Software Development Vocabulary Basics: Terms You Need to Know

Language is constantly changing, not only across social groups and space but also through time. This evolution is not just natural but necessary. Why does the language need to change and what does it have to do with computer sciences and programming?

Because technology is advancing so quickly, new terms and phrases must be implemented in this field almost daily. Therefore, many words you hear from developers mean something opposite to what you think they mean. 

We can all agree – software developers use a lot of strange words and phrases. 

To prove that, we talked with our developers and asked them to write down the 10 most commonly used terms in software development.

So, in this article, we’ll go through the 10 most common terms software developers use. 

10 basic terms you should know when working with software developers

Even though we all speak the same language (sometimes), there are a lot of terms you’ll encounter for the first time when working with the developers. 

Simple words get completely new meanings and new terms are dug out straight of old, dusty dictionaries. 

For someone who is new to the entire tech space, encountering these terms for the first time could be a bit stressful. Luckily, we’ve got your back. Here are the 10 basic terms non-technical people should know when working with software developers.

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#1 Deployment

This word is most commonly heard from military personnel. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word deployment means the movement of troops or equipment to a place or position for military action. 

Even though it is similar in a sense, in software development, deployment is often referred to as something different. 

Software deployment is all about actions that lead to software being put to use. Deployment can include the release of the software, installation and activation, deactivation, or uninstalling of the software. 

To simplify, everything that has to do with the software being put to use can be called deployment. 

#2 Push

In general, push is an action that causes an object to be moved, like pushing a button, pushing a car, or pushing a cart in a supermarket. 

Developers usually refer to ‘push’ when using Git. In this case, push means sending (uploading) updates you have done in your local repository. 

Push can also be used in describing notifications in app development, where push notifications are clickable pop-up messages that appear on your phone. 

#3 Commit

This is a synonym for perpetrating or carrying out (like a mistake or a crime), or it can be a pledge or a bind (when you are reluctant to commit yourself to a particular opinion.)

In development, a commit is tightly connected to version control. Commit is, in this sense, an action that sends the latest source code changes to the repository (Git). 

These changes then become a permanent version of the state in which they are so that you can roll back to them whenever you need them. 

#4 Stack

Another everyday word that has similarities with computer language. 

When a non-developer person says the word stack, we all think of a pile of objects arranged in some manner. 

In software development, a stack is a data structure that only operates on the most recent item added. 

#5 Bug

One of the most common words, both in software development and everyday language. A bug is an insect, or a harmful microorganism, typically a bacteria. Or, in spy language, a bug is a small concealable microphone. 

The most simplified explanation of the word ‘bug’ from the software development side of view: a bug is a coding error in computer programming. 

It can also be a feature that malfunctions. “It’s not a bug. It’s a feature” is a common saying among developers. Project managers do not like this saying.

#6 Cache

We all love to have it, even though it’s spelled differently. Cash is referred to money in bills that you have on your person. 

Cache, on the other hand, is a form of high-speed data storage. Since it is slow for a user to access data from the primary storage location, the cache allows data to be temporarily stored so everyone can access it more quickly. 

#7 Cookie

The best cookies are made by your grandma, and some are the servers’ best friends. We all know that a cookie is a savory dessert, but developers know that a cookie is a piece of data stored in the web browser. The website can access this data anytime, and it tells the server some information we need. 

#8 Bootstrap

It can be on your shoe or your screen. Even though not commonly heard today, bootstrap is a loop on the back of the boot that helps you get your foot in the boot. 

However, developers know that Bootstrap is an open-source frontend framework that helps developers build responsive web pages faster and easier. 

#9 Hex

Commonly, the hex means a magic spell or a magical curse, or in some cases, it means to cast a spell or put a curse on someone. 

Fortunately, when a developer utters these words, he usually thinks about the color Hex – where every color in the visible spectrum is represented by a series of 6 letters or numbers with a # symbol in front.

#10 MVP

Finally, one abbreviation. In sports, MVP is an abbreviation for “Most Valuable Player”, while in software development, it stands for “Minimum Viable Product.”

There are dozens of examples, but we’ll stop here. 

Language has constantly been evolving. This process was slower in the past, but so was technological advancement and cultural exchange between nations. 

Today, technology advances extremely rapidly. We have means of communication that was unachievable 20 years ago, and the scope of cultural exchange is as unclear as it can be. The internet jargon and memes are shaping language like no other was able to do it before. 

Those most exposed to these influences are, in many cases, developers. They are not just innocent bystanders to the process of language evolution but the force that drives it forward. 

This is why language evolves rapidly and uncontrollably and we still have no idea what will happen in the future. 

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Lumen Spei developers are here to help you

Even though these basic software development terms aren’t too big of a hassle for newcomers to learn, there’s a lot more to development lingo.

We know our clients want results and we confidently provide results every single time. But we like to go the extra mile. It’s never good to leave a client in the dark. To eliminate such scenarios, we always help our clients learn. 

When we join a particular project, we go all in. If we identify an opportunity for improvement, we articulate it immediately. By sharing our knowledge and enriching our clients and community with our latest findings, we get one step closer to fulfilling our mission. 

Our developers are highly skilled and have knowledge in numerous areas of development. Whenever you have a chance to ask them a question that’s bothering you for some time, please do! We appreciate every question we get, as it gives us an opportunity to share what we have learned through years of work. 

If you have a project you need to get finished, there is no better team to count on than Lumen Spei. Reach out to us and let’s start working! 

Miloš Videnović

Project manager at Lumen Spei⎜Passionate about translating project visions and objectives into reality, offering tangible results in line with client expectations.

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