Engineering Glossary

From fundamental principles to cutting-edge practices, this glossary covers the full spectrum of software engineering terminology.

DevOps
Cloud Computing
Git
Containerization & Orchestration

YAML (Yet Another Markup Language)

Human-readable data serialization standard that can be used in conjunction with all programming languages.
DevOps

YAML Sprawl

Proliferation of YAML configuration files, often leading to maintenance and consistency challenges.
DevOps

Yak Shaving

Seemingly useless activity which, by allowing you to overcome intermediate difficulties, allows you to solve a larger problem.
DevOps

Yarn

Fast, reliable, and secure dependency management tool for Node.js, offering improved performance and additional features over NPM.
DevOps

Yocto

Open-source collaboration project that helps developers create custom Linux-based systems.
DevOps

Yoda Conditions

Programming style where the constant goes before the variable in a conditional statement.
DevOps

You Build it You Run it

DevOps principle where development teams are also responsible for supporting the software in production.
DevOps

Zabbix

Open-source software tool to monitor various IT components, including networks, servers, virtual machines, and cloud services.
DevOps

Zero Downtime Deployment

Deployment method that ensures the application remains available to users during the entire update process.
DevOps

Zero Nines

A measure of system availability where no uptime guarantee is provided. It indicates a service with no specified reliability commitments or expectations.
DevOps

Zero Trust

Security concept centered on the belief that organizations should not automatically trust anything inside or outside its perimeters.
DevOps

Zero-day Attack

Cyber attack exploiting a vulnerability that is unknown to the software vendor or to antivirus vendors.
DevOps

Zipkin

Distributed tracing system that helps gather timing data needed to troubleshoot latency problems in service architectures.
DevOps

Zookeeper

Centralized service for maintaining configuration information, naming, providing distributed synchronization, and providing group services.
DevOps

Zsh (Z Shell)

Extended version of the Bourne Shell with many improvements, including some features of Bash, ksh, and tcsh.
DevOps

iOS Deployment

Process of distributing iOS applications to Apple devices, often through the App Store or enterprise distribution methods.
DevOps

macOS

Apple's Unix-based operating system for Macintosh computers, known for its user-friendly interface and tight integration with Apple hardware.
DevOps
stash entry

stash entry

A single set of stashed changes in Git, which can be reapplied later to the working directory.
status checks

status checks

Automated tests or processes that run when changes are proposed in a Git repository, ensuring code quality and compatibility.
subscription

subscription

Notifications or updates a user receives about activity in Git repositories they're interested in or contributing to.
superproject

superproject

The main Git repository that contains submodules, managing references to specific versions of nested repositories.
symref

symref

A symbolic reference in Git that points to another reference, most commonly used for HEAD pointing to the current branch.
tag object

tag object

A Git object containing metadata about a tag, including the tagger, date, and optional message.
team

team

A group of users on a Git platform with shared access permissions to repositories within an organization.
team maintainer

team maintainer

A user with administrative privileges for managing a team's membership and access rights in a Git organization.
timeline

timeline

A chronological display of events and activities in a Git repository or user profile on hosting platforms.
topic branch

topic branch

A short-lived Git branch created to develop a specific feature or fix a particular issue.
topics

topics

Keywords or categories assigned to Git repositories to help users discover related projects on hosting platforms.
traffic graph

traffic graph

A visual representation of visitor activity and clone statistics for a Git repository on hosting platforms.
transfer

transfer

The process of moving Git objects between repositories during push, fetch, or clone operations.
tree

tree

A Git object representing a directory structure, containing references to blobs (files) and other trees (subdirectories).
tree object

tree object

A Git object that stores the hierarchy of files and directories in a repository at a specific point in time.
tree-ish (also treeish)

tree-ish (also treeish)

