XLAG

XLAG is a software library developed by the Wikimedia Foundation, designed to improve the performance and scalability of MediaWiki, the platform that powers Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. The primary goal of XLAG is to reduce the load on the database by caching recent changes and other frequently accessed data in memory. This caching mechanism helps to minimize the number of database queries, thereby speeding up the response times for users and reducing the overall load on the database servers.

XLAG was introduced as part of the Wikimedia Foundation's efforts to enhance the performance of MediaWiki, particularly in high-traffic environments. By caching data in memory, XLAG helps to mitigate the impact of high traffic spikes and ensures that the platform remains responsive even under heavy load. The library is designed to be highly configurable, allowing administrators to tailor the caching behavior to the specific needs of their wiki.

One of the key features of XLAG is its ability to cache recent changes, which are a critical component of many MediaWiki features, including the Recent Changes page and the watchlist. By caching these changes in memory, XLAG can significantly reduce the number of database queries required to retrieve this information, leading to faster page load times and a smoother user experience.

XLAG is an open-source project, and its source code is available on the Wikimedia GitHub repository. The library is actively maintained by the Wikimedia Foundation and the community, with contributions from developers around the world. As part of the broader Wikimedia technology stack, XLAG plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and performance of MediaWiki, making it an essential tool for wiki administrators and developers.