Introduction

Computer Dictionary is an open source project, released under terms of the Creative Commons ShareAlike 2.0 license, that aims to develop a Docbook XML glossary database containing definitions of computing nomenclature. The primary application for the source is realized in context of Docbook XML-based publishing systems. However, as a desired side-effect, the glossary is also available online as a 'browsable' reference.

What makes this project unique is that it is the first free and open glossary database to be developed specifically for use with Docbook XML-based publishing systems.

The Need

Maintaining any glossary database by oneself is a tedious and time consuming task. With so many terms in the computing industry and more being added every year, the task is never complete. Taking this under consideration and knowing that there is an enormous number of people in the Docbook community, all of which can potentially use such a resource, it just makes sense for that community to band together under an open source project and distribute the development effort.

By working together under an open license, using open source development methods and technologies, everyone can contribute toward maintaining and keeping the database current. The more people who use the database, the higher the likelihood that new terms will be added, errors spotted and fixed. Each persons contribution, no matter how small, can be of great benefit to everyone. The more people involved, the higher the likelihood that, the next time you need to reference a term, it will be in your local working copy of the source or in the project repository.

What's new

• 15 MAY. 2005 - ComputerDictionary is now available as a Debian package.
• 31 JAN. 2005 - The project goes live in under a month since the idea was first proposed to the Docbook community. Testimony to fact that through the power of open source "anything is possible." We start the project with 21310 terms in the database.