The Portland Pattern Repository was the first ever wiki, and is sometimes referred to simply as Wiki (with a capital 'W') or WikiWikiWeb. It was created March 25, 1995, by Ward Cunningham. It is dedicated to pattern languages as they apply to computer programming, with an increasing emphasis on extreme programming. The site's defining phrase is "People, Projects & Patterns."

The name Ward's Wiki (or, in CamelCase, WardsWiki) is also used, but has negative connotations due to its suggestion that Ward Cunningham maintains strict ownership and control over the entire community, a role which he actively avoids. Other names have been suggested to try to avoid ambiguity with the generic concept of a wiki, and to reflect the growing amount of non-pattern related content. Indeed, the Portland Pattern Repository itself predated the WikiWikiWeb, and includes some static pages, so that there is not a one-to-one correspondence between the two. However, other than the rarely used c2 Wiki (referring to the site's domain name), it is probably the best currently available.

The Portland Pattern Repository "Welcome Visitors" page contains the following description:

"This wiki's primary focus is PeopleProjectsAndPatterns in SoftwareDevelopment. However, it is much more than just an InformalHistoryOfProgrammingIdeas. It started there, but the theme has created a culture and DramaticIdentity all of its own. All Wiki content is WorkInProgress. Most of all, this is a forum where people share ideas! It changes as people come and go. If you are looking for authoritative information, try WikiPedia. All the information here is subjective."

External links

• Wiki History, including comments by Ward Cunningham
• Welcome Visitors page at the Portland Pattern Repository wiki
• The original Portland Pattern Repository