# Tendril

> Wikimedia Foundation's tool for monitoring its database servers

**Wikidata**: [Q108905024](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108905024)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tendril-q108905024

## Summary
Tendril is a free software tool developed by the Wikimedia Foundation for monitoring its database servers. It is distributed under the MIT License and is available as open-source software.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of**: Free software
- **License**: MIT License
- **Copyright status**: Copyrighted
- **Primary use**: Monitoring database servers for the Wikimedia Foundation
- **Source code repositories**:
  - `ssh://gerrit.wikimedia.org:29418/operations/software/tendril.git`
  - `https://github.com/wikimedia/operations-software-tendril`
- **Aliases**: Wikimedia Tendril

## FAQs
### Q: What is Tendril used for?
A: Tendril is a tool developed by the Wikimedia Foundation to monitor its database servers, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.

### Q: Is Tendril open-source?
A: Yes, Tendril is free software distributed under the MIT License, making its source code available for use and modification.

### Q: Where can I find Tendril's source code?
A: The source code for Tendril is hosted on two repositories: `ssh://gerrit.wikimedia.org:29418/operations/software/tendril.git` and `https://github.com/wikimedia/operations-software-tendril`.

### Q: Who developed Tendril?
A: Tendril was developed by the Wikimedia Foundation, an organization that operates Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects.

### Q: What license does Tendril use?
A: Tendril is licensed under the MIT License, which allows for free use, modification, and distribution of the software.

## Why It Matters
Tendril plays a critical role in the infrastructure of the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates some of the largest and most widely used knowledge repositories in the world. By monitoring database servers, Tendril ensures that services like Wikipedia remain accessible and performant. As a free software tool, Tendril also demonstrates the Wikimedia Foundation's commitment to open-source principles, allowing other organizations to benefit from its design and functionality. Its development reflects the broader movement toward transparent and collaborative infrastructure in the digital age.

## Notable For
- **Open-source monitoring tool**: Tendril is one of the few dedicated database monitoring solutions specifically tailored for Wikimedia's infrastructure.
- **MIT License**: Its permissive licensing makes it accessible for reuse and modification by other projects.
- **Wikimedia Foundation-specific**: Unlike generic monitoring tools, Tendril is optimized for the unique needs of Wikimedia's database environment.
- **Gerrit and GitHub hosting**: The tool's source code is available on both Wikimedia's internal Gerrit instance and GitHub, facilitating broader collaboration.
- **Free software classification**: Tendril aligns with the Wikimedia Foundation's broader mission of promoting free knowledge and open-source software.

## Body
### Overview
Tendril is a specialized monitoring tool designed to oversee the database servers used by the Wikimedia Foundation. It is classified as free software, meaning it is distributed under terms that allow users to run, study, modify, and redistribute it freely.

### Technical Details
- **License**: The software is released under the MIT License, which is a permissive open-source license.
- **Source Code**: The source code is available in two repositories:
  - `ssh://gerrit.wikimedia.org:29418/operations/software/tendril.git` (Wikimedia's internal Gerrit instance)
  - `https://github.com/wikimedia/operations-software-tendril` (GitHub mirror)
- **Copyright Status**: The software is copyrighted, adhering to standard open-source practices.

### Usage and Impact
Tendril is primarily used to monitor the database servers that support Wikimedia's infrastructure, including Wikipedia. Its development reflects the Wikimedia Foundation's broader commitment to open-source tools and transparent operations. By making Tendril available under the MIT License, the foundation ensures that other organizations can benefit from its design and functionality.

### Classification
- **Instance of**: Free software, as defined by the Free Software Foundation's criteria for software freedom.
- **Aliases**: Also referred to as "Wikimedia Tendril" in some contexts.

### Availability
The tool is freely available for use, modification, and distribution, aligning with the Wikimedia Foundation's mission of promoting free knowledge and open-source collaboration.