If we consider context of computing, what is the opposite of distributed? Is it single or combined ? What is the opposite of "distributed system"?
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13This question would be improved with more context. Can you provide an example of a sentence where you would like to use this word?– Kit Z. Fox ♦Aug 8, 2011 at 12:45
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2-1 for lack of context. For all I know, OP could be asking about disaster relief agencies' stockpiles which have not yet been distributed to the people in need of them.– FumbleFingersAug 8, 2011 at 16:45
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3The opposite of git is subversion– Matt E. ЭлленAug 8, 2011 at 19:28
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After 24 hours with no clarification from OP about the context, I'm voting to close as "not constructive".– FumbleFingersAug 9, 2011 at 21:15
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At the systems level, the opposite of 'distributed' is 'integrated'. The recent edit of the question title from "opposite" to "antonym" muddies the water a bit, there being several types of antonyms. At the systems level, candidates for "antonym" include 'integrated', 'pooled' and 'converged'.– JELMay 28, 2016 at 3:29
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6 Answers
In the context of databases and software applications in general, the antonym of distributed is centralized.
answered Aug 8, 2011 at 12:31
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I agree - this is a better (or at least, more generically applicable) answer than mine– SteveMAug 8, 2011 at 14:10
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2I have to disagree here. In CS terms, Distributed is generally used to mean across > 1 machines or files. Centralized is used to mean within the same organization, building or locality (Decentralized being opposite). As you can see here, a system (software, DB, hardware, etc) can be distributed and centralized at the same time. Source: I'm a CS Graduate that studied distributed systems for my Masters Thesis. Sep 8, 2015 at 14:41
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1@JoshuaKissoon I disagree. In terms of graph algorithms, a centralized algorithm can be seen as one entity taking decisions having global knowledge of the given graph, whereas a distributed algorithm can be seen as all vertices of the graph taking individual decisions based on their limited local knowledge, accomplishing (or not) a global goal. The two seem to be opposites. Aug 18, 2020 at 15:25
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I'm late to the party, but I also disagree. In my mind "centralization" is precisely a strategy for distributing work. A central "server" distributes work by dispatching it to "clients", who are all aware of the server's role as a central point of coordination. This definition confuses the role of the database as a server with the distinction between a monolithic server and a distributed server. Note: "monolithic" is the best word I've got, but it isn't great... Feb 2, 2021 at 18:05
Probably depends on the precise situation, but for written technical use I would go with "co-located". "Distributed" implies different things in different locations, where "co-located" implies different things in the same location. Both of your suggestions actually suggest only a single thing (in one way or another)
Or perhaps an appropriate word is "localized."
answered Aug 8, 2011 at 19:14
Concentrated is an antonym for 'distributed' from its connotation of 'spread out'.
- Location: Distributed ↔️ Co-located
- Control: Decentralized ↔️ Central
I also wrote a longer explanation
answered Jan 5, 2021 at 22:56
Some distributed computing frameworks [1] also use the term single node setup. This would match a context where distributed mainly refers to the fact that computation runs across multiple compute nodes. In this context, something like local computation might be appropriate as well.
