In this article, we aim to provide you with a way to read Wikipedia articles on your Linux server using a command line. As to why you would do this the answer is simply because you can.

Wikit is a free and open-source command-line program that allows users to easily view Wikipedia summaries of search queries on the Linux command line. It is built using Node.js. The term "Wikit" is derived from "Wikipedia it", which means looking up something on wikipedia.org.

Node.js is a powerful, open-source runtime environment that enables server-side JavaScript development. It is built on the V8 JavaScript engine and offers an asynchronous, event-driven architecture that makes it well-suited for building scalable and efficient network applications. Node.js allows developers to use JavaScript for both front-end and back-end development, fostering code reuse and streamlining the development process. Its extensive package ecosystem, facilitated by Node Package Manager (npm), provides access to a wealth of pre-built libraries and modules, making it easier for developers to create web servers, APIs, real-time applications, and more.

First Steps

Login to your Linux server using a terminal program such as ZOC, Putty, or ConEmu. We will continue the installation as if you are using Centos, Fedora, or Red Hat Linux.

First, we need to install nodejs which we do with the command sudo dnf install nodejs npm

Once complete we need to run the command sudo npm install wikit -g

This uses the Node Package Manager to install wikit in an equivalent way to your Linux server using dnf to install a package.

Now you should be all set to view Wikipedia articles.

Use the command wikit (item to be looked for) e.g., wikit the rock looks for information on The Rock.

If after having played with wikit for a while you decide to remove it from your server then just use the following command.

sudo npm uninstall -g wikit