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Provide a community consensus which was used to deploy extension RealMe to production or obtain one retrospectively
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Description

In T324535, extension RealMe was deployed to production. Normally the communities need to follow the https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Requesting_wiki_configuration_changes process to get an extension enabled. If one doesn't usually the task will be stalled until there was such consensus. In this case though it seems that the process was not followed for some reason and the extension was deployed.

The extension seems to serve a very narrow subset of users who use the Mastodon social media. For example by my estimation probably only up to 10 users on Ukrainian Wikipedia are likely to be Mastodon users, out of over 3000 active users the Ukrainian Wikipedia has. I am not sure the extension would find its support if there was a proposal to enable it (perhaps it would, I don't have a crystal ball, but I don't believe there was a chance to have a say).

Thus at least retrospectively I believe it would be a good idea to see if there is a community support for the change which has now cluttered the preferences (see also T341331). If there is no consensus *to keep it enabled* on some wikis, then it should be undeployed from those wikis. If there was however such consensus obtained somewhere already, it should be mentioned somewhere. The closest thing to it I find is T322717, but it has no on wiki consensus mentioned.

Event Timeline

@Base: Hi, which specific aspects bother(ed) you about this extension being deployed on Wikimedia sites? An additional setting being shown on Special:Preferences? Future software maintenance costs? That you would have preferred to be asked to provide input before deploying this software change? Something else?

Normally the communities need to follow the https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Requesting_wiki_configuration_changes process to get an extension enabled.

I don't think that a community requested enabling an extension in this case, thus this wiki page does not seem relevant here?

I mean, there were obviously a number of people who want to be able to verify their Mastodon, etc. accounts even if they didn't all gather in one place and write {{support}} on a wiki page. Agreed with what @Aklapper asked, what exactly did/do you want to see happen?

While I personally support the extension, procedurally, there should have been a concrete, publicized discussion for users to comment on. The informal consensus mentioned is not in-line with Wikimedia norms. Per the page @Aklapper linked to:

On-wiki consultations [should] take place to make decisions about ... new products

In T341333#8999528, @EpicPupper wrote:

While I personally support the extension, procedurally, there should have been a concrete, publicized discussion for users to comment on. The informal consensus mentioned is not in-line with Wikimedia norms. Per the page @Aklapper linked to:

On-wiki consultations [should] take place to make decisions about ... new products

Is this a product? Seems a pretty wide interpretation of the term ‘product’.

Also in terms of config changes and ‘enabling’ an extension… this procedure mostly refers to communities who want to deviate from whatever the standard is. And yes the standard sometimes changes without their input.

MOST extensions that are enabled, NEVER had a discussion either, syntaxhighlight, centralautb, math, 2nd factor auth, oauth, gadgets, linter etc etc

When the extension is of sufficient quality, was reviewed, is supportable, within the mission, useful, and when developers and wmf are in agreement in phabricator, then, as long as it is not super disruptive, things generally get deployed.

If a community wants to opt out (aka a configuration change), they can hold their own rfc and subsequently request to deviate from the standard (within certain boundaries).

Having said this, perhaps a better UX design is possible, ideas are always welcome.

No replies to previous questions, thus declining for the time being.

I am getting tired being bullied by paid staff. I will reply when I have time, that might be in 5 years.

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