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My question in reading this that relates to how better to do it.  The key to any wiki is the ability to find what you are looking for. Organizing the wiki by pages, spaces, etc in a logical structure helps users browse through and find content.  Without that structure, we are left with a very unorganized mess that relies solely on search to find things which sometimes isn't the way you need to find things.

In my experience with organizing music, image and normal files - searching and tagging are the best methods of finding content but sometimes structure is also required and augments searching and tagging.

Regardless, I see structure as being a little important so I'm wondering if there is a way to get structure and organization while avoiding the problems you detailed?

Thanks.

Posted by Joshua Wold at Feb 26, 2007 16:13

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Josh,
Great point! I'm working on a pattern called PageMaintainer which I hope will address this. Feel free to add to it - I think you've got very good insights on this!
Stewart

Posted by Stewart Mader at Mar 28, 2007 00:08

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Thanks for the suggestions, Josh and Stewart. I'm interested in structured authoring and wikis (and so is Stewart) and this pattern and the PageMaintainer pattern are right along those thought lines.

I've had a great discussion on my blog with Don Day, chair of the DITA OASIS technical communityabout how valuable organization can be, so I went ahead and filled in the PageMaintainer pattern page and I'd love to get edits and hear more comments on the balancing act between consensus and organization. As a technical writer and information architect these topics are in the forefront of our work lives.

Posted by AnneGentle at May 04, 2008 12:52