This is a summary of recent technology and site configuration changes that affect the English Wikipedia. Note that not all changes described here are necessarily live as of press time; the English Wikipedia is currently running version 1.44.0-wmf.12 (8b8c762), and changes to the software with a version number higher than that will not yet be active. Configuration changes and changes to interface messages, however, become active immediately.
Fixed bugs
An error in a software update this week meant that making null edits to sections ended up blanking them instead; it was fixed shortly afterwards. (r40107, bug 15340)
The "invert selection" checkbox in multiple namespace selection (such as on Special:Search) now correctly inverts a selection consisting of (main) and no other namespaces. (r40113, bug 15342)
Sortable tables now correctly sort currencies written with the yen sign. (r40314, bug 15405)
The API now always informs a user or bot of the length of time it has to wait when login attempts via the API have been throttled. (r40446, bug 15479)
Anonymous users again receive the new-messages bar when a user edits their user-talk page. (N.B. This bug was a different one to the infamous bug 9213, despite having similar symptoms, and much easier to fix.) (r40461, bug 15292)
Editing anonymously via the API no longer causes an internal server error. (r40493, bug 15420)
When blocking a user via the API, a request to disable autoblocks is now honoured. (r40494, bug 15486)
It's now again possible to search for pages with a particular prefix via the API when that prefix ends with a slash. (r40432, bug 15471)
New features
A new magic word {{NUMBERINGROUP}} counts the number of users in a particular user group (such as the number of bureaucrats or rollbackers); for instance: {{NUMBERINGROUP:rollbacker}} gives 6,886. (r40116, bug 13471)
EXIF data extracted from images (which is shown below the image as metadata) now contains information about the flash settings used to make the image, if available. (r40164, bug 11884)
When a user attempts to edit a protected page, the relevant excerpt from the protection log which explains why the page is protected is now shown on the edit page. (r40509, bug 6179)
Default values for the input boxes on the protection form can now be given via the URL on links to it. (r40518, bug 12750)
CSS classes have been added to the text areas of semi-protected and of protected pages (thus allowing them to be styled differently, if required). (r40519, bug 11825)
It's now possible to request the API to give information about the type of log action when asking for log entries from Recent Changes. (r40529, bug 15492)
A mistake by developers led to the accidental deletion of the most current version of about 3000 images; all but 496 were recovered almost immediately from duplicate images, caches, and recent backups.[1] (A list of the images that were missing at that point is at m:Missing images 2008-09.) Since then, many other of the images have been recovered, and it is believed that fewer than 50 of them are still missing.
Ongoing news
Internationalisation has been continuing as normal; help is always appreciated! See mw:Localisation statistics for how complete the translations of languages you know are, and post any updates to bugzilla or use Betawiki.
On Wikipedia, OdedSchramm made nearly 900 edits, focusing on mathematics-related articles. Schramm created his account and made a few edits in 2005, but began editing actively in March 2008. He was 46 years old.
Meta-Wiki changes logo
Old logo.New logo.
After a poll showed over 80% support to change Meta-Wiki's logo to the "community logo" first introduced in 2006, the change was officially made this week. The main reason for changing the logo was over apparent confusion between Meta-Wiki and the Wikimedia Foundation, which shared the same logo. Another benefit to the change is that the new logo has been released into the public domain; the Wikimedia Foundation-based logo, meanwhile, was copyrighted by the Foundation and could not be used elsewhere without an assertion of fair use. Former Foundation Chair Florence Devouardemphasized that the public domain license was intentional, in order to allow the community freedom over the logo.
The newer logo retains the green, blue and red color scheme of the old logo, but instead of featuring a stylized person, it features a globe, emphasizing the worldwide nature of the Meta-Wiki. It has been used on other community sites as well, including Planet Wikimedia.
The Arbitration Committee opened two cases over the last fortnight, leaving five currently open.
New cases
Piotrus 2: A second case involving alleged edit warring and other misconduct by Piotrus and other editors. Piotrus denies the allegations against him, and suggests that the case may be a deliberate attempt to drive him from the site.
Sarah Palin protection wheel war: A case involving wheel warring on the Sarah Palin article, over a dispute as to the merits of page protection being applied in respect of it.
Evidence phase
SlimVirgin-Lar: A case brought by Thatcher, asking the committee to review the use of checkuser by Lar, in the light of comments by SlimVirgin (here, inter alia), alleging that he misused the tool. Evidence is to be submitted privately to the committee by e-mail, and voting will presumably occur privately as well.
Voting phase
C68-FM-SV: A case involving disputes between Cla68, FeloniousMonk, SlimVirgin, JzG, and others. Newyorkbrad has proposed a lengthy decision, most of which has the support of four arbitrators, which sets out a number of principles and findings of fact, and instructs the parties to review and abide by them, giving a number of prohibited courses of conduct by way of example.
Alastair Haines: A case involving Alastair Haines and other users. Remedies imposing editing restrictions on him, as well as on Ilkali and LisaLiel, have the support of five to six arbitrators.
