Software development terms 101
The world of software development can be full of jargon that’s hard to decipher if you’re not familiar with the industry. Whether you’re a business leader, a project stakeholder, or someone new to software development, understanding these terms is crucial to effective communication.
Here’s a glossary of essential software development terms to get you started:
Agile development
Agile development is a project management methodology focused on iterative progress, collaboration, and adaptability. Instead of delivering a complete product at once, teams work in short cycles called sprints, delivering smaller, functional increments.
API (Application Programming Interface)
An API allows different software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other. APIs define a set of rules and protocols for building and interacting with software applications, making integration seamless.
Availability group (SQL Server)
An availability group consists of two or more database servers configured to provide high availability. If one server fails, another seamlessly takes over to ensure the application remains operational. This setup is often used to minimize downtime and maintain system reliability.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing resources (like servers, storage, and databases) over the Internet. Instead of owning physical hardware, businesses can access these resources on demand from providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud.
Containerization
Containerization involves packaging an application and its dependencies into a container, ensuring that it runs consistently across different environments. Docker is a popular tool for creating and managing containers.
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
CI/CD is a practice in software development that automates the process of integrating code changes and deploying them to production. This approach ensures that updates are delivered more frequently and reliably.
Database
A structured collection of data that is stored electronically and accessed by software applications. Databases can be relational (organized into tables, like a spreadsheet) or non-relational (organized in a more flexible format, such as documents or key-value pairs).
Debugging
Debugging is the process of identifying and fixing errors (or bugs) in software code. Developers use debugging tools to step through the code, locate issues, and resolve them to ensure the application works as intended.
DevOps
DevOps is a set of practices that combine software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to streamline the software delivery process. It emphasizes automation, collaboration, and monitoring to ensure faster and more reliable deployments.
Front-end vs. back-end development
Front-End Development: Focuses on the user interface and experience. It involves creating the visual and interactive elements of an application, such as buttons, forms, and layouts, using technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Back-End Development: Focuses on the server side of an application. It involves handling data, logic, and integrations with databases and APIs using programming languages like C#, Python, Java, or Ruby.
Legacy application
A legacy application refers to software that is outdated but still in use. These applications often run on older technology platforms and may lack modern features, making them harder to maintain and integrate with newer systems.
Libraries
Libraries are collections of pre-written code that developers can use to add functionality to their applications without writing everything from scratch. For example, a library might provide functions for handling dates, generating random numbers, or creating visual charts.
Microservices
Microservices are an architectural style where an application is built as a collection of small, independent services. Each service handles a specific business function and communicates with other services through APIs.
Middleware
Middleware is software that acts as a bridge between different systems or applications, enabling them to communicate and share data effectively.
Refactoring
Refactoring is the process of improving the structure and readability of code without changing its functionality. This makes the code easier to maintain and less prone to errors.
Scalability
Scalability refers to an application’s ability to handle increased workloads by adding resources, such as more servers or higher processing power, without compromising performance.
Source code repository
A source code repository is a central place where developers store, manage, and track changes to the codebase of an application. Tools like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket are popular platforms for hosting source code repositories.
Tech stack
A tech stack refers to the combination of technologies (programming languages, frameworks, tools, and databases) used to build and run an application.
Technical debt
Technical debt occurs when developers take shortcuts in the code for faster delivery but create long-term maintenance challenges. Addressing technical debt often requires refactoring or rewriting parts of the codebase.
Unit testing
Unit testing is a type of software testing where individual components or functions of a program are tested in isolation to ensure they work correctly.
User stories
User stories are short, simple descriptions of a feature or functionality told from the end-user’s perspective. They help development teams focus on delivering value to the user.
Version control
Version control systems (e.g., Git) are tools that track changes to code over time. They allow developers to collaborate, manage revisions, and revert to earlier versions if needed.