User:AHeneen/Sandbox/Template Requests

Draft policy This is a draft by User:AHeneen for the page Wikivoyage:Template proposals (which is relevant to the discussion at Wikivoyage_talk:Using_Mediawiki_templates#Changing how we handle new templates, where it was suggested in some of the comments).

Wikivoyage uses Mediawiki templates in some cases where having a consistent style and/or wording are important, to add a feature to a page which requires lengthy or complicated code, to allow editors to easily add text that is then formatted by code, and to allow the collection of metadata.

Templates in use on Wikivoyage should be easy for new editors and those unfamiliar with code to use, not pose troublesome when content is transferred to other formats (such as PDF), retain proper attribution, and should be easy to maintain. Having numerous templates performing the same or very similar functions can be confusing and counter-productive.

For these reasons, it is necessary for the community to approve the use of Mediawiki templates before their widespread use. Not all situations merit a Mediawiki template and when adding a new template, the community should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of its use.

Proposing new Mediawiki templates

When a situation would be best handled with the use of a template for transcluded text or formatting, a proposal should be made on this page prior to creating a new template or importing an existing Mediawiki template and putting it into widespread use.

Importing new Mediawiki templates

Mediawiki templates should be discussed prior to their import on Wikivoyage. In some instances, a user may wish to demonstrate a template's use in particular situations prior to its approval for general use. Keep in mind that templates should not perform identical or very similar functions to an existing template. A list of templates available on Wikivoyage is found at Wikivoyage:Template index.

New Mediawiki templates must include the documentation template to document their use. The importer may also wish to discuss the usages, limitations, best practices, and any other issues on the imported template's talk page.

Mediawiki templates which are imported without community approval for widespread use must be tagged with the "Experimental" template. The Experimental template serves the purpose of categorizing templates that lack community approval (for maintenance purposes) and making clear to potential users that the unapproved template may not be used. The experimental template may not be removed from a proposed Mediawiki template until there is a community consensus to do so.