DPWiki:Standards

In the process of building this wiki collaboratively, we've already started observing a set of social norms for editing and formatting.

How should we link from acronyms?

Acronyms should be redirects to the expanded title, except when they're not. Mikeyc21 05:00, 27 May 2006 (PDT)

i.e., the acroynm is more widely-known/commonly-used. e.g., JPEG/Joint Photographic Experts Group. Mikeyc21 02:40, 30 May 2006 (PDT)

How many times do you link from a term on a single article?

• Just the first time Mikeyc21 05:00, 27 May 2006 (PDT)
• Sometimes in a very long article, you may want to have a link at the first occurrence in each section, since people may be linking to subsections from other pages. Vaguery 05:34, 27 May 2006 (PDT)

How long should an article be?

• Just long enough, and no longer.
• As long as necessary Mikeyc21 05:00, 27 May 2006 (PDT)
• Not empty; better to leave an article completely blank so somebody sees it's a Wanted Page, than put text there that masks the fact that it's not complete yet. Vaguery 05:34, 27 May 2006 (PDT)

How should we use Categories?

• To categorise. Mikeyc21 05:00, 27 May 2006 (PDT)
• Liberally: Anybody can create a new category, as appropriate, by simply invoking it. Vaguery 05:34, 27 May 2006 (PDT)
• Conservatively: Check the list at Special:Categories to see if something else already exists that will do the job, or if one of those can be slightly modified to include your article. Vaguery 05:34, 27 May 2006 (PDT)

How should we use Templates?

• For text that has to be used repeatedly in many locations on the wiki, so there is only one version that can be updated centrally.
• Except where the use of a template will interfere with making an article easily editable. Mikeyc21 02:40, 30 May 2006 (PDT)

What is the first wiki page visitors will see when they arrive in the wiki?

• Any page at all! The entire wiki is readable to the general public, so "deep linking" is possible to any article here. Keep that in mind when editing your article. Sometimes we tend to assume people will first see an introduction or welcome page, and here they will probably not. Vaguery 05:34, 27 May 2006 (PDT)
  • But many will see the Main Page first, so that should be newcomer friendly. Mikeyc21 02:40, 30 May 2006 (PDT)

What should be on my wiki Home Page?

• Anything you want!
• But realize that anytime anybody clicks your user name, they'll go that page. You might consider some explanation, summary, or greeting! Vaguery 04:47, 28 May 2006 (PDT)
• Or, nothing at all (you don't need a user page) Mikeyc21 02:40, 30 May 2006 (PDT)

Where should we respond to Talk discussions?

• On the appropriate Talk page.