Editsgewijze

Editsgewijze is a Dutch term that literally translates to “edit‑wise” and is used to describe a collaborative editing methodology in which changes are introduced, reviewed, and catalogued in incremental steps. The approach is most commonly applied in wiki and digital publishing environments, where multiple contributors work on the same document or database. It emphasizes transparency by recording each individual edit along with metadata such as author, timestamp, and a brief description of the modification.

The concept emerged in the early 2000s as part of the broader movement toward open‑content platforms. Early adopters were primarily academic and technical communities that required precise version control without relying on full revision histories. By treating each edit as a distinct unit, the method allowed for rapid iteration while maintaining a clear audit trail. It also facilitated parallel editing, as different users could work on separate sections without causing merge conflicts.

In practice, an editsgewijze workflow uses simple markup or scriptable hooks that automatically generate a list of edits whenever a change is saved. Reviewers can then approve or revert specific entries. Critical features include automatic version numbering, comment integration, and rollback functionality. Because the edits are granular, organizational and editor policies can target particular types of changes, such as style updates, factual corrections, or formatting adjustments.

Critics point out that the granularity of edits can produce excessive noise, especially in large documents, making it difficult to see the overall narrative progression. Supporters argue that the precision improves accountability and simplifies compliance audits. Despite mixed opinions, the editsgewijze approach remains a valuable tool for communities that balance rapid content development with rigorous change management.