Wikibase.cloud: a new project at Wikimedia Deutschland

On the 21st of April 2022, Wikimedia Deutschland launched its new Wikibase platform, Wikibase.cloud. This new service makes it easier than ever to create, connect and grow a linked open database. Although Wikibase.cloud is currently invite-only, we plan to open up broader access to the service in late 2022. 

Wikibase.cloud is a cloud-based platform developed by Wikimedia Deutschland to host instances of Wikibase. Wikibase is an open-source software suite for creating collaborative knowledge bases. Originally developed for Wikidata, the Wikibase project remains under active development and maintenance by the team at Wikimedia Deutschland.

Why Wikibase.cloud?

Setting up and maintaining a Wikibase instance can be time-consuming and costly and requires no small amount of technical expertise. In 2019, in response to those concerns, Adam Shorland set up WBStack.com as a gift to the Wikimedia movement. A scant two years later, at WikidataCon 2021, Wikimedia Deutschland announced our plan to develop and maintain Wikibase.cloud as a worthy successor to WBStack.com.

With Wikibase.cloud, we want to make it easier than ever to create, connect and grow a linked open database. In so doing, we aim to liberate data from silos and increase access to knowledge around the world. 

Current status and future plans for Wikibase.cloud

Engineering work on Wikibase.cloud started in late 2021. Once the platform was up and running, our first priority was to migrate WBStack.com users to Wikibase.cloud. This migration process started in April 2022; we expect to be finished migrating all users by July 2022. 

We intend to expand the service beyond WBStack.com users in late 2022. If you’re interested in receiving an invitation later this year, we encourage you to fill out this application.