Django Wiki vs MDwiki
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Django Wiki | MDwiki |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 19 · At risk |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source, docker | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,936 | ★ 3,187 |
| First released | 2013 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Confluence, MediaWiki | Confluence |
What are Django Wiki and MDwiki?
Django Wiki
Django Wiki is a wiki engine implemented as a reusable Django application, offering Markdown editing, revision history, and a permission system. It can be embedded into existing Django projects or run as a standalone site.
- Markdown editing
- Revision history
- Granular permissions
- Pluggable architecture
MDwiki
MDwiki is a completely client-side wiki engine that renders a set of Markdown files into a navigable site without any server-side processing or database. Pages are loaded and rendered on demand directly in the browser.
- Pure client-side rendering
- No server logic
- Markdown content
- Themeable layout
Django Wiki vs MDwiki: key differences
Django Wiki is written in Python, while MDwiki is built with JavaScript. MDwiki is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Django Wiki. Django Wiki lists first-class Docker deployment; MDwiki does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Django Wiki if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Choose MDwiki if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Django Wiki or MDwiki better?
MDwiki is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Django Wiki if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Django Wiki and MDwiki free and open-source?
Yes. Django Wiki is licensed under GPL-3.0 and MDwiki under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Django Wiki and MDwiki with Docker?
Django Wiki: yes. MDwiki: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Django Wiki or MDwiki?
MDwiki has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Django Wiki. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.