## TWiki is a Web-based collaboration platform
- A TWiki site is an easy-to-use, full-featured open communications environment:
- people anywhere on the Web or on an intranet can meet
- rich Web text, images, and online multimedia are easily shared
- documents and other files can be uploaded and downloaded
- all you need is a Web browser and any available network connection
## TWiki is an UNUSUAL Web-based collaboration platform
- There's no doubt that, to most people, TWiki at first seems almost the opposite of how the Web and online communications "normally" work. Why?
- TWiki operates like a whiteboard for the Web - it lets you and all other users write, place pictures and post links, anywhere on any page.
- Not only that, everyone can EDIT anything, anywhere on a page.
- At first, this may seem "too" open - it soon becomes second-nature, allowing you the freedom to edit and update the way you want to.
## TWiki is a powerful Web enhancement...
- TWiki's parsing engine is written in Perl. It reads a text file, and converts TWiki shorthand into standard HTML, on the fly. The point is to:
- make adding and editing text simple _(How simple? Click on the **Edit** link at the bottom of the page...)_
- let you find information _fast_ ([[WebSearch]])
- TWiki provides an intuitive way for people to meet and collaborate, that aspires to the Zen ideals known as [[WabiSabi]]. It finds beauty in the imperfect and ephemeral and constantly evolving. (When it comes down to it, that's all you need.)
- TWiki is one of many [[WikiWikiClones]], based on Ward Cunningham's original [Wiki Wiki Web](http://c2.com/).
## "TWiki" stands for...
- _Wiki wiki_ means "quick" in Hawaiian. The shuttle at Honolulu Airport is called the _wiki wiki_ bus, which is where the original Wiki web got its name.
- _TWiki_ is short for _TakeFive Wiki_, the name of the company where its founder Peter Thoeny worked. (It was later discovered that _Twiki_ is also the name of an AI robot that co-starred in the [_Buck Rogers_](http://www.buck-rogers.com/) movie and TV series from 1979.)
## Selected TWiki Topics...
- [[WelcomeGuest]] is a fast track guide to TWiki
- [[TWikiSite]] provides a basic big picture overview of the TWiki platform
- [[TWikiTopics]] is a quick and concentrated look at the TWiki core
- [[TWikiPlannedFeatures]] lists approved additions to future TWiki versions.
- [[TWikiEnhancementRequests]] is the place to add your new feature requests.
- [[TWiki Documentation|Main/WebHome]]: a compact User's Guide and an in-depth Reference Manual.
- [[TWikiHistory]] puts TWiki development on a timeline
- [[WikiCulture]] looks at the unique type of collaboration Wiki systems offer.
- [[WikiReferences]] links to articles and books about collaboration and Wiki technology.
> %X% If you have to log-in to use TWiki, for example, if TWiki is running on an intranet, it automatically signs pages you edit and create with your
>
> [[WikiName]]
>
> . If your TWiki installation doesn't require a log-in, TWiki gives everyone the same username: %USERSWEB%.TWikiGuest.
## Disclaimer
- TWiki™, the TWiki logo and the "Collaborate with TWiki" tagline are trademarks of TWiki:Main.PeterThoeny - founder of TWiki.
- TWiki is developed as Free Software under the [[GNU/GPL|Main/GnuGeneralPublicLicense]]
- TWiki has its root in the GPLed JosWiki. Many thanks to Markus Peter and Dave Harris for creating JosWiki!
- TWiki's home address is
- The latest TWiki release is available from
- This site is powered by TWiki version **TWiki-4.1.2, Sat, 03 Mar 2007, build 13046**
**_Related Topics:_** [[UserDocumentationCategory]]