Wiki Refactoring: an Assisted Approach Based on Ballots

Wikis' organic growth inevitably leads to a gradual degradation of the wiki content/structure which, in turn, may entail recurrent wiki refactoring. Unfortunately, no regression test exists to check the validity of the refactoring output. Some changes, even if compliant with good practices, can still require to be backed by the community which ends up bearing the maintenance burden. This calls for a semi-automatic approach where "refactoring bots" interact with wiki users to con rm the upgrades. This paper outlines this as follows. First, a refactoring bot detects wiki degradation. Second, the community evaluates the severity of the degradation through voting. Finally, the refactoring bot takes control and enacts the appropriate changes, if so decided by the community. This lessens but does not exclude, the participation of the community. We aim at reducing the maintenance penalty that goes with the laissez-faire way that characterizes wiki contributions.

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Wiki refactoring: an assisted approach based on ballots

Oscar Díaz, Gorka Puente, Cristóbal Arellano
WikiSym '11 Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Wikis and Open Collaboration, 2011