Last modified: 2010-05-15 15:38:06 UTC
MediaWiki has recently been updated from 1.5 to 1.5.1 and then to 1.5.2 but the UPGRADE file included with the distribution has a modification date of 5 October 2005 (prior to 1.5.1) and contains no information about those releases. It does have information about upgrading from early version to 1.5. Basically, the upgrade advice amounts to "backup, install all over again, copy over customizations". The document also says, "Run the installer to upgrade the database schema (if necessary)", but it doesn't say where the installer is, how to run it, and how to determine if it is "necessary" or not. I think that the file should be a bit clearer and also updated for each release. It should have headings like "Upgrading from 1.5.1 to 1.5.2" and "Upgrading from 1.5 to 1.5.1". There doesn't need to be a lot of information under these headings. It could even be something like: "Copy the files from the new version over the old ones. There is no need to update the database schema or run any upgrade scripts." For really minor upgrades (where only a few files change), you could write, "The following files are new for this version:..." But it would be reassuring for users if there were specific instructions for each new version and some mention of the scope of the changes. For the record, I've made my own notes for these minor upgrades. They would need to be adapted to suit other people's systems, but they work for me: * download new build * extract * read UPGRADE * copy LocalSettings.php into new install * remove config directory from new install * change ownership in new install directory (where you substitute appropriate values for your system for "root" and "apache"): chown -R root:apache . * change permissions in new install directory: chmod -R o-rwx . * move old install to ~/public_html/oldwiki (or appropriate path for your system) * move new install to ~/public_html/wiki (or appropriate path for your system) * check upgraded wiki version via web browser: http://example.com/wiki/Special:Version * remove old install directory Related bug: bug #198.
The instructions remain the same unless some major change has occurred that requires different directions.
Fair enough. I still think the instructions are woefully inadequate though.
