Re: Apple II wiki

["Gabriel" <usenet@gamoe.net>]

I understand your concerns. Let me address them. First off, the site is
powered by MediaWiki, which is the same software Wikipedia uses. It is
a stock installation of MediaWiki, which means you can go download it
<http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Download> and it you would have the same
installation now on the site. I'll be updating to the latest version
every so often.

The wiki runs off a MySQL database on a Linux server. Right now, the
database is shared with another script, but I am willing to purchase
stand-alone hosting, if that's what the community really wants, so that
the wiki would have it's own MySQL database. Then, I would make a
backup version available as a download, or upon request.

I have no problem managing the hosting, that is the technical aspects
of the project, making regular (monthly?) backups available, and taking
care of possible vandalism. However, a wiki is truly an open,
meta-democratic community project, so the responsibility of keeping and
maintaining the site will be spread among all those in the community
who choose to participate.

Please realize that, as a wiki, anybody can simply click "edit", copy
each page and save it or put it on a private wiki if they wish. In
fact, if somebody wishes to set up a manage a mirror of
Apple2Guide.net, that would be fine by me.

MediaWiki is a versatile package, supports multiple skins, and has many
features that I haven't begun to explore yet, but all that I've said so
far can be done and I know how to do.

Your concern for my health is touching, Warren. ;-) But, be assured
that even if something were to happen to me, the information would
still be freely available to all. Just please remember to mention me in
the new wiki if anything happens to me. ;-)

With my current hosting, adding another host with a standalone MySQL
database would cost me about $45. Maintaining the site as is will not
cost me anymore, so no contributions are necessary if the community is
okay with how it is now. However, I would appreciate some help to cover
the cost to set up a new hosting/MySQL account if that's what the
community wants to do.