Last modified: 2011-11-29 19:18:22 UTC
The idea is to give to contributers if they want to, the ability to use a simple spell checker, in order to give more credibility to wikipedia. The idea is to make the configuration file of such tools in wiki so that it could be updated and enhanced easily for all languages
I have wrote a plug in that fits nicely with Mediawiki. The concept was to not make it solely work with MediaWiki, but a more centralized Spell Checking service that can tie in easily with any number of apps. Take a look at http://mcintosh.cjb.net/wiki/index.php/Spell_Checker for more information, and to see it in action.
*** Bug 3417 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
LQWiki also has a spell checker: http://wiki.linuxquestions.org They're using version 1.4.9 but in the past when I've asked them they've been willing to cooperate and put that in the main distro as an option if someone is willing to work with them.
I think that the spell checker that design only for MediaWiki is bad idea. Better idea is configuration file that link the MediaWiki into a site of checking. The configuration file is necessary because the spell checkers of English aren't working for others language like Hebrew.
I have added a mediawiki extension to Chris McIntosh's base code. His code is pretty universal and the only Mediawiki-specific component is the one I made. I had to add a hook to EditPage.php but all that is in the package's README file. The extension package is at: http://rubinium.org/downloads/mw_spellcheckext-0.5.zip This does not preclude a clientside spell checker and does not use more bandwidth than people do using the preview function.
It's getting to the point where it's hard not to find a non-Stone Age browser without spell checking. Also, using those instead lightens load on the servers. I suppose someone can write an extension if they want, but it really wouldn't likely be to helpful. Certainly, I can't see much use going in the core code.
I always like the US anglo centric view which tells that if you got it in english on your desktop everyone has... There is more than 250 different languages and I don't think that there is such tools in those languages More than that, it could be a parallel project to update such extension with wikipedia content If your problem is to say that it is of high loads on the server : 1) first give some figures to demonstrate this assertion 2) if it is really a problem then we can think of a javascript extension or whatever. The problem will still remain : the dictionnaries do not exists for whatever language So please, don't make this unlogical decision to simply wontfix this problem Thanks for that
You know what would be *very* nifty in theory, but in practice, probably awkward? Spell checking using Wiktionaries. I mean, that's what free information's for, right? I agree with Aaron that most modern browsers implement, or have extensions for, spell checking, and often have a large number of dictionaries, although I'm not convinced that an effective extension couldn't also exist if so desired.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say WONTFIX here. Almost every browser has this implemented by now, and I can't see us doing any better ourselves.
