Terminology

This page provides short descriptions of terms, suitable for inclusion in a "rollover" help display. For more detailed descriptions, see the Glossary. For pages that show relationships among terms, see the Ontology.

Usage Notes:

• Terms are displayed with subtle, green, dashed underline.
• Text appears when the cursor hovers over the term.
• Highlighted terms look great and work well, in plain text, [tt] text, or [pre] text.
• Case is significant. So "Tenant" is not found if the term is "tenant".
• For overlapping terms, order is significant. To highlight "system object", it must appear before object in the definition list. Otherwise, object is highlighted, and the larger term is not seen.
• Even when the order is right, the definition you see depends on where you put the cursor. Over the first half of "system object", you get the definition for the whole term. Over the last half, you get the definition for "object". (Livable)
• Plurals are recognized! So when "object" is defined, "objects" is highlighted.
• But if a plural like tenants is defined, that definition is used, even if it occurs later in the definition list. (nice!)
• Blank lines in the file cause a non-fatal error in the processing page (terminology.php). No harm is done, but it may slow things a bit. (Resolved by eliminating blank lines in this file.)

ACID

Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability. A set of properties that define reliable transactions.

system object

An object that is part of the platform from the moment it is installed.

custom object

An object created by an application or a user.

CRUD

Standard data operations Create, Read, Update, Delete.

DDL

Data Definition Language. Database statements that define tables and fields.

DML

Data Management Language. Database statements that move, copy, and access data.

domain

Service Domain (platform hostname or IP address),

fieldName

The name of a field in an object (column name)

host tenant

The organization that hosts the platform. The hosting organization is itself a tenant of the platform, and uses that tenancy to administer the platform for other tenants.

httpd

Apache HTTP Daemon. A server that handles http requests.

http

HyperText Transport Protocol. The foundation of the world wide web.

https

An http connection made over a secure SSL connection.

ISV

Independent Software Vendor. Someone who builds an package that runs on the platform, for delivery to tenants.

JVM

Java Virtual Machine.

lookup-dependent field

A field containing identifying information that is populated when a selection is made in a lookup field.

Lookup-dependent field

A field containing identifying information that is populated when a selection is made in a lookup field.

platform_url

The HTTP address at which your platform is running.

memcached

MEMory CACHEing Daemon - a distributed caching service that stores frequently-accessed pages in memory, so they can be served as rapidly as possible.

MIME

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. A set of standard designations for different types of data, both textual and binary.

object

The fundamental data component of an application. Corresponds to a row in a table, from the standpoint of an application developer. Corresponds to the table itself, to an administrator.

objectID

An Object Type identifier generated by the platform when an object is created.

objectName

An Object Type identifier specified by the person who created the object.

Package Data

Data that is part of an application package. Typically, it is object data, but it need not be.

Package Installer

Someone who installs a package, so that applications and other elements it contains are available to users in their organization's tenancy.

packager

Someone who creates an application package.

cloud instance

A ___ that is running "in the cloud", on a shared server. Extensive data firewalls make it appear to be a completely separate platform, even though it is actually shared with other ___. Compare with installed instance.

cloud platform

See cloud instance.

installed instance

A standalone copy of the platform's installable version, running on its own server.

Quartz

Timekeeper process. Used by the internal Scheduler to kick off scheduled events.

platform administrator

Some who manages the tenants in an installed instance of the multi-tenant platform.

Installer

A person responsible for installing, monitoring, and/or tuning an installed instance of the platform.

RAID

Redundant Array of Independent Disks. A data storage mechanism that provides protection against disk failure.

recordId

A Record Identifier (row ID)

REST

REpresentational State Transfer. Defines CRUD operations over the web, using http get, put, post, and delete operations over http.

SAN

Storage Area Network. A means of attaching a remote disk to a server, as though it were a local device.

SSL

Secure Socket Layer. A protocol for encrypted transmissions over http.

System Administrator

Someone responsible for managing users, roles, applications, and other artifacts in a cloud instance of the platform.

tenant

An organizational entity that operates in its own virtual space in the platform. Each tenant has its own database, and may have multiple users.

Tenant

An organizational entity that operates in its own virtual space in the platform. Each tenant has its own database, and may have multiple users.

tenants

Organizational entities that operate in their own virtual space in the platform. Each tenant has its own database, and may have multiple users.

Tenants

Organizational entities that operate in their own virtual space in the platform. Each tenant has its own database, and may have multiple users.

viewID

A View identifier