Forum:Rethinking Template:Version and latest version visibility

Currently, there are two templates that store the latest versions of various instances of Minecraft. {{Version}} is autoconfirmed-protected and used for almost every page on the wiki. {{Version/FP}} is a director-protected version used on the sidebar and main page. I would like to address in this discussion two issues relating to how the wiki handles versions.

1 - The templates

{{Version/FP}} was created back when a huge portion of the main page (about 1/3 of the page before scrolling) was used to list version numbers. Such prominence meant it was an a vandalization hazard to have the version template unprotected for the main page. This part of the main page has gradually become smaller, and today, with the main page redesign currently in progress, the version links will be way less prominent and numerous. In fact, there will only be up to 6 links, the same ones that are currently in the sidebar. This means that more than 90% of the content of {{Version/FP}} will become obsolete. Furthermore, the current template is messy, naming inconsistent and missing some versions that could be documented (see point 2). The useful version numbers not currently tracked by the template include Data Pack format and, arguably more importantly, Script API module versioning. Here is what I suggest:

• Changing the syntax of {{version}} to make it easier to use. For instance, calling {{Version|bedrock|preview|@server-ui}} would return 2.0.0-beta: The lastest version of @server-ui in Preview of Bedrock Edition. Other examples would be {{Version|java|snapshot}}, {{Version|bedrock|stable|xbox}}. The general syntax is {{Version|edition|release|(sub-versioning)}}
• Splitting {{version}} into sub-templates to make it easier to maintain, one for each edition: Version/Java, Version/Bedrock, Version/Launcher etc.
• Changing {{Version/FP}} to only the 6 relevant versions. This will simplify syncing if we complexity and diversify the versions tracked, especially if more versions are added.

2 - Latest version visibility

As mentioned above, the latest version section of the main page is disappearing. This means there is no centralized place to see all different latest versions. This can be very annoying for players of Bedrock Edition specifically, because they need to know what version number their platform is expected to have in order to ensure they are compatible in multiplayer with other ones. The Main Page survey also showed that it is a part of the page that is important to readers. I suggest we create a dedicated "Latest versions" page, in the stye of the current section on the main page, accessible on the Main Page and/or sidebar that list all latest versions in detail.

Do you have any suggestion on improvement to the rework, especially concerning point 1. ? –MetalManeMc, 👁 Image
French👁 Image
Wiki admin (Talk to me!👁 Image
) 21:09, 28 February 2025 (UTC)

👁 Image
 Note - While the patch (OS-specific) versions are not in the current main page redesign draft, there has been a version of the draft where the patch versions could be accessed using a "show"/"hide" link. I chose to remove it because most of the time all patch versions are the same, and we also got freetext feedback in the survey that these links aren't really necessary. We could still implement something similar on the main page directly if that's desired. | violine1101 ^(talk) 22:41, 28 February 2025 (UTC)

This has been done GIM Dianliang233 (talk) 10:55, 1 March 2025 (UTC)

That's great thank you –MetalManeMc, 👁 Image
French👁 Image
Wiki admin (Talk to me!👁 Image
) 16:05, 2 March 2025 (UTC)

I like the idea, though I'm still a little confused... -~- Nerdyguy2000   Talk   Edits  23:23, 28 February 2025 (UTC)

Where specifically should I develop? Is it the template syntax or reason change is needed? –MetalManeMc, 👁 Image
French👁 Image
Wiki admin (Talk to me!👁 Image
) 08:51, 1 March 2025 (UTC)

Will you explajn in simple words cause I cannot figure out what you are giving? 2401:4900:A50F:7DC3:0:0:25A4:F144 09:35, 7 March 2025 (UTC)