Wikis are often implemented using string-based approaches to parse and generate their pages. While such approaches work well for simple wikis, they hamper the customization and adaptability of wikis to the variety of end-users when more sophisticated needs are required, such as different output formats, user-interfaces, wiki management and security policies.
SmallWiki 2 (smallwiki.unibe.ch) is the second version of a fully object-oriented implementation of a wiki. SmallWiki is written with objects from the top to the bottom and it can be customized easily to accommodate new needs. In addition, SmallWiki is based on a powerful meta-description called Magritte that allows one to create user-interface elements easily. In this talk I will present some of the unique features of SmallWiki, such as how pages can be composed and integrated into other web-applications. Furthermore I will create a small extension to demonstrate how to customize and add new functionality easily.
Lukas Renggli (netstyle.ch) is specialist in the development of web applications and content management systems. He is expert in Zope, PHP and web solutions, the designer of SmallWiki, a content management application entirely based on objects. Lukas Renggli is working for netstyle.ch, where he is currently building web-applications in the business domain for financial institutions, insurances and print-shops. Lukas Renggli has given talks about Seaside at ESUG 2002, ESUG 2003, LOTS 2004, RMLL 2005 and for CHOOSE.