Editing Community Data Science Workshops (Fall 2015)/Day 2 projects/Wikipedia

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[[File:Wikipedia.png|right|250px]]
[[File:Wikipedia.png|right|250px]]
__NOTOC__
__NOTOC__
== Building a Dataset using the Wikipedia API ==


In this project, we will explore a few ways to gather data using the Wikipedia API. Once we've done that, we will extend this to code to create our own datasets of Wikipedia edits or other data that we might be able to use to ask and answer questions in the final session.
In this project, we will explore a few ways to gather data using the Wikipedia API. Once we've done that, we will extend this to code to create our own datasets of Wikipedia edits or other data that we might be able to use to ask and answer questions in the final session.


== Goals ==
=== Goals ===


* Get set up to build datasets with the Wikipedia API
* Get set up to build datasets with the Wikipedia API
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(Estimated time: 10 minutes)
(Estimated time: 10 minutes)


===Download the Wikipedia API project===
===Download the Wikipedia API project===
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* The ".zip" extension on the above file indicates that it is a compressed Zip archive. We need to "extract" its contents. To do this, click on "Start", then "Computer" on Windows or open Finder and navigate to your Desktop directory if you are a Mac. Find <code>wikipedia-data-examples.zip</code> on your Desktop and double-click on it to "unzip" it. That will create a folder called <code>wikipedia-data-examples</code> containing several files.
* The ".zip" extension on the above file indicates that it is a compressed Zip archive. We need to "extract" its contents. To do this, click on "Start", then "Computer" on Windows or open Finder and navigate to your Desktop directory if you are a Mac. Find <code>wikipedia-data-examples.zip</code> on your Desktop and double-click on it to "unzip" it. That will create a folder called <code>wikipedia-data-examples</code> containing several files.


===Test the Wikipedia API code===
==Test the Wikipedia API code==
 


<div style="background-color:#CEE7DA; width:80%; padding:1.2em;">
<div style="background-color:#CEE7DA; width:80%; padding:1.2em;">
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at the command prompt to execute the <code>wikipedia1-1.py</code> Python script. Wait a little while while your computer connects to Wikipedia. You should see a series of data from Wikipedia run by on your screen. If you don't, let a staff member know.
at the command prompt to execute the <code>wikipedia1-1.py</code> Python script. Wait a little while while your computer connects to Wikipedia. You should see a series of data from Wikipedia run by on your screen. If you don't, let a staff member know.


== Example topics we might cover in the session ==
=== Example topics we might cover in the lecture ===


* explain [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/API:Main_page MediaWiki], exists on other wikis
* explain [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/API:Main_page MediaWiki], exists on other wikis
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* get the content of the main page http://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?format=json&action=query&titles=Main%20Page&prop=revisions&rvprop=content
* get the content of the main page http://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?format=json&action=query&titles=Main%20Page&prop=revisions&rvprop=content


== Resources ==
=== Resources ===
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=help&modules=query API documentation for the query module]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=help&modules=query API documentation for the query module]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:ApiSandbox API Sandbox]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:ApiSandbox API Sandbox]
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