Software for structured knowledge.
THE OPTIONS
- MediaWiki: powerful, the software behind the largest wikis, and heavy
- DokuWiki: file-based with no database, simple and light
- BookStack: structured documentation, friendly interface
Static site generators, for documentation maintained by technical authors
DOKUWIKI
Worth considering specifically because it needs no database. Content is plain files, which makes backup and migration trivial.
Suits small internal documentation well.
MEDIAWIKI
Capable and demanding. Justified for a large collaborative wiki, excessive for internal notes.
BOOKSTACK
A reasonable middle: structured into books and chapters, easy to use, needs a database.
CHOOSING
For a handful of internal pages, a wiki may be more than you need. A protected directory with markdown files, or pages on your existing site, may serve.
ACCESS CONTROL
Decide early who can read and who can edit. Retrofitting permissions onto an open wiki is awkward.
BACKUPS
Documentation is frequently the thing nobody backs up and everybody assumes exists.
