Glossary of Introduction to SE

2-tier2-tier is a computing model in which the server hosts, delivers, and manages most of the resources and services delivered to the client.Week 4: Architectural Patterns in Software
3-tierThe 3-tier pattern organizes applications into three logical and physical computing tiers: the presentation tier, or user interface, the middle tier which is usually the application tier where business logic is processed, and the data tier, where the data is stored and managed.Week 4: Architectural Patterns in Software
AgileAgile is an iterative method of software development. Teams work in cycles, or sprints and unit testing happens in each sprint. At the end of each sprint, a chunk of working code is released at a meeting where stakeholders can see the new functionality and provide feedback.Week 1: Software Development Methodologies
Alpha releaseThe alpha release is the first functioning version of the system released to a select group of stakeholders.Week 1: Building Quality Software
API gatewayThe API Gateway routes the API from the client to a service. Orchestration handles communication between services.Week 4: Architectural Patterns in Software
Application deployment environmentAn application environment is the combination of the hardware and software resources required to run an application.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
Application Programming Interface (API)An API is code that allows two programs to communicate.Week 2: The importance of backend development
ArrayIn an array, a fixed number of elements of the same type are stored in sequential order, starting from index zero.Week 3: Introduction to Programming Concepts Part 1
Assembly languageAssembly language is a low-level programming language that uses a set of symbols to represent machine code.Week 3: Query and Assembly Programming Languages
AttributesAn object’s properties and data are its attributes.Week 4: Object-oriented Analysis and Design
Backend developersBackend developers deal with everything that happens on the server before the code and data are sent to the client.Week 2: Overview of Web and Cloud Development
Behavioral modelsBehavioral models describe what a system does, without explaining how it does it. The overall behavior of a system can be communicated through behavioral models.Week 4: Software Design and Modeling
Beta releaseThe beta release, also called a limited release, is given to the stakeholders outside of the developing organization.Week 1: Building Quality Software
Black-box testingBlack box testing is a method of testing where the tester does not look at source code or internal structure.Week 1: Software Testing
Boolean expressionA Boolean expression is a type of programming statement with only two values, either “true” or “false.”Week 3: Branching and Looping Programming Logic
BranchingBranching logic is where a computer program makes a decision following a different set of instructions, depending on whether certain conditions are met during the program’s execution.Week 3: Branching and Looping Programming Logic
Build automation serversBuild automation servers execute build automation utilities on a scheduled or triggered basis.Week 2: More Application Development Tools
Build automation utilitiesBuild automation utilities generate build artifacts like executables, by compiling and linking source code.Week 2: More Application Development Tools
Business logicAn application’s business logic dictates things like transaction results and what data is written to and retrieved from a database.Week 4: Production Deployment Components
Cascading Stylesheets (CSS)Developers use CSS to create stylish websites. CSS provides front-end developers with a standard method to define, apply, and manage different sets of style characteristics for a website and each of its components. CSS ensures uniformity in look and feel, style, colors, fonts, designs and layouts.Week 2: Learning Front-end development
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)The CTO oversees all of the research and development in a company. They monitor the company’s systems and infrastructure to ensure that they meet company needs and budget.Week 5: Career Paths in Software Engineering
ClassA class is the generic version of an object. The class contains the object’s generic attributes – its properties and methods.Week 4: Object-oriented Analysis and Design
Class diagramClass diagrams are commonly used to communicate a software system’s structure in OOAD. The class diagram shows how the classes in an object-oriented design relate to one another.Week 4: Object-oriented Analysis and Design
Client-ServerAnother term for 2-tier.Week 4: Architectural Patterns in Software
Compiled languageCompiled languages use a compiler program creates a program file, which runs the software. The compiler takes the source code and converts it from the programming language to machine code. Then it is compiled into one executable file. Finally, the program runs when you select the icon or file on your device.Week 3: Interpreted and Compiled Programming Languages
ComponentA component is an individual unit of encapsulated functionality that serves as a part of an application in conjunction with other components.Week 4: Approaches to Application Architecture
Component-based architectureComponent-based architecture focuses on the decomposition of the design into logical components. Component-based architecture provides a higher level of abstraction than object-oriented designs. A component-based architecture should define, compose, and implement loosely coupled independent components so they work together to create an application.Week 4: Approaches to Application Architecture
Conditional statementAn “if-then” statement that allows computers to use branching logic.Week 3: Branching and Looping Programming Logic
ConstantA constant is a data item whose value does not change within a program.Week 3: Introduction to Programming Concepts Part 1
Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery or Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)CI/CD refers to the practices of continuous integration and either continuous delivery or continuous deployment. CI/CD is a best practice for DevOps teams enabling developers to deliver frequent changes reliably. Continuous Integration (CI) ensures that all the code components work together smoothly. Continuous delivery (CD) begins where CI ends. The CI process automatically builds and tests your code, then CD deploys all code changes in a build to a testing or staging environment.Week 2: More Application Development Tools
Create, Insert, Update, Delete (CRUD)CRUD is shorthand referring to the most common types of queries: create, insert, update, and delete.Week 3: Query and Assembly Programming Languages
Database Management System (DBMS)The DBMS controls a database by connecting the database to users or other programs.Week 4: Production Deployment Components
Distributed systemA distributed system is a system with multiple services located on different machines that coordinate interactions by passing messages to each other via a communication protocol such as hypertext transfer protocol, also known as HTTP.Week 4: Approaches to Application Architecture
Driver/navigatorDriver/navigator is a pair programming style where one developer is the driver, typing in the code, and the other is the navigator, reviewing the code as it’s written and giving directions on where to go next.Week 2: Pair Programming
Dynamic contentDynamic content is generated each time it is requested by the client.Week 2: Overview of Web and Cloud Development
EncapsulationEncapsulation consists of bundling a component’s data and methods to hide its internal state, so it doesn’t expose its specific implementation.Week 4: Approaches to Application Architecture
Event-drivenThe event-driven pattern focuses on producers and consumers of events. Producers listen for and react to triggers while consumers process an event. The producer publishes the event to an event router. The router determines which consumer to push the event to. The triggering event generates a message, called an event notification, to the consumer which is listening for the event.Week 4: Architectural Patterns in Software
ExtensibilityExtensibility entails the ability to add behavior to a component without changing other components.Week 4: Approaches to Application Architecture
FirewallFirewalls prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
FrameworkFrameworks provide a standard way to build and deploy applications. You can think of a framework as being a skeleton that you can extend by adding your own code, providing a scaffold on which to build your apps.Week 2: Introducing Application Development Tools
Frontend developersFrontend developers deal with everything that happens on the client side. It is everything the user can see and interact with.Week 2: Overview of Web and Cloud Development
Fullstack developersFullstack developers have skills, knowledge, and experience in both frontend and backend environments.Week 2: Overview of Web and Cloud Development
FunctionA function is a piece of structured, stand-alone, and reusable code that will perform a single specific action. Functions take in data as an input, then process the data, and then return the result as an output.Week 3: Introduction to Programming Concepts Part 2
Functional testingFunctional testing is a type of black box testing which is concerned with testing inputs and outputs.Week 1: Software Testing
General availabilityA stable version of the software intended for all users.Week 1: Building Quality Software
GitGit is a code repository where you can track changes, split code into different branches for more focused development, and then merge them back into the main body of code.Week 2: Introducing Application Development Tools
Hybrid CloudA mix of both public and private clouds, working together seamlessly, is called a hybrid cloud model.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)HTML is used to create the physical structure of a website. The physical structure contains elements such as text, links, images/videos, page dividers and buttons.Week 2: Learning Front-end development
Information developerInformation developer is another term for technical writer.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
InheritanceA subclass inherits the same properties and methods as its parent class but also may add its own additional properties and methods.Week 4: Object-oriented Analysis and Design
Integrated Development Environment (IDE)IDEs make it easier to build and manage code. Good IDEs support multiple languages and integrate with management and storage tools like Git and GitHub. Other useful IDE features include custom extensions and themes for supporting your working style and environment.Week 2: Overview of Web and Cloud Development
Integration testingIntegration testing is a testing stage that occurs after unit testing, when the components are integrated into a larger product.Week 1: Building Quality Software
Interpreted languageInterpreted languages are commonly referred to as scripted or scripting languages. Programs written in interpreted or scripted language, like Python and HTML, run through the programming interpreter on your computer’s operating system or in your web browser. The interpreter takes the human-readable scripted code and then translates it into machine code, enabling the computer to complete the requested task.Week 3: Interpreted and Compiled Programming Languages
JavaScriptJavaScript is an object-oriented programming language that is used in conjunction with HTML and CSS to add interactivity to a website.Week 2: Learning Front-end development
Learner Stylesheets (LESS)LESS enhances CSS, adding more styles and functions.Week 2: Learning Front-end development
LibraryLibraries are collections of code, like standard programs and subroutines, that you can use within your code.Week 2: Introducing Application Development Tools
