Glossary
This glossary defines LightNet terms used throughout the Ministry Documentation and Developer Documentation. It provides a shared vocabulary for everyone involved in building and running LightNet Sites.
Administration User Interface
Section titled “Administration User Interface”An Administration User Interface (Administration UI) is a graphical interface for managing Content on a LightNet Site.
Author
Section titled “Author”An Author is a person or organization that created the Content of a Media Item.
Category
Section titled “Category”A Category groups related Media Items by topic. For example, a Ministry might use categories such as Theology, Christian Living, and Bible Studies. Categories help Users filter and browse Content in a Media Library. Unlike a Media Collection, a Category does not imply a specific sequence.
Content
Section titled “Content”Content is the material made available through a LightNet Site, such as videos, audio, images, and documents.
Content Administrator
Section titled “Content Administrator”A Content Administrator is an editor who manages the Content of a LightNet Site using an Administration User Interface.
Content Language
Section titled “Content Language”A Content Language is the language in which a Media Item’s Content is presented. For example, it is the language of the written text in a document or the spoken language of a video.
Contributor
Section titled “Contributor”A Contributor is a person who helps improve the open-source LightNet project through feature proposals, bug reports, pull requests, or translation improvements.
LightNet
Section titled “LightNet”LightNet is an open-source solution for creating and operating Media Libraries.
LightNet Site
Section titled “LightNet Site”A LightNet Site is an instance of LightNet operated by a Ministry to organize and distribute Content.
Media Collection
Section titled “Media Collection”A Media Collection is a group of Media Items arranged as a specific sequence or set, such as the parts of a sermon series, audio recordings in a series, or chapters in a video series.
Media Distribution
Section titled “Media Distribution”Media Distribution is the process of delivering Content to Users through a LightNet Site.
Media Item
Section titled “Media Item”A Media Item is the information that describes a single piece of Content distributed by a LightNet Site. It can describe a video, audio, image, or document, and provides access to the Content. The Content may be uploaded to the LightNet Site or hosted elsewhere and linked to it. For example, a Ministry can create a Media Item for each article provided as a PDF on its LightNet Site, or for each sermon hosted on YouTube and curated on its LightNet Site.
Media Library
Section titled “Media Library”A Media Library is a collection of Content organized and made available by a Ministry. LightNet is a solution for creating and operating Media Libraries.
Media Type
Section titled “Media Type”A Media Type describes the kind of Content represented by a Media Item. Ministries define the Media Types used by their LightNet Site, choosing names that match the language they use for their media.
MediaWorks
Section titled “MediaWorks”MediaWorks is a ministry of Operation Mobilisation (OM) that sponsors the LightNet open-source project.
MediaWorks equips local ministries around the globe with relevant print and digital media that helps them share the gospel and strengthen believers in their communities.
Ministry
Section titled “Ministry”A Ministry is a Christian organization that serves a local community.
Site Administrator
Section titled “Site Administrator”A Site Administrator is a software developer responsible for designing, building, deploying, and operating one or more LightNet Sites. The role requires skills in software development, site configuration, deployment, and hosting. The Developer Documentation provides technical guidance for Site Administrators.
Site Language
Section titled “Site Language”A Site Language is the language of the user interface, including button labels, menus, and other user interface elements.
A User is anyone who consumes Content via a LightNet Site.