology Officer