LoadLoad refers to the number of concurrent users, the number of transactions, and the amount of data transferred back and forth between the clients and servers.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
Load balancerLoad balancers distribute network traffic efficiently amongst multiple servers on a network. Load balancers are used to prevent server traffic overload and are located between clients and the servers. A load balancer determines which servers are capable of fulfilling those requirements in a manner that maximizes availability and responsiveness.Week 4: Production Deployment Components
LoopA loop is a sequence of instructions that continually repeats until reaching a specific condition.Week 3: Branching and Looping Programming Logic
MethodAnother term for function.Week 3: Introduction to Programming Concepts Part 2
MicroservicesMicroservices are an approach to building an application that breaks its functionality into modular components called services.Week 4: Architectural Patterns in Software
Minimal Viable Product (MVP)The MVP is a basic feature set software release given to stakeholders so they can provide feedback on the basic feature set. The MVP contains a feature set to validate assumptions about the software.Week 1: Software Development Methodologies
NodeA node is any device on a network that can recognize, process, and transmit data to other nodes on the network.Week 4: Approaches to Application Architecture
Non-functional testingNon-functional testing tests an application for attributes like performance, security, scalability, and availability. Non-functional testing checks to see if the SUTs non-functional behavior is performing properly.Week 1: Software Testing
Object-oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD)OOAD is is an approach for analyzing and designing a software system when the system will use object-oriented programming languages to develop it.Week 4: Object-oriented Analysis and Design
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)A programming methodology that is focused on objects rather than functions, which is what procedure-oriented programming is focused on. The objects themselves will contain data in the form of properties (or attributes) and code in the form of procedures (or methods). The key distinction between the two methodologies is that where procedural programming uses methods to operate on separate data structures, OOP packages them both together, so an object operates on its own data structure.Week 3: Introduction to Programming Concepts Part
Object-Relational Mapping (ORM)Tools used to connect the database and retrieve the correct data.Week 2: The importance of backend development
On-premises deploymentFor on-premises software deployments, an organization is responsible for the system, hardware, related infrastructure, and maintenance required to run the application.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
Ops engineerOps engineer is another term for site reliability engineer.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
Package managerPackage managers take care of the tasks of finding, installing, maintaining, or uninstalling software packages at the user’s request.Week 2: More Application Development Tools
PackagesPackages are archive files that contain the app files, instructions for installation, and any metadata that you choose. They have their own metadata, including the package description, package version, and any dependencies, like other packages that need to be installed beforehand.Week 2: More Application Development Tools
Pair programmingPair programming is an extension of teamwork where two developers work side-by-side at one computer.Week 2: Pair Programming
ParameterThe data that is passed into a function.Week 3: Introduction to Programming Concepts Part 2
Peer-to-peer (P2P)The peer-to-peer architecture consists of a decentralized network of nodes that are both clients and servers. The workload is partitioned among these nodes.Week 4: Architectural Patterns in Software
Ping-pongPing-pong is a pair programming style that incorporates test-driven development. For each task, one developer writes a failing test and then the second developer writes code to pass that test. The two developers work together at the end of each task refactoring the successful code to refine and improve it.Week 2: Pair Programming
Principal EngineerA principal engineer is responsible for the architecture and design of a software solution, as well as the development of it. They are expected to create processes and procedures for your team and provide technical direction.Week 5: Career Paths in Software Engineering
Private CloudWith a private cloud, the cloud infrastructure is provisioned for exclusive use by a single organization. The software system can be run on-premises, or the infrastructure could be owned, managed, and operated by a service provider.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
ProcedureAnother term for function.Week 3: Introduction to Programming Concepts Part 2
Product managerProduct manager is similar to a product owner. The term product manager is typically used in a waterfall or waterfall-like software development project.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
Product ownerThe product owner has the vision of what the product should look like. They have an intimate understanding of the client’s requirements, and the end-user’s needs. They are responsible for leading development efforts to create the software and for ensuring the product provides the value stakeholders are looking for.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
Production environmentThe production environment is comprised of the infrastructure that runs and delivers the application to the end-user such as the servers, load balancers, and databases.Week 4: Introduction to Software Architecture
Production environmentThe production environment includes the entire solution stack consisting of both hardware and software on which the application runs as additional infrastructure components. The production environment is intended for all users.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
