Ibis represents a significant shift in the realm of online encyclopedias, introducing a federated model using the ActivityPub protocol to decentralize knowledge storage and sharing. Developed by Felix “nutomic” Ableitner, Ibis aims to solve the inherent vulnerabilities and trust issues plagued by Wikipedia and similar centralized platforms. With core functionalities demonstrated in a proof of concept, Ibis has the potential to foster a network of interconnected, specialized knowledge bases, offering diverse and reliable information across various topics.
Main Points
Wikipedia scandals
Wikipedia has been embroiled in numerous scandals, diminishing its credibility.
Need for decentralized knowledge platforms
Centralized knowledge repositories are susceptible to corruption, highlighting the need for decentralized alternatives.
Introduction of Ibis
Ibis leverages federated technology to create a distributed encyclopedia, showcasing a proof of concept with major functionalities.
Potential of federated model
Ibis’s federated model allows for diverse, specialized instances, transforming the landscape of online encyclopedias.
Insights
Wikipedia's trustworthiness has been compromised by various scandals.
For example, in 2012, a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation UK was found to have used his position to prominently feature his PR client on Wikipedia’s front page multiple times. Additionally, Wikipedia’s co-founder Jimmy Wales made extensive edits to his own article, and a supposed graduate professor on the Arbitration Committee was revealed to be a college dropout.
A centralized knowledge repository like Wikipedia is vulnerable to corruption.
There have been numerous attempts to create new, centralized Wikipedia alternatives, but none have gained critical mass. This demonstrates the inherent vulnerability of relying on a single website for the world’s knowledge.
Ibis introduces a federated model for online encyclopedias, utilizing the ActivityPub protocol.
The proof of concept for Ibis, which includes core features like article creation, editing, and federated synchronization, demonstrates the potential for a distributed architecture in knowledge sharing.
The federated model could lead to diverse and specialized instances of Ibis, enhancing the richness of online knowledge.
Instances of Ibis could focus on different topics or standards, offering varied perspectives. This interconnected network allows for seamless reading and editing across instances.
Links
- corruption in Wikiland
- Wikipedia founder edits own bio
- Wikipedia professor is 24-year-old college dropout
- the rot in Wikipedia
- Lemmy
- open.ibis.wiki
- Setup_Instructions
- Github
- Matrix
- Lemmy
- Liberapay
- Bitcoin
- Monero
URL
https://ibis.wiki/article/Announcing_Ibis,_the_federated_Wikipedia_Alternative@ibis.wiki