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Odin, Wikipedia and Engagement Farming
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- DeepHorus
Wikipedia recently deleted the article on the Odin programming language following an Articles for Deletion (AfD) process, sparking debate over the platform's notability standards. The deletion occurred last week after a vote where five out of seven delete votes came from registered accounts, while only one of four keep votes was from a registered user. A Wikipedia administrator then removed the article, citing a lack of in-depth coverage from reliable sources. This decision has surprised many in the programming community, as Odin has gained significant attention as a 'C competitor' and is used commercially by companies like JangaFX.
Odin was created by GingerBill, a developer known for his distinctive ginger hair, and has been under development for nearly a decade. The language has been featured by prominent tech streamers like Primeagen and has a growing user base. However, Wikipedia's deletion rationale noted that the article's sources consisted primarily of the developer's personal sites, random blogs, a self-published e-book, and trivial mentions in academic research. The deletion highlights ongoing tensions between Wikipedia's strict notability guidelines and the enthusiasm of niche technical communities.
The Odin deletion is not an isolated incident. BrodieRobertson, a YouTuber, recently covered similar deletions of programming language pages in a video titled 'Bizarre World Of Wikipedia Deleting Programming Pages,' which specifically mentioned Odin. GingerBill publicly thanked BrodieRobertson for raising awareness, expressing frustration with Wikipedia's moderation. In a Twitter thread, GingerBill stated that Odin's team does not particularly care about being on Wikipedia, but criticized the mods for viewing themselves as 'journalists' with ideological biases. He also noted that for many, programming languages are like religions, leading to defensive behavior that stifles new projects.
The implications of this deletion extend beyond Odin. It raises questions about how Wikipedia evaluates notability for emerging technologies, especially when reliable coverage may lag behind community adoption. While Wikipedia aims to prevent self-promotion, critics argue that its processes can unfairly exclude important or innovative projects. The Odin case also illustrates the challenge of balancing open-source contributions with encyclopedic standards, as many languages gain traction through grassroots efforts rather than traditional media coverage.
Moving forward, the Odin community may focus on other platforms for documentation and visibility. GingerBill hinted that Wikipedia's decision might ultimately benefit the language by reducing distractions. However, the deletion serves as a cautionary tale for developers seeking Wikipedia pages for their projects. As the tech landscape evolves, Wikipedia may need to refine its notability criteria to better reflect the modern software ecosystem. For now, Odin continues to develop outside Wikipedia's pages, its community undeterred by the encyclopedia's judgment.
