--- title: Glossary layout: handbook ---

## Glossary

#### aggregated

data that is summarized using statistical methods or by simply summing its component parts

#### API

Application Programming Interface: a specification allowing two pieces of software to interface with each other, without either having knowledge of the inner workings of the other

#### backlog

a list of tasks prepared by the project manager

#### bulk data

refers to the entirety of a dataset, instead of the incremental amounts that may be retrieval via other means, such as an API

#### CSO

Civil Service Organizations: a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any form of government in the interest of civil society. Also commonly referred to as NGOs.

#### CSV

Comma Separated Values: A format for transactional data that separates each column value by a comma. Can be imported and exported from most spreadsheet programs

#### database query language

a syntax for interacting with data in a database. Usually specific to the software being used

#### hacker

one who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming (like a 'coder' - but more energetic :) )

#### hackday

a session where hackers come together to answer a particular task

#### iteration

a period of a defined length during which changes to a project can be made. Usually ends in a review meeting to plan the next iteration.

#### JSON

Javascript Object Notation: a data format that is relatively easy for humans to read and write and very easy for machines to read and parse

#### Mirroring

creating an entire copy of a website on another server, primarily for backup

#### MySQL

(pronounced "My Sequel" or "MY S-Q-L"): Open source relational database software

#### nominatim

A web service which turns place names and addresses into coordinates so that they can be mapped / associated with an administrative area

#### PostgreSQL

(abbreviated Postgres): Open source object relational database software, a query language similar (but not identical) to that in MySQL is used

#### OCR

Optical Character Recognition: the electronic conversion of scanned images of handwritten, typewritten or printed text into machine-encoded text

#### reference data

data from outside an organisation (often from standards organisations) which is, apart from occasional revisions, static

#### scope creep

When a project's scope slowly and steadily increases, without a formal re-examination of the original terms and requirements

#### shapefile

a file format for geospatial vector data that is primarily used to feed data into mapping applications

#### Tilemill

Hosted and open source mapping software for creating maps

#### user story

short descriptions that outline in plain language the different use cases and possibilities for different types of users for the purposes of determining software requirements

#### vector data

a type of image composed of connected points rather than pixels

#### XML

eXtensible Markup Language: a markup language created to structure, store, and transport data by defining a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable.

Some of the above entries contain excerpts from Wikipedia.org and the Jargon File v. 4.4.8