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upstream

adj, adv, verb and 1 more — 11 senses

upstream

adj

/ʌpˈstɹiːm/

Etymology From up- + stream.

1

In a direction against the flow of a current or stream of fluid (typically water); upriver.

2

Figuratively Occurring earlier than something else; (also, usually, especially) being an influence on something else; causing a consequence for something else.

  • Input entry is upstream of input validation in the runtime process.
3

Figuratively Involving exploration and pre-production rather than refining and selling.

4

Computer, Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Networking, Physical sciences, Sciences Figuratively In the direction from the client to the server.

5

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences, Software Figuratively Maintained, owned, or associated with the original developers of the given software; in contrast to a modified version downstream.

  • The outage was caused by an upstream error in a payments library.
  • You can also check the upstream and/or Debian bug trackers for open and closed bugs and the upstream revision history or newer release(s).2013, Matthew Helmke, Ubuntu Unleashed 2013 Edition: Covering 12.10 and 13.04, Pearson Education:
3 more examples
  • If the developer knows the bug is an upstream bug but does not know which bug it is in the upstream bug tracker, he can add an upstream task to the bug report.2012, Jono Bacon, The Art of Community: Building the New Age of Participation, O'Reilly Media, page 141:
  • Because a user generally does not know the pedigree of the open source, it cannot know whether an upstream developer used intellectual property belonging to a third party in developing that software.2008, Michael Dennis Scott, Scott on Outsourcing: Law and Practice, Aspen Publishers, page 198:
  • We'll walk through the steps to build FreeS/WAN using the upstream tarball.2002, Tony Mancill, Linux Routers: A Primer for Network Administrators, Prentice Hall, page 190:
6

Biology, Natural sciences Figuratively Towards the leading end (5′ end) of a DNA molecule.

Antonyms
downstream
Derived terms
upstream loan

upstream

adv

Etymology From up- + stream.

1

Against the current.

  • In another moment a huge wave, like a muddy tidal bore, but almost scaldingly hot, came sweeping round the bend up-stream.1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: Heinemann, page 102:
Antonyms
downstream
Derived terms
swim upstream

upstream

verb

Etymology From up- + stream.

1

To stream upward.

2

To have (a software library, patch, etc.) accepted by the original developers of the related software, so that they maintain and distribute it.

Open-source software

  • I'd be more than happy to upstream your patch.

upstream

noun

Etymology From up- + stream.

1

Part of the river towards the upstream direction.

  • The total depth of water at the upstream was measured by using a pointer attached to a carriage sitting on the water table walls.1957, Proceedings of the Iraqi Scientific Societies - Volumes 1-6 - Page 26:
2

The original developers or maintainers of software.

Open-source software

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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