A Git term referring to an object that resolves to a tree, such as a commit, tag, or tree.
unborn

unborn

A state of a Git branch that has no commits yet, typically seen when initializing a new repository.
unmerged index

unmerged index

The state of the Git index containing conflicting changes from different branches during a merge operation.
unreachable object

unreachable object

A Git object not accessible from any reference, potentially subject to garbage collection if not recovered.
upstream branch

upstream branch

The remote branch that a local branch is set to track, used as a reference for pull and push operations.
user

user

An individual account on a Git platform, associated with personal repositories and contributions.
user-to-server request

user-to-server request

An authenticated request from a Git client to a server, typically for operations like push or fetch.
username

username

The unique identifier for a user account on Git platforms, used for authentication and mention notifications.
visible team

visible team

A team in a Git organization that is visible to all members of the organization, as opposed to secret teams.
watch

watch

A feature allowing users to receive notifications about activity in Git repositories they're interested in.
watching notifications

watching notifications

Alerts received for all notable events in a watched Git repository, including issues, pull requests, and releases.
web notifications

web notifications

Alerts displayed on Git platforms' web interfaces, notifying users of relevant activity or mentions.
working area

working area

The directory on your local machine where you modify files before staging and committing them in Git.
working tree

working tree

The set of files and directories in your project that are currently checked out and available for editing.
worktree

worktree

A Git feature allowing multiple working directories to be associated with a single repository.
write access

write access

Permission to make changes to a Git repository, including pushing commits and modifying branches.

3D Stacked Memory for Cloud Servers

High-density memory architecture using vertically stacked chips, enhancing performance and capacity in cloud server hardware.

5G Cloud

Cloud infrastructure optimized for 5G networks, supporting high-speed, low-latency services and applications.

5G Network Slicing

Technique to create multiple virtual networks on a shared physical 5G infrastructure, each optimized for specific use cases.

5G and Edge Computing

Integration of 5G networks with edge computing to enable low-latency, high-bandwidth applications closer to end-users.

6G Cloud Integration

Future convergence of 6G networks with cloud computing, promising ultra-high speeds and advanced capabilities.

ACID Compliance

Database transaction properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) ensuring data integrity in cloud environments.

AI Ethics Compliance Tools

Software ensuring AI systems adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations in cloud deployments.

AI Ethics and Bias Detection Tools

Software for identifying and mitigating ethical issues and biases in AI models deployed in cloud environments.

AI Ethics and Governance Tools

Solutions for managing ethical considerations and regulatory compliance in cloud-based AI systems.

AI Governance Frameworks

Structured approaches for managing AI development, deployment, and use in cloud environments.

AI Model Governance Platforms

Comprehensive solutions for managing, monitoring, and controlling AI models in cloud-based systems.

AI Model Interpretability Services

Cloud-based tools for explaining and understanding the decision-making processes of AI models.

AI Model Interpretability Tools

Software for analyzing and explaining AI model decisions, crucial for transparency in cloud AI services.

AI Model Marketplaces

Cloud platforms for discovering, sharing, and monetizing pre-trained AI models and algorithms.

AI Model Monitoring and Drift Detection

Tools for tracking AI model performance and identifying deviations from expected behavior in cloud environments.

AI Model Versioning and Governance

Systems for managing different versions of AI models and enforcing governance policies in cloud deployments.

AI-Assisted Coding Platforms

Cloud-based development environments that use AI to assist programmers in writing and optimizing code.

AI-Augmented Analytics

Integration of AI capabilities into data analytics processes in cloud environments for enhanced insights.

AI-Driven Capacity Planning

Use of AI algorithms to predict and optimize resource allocation in cloud infrastructures.

AI-Driven Cloud Optimization

Application of AI techniques to improve efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness of cloud resources.

AI-Driven Cloud Resource Allocation

Automated distribution of cloud resources using AI to optimize performance and cost-efficiency.

AI-Driven Cloud Service Composition

AI-based automation of cloud service selection and integration for complex workflows.

AI-Driven Code Generation

Automated creation of source code using AI models, often integrated into cloud development platforms.

AI-Driven Data Classification

Automated categorization and labeling of data using AI algorithms in cloud storage and processing systems.

