Wikipedia:Gadget

A Wikipedia gadget is a JavaScript program and/or a CSS snippet that can be enabled simply by checking an option in your preferences. The gadget's function is p…

Wikipedia:Gadget

A Wikipedia gadget is a JavaScript program and/or a CSS snippet that can be enabled simply by checking an option in your preferences. The gadget's function is provided by the MediaWiki extension Gadgets.

Many gadgets started out as user scripts. Once a user script is approved as a gadget, it is removed from Wikipedia:User scripts/List. The currently installed gadgets are listed at Special:Gadgets.

General criteria for gadgets

In order to be deployed on the English language Wikipedia, gadgets should generally pass the following conditions:

  1. Gadgets must work if just included with no further configuration. They can be configurable via personal common.js, but must work unconfigured.
  2. Gadgets must be compatible with all major browsers, i.e., they must not terminate with errors.
  3. Gadgets should be functional in most major browsers (cross-browser compatibility). Exceptions must be clearly stated.
  4. Duplication of gadgets should only be made if it is reasonable.
  5. Collections of scripts should be split if they have disparate functions.
  6. Gadgets requiring permissions must be marked and must fail gracefully if the permissions aren't present.
  7. Gadgets only working in some skins must be marked as such if that data is available.

Gadgets that are marked as default and load for large groups of users have additional criteria they need to conform to.

Proposals

New gadgets should be proposed at the technical Village Pump.

Historically, new gadgets were proposed at a subpage of this page, but that page was marked historical due to low participation. Also, existing WikiProject User scripts used to be evaluated for conversion to gadgets, but that process has also been marked historical.

Installation

Gadgets can be installed after discussion at the technical section of the village pump by interface administrators in the following way:

  1. Add the header below and the script code to MediaWiki:Gadget-scriptname.js
  2. Optionally, add the header below and CSS code to MediaWiki:Gadget-scriptname.css
  3. Add a script description to MediaWiki:Gadget-scriptname. Please link to the script home and/or help page and state browser requirements if needed.
  4. Add to MediaWiki:Gadgets-definition under the appropriate heading 
     * scriptname|scriptname.js[|scriptname.css|otherscript.js|...]

The gadget should now appear on Special:Gadgets.

Comments

Comments or warnings can be added to the gadget description templates in two ways:

  • noinclude tag (visible on description page with links): <noinclude> comment </noinclude>
  • HTML comments (visible in source text only): <!-- comment -->

Comments added in this way will be automatically discarded during the page creation process.

The following header is to be added to the gadget files: 

/*  _____________________________________________________________________________
 * |                                                                             |
 * |                    === WARNING: GLOBAL GADGET FILE ===                      |
 * |                  Changes to this page affect many users.                    |
 * | Please discuss changes on the talk page or on [[WT:Gadget]] before editing. |
 * |_____________________________________________________________________________|
 * 
 * Imported from version XXXX as of DATE from [[SCRIPT_SOURCE]]
 * SHORT_DESCRIPTION, see [[SCRIPT_HOME_PAGE]]
 */

Default gadgets

A gadget with default keyword is enabled for all Wikipedia visitors and only registered users can disable it. A gadget with [default|rights=minoredit] description would be automatically enabled only for registered users.

Criteria

Gadgets that are enabled by default for all users have to comply with stricter rules. These are essentially the same rules that apply to all default shipped code. This is because users have no active choice in them being enabled and the gadgets can impact the performance, security and stability of the entire website. These gadgets should:

  • Have been reviewed by an experienced JavaScript developer (generally an interface admin).
  • Be "well maintained".
  • Conform with the Third-party resources policy.
  • Be written to run efficiently, i.e. with as little code as required. If full functionality of the gadget requires a lot of JavaScript code, then this code should be loaded conditionally and lazily, or only on demand (click to load).
  • Cause no accessibility problems.
  • Not be required for content to be readable, except for styles-only gadgets.
  • Not interfere with printing pages.
  • Comply with the current security and privacy standards.

This list should not be considered exhaustive.

Template gadgets

Template gadgets are a special category of default gadgets. These gadgets only run on pages in explicit trigger categories, generally controlled by adding a template to a page. Trigger categories should be move-protected as they are integrated with the definition.

Currently installed gadgets

Users can browse a list of all available gadgets in the gadgets section of their preferences page:

Preferences → Gadgets

See Special:Gadgets for a list of all active gadgets and links to their script files.

Pros and cons of changing a user script to a gadget

Pros

  • Adds the script to Special:Preferences, which makes installing it much easier.
  • Adds the script to Special:Preferences, which will help with marketing the script and boost install counts over time.
  • Gives the user script to the community, making interface administrators more likely to grant edit requests from other users, reducing the need to fork the user script if the maintainer goes inactive.
  • Ability to mark it as a "default gadget", which will load for everyone.
  • The ResourceLoader modules and CSS the script depends on load on page load, allowing the script to be ready faster.
  • Allows the script to be used in URLs via ?withJS= and ?withCSS=.

Especially once a user script has a lot of users...

  • Gadgets provide minification and bundling with other gadgets, which reduces file sizes and HTTP traffic.
  • Possible protection against hacking. Interface administrators all have two factor authentication, and are removed if they become inactive. A regular maintainer might go inactive then have their account compromised at a later date.
  • Possible protection against a rogue user script developer. Interface administrators have gone through RFA and are possibly less likely to go rogue.

Cons

  • Allows use of JavaScript features up to ES2017 only. (phab:T395347)
  • If the maintainer is not an interface administrator, they will now need to make {{Edit interface-protected}} requests in order to make any code changes, slowing down development.
  • Lots of steps. Need to make sure the maintainer is OK with it, get consensus at WP:VPT, then get an interface administrator to set everything up. May need a plan to switch everyone over from the old user script to the gadget. If there is any concern about bugs, may need to do a staggered rollout.

?withJS= and ?withCSS=

Adding ?withJS= and/or ?withCSS= to the URL, and then placing the name of a MediaWiki namespace .js or .css page after the equals sign, will execute that .js and css. code for the user on that page only. This is useful for making wizards, or for temporarily loading a gadget without changing your preferences. This functionality is similar to a default gadget and works for everyone, including logged out users. However it is not implemented via mw:Extension:Gadgets, but rather via English Wikipedia's MediaWiki:Common.js. The upstream code is located at mw:Snippets/Load JS and CSS by URL. Here is a partial list of scripts loaded in this manner: (search for more)

See also

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