Help:LiquidThreads

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'''LiquidThreads''' (LQT) is an extension for MediaWiki that implements a threaded discussion page system.

The original code was developed by David McCabe under sponsorship from the [[Summer of Code 2006|Google Summer of Code 2006]], [http://col.org the Commonwealth of Learning], and [http://wikia.com Wikia]. However, David McCabe is no longer involved with this project.

The original LiquidThreads code has been substantially improved and augmented by [[User:Werdna|Andrew Garrett]] at the Wikimedia Foundation since May 2009. The latest stable release of the LiquidThreads extension is LQT 2.0, described on this page. LQT 2.0 is the version currently being used on several Wikimedia wikis, and was used in the strategic planning process.

In January 2011, work on [[LiquidThreads 3.0]] was begun at the Wikimedia Foundation. LQT 3.0 is currently being developed, with Andrew Garrett as the lead developer.

== User documentation ==
To activate LiquidThreads on a specific page on a wiki where LiquidThreads is ''opt-in'', add 
 <tt><nowiki>{{#useliquidthreads:1}}</nowiki></tt> 
to the page's source code. To deactivate LiquidThreads on a specific page on a wiki where LiquidThreads is ''opt-out'' add 
 <tt><nowiki>{{#useliquidthreads:0}}</nowiki></tt> 
to the page's source code.

* '''[[/FAQ|FAQ]]''' and
* '''[[Help:Extension:LiquidThreads|Extension help]]''' page. 
Comprehensive user documentation will be developed when LiquidThreads has a finalised (or remotely stable) interface.

==Rationale==
Wiki discussion pages have some advantages over web and Usenet forums. They allow use of the entire wiki syntax - from images to wiki links to transclusion. It is possible to refactor entire discussion pages.

Web forums offer a number of advantages over the MediaWiki talk page model:
*Threads can be displayed in different views: flat, nested, sorted by date, subject, etc.
*The user only needs to click a "Reply" button or link in order to respond to a comment. Manual indentation is not required. Quotations from the source comment can be inserted automatically.
*Comments are automatically signed and dated. 
* Avatars are [[/Avatar storage|possible]]. (but not yet created)
*The user can watch individual threads or be notified about responses in threads.
*Comments and threads can be displayed individually, without the surrounding page.
*Old comments are archived automatically and invisibly, with permanent links easily available.
*Search for author, subject, date, etc. is possible
*Individual threads can have categories.
*It is relatively easy to manage related discussions in a subject-specific forum, whereas MediaWiki talk pages always follow the "one discussion page per subject page" model.

LiquidThreads aims to unite the advantages of both forum types, and to add some unique discussion features to boot.
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