The TWiki collaborative web service at CERN (see CNL issue 1, 2007) has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years, notably in the LHC experiments. There are now almost 6000 active users and the service has become part of the day-to-day toolbox for web documentation.
Who uses TWiki and why is it so popular?
The TWiki service hosts more than 150 "webs" for dedicated projects and these are used by collaborations such as the LHC experiments, software projects, departmental groups and even social groups. The Wiki concept of shared editable webpages is ideal for documentation in collaborative projects. Wikis are like the original web browser/editor invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990. His idea was to create a democratic medium where everybody could contribute knowledge.
TWiki is a Wiki implementation that is easy to use and works on any browser. It has attracted user groups as it allows them to be more efficient by improving the exchange of information. Examples include:
• Replacing a static website.
• Sharing ideas and designs for software projects: virtual blackboards have proven ideal tools for sharing ideas.
• Building physics work books: TWiki allows users to collaborate and create large documents that can be converted to PDFs.
• As a knowledge base like the support web or an FAQ.
• Tracking actions and problems: TWiki has many plug-ins that help adapt to a page to clickable lists and spreadsheets.
• As a web document management tool and archive: thanks to the revision possibilities, you always have the history of changes and can go back to earlier versions of pages.
What are the recent changes?
The popularity of TWiki has made it a victim of its own success and the pages are accessed every second. With the increased load, new servers were installed in 2008, which improved the performance. The different ways that users access their data has also affected performance. To address this we have optimized parts of the functionality, such as the RSS feeds.
Several plug-ins were also updated and installed, such as the image plug-in, which controls the display and alignment of images using an easy syntax and support for server-side resizing and thumbnailing.
A major change came when TWiki adopted the CERN Single-Sign-On service with a common login for all CERN web applications. This makes it easy to authenticate to TWiki for anyone who is a CERN user. To edit documents in TWiki, or be a member of restricted groups, you need to be registered as a TWiki user. Registration is easy by filling in an online form. TWiki uses the CERN login e-mail address for authentication.
What happens if a user changes e-mail address?
When a user changes the e-mail address associated with their CERN login, the TWiki registration needs to be updated and the Helpdesk or twiki.support@cern.ch should be contacted. Further integration between TWiki registration, CERN accounts and E-groups is planned for the end of the year.
Can lightweight registered users use TWiki?
Yes. However, for security, this type of user is vetted before being allowed full access.
How do you use TWiki?
Go to https://twiki.cern.ch/. Here you will find a 20 minute tutorial, a link to register, user documentation and an online support web. A user should have a CERN account and be registered in TWiki to edit pages.
Can pages be protected?
Open, free-form editing is the essence of Wiki culture, which has made TWiki a success. However, if a user wants to protect a page or a group of pages it is possible to restrict access. This is a built-in feature.
What editors are available?
Currently, TWiki topics can be edited within the internet browser by using a simple text editor or a WYSIWYG editor for those who do not like typing text with the Wiki notation. The next version of TWiki will have a new and improved WYSIWYG editor.
When will the new version be available?
TWiki evolved greatly during 2008, resulting in several software releases in two Wiki branches. The latest version was released in April this year and offers many enhancements and new features. Our focus has been to provide stability for the service but if tests prove positive, we can expect an upgrade to this release during the summer.
Can you summarize the new features?
• Usability enhancements including a new and improved WYSIWYG editor.
• Fast SQL style query language for programmable search.
• New restore feature allowing easier rollback and policing of page changes.
• Improved login name/wiki name mapping to enable easier integration with external authentication mechanisms.
• Improved Application Programming Interface (API) for plug-ins.
• Enhancements to many plug-ins.
• A new default skin and easier templates.
• The Table of Content feature is enhanced.
• Security enhancements, reducing the risk of cross-site scripting.
• 300 bug fixes since the current version.
Where can I get more information?
A list of available documentation can be found at https://twiki.cern.ch/. For further enquiries e-mail twiki.support@cern.ch.