Software Development Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms, tools, and concepts behind modern software development.
Product Development
MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
The simplest version of a product that delivers core value to early adopters, built to validate assumptions and gather feedback before full-scale development.
Product-Market Fit
The degree to which a product satisfies strong market demand, indicated by organic growth, high retention, and users who would be very disappointed if the product disappeared.
Software Architecture
SaaS (Software as a Service)
A software distribution model where applications are hosted in the cloud and accessed via the internet on a subscription basis, rather than installed locally.
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other, enabling data exchange and functionality sharing.
Microservices Architecture
An architectural approach where an application is built as a collection of small, independent services that communicate through APIs, each responsible for a specific business capability.
Multi-Tenancy
A software architecture where a single instance of an application serves multiple customers (tenants), with each tenant's data isolated from others.
GraphQL
A query language for APIs that allows clients to request exactly the data they need, reducing over-fetching and under-fetching compared to REST APIs.
Cloud & Infrastructure
Strategy
Digital Transformation
The strategic adoption of digital technologies to fundamentally change how a business operates, delivers value, and competes in the market.
Legacy System Modernization
The process of updating older software systems to modern technologies, architectures, and practices — without disrupting existing business operations.