The inner workings of Wikipedia (Interview)

维基百科的内部运作(访谈)

The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

2025-11-27

1 小时 48 分钟
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Let's hear how Wikipedia actually works from long-time Wikipedian, Bill Beutler! Bill has been heavily involved with this "8th wonder of the modern world" for two decades and even built a career on it, founding Beutler Ink –a digital agency known for its pioneering work in Wikipedia public relations. We discuss: the official (and not so official) rules, the editor cabal (which isn't one), the business model (which really isn't one), how an edit sticks (or not), how AI chatbots threaten the future of the site (or don't), and a whole lot more.
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  • Welcome, friends.

  • I'm Jared, and you are listening to The Change Log,

  • where each week we interview the hackers, the leaders, and the innovators of the software world.

  • We pick their brains, we learn from their failures,

  • we get inspired by their accomplishments, and we have a lot of fun along the way.

  • On this episode, we get the inner workings of Wikipedia from a longtime Wikipediaan, Bill Butler.

  • Bill has been heavily involved with this eighth wonder of the modern world for two decades and even built a career on it,

  • founding Butler Inc, a digital agency known for its pioneering work in Wikipedia public relations.

  • We discuss the official, and not so official rules,

  • the editor cabal, which isn't one, the business model,

  • which really isn't one, how an edit sticks, or not,

  • how AI chatbots threaten the future of the site, or don't.

  • and a whole lot more.

  • But first, a big thank you to our partners at Fly.io,

  • the public cloud built for developers who ship.

  • We love fly.

  • You might too.

  • Learn more at fly.io.

  • Okay, Bill Butler talking Wikipedia on the changelog.

  • Let's do it.