Glossary of Development terms

Business, Strategy & Management 📈

• B2B (Business to Business): A model where a company sells its products or services to other businesses.

• B2C (Business to Consumer): A model where a company sells its products or services directly to individual consumers.

• BDR (Business Development Representative): A sales role focused on generating new leads and qualifying them for the sales team, typically through outbound efforts.

• Business Plan: A formal written document outlining a company's goals, the strategy for achieving those goals, and the expected timeframe for execution.

• Burn Rate: The rate at which a company is spending its capital, typically measured in monthly or yearly terms.

• CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost): The cost a business incurs to acquire a new customer, including marketing and sales expenses.

• Cash Flow: The movement of money into or out of a business, including income, expenses, and investments.

• CEO (Chief Executive Officer): The highest-ranking executive in a company, responsible for making major corporate decisions.

• CFO (Chief Financial Officer): The senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of a company.

• Churn Rate: The percentage of customers who stop using a product or service over a specific period. A key metric for subscription-based businesses.

• CLV (Customer Lifetime Value): A projection of the total revenue a company can expect from a single customer throughout their entire relationship.

• COO (Chief Operating Officer): The executive responsible for a company's day-to-day operations.

• Competitive Analysis: Evaluation of competitors' strengths and weaknesses to identify opportunities and threats to a business.

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Technology and strategies used by a business to manage its interactions with customers and potential customers.

• CTO (Chief Technology Officer): The executive responsible for managing the technology and R&D of a company.

• End of Day (EOD): The close of a business day, often a deadline for tasks or reports.

• End of Month (EOM): The close of a business month, often used for financial reporting.

• ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning): Software used by companies to manage day-to-day business activities like accounting, procurement, and project management.

• Exit Strategy: A plan outlining how business owners or investors intend to exit their investment, such as through acquisition or IPO.

• FYI (For Your Information): A note indicating that the information is for awareness and no action is required.

• HR (Human Resources): The department of a company responsible for managing employee-related matters.

• IPO (Initial Public Offering): The process of offering shares of a private corporation to the public for the first time.

• KPI (Key Performance Indicator): A quantifiable measure used to evaluate the success of a business or a specific activity.

• Lean Startup: A methodology for developing businesses and products that emphasizes iterative development, validated learning, and experimentation.

• M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions): The process of companies combining or being bought out by other companies.

• Market Analysis: Assessment of market trends, demographics, and competitors to determine the viability of a product or service.

• Pivot: A strategic change in a company's direction or focus, often in response to market feedback or changing circumstances.

• PPC (Pay-Per-Click): An online advertising model in which advertisers pay a fee each time one of their ads is clicked.

• PR (Public Relations): The practice of managing the spread of information between an organization and the public.

• Revenue Model: A framework for generating revenue, including pricing strategies, revenue streams, and monetization methods.

• ROI (Return on Investment): A performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment.

• SOP (Standard Operating Procedure): A set of step-by-step instructions compiled by a company to help workers carry out complex routine operations.

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): The process of improving the visibility of a website or web page in a search engine's unpaid results.

• SWOT Analysis: A strategic planning technique used to identify a business's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

• Target Market: A specific group of consumers or businesses at which a product or service is aimed.

• USP (Unique Selling Proposition): The unique benefit that a product or service offers to customers, distinguishing it from competitors.

• Value Proposition: The unique benefit that a product or service offers to customers, distinguishing it from competitors.

• VIP (Very Important Person): A person with special privileges due to their status or influence.

Software Development, Operations & Infrastructure 💻

• Agile: An iterative and incremental approach to software development that focuses on delivering working software frequently and adapting to change.

• API (Application Programming Interface): A set of rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate with each other.

• API Gateway: A server that acts as a single entry point for all API requests, providing a way to manage and secure microservices.

• Assembly Language: A low-level programming language that is closely related to machine code, used for programming computer hardware directly.

• Backend: The server-side of a web application or software responsible for handling data processing, storage, and business logic.

• Bug: An error or flaw in a software program that produces unexpected results or behavior.

• CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment): A set of practices that automates the building, testing, and deployment of software. It helps teams deliver code changes more frequently and reliably.

• Client-side: The part of a web application or software that runs on the user's device (e.g., web browser), handling the user interface and interactions.

• Cloud Computing: The delivery of on-demand computing services over the Internet, such as servers, storage, and databases.

• Containerization: The practice of packaging an application and its dependencies into a single, isolated unit called a container. Docker is a popular tool for this.

• Database: A structured collection of data organized for efficient retrieval, storage, and management.

• Debugging: The process of identifying and fixing errors or defects in software code.

• Deployment: The process of releasing a software application for use, typically involving installing it on servers or making it available for download.

• DevOps: A set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten the development life cycle and provide continuous delivery.

• Framework: A pre-built structure or set of tools that provides a foundation for developing software applications.

• Frontend: The client-facing part of a web application or software, responsible for the user interface and presentation.

• Git: A distributed version control system used for tracking changes in source code during software development.

• Hotfix: A quick correction to address a bug or defect that bypasses the normal software development process.

• IDE (Integrated Development Environment): A software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development.

• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): A cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, such as servers, storage, and networking.

• Library: A collection of pre-written code or functions that developers can use to simplify their own code or perform common tasks.

• Microservices: An architectural style where a large application is broken down into a collection of smaller, independently deployable services.

• PaaS (Platform as a Service): A cloud computing model that provides a platform and environment to allow developers to build, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure.

• Repository: A central location where source code and related files are stored and managed using version control systems like Git.

• Scalability: The ability of a software system to handle increasing workloads or growing amounts of data without sacrificing performance or reliability.

• SaaS (Software as a Service): A software delivery model where a provider hosts an application and makes it available to customers over the Internet.

• Serverless Architecture: A method of providing backend services where the cloud provider manages the infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on writing code without worrying about servers.

• Shell Scripting: A scripting language used to automate tasks in a Unix/Linux environment, often used for system administration and software deployment.

• SDK (Software Development Kit): A collection of software development tools in one installable package. It includes everything a developer needs to build apps for a specific platform.

• Testing: The process of evaluating a software application or system to ensure that it meets specified requirements and functions correctly.

• UI (User Interface): The graphical layout of an application, including buttons, menus, and other elements with which users interact.

• Version Control: The management of changes to documents, computer programs, and other collections of information.

• Web Server: A software application responsible for serving web pages to clients, typically in response to HTTP requests from web browsers.

• Webhook: An automated message sent from an app when something happens. They are used to send real-time data from one application to another.

Project Management & Methodology 📋

• Kanban: A workflow management method that visualizes tasks on a board to help teams see their progress and identify bottlenecks.

• MVP (Minimum Viable Product): A version of a new product with just enough features to satisfy early customers and provide feedback for future development.

• Scrum: A specific framework within the Agile methodology that uses short development cycles called "sprints" to manage projects.

• Sprint: A time-boxed period (usually 1-4 weeks) during which a development team completes a set amount of work, as defined in Scrum.

Programming Languages & Data Formats ✍️

• C++: A general-purpose programming language known for its performance and versatility, often used for system/application software and game development.

• C#: A programming language developed by Microsoft, commonly used for developing Windows applications, web applications, and games using the Unity game engine.

• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): A style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in HTML or XML.

• Go (Golang): A statically typed, compiled programming language developed by Google, known for its efficiency, simplicity, and concurrency support.

• HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): The standard markup language used for creating web pages and web applications.

• Java: A high-level, object-oriented programming language known for its platform independence, often used for building enterprise-scale applications and Android apps.

• JavaScript: A scripting language commonly used for client-side web development to create dynamic and interactive web pages, also used in server-side development with platforms like Node.js.

• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A lightweight data interchange format used to transmit data between a server and a web application.

• Joomla: A free and open-source content management system (CMS) for publishing web content.

• Kotlin: A statically typed programming language developed by JetBrains, officially supported for Android app development alongside Java.

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): A programming paradigm based on the concept of "objects," which can contain data and code to manipulate that data.

• PHP: A server-side scripting language commonly used for web development to create dynamic web pages or applications.

• Python: A high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity and readability, widely used for web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and scientific computing.

• Ruby: A dynamic, object-oriented programming language known for its simplicity and productivity, commonly used for web development, particularly with the Ruby on Rails framework.

• SQL (Structured Query Language): A domain-specific language used for managing and querying relational databases.

• Swift: A programming language developed by Apple, used for building iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS applications.

• TypeScript: A superset of JavaScript that adds static typing to the language, providing enhanced tooling and scalability for large JavaScript projects.

• XML (eXtensible Markup Language): A markup language that defines rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable.

• YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language): A human-readable data serialization standard commonly used for configuration files and data exchange in software applications.

Software 🖥️

Business & Collaboration

• Slack: A widely used communication platform for teams, offering channels for specific projects, direct messaging, and integrations with other tools.

• Zoom: A leading video conferencing and collaboration tool for virtual meetings and webinars.

• Google Workspace: A suite of productivity and collaboration tools including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Drive.

• Microsoft 365: Microsoft's subscription-based suite of office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and cloud services (OneDrive, Outlook, Teams).

• Microsoft Office 

  This is a suite of proprietary office productivity software developed by Microsoft. It includes:

  • Word: A word processor used for creating and editing documents, letters, reports, and other text-based files.

  • Excel: A spreadsheet application used for data analysis, calculations, graphing, and creating tables. It's especially powerful for financial modeling and data organization.

  • PowerPoint: A presentation program used to create slideshows for lectures, business presentations, and other visual aids.

  • Outlook: A personal information manager and email client. It includes email, calendar, contact management, and task management functions.

  • Publisher: A desktop publishing application used to create publications like brochures, newsletters, and flyers.

  • Access: A database management system used to store and manage large amounts of data.

  • Teams: A business communication platform mostly used in the Plum Systems business ecosystem that combines workplace chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integration.

• LibreOffice 

  This is a free and open-source office suite, a project of The Document Foundation. It provides many of the same functions as Microsoft Office and is a popular alternative. The primary applications are:

  • Writer: The word processor, a direct alternative to Microsoft Word. It's used for documents, books, reports, and newsletters.

