What phrases does our software house team use every day?
In every environment, including IT, specialised vocabulary and acronyms are often used, which can be incomprehensible to those outside the industry. Although such vocabulary significantly improves communication within a team (for example, instead of asking “at what stage is the change being implemented in the project?”, we ask “what is the status of the task?”), these terms may seem puzzling to our clients. Therefore, in this article, we will explain some of these expressions to better understand the terminology used daily by our software house team.
API (Application Programming Interface) - In the case of integration, we often ask about the available API. It is a set of rules and protocols that allow different applications to communicate with each other. Thanks to an API, for example, a mobile application can be connected to an online shop.
Backup - This is a copy that we create to store data and protect it from loss. Backups can include various types of data, from user files to application databases and source code.
Cache - This is a type of temporary memory that stores data to speed up future access to it. The topic of the cache is often discussed when implemented changes, due to the cache, are not immediately visible to all users.
Dev (environment) - This is a test development environment where developers can work without affecting the production version of an application or online shop. The development version allows for the free testing of changes without interfering with the smooth operation of the website, shop, or application.
Frontend/Backend - The frontend is the part of an application that the user sees and interacts with (user interface). The backend, on the other hand, is the part that operates on the server, processing data and managing the application’s logic.
Production - This is the environment in which the application is launched and available to end-users. In short, it is the final project that users utilise.
Sprint - This is a fundamental element of Agile methodology, which means a short period of team work on specific tasks. The goal of a sprint is to deliver a specific, working part of the software.
User Story - A User Story is a short description of a software feature from the perspective of any user. It is usually supported by a mock-up, which illustrates the paths a user might take.
MVP (Minimum Viable Product) - An MVP is the minimal version of a product that contains only the most essential features for the project. Thanks to an MVP, ideas can be quickly verified, and feedback can be gathered from users with minimal effort.
Tech Debt (Technical Debt) - Technical debt is a term that describes the compromises a project owner agrees to during software development to deliver a working product faster. However, taking shortcuts may prove costly, as in the case of future changes or expansion of the application, these shortcuts will mean more work.
We hope that explaining some of these terms will help you better understand our work and the processes involved in project implementation. During communication, we strive to use commonly known phrases or explain the meaning of industry terminology, so that technical processes do not seem more complicated due to difficult nomenclature.