Template talk:Infobox software

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Infobox software template.

Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic.
New to Wikipedia? Welcome! Learn to edit; get help.

Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: 3 months

Computing: Software / Free and open-source software

	This template is within the scope of WikiProject Computing, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of computers, computing, and information technology on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.ComputingWikipedia:WikiProject ComputingTemplate:WikiProject ComputingComputing
	This template is supported by WikiProject Software.
	This template is supported by Free and open-source software.

Template:Infobox software is permanently protected from editing because it is a heavily used or highly visible template. Substantial changes should first be proposed and discussed here on this page. If the proposal is uncontroversial or has been discussed and is supported by consensus, editors may use {{edit template-protected}} to notify an administrator or template editor to make the requested edit. Usually, any contributor may edit the template's documentation to add usage notes or categories.

Any contributor may edit the template's sandbox. Functionality of the template can be checked using test cases.

Several websites

Companies on rare occasions have more than one website. Is it possible to to add two using this infobox? If not, can a second website be added to the infobox? Artem S. Tashkinov (talk) 10:15, 24 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Template-protected edit request on 24 February 2025

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

I'd like to embed a child infobox inside of an {{Infobox software}} using |module= a la WP:IEmbed. Could someone apply the following change, which would allow me to do so?

DefaultFree (talk) 16:11, 24 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Done * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 21:56, 24 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Changing "title" to "above" argument

Hi, I think using "above" instead of "title" argument is more rational, which is the same as many other Wikis. This way, we have an integrated Infobox. So please change

| title      = {{{title|{{{name|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}}}}}
| titleclass = summary

to

| above      = {{{title|{{{name|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}}}}}
| abovestyle =  background-color: #43e2f7;

Also tested in Template:Infobox software/sandbox. Thanks, Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 12:26, 14 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Why hardcode a color and not use |aboveclass=summary? IceWelder [✉] 21:00, 14 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Because background-color of |aboveclass=summary is not set and it does not distingush name of software from other parts.

I only proposed #43e2f7 color and I am not sure it is the best color, but in many Wikis similar color is used. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 03:26, 15 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I'd rather not use a fixed color because it may clash with skins and dark themes. I checked {{Infobox film}}, where none is used. IceWelder [✉] 09:28, 15 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe you are right! But please change "title" to "above" argument. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 09:35, 15 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Please see sandbox. Thanks, Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 09:37, 15 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Please take a look at these infoboxes too:

and others. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 09:56, 15 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I propose to change the background color according to type or genre of software, something like Template:Infobox album. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 10:02, 15 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

What you are proposing is likely to lead to Linter errors, along with a maintenance burden on other editors to ensure that the infobox works with all skins, in dark mode, in mobile, and in other new modes that may arise. Having no background color, or a standard background color used by all infoboxes, is preferable. – Jonesey95 (talk) 19:43, 16 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Jonesey95 To solve "Linter errors", I propose to extract "type" from Wikidata. For example for Google Chrome, in here in the property "instance of" or "P31", we have:

web browser
application
proprietary software

Color can be set from these properties, makig infobox more attractive for specific types of it. Hooman Mallahzadeh (talk) 06:01, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Using a specific method to set a background color does not address any of the above concerns. The Linter errors are specifically related to setting a background color without setting a text color. And extracting from Wikidata will require a reliable source in Wikidata per the 2018 RFC, which will likely mean that some infoboxes will not get the "right" color, but it won't be clear to most people why that is happening. – Jonesey95 (talk) 14:10, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

One thing after the other -- I've updated the template per the sandbox changes such that |above= is used instead of |title=. As for the coloring, I don't think custom colors based vaguely on software types is a good idea, being mostly cosmetic but also prone to errors. IceWelder [✉] 19:12, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Edit request 13 July 2025

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

Add programmed in from infobox OS:

Diff: All software projects are programmed in some programming language. Programmed in could be useful for infobox software too. 95.70.167.241 (talk) 09:46, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

There already is |programming language=. IceWelder [✉] 12:57, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Bug in template?

Article fdupes shows this in the References section:

 {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help): Missing or empty |title= (help)

The reference is to the line "Stable release" in the "Infobox software" which probably is filled in using Wikidata. I am pretty sure this is not intended behavior, but I cannot figure what goes wrong. Ideas anybody? Wammes Waggel (talk) 16:05, 1 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I think the issue is not here but at {{Wikidata}} and Module:wd, which is used as the field value. The module fails to obtain the citation title from Wikidata and generates the template without it. It appears the relevant code was removed in this edit last month. Perhaps @Janhrach has more insights? IceWelder [✉] 16:33, 1 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That infobox (and all other infoboxes) needs to use Module:WikidataIB, not {{Wikidata}}, per the instructions at the top of {{Wikidata}}. – Jonesey95 (talk) 14:48, 3 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The template is used directly in the article, not by this infobox. IceWelder [✉] 17:38, 7 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

This is indeed caused by {{Wikidata}}. Titles are required in Wikdata references, have been required for over a year. Janhrach (talk) 14:42, 7 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I was confused because it looked like the module failed to parse the title, when in actuality I read the table in reverse! @Wammes Waggel: I added the title to the Wikidata ref and it seems to work now. Regards, IceWelder [✉] 17:44, 7 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! Wammes Waggel (talk) 18:47, 7 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]