What makes a weblog a weblog?

Wednesday, June 18, 2003 by Dave Winer.

What are they? 

As part of my work at Berkman Center, where we're studying weblogs and learning how to apply them in academia, I wanted to get closer to a definition, to try to answer the question posed by the title of this piece.

Rather than saying "I know it when I see it" I want a list all the known features of weblog software, but more important, how a weblog is different from a wiki, or a news site managed with software like Vignette or Interwoven. I draw from my experience developing and using weblog software (Manila, Radio UserLand) and using competitive products such as Blogger and Movable Type.

I had originally planned to publish this piece via email, but the work continues, and rather than freeze it in time, I wanted to give it a chance to continue to evolve, especially the bibliography, which may be the first of its kind.

Pointer 

I hope you take the time to consider this approach to defining weblogs, and if you have ideas and/or information to add, please send them my way.

http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/whatMakesAWeblogAWeblog

Dave Winer