Wiki farm
Encyclopedia
A wiki hosting service or wiki farm is a server
or an array of servers
that offer users tools to simplify the creation and development of individual, independent wiki
s. Wiki farms are not to be confused with wiki "families," a more generic term for any group of wikis located on the same server.
Prior to wiki farms, someone who wanted to operate a wiki had to install the software and manage the server(s) themselves. With a wiki farm, the farm's administration installs the core wiki code once on its own servers, centrally maintains the servers, and establishes unique space on the servers for the content of each individual wiki with the shared core code executing the functions of each wiki.
Both non-commercial and commercial wiki farms are available for users and online communities. While most of the wiki farms allow anyone to open their own wiki, some impose restrictions. Many wiki farm companies generate revenue through the insertion of advertisements, but often allow payment of a monthly fee as an alternative to accepting ads.
Many of the currently most notable
wiki farms got their start in the mid-2000s, including Wikia
(2004), PBWorks (2005), Wetpaint
(2005), Wikispaces
(2005), Wikidot
(2006), EditThis.info (2007), and Referata (2008).
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
or an array of servers
Server farm
A server farm or server cluster is a collection of computer servers usually maintained by an enterprise to accomplish server needs far beyond the capability of one machine. Server farms often have backup servers, which can take over the function of primary servers in the event of a primary server...
that offer users tools to simplify the creation and development of individual, independent wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
s. Wiki farms are not to be confused with wiki "families," a more generic term for any group of wikis located on the same server.
Prior to wiki farms, someone who wanted to operate a wiki had to install the software and manage the server(s) themselves. With a wiki farm, the farm's administration installs the core wiki code once on its own servers, centrally maintains the servers, and establishes unique space on the servers for the content of each individual wiki with the shared core code executing the functions of each wiki.
Both non-commercial and commercial wiki farms are available for users and online communities. While most of the wiki farms allow anyone to open their own wiki, some impose restrictions. Many wiki farm companies generate revenue through the insertion of advertisements, but often allow payment of a monthly fee as an alternative to accepting ads.
Many of the currently most notable
Notable
Notable can refer to:* the property of a thing having notability* A Notable is a member of the Assembly of Notables, an assembly called by the king of high-ranking notables.* A Wikipedia guideline Wikipedia:Notable...
wiki farms got their start in the mid-2000s, including Wikia
Wikia
Wikia is a free web hosting service for wikis . It is normally free of charge for readers and editors, deriving most of its income from advertising, and publishes all user-provided text under copyleft licenses. Wikia hosts several hundred thousand wikis using the open-source wiki software MediaWiki...
(2004), PBWorks (2005), Wetpaint
Wetpaint
Wetpaint is a Seattle, Washington-based company, founded in 2005, that hosts both user-generated and professionally created content. Wetpaint began as a wiki farm, hosting wikis using their own proprietary software. In 2010, the main site was rebranded as Wetpaint Entertainment, a website focused...
(2005), Wikispaces
Wikispaces
Wikispaces is a hosting service based in San Francisco, California. Launched in March 2005, Wikispaces is owned by Tangient LLC and is among the largest wiki hosts, competing with PBworks, Wetpaint, Wikia, and Google Sites .Private wikis with advanced features for businesses, non-profits and...
(2005), Wikidot
Wikidot
Wikidot.com is a social networking service and wiki hosting service , developed in Toruń, Poland. Wikidot Inc., which owns and operates Wikidot.com, is incorporated in Delaware, USA, Division of Corporations, file no. 4326793...
(2006), EditThis.info (2007), and Referata (2008).