2023:Program/Submissions/Toolhub, Toolhunt, and the quest to increase tool discoverability - DSCPPU
Title: Toolhub, Toolhunt, and the quest to increase tool discoverability
Speakers:
Nicole Barnabee
A software developer based near Bern, Switzerland, and member of the Outreachy Winter 2022/2023 intern cohort. During my time interning with the Wikimedia Foundation, I developed and deployed Toolhunt, a full-stack web application that helps users add information to Toolhub records in an easy and fun way.
Room:
Start time:
End time:
Type: Lightning talk
Track: Technology
Submission state: submitted
Duration: 10 minutes
Do not record: false
Presentation language: en
Abstract & description[edit source]
Abstract[edit source]
Toolhub is a catalog that aims to increase tool discoverability and usage by documenting and organizing information about software tools used in the Wikipedia movement. However, much of this information is missing or incomplete. We developed Toolhunt with the goal of presenting users with an easy and gamified way to assist the Toolhub project.
Description[edit source]
In the Toolhub context, “tool” refers to a software application that interacts with Wikimedia projects without being implemented by MediaWiki. Tools can include things like scripts, gadgets, bots, and web and mobile apps, that can be used for administrative work, quality assurance, vandalism control, curation – the list is nearly endless – but they share an intention: to improve workflows and user experiences when interacting with Wikimedia projects. Currently, there are almost 3000 tools listed in Toolhub’s catalog. But with such an incredible number of options to explore, how can users find the right tools to meet their needs?
That’s where Toolhub comes in: it’s a community-managed catalog that collects and organizes information about tools: what they do, how they do it, and who might want to use them. This information sets includes things such as links to the tool’s repository, list of languages into which the tool has been translated, information about the expected audience (e.g., researchers, administrators, readers, etc.), various use cases, lists of wikis with which the tool can interact, and so on. Unfortunately, this information is woefully incomplete.
During our Winter 2022/2023 Outreachy internship with Wikimedia, Hannah and I developed Toolhunt, a web application that seeks to encourage and support users in filling in these information gaps.
In this short talk, we will give an overview of Toolhub and its goals (similar to what I’ve written above), followed by a demonstration of Toolhunt and (time permitting) a brief discussion of its architecture.
Further details[edit source]
Qn. How does your session relate to the event themes: Diversity, Collaboration Future?
Our session relates heavily to the theme of Collaboration. Fundamentally, Toolhub, Toolhunt, and the tools themselves are all collaborative efforts. Tool developers have volunteered their time to create tools that help others. Toolhub helps connect users, tools, and developers. And Toolhunt aims to help Toolhub with that goal. By working together to find and share information, we can make it easier for future users, and ourselves, to find the tools that we need to further our work with the Wikimedia movement – which is, at its heart, focused on working together to find and share information.
Qn. What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Qn. What is the most appropriate format for this session?
Onsite in Singapore
Remote online participation, livestreamed- Remote from a satellite event
- Hybrid with some participants in Singapore and others dialing in remotely
- Pre-recorded and available on demand