Project managerA project manager makes sure a project runs smoothly and facilitates communication about the project. The project manager often deals with big picture issues such as planning, scheduling, and budgeting, allocating personnel and resources, executing the software plan, and team communication.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
PrototypeA prototype is a small-scale replica of the end product used to get stakeholder feedback and establish requirements.Week 1: Phases of the SDLC
Proxy serverA proxy server is an intermediate server that sits in between two tiers and handles requests between those tiers. A proxy server can serve multiple purposes such as load balancing, system optimization, caching, acting as a firewall, obscuring the source of the request, encryption, scanning for malware, and more.Week 4: Production Deployment Components
PseudocodePseudocode provides a beneficial bridge to the project code because it closely follows the logic that the code will.Week 3: Understanding Code Organization Methods
Public CloudThe public cloud is when you leverage the software’s supporting infrastructure over the open internet on hardware owned by the cloud provider.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
QA engineerQA engineers are in-charge of ensuring the quality of the product and that the software solution meets customer requirements. They are responsible for writing and executing test cases to identify bugs or deficiencies and provide this feedback to the development teams.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
QueryA query uses predefined and understandable instructions to make a request to a database.Week 3: Query and Assembly Programming Languages
PrototypeA prototype is used to test basic design ideas.Week 1: Software Testing
Regression testingRegression testing, also called maintenance testing, confirms that a recent change to the application, such as a bug fix, does not adversely affect already existing functionality.Week 1: Software Testing
Responsive designResponsive design of a website means that it will automatically resize to the device it is being accessed from.Week 2: Learning Front-end development
ScalabilityScalability is the application’s ability to dynamically handle the load as it or shrinks without it affecting the application’s performance.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
Scripting languageAnother term for an interpreted language.Week 3: Query and Assembly Programming Languages
Scrum masterThe scrum master is focused on ensuring team and individual success.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
ServiceA service is like a component, also a unit of functionality, but it is designed to be deployed independently and reused by multiple systems. A service focuses on a solution to a business need.Week 4: Approaches to Application Architecture
Service-oriented architecture (SOA)In a service-oriented architecture, or SOA, services are loosely coupled and interface with each other via a communication protocol over a network. SOA supports building distributed systems that deliver services to other applications through the communication protocol.Week 4: Approaches to Application Architecture
Site reliability engineerA site reliability engineer, sometimes called an SRE or ops engineer, bridges development and operation by combining software engineering expertise with IT systems management. They track incidents and facilitate meetings to discuss them; They also automate systems, procedures, and processes; assist with trouble shooting; and ensure reliability for the customer.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
Soft skillsSoft skills are personal characteristics and interpersonal skills. They’re the non-technical skills are harder to define, quantify, or certify than hard skills.Week 5: Skills Required for Software Engineering
Software architectureSoftware architecture serves as a blueprint for the software system that the programmers use to develop the interacting components of the software. The architecture comprises the fundamental structures of a software system and explains the behavior of that system. The architecture defines how components should interact with each other, the operating environment, and the principles used to design the software.Week 4: Introduction to Software Architecture
Software design document (SDD)The SDD is a collection of technical specifications that indicate how the design should be implemented. It provides a functional description of the software and design considerations such as assumptions, dependencies, constraints, requirements, objectives, and methodologies.Week 4: Introduction to Software Architecture
Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)The SDLC is a systematic process to develop high-quality software in a predictable timeframe and budget. The goal of the SDLC is to produce software that meets a client’s business requirements.Week 1: Introduction to the SDLC
Software Requirement Specification (SRS)A document that combines and lists stakeholders’ requirements for an application.Week 1: Phases of the SDLC
Software stackA software stack is a combination of technologies that includes software and programming languages. The set of individual technologies is stacked in a hierarchy and works together to support the execution of an application. The higher levels in the stack provide tasks or services for the user and the lower levels interact with the computer hardware. Software stacks typically include Frontend technologies such as programming languages, frameworks, and user interface tools. And backend technologies such as programming languages, frameworks, web servers, app servers, operating systems, messaging applications, and databases.Week 2: Introduction to Software Stacks
