Extension talk:Gadgets/Gadgets 2.0

Is this the same as "Gadgets 2.0"?? I'm running MW 1.35, and Gadgets are not working ... I have configured a single gadget for testing with no luck (UTCLiveClock). I know my configuration is correct, because I do get the Gadgets tab in Preferences, and the Gadget-definition json is 'happy' (by the look of the formatted content after save).

The Extension:Gadgets page somewhat haphazardly covers this 'new' way of enabling and configuring Gadgets, but the relevant information is wrapped inside of the 'old' Gadget context on that page. It doesn't even link to this page.

If the new way of configuring Gadgets isn't working, then why is it even mentioned within the context of "Gadgets 1.0" as an alternative?

Well, “Gadgets 2.0” is a big label which came up in 2011 and requested a pile of improvements in management of client resources.

• Gadget Definition Namespace is one issue, and not the closest to Gadgets 2.0, but somewhat connected.
• Actually the namespaces came from another thread: security.
• When client resources have been introduced about 2004, they have been pages in the MediaWiki: namespace since that one could be modified by sysop only.
• In the early 2010s it came up that permission to modify client resources shall be removed from regular sysops, on WMF given to “interface administrators” in 2017.
• The Gadget: and Gadget Definition: namespaces have been blocked at WMF in 2015.
• The idea is that finally no resources from MediaWiki: namespace will be executed any longer, and it is much easier to survey what is going on within one particular namespace, even when monitoring almost 1000 WMF wikis. Resources will be executable from Gadget: and User: only. MediaWiki: will be left to plain text, which does not need security surveillance. Edits in MediaWiki: are generating a lot of noise, where easily some content model page moving operation is flying below the radar.
• For the time being I guess you will need to use old page locations at MediaWiki: namespace.
• Since you are running MW 1.35 you might be able to configure yourself already at the new namespaces, but it is much easier to stay with contemporary environment. Since the new approach has not been tested and WMF did not migrate yet you will stand on safe ground.

Thanks for the info.

I'd suggest that the MW curators duly note that Gadgets namespace is not ready to implement for resource execution even in 1.35+ until they finalize, because it makes us think that the new Gadget namespace method is 'broken' when it sounds like it's really just not fully configured to take over resource handling as Mediawiki: is today.

I reverted to MediaWiki again, and it's working fine. Gadget: seems like it just needs a small tweak to finalize. Everything seemed to be working but for the Gadget not showing up in Special:Gadgets. The json validation is a bit buggy though.

I certainly hope that they finalize before moving resources to Gadget: and User: only!

There are two difficult blockers for migration:

1. A few old MediaWiki: pages with <a href="http:/ stuff in some communities, which are running by exception now.
2. Site en:MediaWiki:Common.js etc. need to migrate into Gadgets: namespace as well, and redirected in site and skins, and to be made a kind of default gadgets.

Once the key is turned MediaWiki: namespace does not permit and provide anything else than sanitized plain wikitext and both issues would be broken.

But yes, somebody should post a warning that those 2.0 config is probably not working right now.

Has gadget development been abandoned? [[phab:T31272]] is going on 8 years old now.... Xaosflux (talk) 23:24, 22 October 2019 (UTC)

Seems like yes? https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T31272#5597343

It is now five years since the discussion started, and there are no clear timeline or scuccessfactor. I have asked in phab:T137282, but it is declined with no further information. I conclude that the project is stalled.

The project is not stalled, the Phabricator task was only declined because deadlines do not help anyone.

There are virtually no information available about deadlines and progress, that is why I conclude that the project is stalled, not that the task is closed. It is also somewhat weird that WMF strongly stresses use of success indicators, and at the same time there are projects with no indicators at all.

Progress is happening slowly. For the most part, this isn't an officially resourced WMF project anymore, it's just something that developers are doing in their spare time, which is why it's pretty slow. Community Tech has also helped push it forwards a bit.