This document compares the wiki collaboration platform XWiki to Confluence and Sharepoint. It outlines XWiki's main differentiators as being open source and community-based development, high configurability directly in the wiki, and structured data as a built-in feature. It discusses XWiki's open source nature, extensive customizability options through UI extensions and configurations, built-in structured data capabilities, and ability for non-developers to create simple applications. Feedback from users praises XWiki's functionality, extensive extensions, flexibility, active community, and quality over other wiki systems like Confluence.

1. XWiki
Wiki Collaboration as an alternative to
Confluence or Sharepoint
Vincent Massol, December 2017

2. Main differentiators
• XWiki:
• Open source and community-based development
• Highly configurable (can be done in the wiki directly)
• Structured data as a built-in feature
• Ability for non-developers to create small applications

3. X
W
I
K
I

4. Open Source
Reduced lock-in
XWiki: Community-based dev (own Governance)
Lots of add-ons
Community Support
Ability to make
modifications
(and fix issues)
No license cost but must
contribute in exchange
(code, finance)

5. Configurability - UI

6. Configurability - Themes

7. Configurability - Skin
Can be done on
filesystem or in
wiki pages!

8. Configurability - UIXP
Allow to
augment the
UI without
touching the
skin
(21 so far)

9. Configurability - UIXP

10. Configurability - Architect.
Component-based development
Any part of XWiki can be
modified
Attachments
saved in S3
In-house
permission
system
Custom
Search
Server
Example

11. Configurability - Extensions
• Forum
• Meeting
Manager
• Calendar
• Publication
Workflow
• FAQ

12. Structured Data
Structure
defined in a
wiki page!
And view
and edit
displayers
too!

13. Structured Data
Act on the
data, e.g.
Filtered live
table

14. Creating your Apps
Easily create
small applications
Wizard to get
started
Non-developers
can use it for
simple apps

15. Creating your Apps
For more complex apps, benefit from all the APIs

16. If there’s only one thing
to remember
XWiki is the perfect wiki whenever you need a
collaborative web site fitting your custom needs.
Standard
wiki
Custom
collab. site
Start Evolve to, when needed

17. Feedbacks
I looked at a number of wiki projects to use at work (we are replacing mediawiki) and XWiki was easily
ahead of the others. It also won out over Confluence which I guess many people would see as the class-
leading "enterprise wiki".
10+ years of experience w/ @confluence & I must say, I'm hard pressed to find anything that I need there,
that @XWiki does not provide.
Overall
* Comparable in functionality to Confluence
* Vast set of extensions
* Flexible and mature extension APIs
* Active and responsive community
* Written in most popular programming language: Java
* Healthy project architecture and development process
* Focus on quality
We have used several opensource wiki systems, but in terms of ease of configuration, support and
functionality - XWiki is the ultimate winner
I've been looking for an open source wiki with rich text editing. In some ways it's the OpenOffice
replacement for Sharepoint.

18. Q&A
Me

19. Vincent Massol
vincent@xwiki.com
skype: vmassol
http://about.me/vmassol
http://xwiki.org
http://xwiki.com