Wikidata:Development plan/archive2023

Development plan

Usability and usefulness

Status updates

Development input

Contact the development team

You will find below the roadmap of the software development team (Wikimedia Deutschland) for Wikidata and Wikibase for 2023. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to use the talk page or write on Wikidata:Report a technical problem. Please note that the roadmap presents the main projects that the development team will work on during all of 2023. Development may continue for some of these projects beyond that period. At the beginning of each quarter, this page will be updated to include the development estimates for that quarter. Required tasks such as maintenance and bug fixes are not mentioned in the roadmap, but will be included in the workflow over the year. The roadmap is based on estimations and will evolve during the year. The roadmap doesn't contain events we're attending or organizing.

Wikidata as a platform

Empower the community to increase data quality

We must ensure that our socio-technical system helps editors increase the quality of Wikidata’s existing data and contribute new high-quality data.

Feedback loops with data re-users (support)

Objective:

We want to build out feedback loops with data re-users to get them more actively involved in improving the data on Wikidata.

Description:

We have developed the Mismatch Finder as a base for setting up these feedback loops. Now we need to help reusers find their way and understand their potential contributions.

Upcoming Activities:

• Work with data re-users and researchers to get mismatches. This means release targeted outreach material for re-users and approach potential mismatch providers. (Q1)
• Make it possible to upload mismatches for data in Qualifiers (Q4)

Entity Schema build-out and integration (development)

Objective:

We want to better integrate the existing Entity Schemas so that they become more central to data maintenance processes and can codify modeling decisions.

Description:

We have Entity Schemas on Wikidata that are not well integrated to existing workflows and community processes. We need to decide what the next steps are.

Upcoming Activities:

• Start development of version 2 of Entity Schemas. This means finalizing prototyping, deciding on a way forward, starting coding on version 2 and making a test system available - Phabricator board (Q1)
• Release a new datatype that allows linking to EntitySchemas in statements in order to connect a class to the EntitySchema(s) governing it. (Q2)
• Continue improving the new datatype linking to EntitySchemas in statements based on feedback from testing (Q3) (Q4)
• Make EntitySchemas more visible by showing them by their label instead of ID in lists like recent changes (Q3)
• Data Modeling Days to bring us all together around data modeling topics (Q4)

Increase re-use for increased impact

We want to make sure that anyone can use the data in Wikidata to make the world a better place. While everyone can re-use our data, we give priority to organizations and projects that align with our values and have a high impact.

REST API

Objective:

We want to improve our APIs to make it easier for programmers to access our data.

Description:

We will release and improve the Wikibase REST API.

Upcoming Activities:

• Release the first version of the Wikibase REST API to Wikidata - Phabricator ticket and board. (Q1)
• Build out the first version of the Wikibase REST API based on feedback received for the first version and expand it to handle Properties as well. (Q2)
• Continue to build out the Wikibase REST API with a focus on operations on Properties (Q3) (Q4)
• Research where increased compatibility with semantic web standards might increase reuse (Q4)

Facilitate equity in decision-making

We want to ensure that diverse perspectives come into play as fundamental decisions are made for and about Wikidata. By doing so we can better support knowledge often underrepresented in knowledge graphs.

WikidataCon

Objective:

Organize an event focused on the Wikidata community.

Description:

Wikimedia Germany and Wikimedia Taiwan jointly organize a WikidataCon that explores open data projects in East Asia.

Upcoming Activities:

• Accompany Wikimedia Taiwan in the next steps of organizing the conference. (Q1) (Q2) (Q3) (Q4)
• WikidataCon! (Q4)

Enable Wikimedia Projects to share their workload

The Wikimedia Projects should be able to rely on Wikidata to share their workload across language and project family boundaries.

Wikidata and the Wikimedia Projects

Objective:

We want Wikidata and the other Wikimedia projects to increase their collaboration for mutual benefit

Description:

We establish structures to support the collaboration between Wikidata and the other Wikimedia projects sustainably.

Upcoming Activities:

• Start hiring for a dedicated team (Product Manager, UX researcher, Engineering Manager, Community Communications Manager). (Q1)
• Continue hiring the initial team (UX, EM, ComCom) (Q2)
• Onboard the first team members (Q3)

• Getting closer to the community through a series of conversations to understand where we can help to improve their workflow. We’ll also be sharing a screener link for anyone who wants to be added to our team’s interview pool (Q4)

Strengthen underrepresented languages

More people need access to knowledge and technology presented in their own language, and content in that language should be accessible to all. Language data is a fundamental building block in reaching that goal.

Wikidata Software Collaboration

Objective:

We have trusting and sustainable relationships with our partners.

Description:

We want our partners at Wikimedia Indonesia and the Igbo Wikimedians User Group to have everything they need to implement their projects.

Upcoming Activities:

• Discuss and decide with our partners on their foci for the next months. E.g. scoping the technical changes for WMID. (Q1)
• Plan the 2023 partnership-building activities (e.g. real-live meeting in Jakarta). (Q1)
• Continue to support the projects financially and with our feedback/ input. (Q1)
• Decide on what to do with the project's underspending. (Q1)
• Support for the hiring of 2 engineers at Wikimedia Indonesia (Q2)
• Finalization of plans for Wiki Mentor Africa 2 and signing of new Funding Agreement for Igbo Wikimedians User Group (Q2)
• Have the Product Manager and Engineering Manager from Wikidata meet with the WMID team in Jakarta (Q3)
• Draw up a plan to come for a future decision on the time after Dec’ 24 (Q3)

Wikibase Ecosystem

Wikibase Cloud

Empower knowledge curators to share their data

We must ensure that more projects are able to independently onboard themselves into the Wikibase Ecosystem by reducing the complexity of software setup, data importing, and maintenance. To support knowledge equity, in parallel we must ensure that the Wikibase Ecosystem welcomes a variety of topics and disciplines.

