docs: add comprehensive glossary

docs/.vitepress/config.ts

@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ export default withMermaid(
           text: "About",
           items: [
             { text: "About mise", link: "/about" },
+            { text: "Glossary", link: "/glossary" },
             { text: "FAQs", link: "/faq" },
             { text: "Troubleshooting", link: "/troubleshooting" },
             { text: "Tips & Tricks", link: "/tips-and-tricks" },

docs/glossary.md

@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+# Glossary
+
+This glossary defines key terms and concepts used throughout the mise documentation.
+
+## Core Concepts
+
+**Activation**
+: The process of loading mise's context (tools, environment variables, PATH modifications) into your shell session. Typically done via `eval "$(mise activate bash)"` in your shell rc file. See [Installing mise](/installing-mise) for setup instructions.
+
+**Backend**
+: A package manager or ecosystem that mise uses to install and manage tools. Each backend knows how to fetch, install, and manage tools from its respective source. See [Backends](#backends) below and [Backend Architecture](/dev-tools/backend_architecture) for details.
+
+**Core Tools**
+: Built-in tool implementations written in Rust that ship with mise. These provide first-class support for popular languages like Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, and others. See [Core tools](/core-tools) for the full list.
+
+**mise.toml**
+: The primary configuration file for mise projects. Contains tool versions, environment variables, tasks, and hooks. See [Configuration](/configuration) for the full specification.
+
+**mise.local.toml**
+: A user-local configuration file that overrides `mise.toml`. Typically added to `.gitignore` for personal settings that shouldn't be shared with the team.
+
+**Plugin**
+: An extension that adds functionality to mise, such as managing additional tools or setting up environment variables. See [Plugins](/plugins) for an overview.
+
+**Registry**
+: A collection of tool aliases that map user-friendly short names to their full backend specifications. For example, `aws-cli` maps to `aqua:aws/aws-cli`. See [Registry](/registry).
+
+**Tool**
+: A development tool or runtime that mise can install and manage, such as `node`, `python`, `terraform`, or `jq`.
+
+**Tool Request**
+: A user's specification for a tool version, which may be fuzzy or use aliases. Examples: `node@18`, `python@latest`, `go@1.21`. These get resolved to concrete Tool Versions.
+
+**Tool Version**
+: A concrete, resolved version of a tool. For example, `node@18` (tool request) might resolve to `node@18.19.0` (tool version).
+
+**Toolset**
+: An immutable collection of resolved tools for a specific context, containing all the Tool Versions that should be active for a directory or project.
+
+## Backends
+
+mise supports multiple backends for installing tools from different sources:
+
+**aqua**
+: Backend using the [aqua-proj](https://aquaproj.github.io/) registry. Supports SLSA provenance verification and provides access to thousands of tools. See [aqua backend](/dev-tools/backends/aqua).
+
+**asdf**
+: Legacy backend compatible with [asdf](https://asdf-vm.com/) shell-script plugins. Linux and macOS only. Slower than native backends but provides access to the asdf plugin ecosystem. See [asdf backend](/dev-tools/backends/asdf).
+
+**cargo**
+: Installs Rust tools by compiling them with `cargo install`. See [cargo backend](/dev-tools/backends/cargo).
+
+**conda**
+: Installs packages from Conda repositories. See [conda backend](/dev-tools/backends/conda).
+
+**dotnet**
+: Installs .NET tools. See [dotnet backend](/dev-tools/backends/dotnet).
+
+**gem**
+: Installs Ruby gems as tools. See [gem backend](/dev-tools/backends/gem).
+
+**github**
+: Installs tools directly from GitHub releases. See [github backend](/dev-tools/backends/github).
+
+**gitlab**
+: Installs tools directly from GitLab releases. See [gitlab backend](/dev-tools/backends/gitlab).
+
+**go**
+: Installs Go tools using `go install`. See [go backend](/dev-tools/backends/go).
+
+**http**
+: Installs tools from arbitrary HTTP/HTTPS URLs. See [http backend](/dev-tools/backends/http).
+
+**npm**
+: Installs Node.js packages and CLI tools from the npm registry. See [npm backend](/dev-tools/backends/npm).
+
+**pipx**
+: Installs Python CLI tools in isolated environments using pipx. See [pipx backend](/dev-tools/backends/pipx).
+
+**spm**
+: Installs tools via Swift Package Manager. See [spm backend](/dev-tools/backends/spm).
+
+**ubi**
+: Universal Binary Installer for tools distributed as single binaries. See [ubi backend](/dev-tools/backends/ubi).
+
+**vfox**
+: Backend compatible with [VersionFox](https://vfox.lhan.me/) plugins. See [vfox backend](/dev-tools/backends/vfox).
+
+## Shell Integration
+
+**hook-env**
