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The AskMonty Knowledgebase is a repository for all [[mariadb|MariaDB]] related information
as well as information about MySQL(R).
Anyone can start contributing right away by either [[https://kb.askmonty.org/user/register/|registering]] for a new account by logging in with an existing [[https://kb.askmonty.org/user/login|OpenID]]. Once you are logged in you can ask questions, edit pages, or create new pages. See the [[https://kb.askmonty.org/v/about-the-askmontyorg-knowledgebase#how-it-works|How it Works]] section (below) to get started.
== Purpose
The AskMonty Knowledgebase exists to document and answer frequently asked
questions (FAQs) about MariaDB and MySQL.
The Knowledgebase serves as the primary documentation for the open source
database [[mariadb|MariaDB]]. Where possible, all content is dual-licensed
under the Creative Commons By Attribution Share Alike clause, and the GFDL.
Some content (e.g. the content from the MariaDB source code and man pages) is
used and licensed under the terms of the GPLv2. <<ref>>Learn more about how
[[http://kb.askmonty.org/v/about-the-askmontyorg-knowledgebase/license/|licensing]] in the knowledgebase
works.<</ref>>
It is laid out in a tree structure. When a user has a question, they are
encouraged to navigate the Knowledgebase tree to where they think the answer
should be. If the answer is not there, the user can ask a question from that
page. If the answer exists somewhere else in the Knowledgebase, the answer to
the question is linked to the page the user went to. If the answer doesn't
exist, members of the [[community|MariaDB community]] answer it. The answer to
the user's question will then be in a good (and hopefully logical) location
ready for the next time a user visits the Knowledgebase with the same question.
The goal is for the Knowledgebase to be a replacement for Forums, Email lists
(when asking for help), a Bug system, FAQ, and the MySQL / MariaDB manual.
== Back story
Why is it called the AskMonty Knowledgebase? Quite simply this is because the
creator of the MySQL database is Michael Widenius, and his nickname for the
longest time has been Monty. So the Knowledgebase is a way to //ask// Monty
questions and get answers. Monty spends most of his time on MariaDB
development, but he takes time out from his busy schedule to answer questions
and write articles here. Other Monty Program developers also contribute to the
Knowledgebase on a regular basis.
== Implementation
The KB is written in Django with a MariaDB backend. The KB code is planned to
be released as GPL as soon as it's stabilizes.
== Contributing
The [[contributing-to-the-askmonty-knowledgebase|Contributing to the AskMonty Knowledgebase]] page has information on how you can help make this Knowledgebase better.
Contribution statistics from all users can be viewed here: http://kb.askmonty.org/stats/users/
== Notes
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