2025:Program/Decentralizing Software Development in the Wikimedia Movement: Where Are We, and Where Do We Want to Go? - A case for Distributed Software Development
Session title: Decentralizing Software Development in the Wikimedia Movement: Where Are We, and Where Do We Want to Go? - A case for Distributed Software Development
- Session type: Lecture
- Track: Technology
- Language: en
đ„ Session recording: https://w.wiki/FQNk đ„
The Wikimedia movement is exploring new ways to decentralize software development, strengthen equity in decision-making, and enhance the resilience of its ecosystem. This session brings together perspectives from different Wikimedia groups to discuss lessons learned, challenges faced, and opportunities ahead. Using the example of Shared Software Development for Wikidata, we will reflect on past experiences, share key insights, and outline future directions. The Partner organizations (Wikimedia Brasil, Wikimedia Deutschland, Igbo Wikimedians User Group, and WikiCollabs (Indonesia)) will offer their viewpoints on participation, obstacles, and aspirations for a more distributed approach. The session aims to inspire further collaboration and encourage more affiliates to engage in decentralizing software development.
Description
The Wikimedia movement is working towards more equitable and decentralized software development to strengthen decision-making processes, share resources more effectively, and enhance the movementâs resilience. This session will explore how decentralization can create greater sustainability and inclusivity by distributing software development efforts across different Wikimedia affiliates.
We will present Shared Software Development for Wikidata as a case study, reflecting on the lessons learned, key challenges, and future possibilities. Representatives from Wikimedia Brasil, Wikimedia Deutschland, the Igbo Wikimedians User Group, and WikiCollabs (Indonesia) will share their experiences with this initiative, highlighting motivations, structural barriers, and aspirations for the future. The session aims to encourage further engagement in decentralized software development and create new opportunities for collaboration within the Wikimedia movement.
Objectives
- Showcase practical example of decentralizing decision-making within the Wikimedia movement.
- Encourage reflection in the movement on how we can share resources, infrastructure and knowledge.
- Highlight key learnings from the program.
- Discuss challenges and opportunities faced by different affiliates when participating in decentralized software development.
- Inspire and engage more affiliates to actively contribute to a more distributed approach to software development.
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 â Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
Inclusivity: The program seeks to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the Wikimedia movement and the broader digital sphere by establishing software hubs and empowering local communities. This enables them to take ownership of their knowledge representation in the Linked Open Data (LOD) space, particularly within Wikidata.
Impact: By strengthening institutional capacity, the program ensures that organizations can better serve both their local communities and the wider LOD ecosystem. This approach extends the programâs reach beyond individual participants, creating a lasting and scalable impact.
Sustainability: Through the shared responsibility of software development for LODâalong with the distribution of resources, skills, and knowledgeâthe program aims to enhance the movementâs resilience. By involving multiple actors in tech development, it fosters a more sustainable and decentralized approach.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
Speakers
- maria
- Iâm Maria and I have been with Wikimedia Deutschland (WMDE) since 2016. Most of this time I have spent with the volunteer support team, working together with volunteers from the German speaking community and making their ideas reality. Since 2021, I'm a project manager for the Software Development Department at WMDE and mainly dealing with 3rd party funded projects.