  • Calc: The spreadsheet program, comparable to Microsoft Excel. It offers a wide range of functions for data analysis, charting, and financial calculations.

  • Impress: The presentation program, similar to Microsoft PowerPoint. It's used for creating and editing professional-looking slideshows.

  • Draw: A vector graphics editor and flow-charting tool, similar in some ways to Microsoft Publisher. It can be used for technical drawings, posters, and diagrams.

  • Base: A database management program, an alternative to Microsoft Access. It's used for creating and managing databases, forms, and reports.

  • Math: An application for creating and editing mathematical formulas and equations, which can then be embedded in other LibreOffice documents.

• Miro or Mural: Online collaborative whiteboards used for brainstorming, workshops, and mapping out ideas.

Graphic Design 🎨

• Adobe Photoshop: The industry-standard software for photo editing, raster graphics creation, and digital painting.

• Adobe Illustrator: A vector graphics editor used for creating logos, icons, illustrations, and other scalable graphics.

• Adobe InDesign: Software for desktop publishing and layout design, used for creating books, magazines, and interactive PDFs.

• Canva: A user-friendly online graphic design tool with templates and pre-made elements, perfect for creating social media graphics and marketing materials.

• Affinity Designer: A powerful and fast vector graphics editor often seen as an alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

UI/UX Design 📐

• Figma: A cloud-based, collaborative design tool for creating interfaces, prototypes, and design systems. Its real-time collaboration feature is a key selling point.

• Sketch: A vector-based design tool primarily for macOS, popular for creating user interfaces and wireframes.

• Adobe XD: A tool for designing and prototyping user experiences for web and mobile apps, offering integrations with the rest of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.

• InVision: A platform for creating interactive prototypes, collaborating on designs, and managing design workflows.

• Balsamiq: A rapid wireframing tool that focuses on the basic structure and layout of a website or app, mimicking a hand-drawn sketch.

Project Management & Development 🚀

• Jira: A robust project management tool from Atlassian, widely used by software development teams for tracking bugs and managing agile workflows with Scrum and Kanban boards.

• Trello: A simple, visually-oriented project management tool that uses a Kanban-style board with cards and lists.

• Asana: A flexible project management tool for organizing, tracking, and managing work across teams.

• Monday.com: A highly customizable platform that uses a visual interface for managing projects and workflows.

• ClickUp: An all-in-one productivity platform that combines features from various project management tools into a single application.

• GitHub: A web-based platform for version control using Git, providing hosting for software development and tools for collaboration.

• GitLab: A comprehensive platform that covers the entire DevOps lifecycle, from project planning and version control to CI/CD and monitoring.

• Padloc: 

Note-Taking, Communication & Browsers 📝

• Obsidian: A powerful, local-first knowledge base application that uses plain text markdown files and links to create a network of interconnected notes.

• Notion: A highly flexible, all-in-one workspace for notes, databases, project management, and wikis, prized for its customization.

• Anytype: A privacy-focused, offline-first application for organizing notes, tasks, and knowledge in a decentralized network.

• Thunderbird: A free and open-source desktop email client that also functions as a calendar and RSS feed reader.

• Chrome (Google Chrome): The most popular web browser, developed by Google, known for its speed and vast ecosystem of extensions.

• OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software): Free and open-source software for video recording and live streaming, widely used for screen recording and live-streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

• PlumBOS ERP: An suite of business management software, including tools for ERP, CRM, accounting, and project management developed in house at Plum Systems as a result of a colaboration with the Oodo open Source project.

Security & Utilities 🛡️

• Padloc: An open-source, end-to-end encrypted password manager for individuals and teams, used to securely store not just passwords but also sensitive documents and notes.

• INFO-CRYPT: An Identity Management and Authority Management Platform designed to centralize and secure the management of user identities, permissions, and access controls within subscribed organizations while offering automatic PoPiA legislation compliance and protecting the privacy of enrolled individuals.

AI & Machine Learning 🤖

• Dala AI: An AI platform designed to create business value by building localised business Ai solution that enhances and automates specific business processes, rather than just serving as a personal assistant.

• Gemini: A family of powerful multimodal models developed by Google, capable of understanding and operating across text, images, audio, video, and code.

• DALL-E: An AI program from OpenAI that creates realistic images and art from natural language descriptions.

• ChatGPT: An AI chatbot from OpenAI built on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) language model, designed for conversational interaction.

• Midjourney: A popular text-to-image AI tool that generates artistic and high-quality images from user prompts, often used by artists and designers.

• Stable Diffusion: A deep learning text-to-image model that can generate high-quality images from text prompts and modify existing images. It is known for its open-source nature.

• Copilot: An AI pair programmer from GitHub that provides code suggestions and auto-completions directly within an IDE, trained on billions of lines of public code.

• TensorFlow: An open-source machine learning framework developed by Google for building and training machine learning models, widely used for research and production.

• PyTorch: An open-source machine learning framework based on the Python programming language, known for its flexibility and ease of use in deep learning research.

• Hugging Face: A community and platform that provides tools, datasets, and pre-trained models for building machine learning applications, particularly for natural language processing.