TWikis

TWikis are instances of the TWiki platform, an open-source enterprise wiki system designed for collaborative content creation and knowledge management. A TWiki installation organizes information into topics, grouped into webs. Topics are edited in a web browser, linked through internal hyperlinks, and kept up to date with a revision history and access controls.

Key features include topic-centric organization, a flexible permission model based on user groups and ACLs, and a plug-in architecture that can extend editing, formatting, and data integration. The built-in markup language, TWiki syntax, supports macros to render dynamic content, embed forms, and pull data from external sources. Attachments are stored in the data directory, and search, notifications, and page history support collaborative workflows.

Technical architecture: TWiki is written in Perl and runs on Unix-like systems and Windows. It can be deployed as CGI or mod_perl to optimize performance. Content is stored as plain text files in a data/ directory, with each topic represented by a text file; plugins and database-like features are provided via a comprehensive API. The system can be customized with templates and skins to suit organizational branding.

History and usage: TWiki originated in the late 1990s as an open-source knowledge-management platform and has since evolved through multiple major releases. It has been adopted by many organizations for project wikis, knowledge bases, software documentation, and collaborative workspaces, particularly where a structured, text-centric approach and a rich plugin ecosystem are valued.

Licensing and development status: TWiki remains open-source, released under the TWiki Public License, with ongoing community contributions and commercial support options. Active development continues, focusing on security hardening, plugin ecosystem growth, and interoperability with other tools.