My Experience at the Indic Wikimedia Mini-Hackathon 2024, Guwahati

Participant Group Photo at the Indic Wikimedia Mini-Hackathon 2024, Guwahati. CC BY-SA 4.0, by Jnanaranjan Sahu.

Hi everyone!

I’m Balaji, known as Balajijagadesh on Wikimedia. I recently had the pleasure of participating in the Indic Wikimedia Mini-Hackathon 2024, held in the vibrant city of Guwahati. This event was a hub for collaboration, learning, and innovation, bringing together contributors passionate about advancing Indic-language Wikimedia projects.

The event's details can be found on its Meta page, and detailed notes from our sessions are available on Etherpad.

My Contributions

As a technical contributor, I worked on several exciting projects during the hackathon:

1. Source Translation Tool

One of the most impactful collaborations I was involved in was with Jnanaranjan Sahu. Together, we conceptualized and refined the Source Translation Tool.

• About the Tool: This tool simplifies translating text from one language to another directly within Wikimedia projects, focusing on source material like books and manuscripts. It integrates with translation APIs and Wikimedia data, making it easier for contributors to work on multilingual content.
• My Role: I contributed ideas and shared insights on improving the tool's functionality, ensuring its practicality for contributors working with Indic languages.

2. Fixing Floating Navigation Buttons

On Tamil Wikisource, the Floatingbutton.js script had issues with its navigation buttons.

• The Issue: The buttons weren’t functioning as expected, affecting the script's usability.
• Resolution: With support from Jnanaranjan Sahu, Gopavasanth, and Jayprakash12345, we debugged the script and deployed a fix, restoring its functionality.

3. Indic OCR Tool

The Indic OCR tool, a critical resource for digitizing Indic-language texts, encountered technical challenges.

• The Problem: The tool wasn’t working as intended, causing disruptions in workflows for Wikimedians digitizing scanned content.
• Resolution: I raised the issue during the hackathon, and with timely assistance from Gopavasanth and Jayprakash12345, the issue was resolved.

Contributions of Others

The hackathon showcased exceptional collaboration among participants. Here are some notable contributions from my fellow Wikimedians:

• Jnanaranjan Sahu worked on multiple tools, including refining the Source Translation Tool. His technical expertise and ability to simplify complex problems were invaluable.
• Gopavasanth played a crucial role in addressing the Indic OCR tool issue and supported other technical fixes. His hands-on debugging skills made a significant impact.
• Jayprakash12345 provided solutions to several technical challenges, including both the Floatingbutton.js script and Indic OCR tool issues. His extensive knowledge of Wikimedia infrastructure was a huge asset.

More details about the participants’ contributions can be found in the Etherpad notes.

Personal Reflections

One of the most enriching aspects of the hackathon was connecting with fellow Wikimedians from different states. Meeting old friends and forging new connections gave me a fresh perspective and renewed enthusiasm for Wikimedia projects. I was particularly inspired by the young college students who joined the hackathon. Their energy, passion, and innovative ideas for contributing to Wikimedia were truly remarkable.

On the final day, we visited the Brahmaputra Heritage Centre. This trip offered a fascinating glimpse into the region’s rich heritage and culture. It also provided a wonderful opportunity to unwind and bond with other participants on a personal level—a vital part of strengthening our Wikimedia community.

Conclusion

The Indic Wikimedia Mini-Hackathon 2024 was an unforgettable experience. It underscored the importance of collaboration, both in solving technical challenges and in building a stronger community. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to contribute and learn from such a talented and dedicated group of people.

I look forward to applying the knowledge and connections I gained to future projects. Let’s continue working together to make knowledge accessible to everyone, in every language.

Warm regards,
Balaji (User: Balajijagadesh)

Balajijagadish at the Indic Wikimedia Mini-Hackathon 2024, Guwahati. CC BY-SA 4.0, by Jnanaranjan Sahu.