About this, see https://design.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Proposal/RichEditorRealtimeEditing and feel free to add ideas there. Thx!
Up and running! XWiki Installations Statistics is nicely and freely available now. Thanks!
Indeed, it was fixed yesterday!
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Today, I updated XWiki Debian 15.10.1 from 15.10 on an Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS server. I reached this version from 15.8, as far as I remember. All ran smoothly. Installation and updates using Debian packages is a game changer.
Indeed, I’m still catching up with changes and new features after years of not using XWiki. I’ve not done any customization, but installing from XWiki’s repository using APT is excellent.
My problem now is that my organization uses AlmaLinux as a standard for computing systems. I now have another installation running on AlmaLinux 9.3, and I’m struggling to redraw my former update process.
It would be great to see XWiki in AlmaLinux repositories soon! Snap could also be an alternative.
Thank you so much for this great piece of software!
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There was an experiment on this as part of the GSOC, but it’s currently a bit hard to have a snap package for a server relying on a database like MySQL/MariaDB or Postgres.
I feel like it’s simpler to use docker (there is an official XWiki image on Docker Hub). After all, it’s pretty much the same idea (isolation through containers), but there is a lot more tooling in the Docker ecosystem for server oriented applications.
I’m feeling lost trying to understand the implications of using such an ever-growing number of virtualization and containerization tools, mainly on performance, security, and resource starvation. Now that I am happily learning how and why to use Podman and Snap on AlmaLinux, I must consider starting to use Docker on the same platform! It will be too much for me 
!
I will concentrate on solving some doubts about customizing and integrating XWiki into my current workflow by playing with the Ubuntu XWiki instance before trying to move it to AlmaLinux.
As Docker gains momentum, would moving the whole XWiki development to that environment be more straightforward?
Being a fresh addition to the community, I’d love to share my experiences with the initial setup and user onboarding. This year has marked a significant improvement in the launch and setup process compared to my last encounter in the realm of XWiki back in 2019. (I did not get to a usable state in my attempt back then)
initial setup
Setting up XWiki as a relatively tech-savvy user has become notably smoother. The default themes and models provide a commendable starting point, but there’s room for enhancement, especially when it comes to attracting new users.
The concept of ‘wikis’ and how to set up templates might be a tad perplexing out of the box. It would be helpful, especially for those crafting XWikis around specific subjects or goals, to have a single wiki with a default homepage or the option for one. A wizard guiding new users through the setup of default and ‘folder pages’ can go a long way in demystifying the initial stages. Here’s a sneak peek into what I envision as a ‘folder page’: (Apologies for the Dutch!)
basically a page (similiar to the appwithinminute main page) that tracks some information of the pages underneath it (short summary, child pages, acitivity… and a velocity script that tracks empty links as ‘subjects to write pages on’ (which I will gladly share if it helps anyone)
Usability
Kudos to the recent additions of /, [, and img:: quick command options! These are I think strides in the right direction for usability, making it easier for new users to craft simple pages seamlessly. However, if anything I think how copy pasting layouts works can benefit from some attention:
From what I’ve seen new users tend to copy-paste content directly from websites or various files (Word, PDF, etc.). It’s not immediately evident to them that this action copies (html) layouts as well, leading to somewhat chaotic pages. A gentle nudge - something that prunes the layout or clearer instructions (a pop up perhaps?) could streamline this process.
Just some initial general thoughts… I know I’ve become a big fan of xwiki and haven’t regretted setting it up since… I’m sure the above will help making it an even more interesting product.
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Updated today to 15.10.2: all ran smoothly!
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