A greater number of diverse knowledge curators can independently join the Wikibase Ecosystem

Objective:

Wikibase.cloud fosters a diverse and thriving ecosystem with a healthy growth of new Wikibases.

Description:

We want to grow a larger community of Wikibase users as well as a larger amount of Wikibases, so that we can continue to learn how to further develop Wikibase Cloud. At the same time, we want to ensure we grow a healthy and diverse ecosystem from the get-go so that it’s inclusive and Wikibase Cloud can create opportunities for anyone interested in sharing in linked open data within the ecosystem.

Upcoming Activities:

• Provide our users with a smooth and scalable Search solution, to remove a large disruptive issue in easily finding and enhancing data (Q1)
• Identify the requirements for an improved user flow from modeling their data to adding it to Wikibase Cloud to support a better user experience for new joiners as well as existing users (main survey outcome) (Q1)
• Start creating solid references for new Wikibase users (aka Newbie Docs) to support new users in joining the ecosystem (Q1)
• Prepare a plan to proactively reach underrepresented knowledge communities (Q1) (Shared with Wikibase Suite)
• Finalize the path to move from a closed to an open Beta (Q1) (Shared with Wikibase Suite)
• Advance knowledge equity and representation by evaluating existing internal Wikibase practices (together with Cloud, Q2)
• Learn from 2-3 organizations who work with underrepresented knowledge or communities in ethical and fair ways (together with Suite, Q2)
• Have everything in place to move into Open Beta to support further growth of the ecosystem (Q2)
• Create more visibility of existing Wikibases to support new users in getting started with their Wikibase (Q2, Q3: Release “Discover other Wikibases” feature)
• Enhance visibility and promotion of Wikibase Cloud to support further growth on the ecosystem (Q2, Q3)
• Move to an Open Beta to support further growth of the ecosystem (Q3)
• Setting our tech up for success towards evolving usage: finish ElasticSearch update, automate the deployment workflow, improve QueryService reliability (Q4)
• Start identifying opportunities and limitations for fostering knowledge equity in Linked Open Data by initiating collaboration with research partner and kicking off the project (Q4)
• Scope opportunities to increase ease of use of Wikibase Cloud for new joiners to prepare for next year. This includes a short community survey, identifying novice user documentation opportunities and refining the data modeling starter package (Q4)
• Enhance visibility and promotion of Wikibase Cloud to support further growth of the ecosystem with proactive outreach work, a re-vamped website and a new approach to interacting with our various audiences and ecosystems (Q4)

Wikibase Suite

Empower knowledge curators to share their data

We must ensure that more projects are able to independently onboard themselves into the Wikibase Ecosystem by reducing the complexity of software setup, data importing, and maintenance. To support knowledge equity, in parallel we must ensure that the Wikibase Ecosystem welcomes a variety of topics and disciplines.

Knowledge projects can rely on Wikibase Suite as a Linked Open Data software for professional use

Objective:

Stakeholders of Wikibase Suite are sustainably supported by WMDE

Description:

We want to ensure people can run their Wikibases using the installs from Wikibase Suite on the latest versions, and that we provide these on a regular basis. In parallel, we want to ensure we are able to empower and support Wikibase Suite users by understanding their needs and problems and setting ourselves up to meet and solve those.

Upcoming Activities:

• Gain a deeper understanding of opportunities and problems to solve to define a mid term strategy for Wikibase Suite (Q1+Q2)
• Build a team with the skills and focus to act and solve the problems we identify (Q1)
• Catch up to Mediawiki releases (1.38 and 1.39) and make a plan to stay caught up (Q1)
• Mediawiki Release strategy (Q2)
• Establish Suite Roadmaps (Q2)
• Build up and onboard the team (Q2)
• Improve release pipeline (Q3)
• Improve Suite Self-Install Docs (Q3)
• Fully integrating new team members (Q3)
• Focus on quick wins to get up and running (Q3)
• Improve release pipeline and align on supported use cases and distribution priorities (Q4)
• Improve existing Suite Self-Install Docs from perspective of user needs and update in light of recent updates (Q4)
• Fully integrating our team (Q4)
• Strengthen Wikibase Stakeholder Group Collaboration and lay groundwork for 2024 collaboration on governance and roadmapping (Q4)
• Kickoff partnerships and product scoping plan (Q4)

A greater number of diverse knowledge projects can join the Wikibase Ecosystem.

Objective:

Communities outside of Europe and North America benefit from Wikibase – both Suite and Cloud

Description:

We want to ensure we grow a healthy and diverse ecosystem so that it’s inclusive and Wikibase Suite can create opportunities for anyone interested in sharing in linked open data within the ecosystem.

Upcoming Activities:

• Start creating solid references for new Wikibase users (aka Newbie Docs) to support new users in joining the ecosystem (Q1) (Shared with Wikibase Cloud)
• Prepare a plan to proactively reach underrepresented knowledge communities (Q1) (Shared with Wikibase Cloud)
• Advance knowledge equity and representation by evaluating existing internal Wikibase practices (together with Cloud, Q2)
• Learn from 2-3 organizations who work with underrepresented knowledge or communities in ethical and fair ways (together with Cloud, Q2)
• Research and identify opportunities for fostering knowledge equity in Linked Open Data (Q3, Q4 together with Cloud and Wikidata)