Hi Rich, I have not used the extension, but just want to provide some archive links in case you're not aware of them.
The Internet Archive has a snapshot of the R Extension for MediaWiki page (the first "R" link in the MediaWiki URL you sent). The most recent non-404 snapshot is from Oct 8, 2017: https://web.archive.org/web/20171008070533/https://mars.wiwi.hu-berlin.de/mediawiki/sk/index.php/R_Extension_for_MediaWiki That page in turn links to the R-sig-mediawiki mailing list, which was active from August 2006 to December 2008: https://web.archive.org/web/20110924042440/https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-sig-mediawiki/. It seems that the messages sent to the list weren't saved with the capture. Regards, Jeff On Thu, Jan 1, 2026 at 3:36 AM Evans, Richard K. (GRC-H000) via R-help <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Spencer, > > Please see my previous response. > Thank you and Happy New Year. > > Cheers! > /Rich > > -----Original Message----- > From: Spencer Graves <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2025 1:41 PM > To: Evans, Richard K. (GRC-H000) <[email protected]>; > [email protected] > Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] [BULK] Re: [R] R integration for MediaWiki > > CAUTION: This email originated from outside of NASA. Please take care when > clicking links or opening attachments. Use the "Report Message" button to > report suspicious messages to the NASA SOC. > > > > > Hi, Rich: > > > Thanks for the detail. > > > Have you tried to use MediaWiki Extension:Chart?[3] > > > It looks to me like it already works. It includes a few examples including > some in Wikimedia Commons "Category:Data:Examples.chart".[4] > That page includes a "Discussion" page, where you could lobby for > resurrecting MediaWiki "Extension:R". > > > I'm guessing that they decided NOT to maintain it, because it had been > available for years, and was used so little, the MediaWiki management could > not justify the cost of maintaining it. > > > If it has been used in an internal NASA Wiki, you might be able to find > someone inside NASA capable of making it work locally. If so, then you could > offer the new code to MediaWiki with documentation on why it's valuable and > how to use it. I could help you develop post tutorials to an internal NASA > Wiki on how to use it. Then if MediaWiki executives agree to maintain it > after you have it work, I will happily help you port the tutorials to > Wikiversity ;-) > > > sg > > > [3] MediaWiki "Extension:Chart" > > > https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Chart > > > [4] Wikimedia Commons "Category:Data:Examples.chart" > > > https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Data:Examples.chart > > > [5] If you have a WMF account, you can open your "Sandbox" by clicking "here" > in: > > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About_the_sandbox > > > On 12/31/25 09:19, Evans, Richard K. (GRC-H000) wrote: > > Hi Spencer, > > > > Important distinction --> Mediawiki is "software", Wikipedia is a "Project". > > > > I assure you I am NOT proposing automatically updated plots in Wikipedia > > without an intermediate human check. Quite the opposite. > > > > For context, the Wikimedia Foundation (aka the WMF, the owner/developer of > > MediaWiki and owner/operator of Wikipedia) had until recently an extension > > called "Graph" that they developed for the exact purpose of generating > > charts within Wikipedia pages from data in those same pages.. The extension > > has been hugely popular among the many 3rd-party users of Mediawiki like > > myself. Earlier this year the WMF discontinued the Graph extension and is > > in the process of transitioning to a new conceived replacement extension > > called "Charts" that aims at doing the same thing as "Graph", but with > > greater granular control over the of the data and plot configurations of > > plots used in WMF projects like Wikipedia. > > > > My current interest in the old "R" extension for MediaWiki is now motivated > > by the fact that - the WMF developing a "chart rendering microservice" as a > > prerequisite to using the Charts extension that must be installed on every > > wiki seeking to use "Charts" in order for the charts extension to pass data > > to it and get back the chart generated by the chart generator service > > (sound familiar? *cough* "R"). > > > > In my opinion, the WMF and the mediawiki community are re-inventing the > > wheel for lack of awareness that the wheel already exists in the form of > > the "R" project. I think the data visualization capability of the Charts > > extension could be vastly increased and availability accelerated if the > > community would simply utilize "R" as a chart generating service, rather > > than build one from scratch that will take years to do what R does today. > > All that said. If I can get a working example of what the "R" extension > > provided as recently as 5 years ago, I think I can "show them" what is > > possible in R today. > > > > Final context - In the same way