SquadA squad is a small team of up to 10 developers. It is likely to consist of: A squad leader who acts as the anchor developer and coach for the squad. And a few software engineers who develop and implement the product features and test cases. It may also include one or two user experience developers or designers.Week 2: Teamwork and Squads
Staging environmentThe staging environment is the environment that is as close to replicating the production environment as possible but is not meant for general users.Week 4: Application Deployment Environments
StakeholderThe stakeholder is mainly responsible for defining project requirements and providing feedback if team members need clarification on requirements or if a proposed solution cannot be solved as planned.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)The SOP is written documentation that explains step-by-step how to accomplish a common, yet complex task that is organization specific.Week 1: Software Documentation
Static contentStatic content is content stored on a server.Week 2: Overview of Web and Cloud Development
Strong styleStrong style is a pair programming style junior software engineers to learn from more experienced ones. So, the more experienced of the pair is the navigator and the driver learns from witnessing their implementation and thought processes.Week 2: Pair Programming
Structured designStructured design conceptualizes a software problem into well-organized smaller solution elements called modules and sub-modules. Structured design stresses organization in order to achieve a solution.Week 4: Software Design and Modeling
Structured Query Language (SQL)The most popular language used to query databases.Week 3: Query and Assembly Programming Languages
Syntactically Awesome Stylesheets (SASS)SASS enables you to use things like variables, nested rules, and inline imports to keep things organized. SASS allows you to create style sheets faster and more easily than CSS.Week 2: Learning Front-end development
System architectThe system architect, designs and describes the architecture of a project as well as communicates that architecture to team members. They are responsible for designing the essential characteristics of the inner structure and technical aspects of the software.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
System Requirement Specification (SysRS)The SysRS contains system capabilities, interfaces, and user characteristics in addition to what the SRS contains. It may include policy requirements, regulation requirements, personnel requirements, performance requirements, security requirements, and system acceptance criteria. It also outlines expectations of the hardware needed for the system in addition to software requirements.Week 1: Requirements
System testingSystem testing is a testing stage that occurs when the application is deemed completed.Week 1: Building Quality Software
System Under Test (SUT)The SUT is the software application when it is being tested.Week 1: Software Testing
Technical ArchitectAnother term for a principal engineer.Week 5: Career Paths in Software Engineering
Technical leadTechnical leads manage a team of developers and engineers developing the software in an organization. They are responsible for the entire development lifecycle and report to the project stakeholders.Week 5: Career Paths in Software Engineering
Technical writerThe technical writer writes documentation for the end-user.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
Test caseTest cases are written to verify the functionality of a software application and ensure requirements have been satisfied. A test case contains steps, inputs, data, and the expected corresponding outputs.Week 1: Software Testing
Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagramsUML diagrams are diagrams that communicate structure and behavior using common programming language agnostic notation. UML diagrams will also be discussed in more detail in another video.Week 4: Introduction to Software Architecture
Unit testingUnit testing is often done by the developer and tests the smallest component of code that can be isolated from the rest of the system.Week 1: Building Quality Software
Use casesA use case is a description of how a user may interact with the software system. A use case tends to be more granular than a user story and describes how the system acts rather than the goal of the user’s action.Week 1: Requirements
User Acceptance Testing (UAT)UAT is a testing stage where the software is tested by the intended user.Week 1: Building Quality Software
User experience (UX) designerThe UX designer balances making software intuitive but also as robust as it needs to be to address requirements. They define how the software behaves from the user’s perspective.Week 1: Roles in Software Engineering Projects
User Requirement Specification (URS)The URS describes the business needs and expectations of the end-users of the software system.Week 1: Requirements
User storiesA user story is an explanation of a software requirement written from the perspective of the end-user or customer. A user story is stated in terms of the goal of the user’s actions.Week 1: Requirements
VariableVariables have assigned values that are passed into a function or subroutine within a more extensive program. A variable has a value that can change, depending on conditions or information passed to the program.Week 3: Introduction to Programming Concepts Part 1
VectorSimilar to arrays but vectors have a dynamic size, and they will automatically resize themselves as you add elements to them or remove elements from them.Week 3: Introduction to Programming Concepts Part 1
V-shape modelThe V-shape model is a method of software development that contains “validation” phases and “verification” phases. The V-shape model is like waterfall in that it is also sequential. Each phase in verification corresponds with a validation phase.Week 1: Software Development Methodologies
WaterfallWaterfall is a sequential method of software development where the output of one phase is the input for the next phase of the cycle.Week 1: Software Development Methodologies