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What makes a weblog a weblog?

Wednesday, June 18, 2003 by Dave Winer.

What are they? Permalink to What are they?

As part of my work at Berkman Center, where we're studying weblogs and learning how to apply them in academia, I wanted to get closer to a definition, to try to answer the question posed by the title of this piece.

Rather than saying "I know it when I see it" I want a list all the known features of weblog software, but more important, how a weblog is different from a wiki, or a news site managed with software like Vignette or Interwoven. I draw from my experience developing and using weblog software (Manila, Radio UserLand) and using competitive products such as Blogger and Movable Type.

I had originally planned to publish this piece via email, but the work continues, and rather than freeze it in time, I wanted to give it a chance to continue to evolve, especially the bibliography, which may be the first of its kind.

Pointer Permalink to Pointer

I hope you take the time to consider this approach to defining weblogs, and if you have ideas and/or information to add, please send them my way.

http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/whatMakesAWeblogAWeblog

Dave Winer



© Copyright 1994-2004 Dave Winer. Last update: 2/5/07; 10:50:05 AM Pacific. "There's no time like now."