DokuWiki
DokuWiki is a simple-to-use, highly versatile open-source wiki software that doesn’t require a database. Written in PHP and licensed under GPLv2, it works on plain text files, making it incredibly lightweight and easy to deploy on virtually any web server. Since its initial release in 2004, DokuWiki has become one of the most widely used wiki engines, known for its clean syntax, extensive plugin ecosystem, and powerful built-in features.
DokuWiki’s standout advantage is its lack of database requirements — it stores everything in flat files. This makes installation as simple as unzipping a folder, and backups trivial to manage. The wiki supports revision control, access control lists, and a template system that makes customisation straightforward.
Key Features
- No database required — All content stored in plain text files. Installation only needs a web server with PHP.
- Built-in revision control — Every edit is stored, with full diff comparison between any two versions via a MediaWiki-compatible difference engine.
- Access control lists — Fine-grained user and group permissions at page and namespace level for granular security.
- Powerful plugin system — Over 1,000 plugins and templates available in the official repository for extending functionality.
- WYSIWYG editing — Optional visual editor alongside the standard wiki syntax, with support for tables, images, and embedded media.
- Multi-language support — Available in 74 languages with full UTF-8 support.
- Built-in search — Full-text search across all pages with advanced search operators.
- Automatic page locking — Prevents simultaneous edits from overwriting each other with a built-in locking mechanism.
Why Use DokuWiki?
DokuWiki is ideal for teams and individuals who want a reliable wiki without the overhead of database management. Its flat-file storage means zero database setup, maintenance, or backup complexity. The extensive plugin ecosystem lets you add authentication backends (LDAP, Active Directory), syntax highlighting, calendars, galleries, and more. It runs happily on shared hosting, making it one of the most accessible wiki platforms available.
Use Cases
- Team documentation — Lightweight internal knowledge base for small to medium teams
- Personal notes — Portable personal wiki that can run on a USB stick or laptop
- Project wikis — Documentation for open-source projects with low hosting requirements
- Educational resources — Course notes, student collaboration, and knowledge sharing
Platform
Linux · macOS · Windows (via web server)
Licence
GNU General Public License v2 (GPL-2.0)