that it is already a normal practice to use > > "ImageMagick" as a microservice for generating thumbnails and other size > > variations of images, I think "R" would be the perfect microservice for > > charts. > > > > This is an opportunity I don't want the MediaWIki community to miss out on. > > > > If we miss this opportunity, the entire community of 3rd party users of > > Mediawiki that have *nothing* to do with Wikipedia or the Wikimedia > > Foundation will be forced to use the WMF developed and maintained "chart > > generator" microservice that will likely never do anything that the > > 3rd-party community needs. > > > > Sorry for the long reply. I did not have time to write a shorter one. > > > > Cheers! > > /Rich > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Spencer Graves <[email protected]> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2025 1:22 PM > > To: Evans, Richard K. (GRC-H000) <[email protected]>; > > [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] [BULK] Re: [R] R integration for MediaWiki > > > > CAUTION: This email originated from outside of NASA. Please take care when > > clicking links or opening attachments. Use the "Report Message" button to > > report suspicious messages to the NASA SOC. > > > > > > > > > > Hi, Rich: > > > > > > I would not recommend automatically updated plots in Wikipedia without an > > intermediate human check, though you might do it for, e.g., a corporate > > Wiki that uses the MediaWiki software. > > > > > > However, you should be able to > > > > > > git clone > > https://gith/ > > ub.com%2Fsigbertklinke%2FR&data=05%7C02%7Crichard.k.evans%40nasa.gov%7 > > C9be1ddbfe83a4937cff308de489c3741%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b%7 > > C0%7C0%7C639028033073496651%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOn > > RydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3 > > D%3D%7C40000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=du2jg5fHqX8o27Oty6kQYo41bC%2FIUz6tNC25rtvP > > IjA%3D&reserved=0 > > > > > > Then create your own version to do what you want and offer it as a > > replacement for > > "https://www.mediawiki.org/w/index.php?title=Extension:R&oldid=4384988";. > > > > > > Of course, if you are the only user, you may not want to invest the time > > required to do that. > > > > > > sg > > > > > > On 12/30/25 12:11, Evans, Richard K. (GRC-H000) wrote: > >> Hi Spencer, > >> > >> Thanks for the quick reply. Iiuc, what you are describing is the ability > >> to document R code in MediaWiki pages with R specific syntax highlighting. > >> This is provided by MediWiki's "SyntaxHighlight" extension, which provides > >> that language specific syntax highlighting for many different programing > >> languages, including R. > >> > >> What I'm looking for, and info on anything people might still be using to > >> do what the MediaWiki R Extension did way back when it was available. > >> Specifically, it actually processed R code when the page is saved and > >> delivered a limited type of output (presumably a single plot output) back > >> to the wiki for viewing. > >> > >> /Rich > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Spencer Graves <[email protected]> > >> Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2025 9:09 AM > >> To: Evans, Richard K. (GRC-H000) <[email protected]>; > >> [email protected] > >> Subject: [EXTERNAL] [BULK] Re: [R] R integration for MediaWiki > >> > >> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of NASA. Please take care > >> when clicking links or opening attachments. Use the "Report Message" > >> button to report suspicious messages to the NASA SOC. > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Hi, Rich: > >> > >> > >> I have NOT used that, but I have R Markdown code in appendices to article > >> on Wikiversity under "Category:R Markdown vignettes".[1] In addition to > >> ending with "[[Category:R Markdown vignettes]]", I set all code from > >> vignettes between "<syntaxhighlight lang="text">" and "</syntaxhighlight>". > >> > >> > >> I do not know if this is of interest to you or anyone else. > >> > >> > >> Best Wishes, Spencer Graves > >> > >> > >> p.s. I am actively developing "MaddisonData" and "WID" packages on > >> GitHub,[2] which facilitate analysis of data from the Maddison Data > >> Project and the World Inequality Database. I am NOT and economist and > >> could use collaborators who could help get articles using these packages > >> published in appropriate refereed academic journals, in exchange for joint > >> authorship, of course. > >> > >> > >> [1] Wikiversity, "Category:R Markdown vignettes": > >> > >> > >> https://en/. > >> w%2F&data=05%7C02%7Crichard.k.evans%40nasa.gov%7C9be1ddbfe83a4937cff3 > >> 08de489c3741%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b%7C0%7C0%7C63902803307 > >> 3530937%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuM > >> DAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C40000%7C%7C > >> %7C&sdata=HpO5A%2BXBw1EsUNwVKyJjk2Z9HEev3S7tzMu%2FjJZ0aJg%3D&reserved > >> =0 > >> ikiversity.org%2Fwiki%2FCategory%3AR_Markdown_vignettes&data=05%7C02% > >> 7 > >> Crichard.k.evans%40nasa.gov%7C73944dcc1b0b485af28508de47d05f35%7C7005 > >> d > >> 45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b%7C0%7C0%7C639027157440213623%7CUnknown%7C > >> T > >> WFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMi > >> I > >> sIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ou6MFbWGX%2BoJvK > >> J > >> 9vHi6ockbywGygFEuUT0L5ROWNMw%3D&reserved=0 > >> > >> > >> [2] I'm "sbgraves237" on GitHub: > >> > >> > >> https://gith/ > >> ub.com%2Fsbgraves237&data=05%7C02%7Crichard.k.evans%40nasa.gov%7C7394 > >> 4 > >> dcc1b0b485af28508de47d05f35%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b%7C0%7C > >> 0 > >> %7C639027157440230389%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWU > >> s > >> IlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D% > >> 7 > >> C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5qkfRSb6mQr4xrgDaNtTB%2BL8RvJHa8ZmJTR11o%2FxMaY%3D& > >> r > >> eserved=0 > >> > >> > >> I'm especially interested in collaborators for "MaddisonData": > >> > >> > >> https://gith/ > >> ub.com%2Fsbgraves237%2FMaddisonData&data=05%7C02%7Crichard.k.evans%40 > >> n > >> asa.gov%7C73944dcc1b0b485af28508de47d05f35%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43d > >> a > >> 96dd17b%7C0%7C0%7C639027157440247039%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0 > >> e > >> U1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIl > >> d > >> UIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xyb3%2BlpV2mnfWksAycjazpIXZIN2O1DN4z > >> 8 > >> hRMWGwhw%3D&reserved=0 > >> > >> > >> and "WID": > >> > >> > >> https://gith/ > >> ub.com%2Fsbgraves237%2FWID&data=05%7C02%7Crichard.k.evans%40nasa.gov% > >> 7 > >> C73944dcc1b0b485af28508de47d05f35%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b% > >> 7 > >> C0%7C0%7C639027157440263546%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiO > >> n > >> RydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ% > >> 3 > >> D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=qLVv5oD9lh4wpKQSPQ1oFc9G6m%2FChFKQLLTC1CWZFJQ > >> % > >> 3D&reserved=0 > >> > >> > >> On 12/30/25 07:13, Evans, Richard K. (GRC-H000) via R-help wrote: > >>> Hello, > >>> I am interested in finding out if there re any active projects that > >>> provide R integration to MediaWiki. From 2006 to 2016 there was an > >>> extension for MediaWiki called "R". > >>> > >>> Ref: > >>> https://www/. > >>> mediawiki.org%2Fw%2Findex.php%3Ftitle%3DExtension%3AR%26oldid%3D4384 > >>> 9 > >>> 8 > >>> 8&data=05%7C02%7Crichard.k.evans%40nasa.gov%7Cf1b1a608cffd436563ff08 > >>> d > >>> e > >>> 47acfc67%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b%7C0%7C0%7C63902700547275 > >>> 5 > >>> 7 > >>> 89%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwM > >>> C > >>> I > >>> sIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata > >>> = > >>> % > >>> 2BMJLPhrGBqIRO4OBQcBNTQEaTL1mdS4ouEuuGvOPAmM%3D&reserved=0 > >>> > >>> If anyone is still using this extension or knows of something similar. > >>> Please let me know. > >>> > >>> Thank you, > >>> /Rich > >>> > >>> ______________________________________________ > >>> [email protected] mailing list -- To UNSUBSCRIBE and more, see > >>> https://stat/ > >>> .ethz.ch%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fr-help&data=05%7C02%7Crichard.k.evan > >>> s > >>> % > >>> 40nasa.gov%7Cf1b1a608cffd436563ff08de47acfc67%7C7005d45845be48ae8140 > >>> d > >>> 4 > >>> 3da96dd17b%7C0%7C0%7C639027005472775419%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJF > >>> b > >>> X > >>> B0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbC > >>> I > >>> s > >>> IldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1aX58RPhCikYMIAoQwnIFgH3wtLvuZxK > >>> V > >>> s > >>> %2FOwLlreH4%3D&reserved=0 PLEASE do read the posting guide > >>> https://www/. > >>> r-project.org%2Fposting-guide.html&data=05%7C02%7Crichard.k.evans%40 > >>> n > >>> a > >>> sa.gov%7Cf1b1a608cffd436563ff08de47acfc67%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43d > >>> a > >>> 9 > >>> 6dd17b%7C0%7C0%7C639027005472793342%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0 > >>> e > >>> U > >>> 1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIl > >>> d > >>> U > >>> IjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4Kyv8a4a%2BFUod4738p6OBHZ3zhnMADONQH > >>> H > >>> e > >>> 0xxHYxo%3D&reserved=0 and provide commented, minimal, > >>> self-contained, reproducible code. > >> > > > > ______________________________________________ > [email protected] mailing list -- To UNSUBSCRIBE and more, see > https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > PLEASE do read the posting guide https://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html > and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code. ______________________________________________ [email protected] mailing list -- To UNSUBSCRIBE and more, see https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide https://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
