# Collaborative Editing with BlueSpice in MediaWiki > [! note]- > The content of this page is generated by audio/video transcription and text transformation from the content and links of this source. Source: [https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-5993-collaborative-editing-in-a-mediawiki-environment/](https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-5993-collaborative-editing-in-a-mediawiki-environment/) <video src="https://video.fosdem.org/2025/h1308/fosdem-2025-5993-collaborative-editing-in-a-mediawiki-environment.av1.webm" controls></video> ## Summary & Highlights: This session explores the implementation of real-time collaborative editing in MediaWiki environments, specifically through the BlueSpice extension of the Wikimedia VisualEditor. The talk addresses the technical challenges and solutions involved in achieving simultaneous editing, including version control and user accountability. The speakers share their experiences and insights on the impact of real-time editing on knowledge sharing and community engagement. **Introduction to Collaborative Editing** Real-time editing reduces conflicts and enhances meeting efficiency. With rising expectations due to tools like Google Docs, the open-source community is catching up by extending MediaWiki's VisualEditor for real-time capabilities. BlueSpice offers a 100% open-source solution that enhances collaborative editing in wiki environments. **Technical Challenges and Solutions** The session provides a self-critical analysis of the technical hurdles faced during the implementation of real-time editing. Key challenges include redefining version control and accountability, as well as integrating a linear data model and transaction system to manage changes efficiently. The speakers highlight the importance of the Rebaser backend for synchronizing edits in real-time. **Impact on Knowledge Sharing** Real-time editing significantly impacts knowledge sharing by allowing multiple users to edit documents simultaneously. This approach fosters community engagement and enhances the collaborative nature of wikis. The session discusses the balance between technical implementation and community acceptance, emphasizing the importance of open-source solutions for sustainable development. **Future Directions and Applications** Looking ahead, the session outlines plans to make real-time editing the default mode in BlueSpice and improve backend maintenance tools. The integration of Dockerized container images simplifies deployment, making it accessible for various organizations. This development holds potential for eco-social designers to apply collaborative tools in sustainable and community-driven projects. ## Importance for an eco-social transformation The session emphasizes the role of open-source solutions in fostering eco-social transformation by promoting collaborative knowledge sharing. Real-time editing tools like BlueSpice can be utilized by eco-social designers to enhance community projects and sustainable development initiatives. Challenges include ensuring broad community acceptance and addressing technical complexities such as version control and data integrity. By leveraging open-source platforms, designers can create more inclusive and participatory environments, overcoming social and technical barriers to collaboration. ## Slides: | | | | --- | --- | | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_001.jpg\|300]] | The first slide introduces the concept of collaborative editing within a MediaWiki environment, highlighting BlueSpice as an open-source solution that extends the VisualEditor to support real-time collaboration. The slide sets the stage for discussing how this adaptation meets modern editing expectations and enhances wiki-based knowledge sharing. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_002.jpg\|300]] | The agenda slide outlines the key topics of the session: an introduction to the Wikimedia/MediaWiki VisualEditor, a brief history of simultaneous editing in MediaWiki, the technical foundation of the project, a live demonstration, instructions on accessing and using the tool, future development plans, and a Q&A segment. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_003.jpg\|300]] | This slide explains the differences between the standalone Wikimedia VisualEditor and its MediaWiki extension, which facilitates WYSIWYG editing of wiki text-based content. It highlights the use of the Parsoid service for converting between Wikitext and HTML, essential for enabling visual editing in a wiki environment. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_004.jpg\|300]] | The slide provides a historical overview of simultaneous editing in MediaWiki, beginning with initial ideas in 2011 influenced by Etherpad and Google Docs. It discusses the conceptual challenges faced, such as contributor attribution, and notes the last significant changes around 2020, with maintenance updates continuing into 2023/2024. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_005.jpg\|300]] | This slide details the technical foundation of the project, focusing on the Rebaser system. It describes the client-side integration within the VisualEditor and the server-side application originally built in Node.js. The slide also introduces the linear data model and transaction system as key components enabling collaborative editing. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_006.jpg\|300]] | The slide illustrates the linear data model, showing how content is represented in a linear format with annotations for formatting. This model is central to the VisualEditor's ability to manage and synchronize changes made during collaborative editing sessions. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_007.jpg\|300]] | The slide expands on the linear model by depicting how content is broken down into individual components, each annotated for formatting. This granular approach allows for precise tracking and management of changes, facilitating real-time collaboration. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_008.jpg\|300]] | This slide explains the transaction mechanism, showing how changes are recorded and synchronized across users. It highlights the atomic nature of transactions, allowing for undo operations, and details how changes are integrated into the document model. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_009.jpg\|300]] | The slide outlines the process of collaborative editing, from session creation to document sharing and change synchronization. It emphasizes the importance of the rebasing process on the server side to ensure changes are correctly applied in the context of concurrent edits. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_010.jpg\|300]] | The slide marks the start of a live demonstration, showcasing the practical application of the collaborative editing features discussed in the session. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_011.jpg\|300]] | This slide provides information on accessing and running the extension. It mentions the recent publication of the codebase, installation requirements, and the availability of Docker images for easier deployment. It also advises on using proxies to manage backend connections. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_012.jpg\|300]] | The slide outlines future plans for the project, including improvements to backend maintenance tools, enhanced management functionality, and making collaborative editing the default mode. These developments aim to streamline the user experience and ensure data integrity. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_013.jpg\|300]] | The slide concludes the session with a thank you message and an invitation for questions, encouraging audience engagement and further discussion on the topic. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Collaborative-editing-in-a-MediaWiki-environment/preview_014.jpg\|300]] | The final slide provides resources for further exploration, including links to the VisualEditor setup, linear model documentation, and the CollabPads extension. These resources support continued learning and adoption of the technologies discussed in the session. ## Links [Video recording (AV1/WebM) - 72.0 MB](https://video.fosdem.org/2025/h1308/fosdem-2025-5993-collaborative-editing-in-a-mediawiki-environment.av1.webm) [Video recording (MP4) - 525.7 MB](https://video.fosdem.org/2025/h1308/fosdem-2025-5993-collaborative-editing-in-a-mediawiki-environment.av1.mp4) [Video recording subtitle file (VTT)](https://video.fosdem.org/2025/h1308/fosdem-2025-5993-collaborative-editing-in-a-mediawiki-environment.vtt) [Slides](https://fosdem.org/2025/events/attachments/fosdem-2025-5993-collaborative-editing-in-a-mediawiki-environment/slides/238156/FOSDEM202_DD9CzNr.pdf)