Elite Frontier

I like to explore new software technology and it is enjoyable to learn the mechanics and technical details inherent with new technology. However, there is the challenge of retaining as much of the knowledge gained. I think a knowledge base is mandatory, now-a-days, to keep up with the fast changing technology landscape.

Here are my basic requirements of a knowledge base engine:

• Knowledge must be difficult to destroy
• Knowledge must be transferable
• Knowledge must be easily found and easily edited

The knowledge base engine must have the following technical capabilities:

• A free form schema that self defines itself
• Free-form data entry that supports text, multimedia, and HTML
• The schema is abstracted as data that is fully editable and extensible from within the User Interface
• Reports and Search is abstracted as data that is fully editable and extensible from within the User Interface

So far the only free knowledge base that fits the above is Wagn. Wagn is a combination of a Wiki and a Database. The innovation is that the Wiki allows free form exposure of the database schema; this means this knowledge base is extremely flexible and extensible. The Wagn site explains:

One of the most exciting things about using Wagn as a database is that, unlike most databases, the public-facing website and the database are all wrapped up into one. With conventional tools you have your data structure (aka model), where you store everything, your web interface design (aka view), and a whole layer of programming to communicate between the two (aka controller). Then, if you want to change any one of them, you often have to change all three! Wagn wraps all of these into one simple organizing unit: the card.

I have Wagn set up on a Slackware instance on my VMware “beta” host. The Wagn installation serves as my personal IT knowledge base. It is customized to store various code snippets and server administration procedures as well as little bits of knowledge that is tactically useful for solving interesting but esoteric software/system problems.