Help (I need it) and a Competition!
By Sarah on January 19, 2007 1:29 PM
In the latest series of Cast-On Brenda Dayne had a fabulous idea about creating a community run knitting encyclopedia using the mediawiki engine (a version of the software used to run wikipedia). Brenda wisely decided she didn't have the time to let fly with the idea and invited us to take up the challenge.
Not being as wise as Brenda, I decided I'd go for it. I installed the software and it worked! I can even get my head around how to set up the pages that are frighteningly blank. I think.
However.
I really really really can't figure out how to create a skin so the KnitWiki has a unique look.
I tried. I really did. It wasn't pretty. The dodgy code, the strangely coloured links that I couldn't change no matter what I did, the somewhat extremely unattractive results. It's very sad, I assure you. So I need your help. I even have a prize of a lovely skein of handspun yarn in your choice of colours and thickness. I'll dye it and spin it just for you!
To enter the competion:
Design a skin for use with the Media Wiki software. Email it to me.
The skin needs to have the following characteristics:
It should suit various textile related wikis (I have plans of setting up a SpinWiki and WeaveWiki if I can get the software going).
It should relate to the main design on knitting-and.com in some way. Eg: The slightly celtic theme, the groovy cat, the colours, or any other way a theme might relate to the main website.
It needs to have my google adsense code included (I can email it to you upon request). I might not be as smart as Brenda but I do realise that, properly run, a KnitWiki is a full time occupation so I need to put the ads in.
Simplicity is best.
It's probably a good idea essential that you understand php and css in order to be able to do this. You *don't* have to be a knitter (I can finish the prize yarn for weaving, send fibre if a handspinner wins or make a handspun hat for you if you're not into fibre arts at all!)
The deadline for the competition will be March 1st, anyone who emails me a finished MediaWiki skin before then will be entered into the competition.
Some useful links:
The Media Wiki Website
The Media Wiki Skins Page
If you want to join in, send me a message via my contacts page and I'll send you the code for my adsense ads and you can request any other graphics used on the site if you need them.
What are you waiting for? Get designing!
Edited 3 hours later to add:
I forgot to mention that I have a mediawiki installation running so all people entering the contest will be able to test their skins while the competition is on. Full details will be sent to anyone who joins in the fun.
:-)
If you'd like to send me a comment click here to send me an email. Unfortunately comment spam overloads my server so I have had to disable comments on the blog.