Chapter 1. Introduction
For some websites, wikis along with blogs (weblogs) have become an essential component in order to collaborate in online editing. MediaWiki is one of the most popular wikis in use, with features such as integration of YouTube videos. It also has plugins that allow forums such as Invision Power Board to integrate with MediaWiki.
By playing around with MediaWiki's PHP template files and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), almost any design can be recreated in MediaWiki. The more complicated the design is, the more work will be involved in skinning MediaWiki to match it!
In this chapter, we will discuss the following:
- The importance of skinning your wiki
- The MediaWiki skins supplied with the MediaWiki install
- Some examples of creative MediaWiki skins in action
- A case study, which will be the focus of the techniques we discuss throughout the book.
For the purpose of this book, you should install MediaWiki and complete the basic configuration (refer to http://www.installationwiki.org). Then begin restyling your wiki. A basic working knowledge of eXtensible Hyper Text Markup Language (XHTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is required. An understanding of PHP as well as MediaWiki (for example, being able to edit pages) will be a bonus.