Wikipedia made its name as an online encyclopedia. Of course, not everyone can be online all the time. So I was interested to read that Wikipedia is beta testing an offline version.

The offline version uses Kiwix, open-source software that allows Web content to be read offline. There are versions of offline Wikipedia for Windows, Linux and Mac.

Because the offline reader can handle only so much data, Wikimedia is developing content libraries that are made up of selected material from the broader Wikipedia collection that is available online. The general English version (version 0.8) contains some 47,300 articles taken from all subject areas. Volunteer editors selected them based on their importance and quality.

If you’re interested in learning more about this beta version of offline Wikipedia, read all about it at the Offline Projects wiki.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.