+: The `mise hook-env` command that exports environment changes for shell integration. Called automatically by the shell hook installed via `mise activate`.
+
+**PATH Activation**
+: The default method of shell integration where mise updates the `PATH` environment variable at each prompt to include the appropriate tool binaries.
+
+**Reshim**
+: The process of updating the shims directory after tools are installed or removed. Run `mise reshim` if shims get out of sync.
+
+**Shims**
+: Small executable scripts that intercept tool commands and delegate to mise, which loads the appropriate tool context before execution. An alternative to PATH activation. See [Shims](/dev-tools/shims).
+
+## Configuration
+
+**config_root**
+: The canonical project root directory that mise uses when resolving relative paths in configuration files. Set via the `MISE_PROJECT_ROOT` environment variable or detected automatically.
+
+**Configuration Environments**
+: Environment-specific configuration files like `mise.dev.toml` or `mise.prod.toml`, activated via the `MISE_ENV` environment variable. See [Configuration Environments](/configuration/environments).
+
+**Configuration Hierarchy**
+: The system where mise.toml files at different levels (system, global, project) are merged together, with files closer to the current directory taking precedence over parent directories.
+
+**Settings**
+: Global mise configuration options stored in `~/.config/mise/settings.toml` that define behavior across all projects. See [Settings](/configuration/settings).
+
+**Templates**
+: Dynamic values in configuration using Tera template syntax, like `{{env.HOME}}` or `{{arch()}}`. See [Templates](/templates).
+
+## Environment Variables
+
+**env.\_ directives**
+: Special environment configuration directives for advanced setup:
+
+- `env._.file` - Load variables from a file (e.g., `.env`)
+- `env._.path` - Prepend directories to PATH
+- `env._.source` - Source a shell script
+
+**Lazy Evaluation**
+: Environment variables configured with `tools = true` that can access tool-provided environment variables. These are evaluated after tools are loaded.
+
+**Redaction**
+: Marking sensitive environment variables with `redact = true` to hide their values from mise output and logs.
+
+## Hooks
+
+**Hooks**
+: Scripts that automatically execute during mise activation at specific events. An experimental feature. See [Hooks](/hooks).
+
+**cd hook**
+: Runs whenever you change directories while mise is active.
+
+**enter hook**
+: Runs when entering a directory where a mise.toml becomes active.
+
+**leave hook**
+: Runs when leaving a directory where a mise.toml was active.
+
+**postinstall hook**
+: Runs after a tool is successfully installed.
+
+**preinstall hook**
+: Runs before a tool installation begins.
+
+**watch_files hook**
+: Runs when specified files change. Requires `mise activate` for file watching.
+
+## Tasks
+
+**Dependency Graph**
+: A Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) used internally to resolve task execution order based on dependencies.
+
+**File Tasks**
+: Tasks defined as standalone executable scripts in directories like `mise-tasks/` or `.mise/tasks/`. See [File Tasks](/tasks/file-tasks).
+
+**Task**
+: A reusable command defined in mise.toml or as a standalone script that executes within the mise environment. See [Tasks](/tasks/).
+
+**Task Dependencies**
+: Relationships between tasks defined via `depends` (run before), `depends_post` (run after), or `wait_for` (wait but don't trigger). See [Task Configuration](/tasks/task-configuration).
+
+**TOML Tasks**
+: Tasks defined directly in the `[tasks]` section of mise.toml files. See [TOML Tasks](/tasks/toml-tasks).
+
+## Directories & Environment
+
+**MISE_CACHE_DIR**
+: Directory where mise caches downloaded files and metadata. Defaults to `~/.cache/mise` on Linux, `~/Library/Caches/mise` on macOS.
+
+**MISE_DATA_DIR**
+: Directory where mise stores installed tools and other persistent data. Defaults to `~/.local/share/mise`.
+
+**MISE_PROJECT_ROOT**
+: Environment variable automatically set to the root directory of the current project (where the mise.toml is located).
+
+## Other Terms
+
+**Aliases**
+: Alternative names for tool versions, allowing shortcuts like `lts` for Node.js LTS versions. See [Tool Aliases](/dev-tools/aliases).
+
+**direnv**
+: An external tool for environment management that mise can work alongside. See [direnv integration](/direnv).
+
+**mise-en-place**
+: French culinary phrase meaning "everything in its place" - the philosophy behind mise. Chefs prepare all ingredients before cooking; developers should have all tools ready before coding.
+
+**mise.lock**
+: A lockfile that records exact resolved versions for reproducible environments across machines and CI. See [mise.lock](/dev-tools/mise-lock).
+
+**Tool Options**
+: Configuration in mise.toml that changes tool behavior, such as setting a Python `virtualenv` path or Node.js `corepack` preferences.