Explanation of BASE terminology

Solution 1:

The BASE acronym was defined by Eric Brewer, who is also known for formulating the CAP theorem.

The CAP theorem states that a distributed computer system cannot guarantee all of the following three properties at the same time:

• Consistency
• Availability
• Partition tolerance

A BASE system gives up on consistency.

• Basically available indicates that the system does guarantee availability, in terms of the CAP theorem.
• Soft state indicates that the state of the system may change over time, even without input. This is because of the eventual consistency model.
• Eventual consistency indicates that the system will become consistent over time, given that the system doesn't receive input during that time.

Brewer does admit that the acronym is contrived:

I came up with [the BASE] acronym with my students in their office earlier that year. I agree it is contrived a bit, but so is "ACID" -- much more than people realize, so we figured it was good enough.

Solution 2:

It has to do with BASE: the BASE jumper kind is always Basically Available (to new relationships), in a Soft state (none of his relationship last very long) and Eventually consistent (one day he will get married).