Topic on Project:Support desk/Flow

I have too many "general questions" about MediaWiki software (not exactly support related questions). What is a good place to ask these questions?

PS. I have tried the unofficial MediaWiki forum https://mwusers.org/ that I obtained from Communication/ but it appears frozen :(

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It would be good to read Manual:FAQ entirely first. Then also look for all the resources in Project:Help. If after all that something specific is not clear please ask about it here.

Okay thanks @Ammarpad

1. Which operating system I need to use MediaWiki software?

Does it work with Windows or Linux or Both? Is there any difference in Installation method in different OS?

Can I use MediaWiki itself as an Operating system?

2. Can I tell each Wiki pages a "file"?

Just like .DOCX file or .XML file or .HTML file, can I tell an wiki page (or its revision permalinks) a file? What extension name is used by these files?

3. Can I use MediaWiki software for Offline applications?

Such as Document processing software like Microsoft Office? Or for making offline Quiz or exam sheets? Or writing a Book with chapters and subchapters and inter-chapter hyperlinks etc.

4. How the WikiCode is interpreted into Machine Language?

How the computer knows the meaning of angular brackets, curly brackets etc commands and syntax?

5. How the Wiki markup input is converted into a Browser-readable (HTML?) output?

And also, which Wikimarkup input gives what Browser-readable (HTML?) outputs?

6. What are differences between PHP and Wiki Markup?

If they are different, then how WikiCodes are converted into PHP?

7. Is there automated installation files?

Such as .EXE files (Windows) or .MSI (Windows) or .APK (android) installation files that can install MediaWiki into my computer?

8. What desktop applications/ mobile applications are available that uses MediaWiki?

Is there any desktop applications or Mobile applications that uses MediaWiki?

I have many more questions I am not sure where I should ask them.

@RIT RAJARSHI, as you can see from @AKlapper (WMF)'s response, this is the right place to ask questions. I've moved your questions here.

@MarkAHershberger Thank you so so much ~~~~

1. Which operating system I need to use MediaWiki software? Does it work with Windows or Linux or Both?

Many people run MediaWiki under Windows, but the primary target is Linux. Patches to make the system work better in Windows are accepted.

Is there any difference in Installation method in different OS?

Not really. I mean, there is Running MediaWiki on Windows, but I didn't use it this past year when I set up MediaWiki for a client on Windows.

Can I use MediaWiki itself as an Operating system?

No.

2. Can I tell each Wiki pages a "file"?

In MediaWiki, wiki pages are entries in the database, not files on disk. If you want files on disk you can use other wiki software or the git remote for MediaWiki.

3. Can I use MediaWiki software for Offline applications? Such as Document processing software like Microsoft Office? Or for making offline Quiz or exam sheets? Or writing a Book with chapters and subchapters and inter-chapter hyperlinks etc.

Sure, some people run MediaWiki on the computer as a tool to do any of these things. I mean it is possible, but if you want to write a book, other tools are better.

4. How the WikiCode is interpreted into Machine Language? How the computer knows the meaning of angular brackets, curly brackets etc commands and syntax?

5. How the Wiki markup input is converted into a Browser-readable (HTML?) output? And also, which Wikimarkup input gives what Browser-readable (HTML?) outputs?

See Parsoid and related pages.

6. What are differences between PHP and Wiki Markup? If they are different, then how WikiCodes are converted into PHP?

PHP is a computer language. Wikitext is a markup language. For an explanation of the differences, see this Stack Overflow question: Programming Language vs Markup Language vs Scripting Language

7. Is there automated installation files? Such as .EXE files (Windows) or .MSI (Windows) or .APK (android) installation files that can install MediaWiki into my computer?

There is no stand-alone installer for MediaWiki. It relies on PHP already being installed.

8. What desktop applications/ mobile applications are available that uses MediaWiki? Is there any desktop applications or Mobile applications that uses MediaWiki?

It isn't clear what you mean by "use". If you mean "work with" and not "runs on", then there are several such as the Wikimedia apps.

Thank you extremely @MarkAHershberger for your detailed answer. And very satisfactory.

I learnt many interesting things.

Is it possible to use MediaWiki software without knowledge of PHP?

You can use a mediawiki installation without knowing PHP. This site is running MediaWiki and you're using it right now. It is even possible to install MediaWiki without knowing PHP. But knowing PHP helps.

Okay thanks then I will try to install and learn the MediaWiki software. Thank you so much.

for 7 - if you are using debian or ubuntu you can do:

apt install mediawiki

@Bawolff Best if possible in future to develop an automatic installer (.EXE or .MSI) for 32 bit Windows 7

Anything is possible, but i can't imagine anyone would want to for such an obscure platform.