https://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=45630
Web browser: ---
Bug ID: 45630
Summary: Alternate input method for ApiSandbox
Product: MediaWiki extensions
Version: unspecified
Hardware: All
URL: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:ApiSandbox
OS: All
Status: NEW
Severity: enhancement
Priority: Unprioritized
Component: ApiSandbox
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
CC: [email protected], [email protected]
Classification: Unclassified
Mobile Platform: ---
https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:ApiSandbox
The current input implementation for ApiSandbox is a big form with drop-down
menus and checkboxes and text input areas. This is a fine approach, but the
form has some drawbacks:
(1) the form itself is terribly large and overwhelming;
(2) sometimes URL parameters can be weird and accept multiple input values
separated by a pipe ("|"), which can be awkward with certain interface elements
such as drop-down menus (cf. bug 38787); and
(3) the current input method separates the user from the API in kind of a weird
way.
By point 3, I mean that I think there's something to be said for making the
user type in some of these values (as opposed to using drop-down menus and
checkboxes and such) in order to "manually" build a URL string. Compare with
tools such as <http://www.codecademy.com>, which take a similar approach.
I'm proposing a separate (an additional) input method for ApiSandbox that looks
like a large textarea, but comes with keyword suggestions (similar to Gerrit's
search bar) and tab-completion.
It's less hand-holding, of course, but I suppose it depends who the primary
audience of ApiSandbox is or what its primary purpose is. To me, if it's aimed
at developers, coders, et al., I think making them type things out is better
for learning and understanding the MediaWiki API. Plus this textarea approach
is much more flexible, of course, allowing users to more easily create
pipe-separated values and such.
Feel free to wontfix this bug if you think it's a stupid or terrible idea,
otherwise it seems like a reasonable enhancement request to me.
--
You are receiving this mail because:
You are the assignee for the bug.
You are watching all bug changes.
_______________________________________________
Wikibugs-l mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikibugs-l
