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An Open Source and Evergreen Glossary
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About this Glossary
Evergreen is powerful, consortial-quality open-source library software, grown in a library and developed by and for librarians and library users. Both Evergreen and open source are relatively new to the library landscape. This glossary helps define some of the most common terms people ask about.
For more information about Evergreen, post a message to one of the http://evergreen-ils.org/listserv.php Evergreen discussion lists or email the developers at mailto:feedback@evergreen-ils.org. Internet Relay Chat users can also stop by channel irc://irc.freenode.net/OpenILS-Evergreen for real-time chat (which is also logged at http://open-ils.org/irc_logs/ ).
commit To commit software code is to make proposed changes permanent. In open source software development, the ability to commit is usually limited to a core group of experienced, skilled developers.
community In open source development, the term “community” usually refers to users and developers who work in concert to develop open source software, communicating openly and collaborating on the direction of the project. The Evergreen community's home is www.open-ils.org
consortial-quality Library automation software that can meet the needs of very large consortial systems by offering strong reindexing and transaction-load capabilities, deduping, and more.
Equinox Software, Inc. A support and development company founded by the developers of Evergreen. Its web address is www.esilibrary.com
Evergreen Open-source, consortial-quality library automation software, developed initially by the Georgia Public Library Service for its PINES network, and now used in hundreds of libraries across the United States and Canada. More information at www.evergreen-ils.org
FOSS or FLOSS Free (Libre) Open Source Software. A synonym for OSS, defined below.
FUD Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt. The stories spread to undermine an effort.
FullfILLment A future development effort by Equinox Software to provide multi-ILS consortia with a consortial borrowing platform. FulfILLment will offer automated mediation of ILL request (holds), full ILL transaction (circulation) management, and automated transit management.
GPL The GNU General Public License, used by most open source software, is “intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change all versions of a program.” The GPL used by Evergreen among other things requires that the adapted software be released through a GPL license. See www.gnu.org
GPLS Georgia Public Library Service, the state library of Georgia. GPLS administers the PINES network and was the founding library for Evergreen software. See www.georgialibraries.org
migration When you change ILS vendors, you need to move your patron, transaction, and bibliographic records from one vendor database to another. Migrations can be challenging, particularly when you don't own your own data or it is in a proprietary format.
Network effect The more people use a service, the more valuable it becomes for its users. "The classic example is the telephone."
open-ils The original name for Evergreen, still used internally in the software (where it is sometimes represented as OILS). The project URL is now evergreen-ils.org.
OpenSRF Open Service Request Framework, pronounced “open surf.” The software architecture at the core of the Evergreen ILS. Invented by the developers of Evergreen, OpenSRF provides transparent load balancing and high availability.
OSS Open source software. In most cases the source code for OSS is freely available–free to download, free to use, free to view, and free to adapt and modify.
PINES The Georgia statewide public library automation and resource sharing network, a service of the Georgia Public Library Service. PINES currently has 50 systems and nearly 280 libraries, and circulates about 17 million items a year. Evergreen software runs PINES. See http://www.georgialibraries.org/public/pines.php
PostgreSQL Sometimes shortened to “Postgres.” A powerful, open-source relational database system with over 15 years of active development and a proven architecture with a strong reputation for reliability, data integrity, and correctness. Evergreen uses PostgreSQL.
proprietary software Unlike OSS, proprietary software is not normally distributed as human-viewable source code but as compiled programs that effectively hide the code. Proprietary software is usually only supported by the company that manufactured it, which can lead to vendor lock-in.
repository An online archive for open source software where current and past versions of the software can be found. Popular repositories include SourceForge, RubyForge, and Freshmeat.
Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) A software architecture based on loosely-coupled, distributed services which communicate and interoperate via agreed standards. OpenSRF is an example of Service Oriented Architecture.
turnkey Software that a vendor sets up so all you have to do (in theory) is turn the key and you are in business. In practice, the needs of library organizations can vary widely, making “turnkey” often both undesirable and unattainable.
vendor lock-in The state of being dependent on a specific software program to the point where you are “locked-in” to that product even when changing products would be the better path. Reasons for lock-in can include proprietary code, multi-year contracts, and the complexity and cost of data migration.
