Template talk:URL
Latest comment: 7 years ago by Djsasso
Hi there, earlier today I ran KolbertBot through the first batch of migration from HTTP->HTTPS links. While doing this, I found that quite a few links weren't converted (example). I took a look at the instances where no replacement took place, and found that it was links that were being used with the {{URL}} template. In order to resolve this and convert them, I think that it's worth having a discussion and deciding which path we want to take moving forward. I see two reasonable options, but I'm open to suggestions. Here they are :
- Option A : Keep using the template, but it would look like {{URL|https://twitter.com/RobFord/status/120141031203110}} instead of just https://twitter.com/RobFord/status/120131031203110.
- Option B : Convert existing uses of the template to the standard external link format. I personally favour this option for a few reasons.
- In the upcoming October Google Chrome update, all websites which take in "interactions" (apparently so much as having a search bar counts) will be marked with the red "Not Secure" warning in an increased effort to encourage webmasters to migrate to HTTPS. Forbes article about the Chrome update
- As more websites make the switch, the usefulness of this template will continue to decrease. It would be more efficient to make the switch now and standardize the external link format.
- The traditional format is less bulky and is quite easy to understand. A new user isn't going to know there's a {{URL}} template and will instead either paste the link or click the external link button in the editor.
- Using the same format will make it a lot easier to manipulate using tools such as Pywikibot and AutoWikiBrowser.
I look forward to hearing your ideas and it has been great to work with the community here so far :) Thank you. Jon Kolbert (talk) 06:01, 1 September 2017 (UTC)
- Template:URL does formatting of the presented look of an external link so it does need to continue, because just using a raw link is not acceptable in many cases. -DJSasso (talk) 11:10, 6 September 2017 (UTC)