Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wotsup.org?

Wotsup.org is a community-driven resource providing file format specifications and programming documentation. The site contains information on hundreds of file formats, data structures, protocols, and implementation guides.

What kind of information can I find here?

The site includes:

  • File format specifications and technical documentation
  • Data structure descriptions
  • Protocol documentation
  • Hardware interface specifications
  • Implementation guides and code examples

How do I find information on a specific format?

Note: The on-site search functionality has been removed. To find information:

  • Browse by category using the navigation menu.
  • Browse the files/ and categories/ indexes on the site.
  • Use the repository and issue tracker for pointers (see GitHub link below).

If you relied on full-text search previously, a good secondary resource is the original Wotsit archive at https://wotsit.org which contains many format descriptions and may be easier to scan for older material.

The information on a format is incomplete. Do you have more?

Everything available is published on the site. If you find more complete documentation elsewhere, please consider contributing it via our GitHub repository so others can benefit.

What does “unverified” mean?

“Unverified” indicates that the information has not been confirmed after reimplementation. It may be incomplete or based on limited sources.

What does “deprecated” mean?

“Deprecated” means the link is obsolete. An alternative link may be provided if available or a file may be included soon. If a file is “deprecated” it means it wasn’t backupped. If you have a copy of the file, please consider contributing it via our GitHub repository.

How can I contribute information?

Contributions are managed through GitHub:

  1. Fork the repository
  2. Add or update format specifications
  3. Submit a pull request

See our contributing guide for detailed instructions.

What format should I submit information in?

Preferred formats include:

  • Plain text (.txt)
  • Markdown (.md)
  • PDF (.pdf)
  • HTML (.html)

Other formats are also welcome, though text-based formats are easier to maintain.

Yes! Please feel free to link to any page. We recommend linking to specific format pages rather than just the homepage.

A file is in the wrong category. What should I do?

Please report it by opening an issue on GitHub with details about the format and the correct category. We’ll update it promptly.

Yes. Wotsup.org builds on the foundation of the original Wotsit.org archive. See our About page for more information.

For direct reference to the original archive, see: https://wotsit.org

Can you provide personal support or identify unknown files?

Unfortunately, no. Wotsup.org operates as a reference library. We don’t have resources to provide individual support or file identification services. However, the documentation may help you identify formats yourself.

  • Description of the problem
  • Affected page or format
  • Any relevant details Please open an issue on GitHub with:
  • Description of the problem
  • Affected page or format
  • Any relevant details
  • Description of the problem
  • Affected page or format
  • Any relevant details

Is the content free to use?

The content of the site (site pages and repository source) is licensed under the MIT License. Individual specification files, contributed documents, and third-party uploads retain their original licenses and copyrights — those license terms remain in effect. See our disclaimer and license page for details and guidance.