Software Development Terms and Core Concepts

Core Concepts

Software Stack
A group of technologies that work together — for example, programming languages, databases, and servers — to build an app or service.
(Think of it like layers in a sandwich: bread = operating system, fillings = app code, sauces = database.)

Refactor
Improving the existing code to make it cleaner, faster, or easier to maintain — without changing what it does.
(Like reorganizing your closet without buying new clothes.)

Rewrite
Throwing out old code and rebuilding it from scratch, usually in a new language or framework, to keep up with modern standards.

Framework
A reusable set of code and tools that helps developers build applications faster and with fewer mistakes.
(Like using LEGO sets instead of building every block by hand.)

Runtime
The environment where a program actually runs — for example, the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for Java or Node.js for JavaScript.

Cloud & Infrastructure

Cloud Computing
Renting computer power and storage from companies like Amazon (AWS), Microsoft (Azure), or Google (GCP) instead of buying your own servers. You pay only for what you use.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
The “raw” cloud: you rent virtual machines and networks.
(Like renting an empty office — you bring your own furniture.)

PaaS (Platform as a Service)
The cloud provides more — operating system, databases, tools. You just bring your code.
(Like renting an office that already has desks, chairs, and Wi-Fi.)

Serverless
You upload your code and the cloud runs it automatically when needed — no server setup at all.
(Like a food truck that only appears when someone orders.)

Containers
Small, portable packages that bundle your code and all its dependencies so it runs anywhere.
(Like shipping containers for apps.)

Docker
The most popular tool for creating and running containers.

Kubernetes (k8s)
A system for managing and scaling thousands of containers automatically.
(Like an air-traffic controller for containers.)

Edge Computing
Running code closer to where users are (like at a nearby data center or router) instead of far away in the cloud — for faster response times.

GPU-centric Platforms
Cloud services that use Graphics Processing Units — special chips that handle math-heavy tasks like AI and video processing — instead of traditional CPUs.

Mobile & Front-End

iOS / Android
The two major mobile operating systems. iOS is made by Apple (iPhone/iPad), Android by Google.

App Store / Play Store
Online shops where you download mobile apps.

Cross-Platform Frameworks
Tools that let developers build one app that runs on both iOS and Android. Examples: Flutter, React Native, Xamarin.
(Like writing a script that works on both Windows and Mac.)

WASM (WebAssembly)
A new web technology that lets fast languages like C++, Rust, or C# run in the browser — much faster than traditional JavaScript.

UI (User Interface)
The visible part of an app that you interact with — buttons, menus, screens.

Web Technologies

AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML)
A way for web pages to update parts of the screen without refreshing the whole page — the foundation of “modern” dynamic web apps.

Web 2.0
The era (around 2005) when websites became interactive, letting users post, comment, and share — think Facebook, YouTube, and blogs.

Node.js
A tool that lets you run JavaScript not only in browsers but also on servers.

Single-Page Application (SPA)
A web app that loads once and then updates content dynamically — faster, more app-like experience.

Angular / React
Popular JavaScript frameworks for building web apps.

• Angular (by Google) was one of the first SPA frameworks.
• React (by Meta/Facebook) introduced a simpler, “component-based” way to build interfaces.

Data & Databases

Database
A system that stores and organizes data (like names, passwords, and logs).

RDBMS (Relational Database Management System)
Stores data in tables with rows and columns — examples: MySQL, PostgreSQL.

NoSQL Database
A flexible, non-table format for big or unstructured data — examples: MongoDB, Cassandra.

Hadoop
A system for analyzing massive data sets across many computers — started the “big data” movement.

Spark
A faster and easier-to-use tool that replaced much of Hadoop’s complexity.

Lakehouse
A modern data architecture that combines the best of data lakes (cheap, huge storage) and data warehouses (fast analysis).
(Like having both your garage and your filing cabinet in one.)

Programming Languages

C / C++
Old but still powerful languages used in operating systems, games, and embedded devices.

Java
A 1990s language designed to “write once, run anywhere.” Still big in business apps and Android.

C# (C-sharp)
Microsoft’s main programming language for Windows and .NET applications.

Python
A simple, readable language that dominates AI, data science, and automation.

JavaScript
The language of the web — every browser understands it.

Go (Golang)
A newer, fast, easy-to-deploy language from Google used in cloud infrastructure.

Rust
A modern language known for safety, speed, and reliability; popular for systems programming.

.NET Ecosystem (Microsoft)

.NET Framework (2002)
Microsoft’s original platform for building Windows software.

.NET Core (2016)
A newer, open-source, cross-platform version that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

.NET 5+ (2020)
The unified .NET platform — merging all previous versions.

WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation)
Microsoft’s older technology for creating rich desktop interfaces.

Development & Architecture Concepts

Microservices
Breaking a big app into many small, independent services that communicate with each other.
(Like having multiple food stalls instead of one big restaurant.)

CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment)
Automating testing and deployment so developers can release updates quickly and safely.

Twelve-Factor App
A set of best practices for building cloud-native applications — simple, portable, and scalable.

LTS (Long-Term Support)
A version of software that’s maintained for years — stable and safe to build on.

Future Trends (2026–2030)

Edge Serverless / CDN Functions
Running small bits of code directly on global content delivery networks (like Cloudflare or Akamai) for ultra-fast responses.

Local AI / On-Device AI
Apps that run artificial intelligence models directly on your phone or laptop — faster, private, no internet needed.

Unified Lakehouse / Streaming Data
Data systems that process both live (real-time) and stored (historical) data in one place.