AI-Driven Network Optimization

Use of AI to improve network performance, efficiency, and security in cloud environments.

AI-Driven Resource Allocation

Intelligent distribution of computing resources in cloud environments using AI algorithms.

AI-Driven Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Enhanced SIEM systems using AI for improved threat detection and response in cloud environments.

AI-Driven Threat Detection

Use of AI algorithms to identify and analyze potential security threats in cloud systems.

AI-Driven Threat Hunting

Proactive search for hidden threats in cloud environments using AI-powered analytics and automation.

AI-Optimized Cloud Hardware

Cloud infrastructure components designed or configured to enhance AI workload performance.

AI-Optimized Databases

Database systems tailored for AI workloads, often featuring in-memory processing and distributed architectures.

AI-Powered Anomaly Detection

Use of AI algorithms to identify unusual patterns or behaviors in cloud systems and data.

AI-Powered Integration

Intelligent automation of data and application integration processes in cloud environments using AI.

AI-as-a-Service

Cloud-based offering of AI capabilities, allowing businesses to leverage AI without extensive in-house expertise.

AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS)

Cloud-based AI capabilities offered as a service, enabling easy integration of AI into applications.

AIOps

Application of AI for automating and enhancing IT operations management in cloud environments.

AIOps Platforms

Integrated solutions leveraging AI for automated monitoring, analysis, and management of cloud IT operations.

AIOps for Predictive Maintenance

Use of AI-driven analytics to forecast and prevent system failures in cloud infrastructure.

API Security Gateway

Service that protects APIs in cloud environments by managing access, monitoring traffic, and preventing attacks.

API Security Gateways

Dedicated services for securing and managing APIs in cloud environments, including access control and threat protection.

API-First Development

Design approach prioritizing API creation before implementation, common in cloud-native application development.

API-Led Connectivity

Integration strategy using purpose-built APIs to connect data, devices, and applications in cloud ecosystems.

AR Cloud

Persistent 3D digital content overlaid on the physical world, accessible via cloud infrastructure for augmented reality applications.

AR/VR Analytics

Cloud-based tools for analyzing user behavior and performance in augmented and virtual reality environments.

AR/VR Collaboration Platforms

Cloud-hosted services enabling multi-user interaction in shared augmented or virtual reality spaces.

AR/VR Content Delivery Network

Specialized CDN optimized for delivering AR/VR content with low latency and high bandwidth.

AR/VR Development Platforms

Cloud-based tools and services for creating, testing, and deploying augmented and virtual reality applications.

ARM Templates (Azure)

JSON-based files defining infrastructure and configuration for Azure resource deployment.

Adaptive User Interfaces for Cloud Services

Dynamic UIs that adjust based on user behavior, device capabilities, and context in cloud applications.

Adversarial Machine Learning Detection

Techniques to identify and mitigate attacks on ML models in cloud-based AI systems.

Alerting and Notification

Systems for informing administrators or users about important events or issues in cloud environments.

Algorithmic Auditing

Process of examining AI algorithms for bias, errors, or unintended consequences in cloud-based systems.

Ambient Computing Interfaces for Cloud

Seamless, context-aware interaction methods for accessing cloud services in IoT environments.

Anomaly Detection Systems

Tools for identifying unusual patterns or behaviors in cloud systems, often using machine learning techniques.

Application-Aware Networking

Network management approach that optimizes performance based on specific application requirements in cloud environments.

Approximate Query Processing

Technique for quickly estimating query results in large-scale cloud databases, trading accuracy for speed.

Archive Storage (e.g., Amazon Glacier, Azure Archive Storage)

Low-cost cloud storage for infrequently accessed data with longer retrieval times, e.g., Amazon Glacier, Azure Archive Storage.

Artifact Repository

Cloud-based storage for software build outputs, dependencies, and related metadata.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) as a Service

Hypothetical cloud offering of human-level AI capabilities across various domains.

Artificial General Intelligence Research Platforms

Cloud-based environments for developing and testing advanced AI systems approaching human-level intelligence.

Audit Logging

Systematic recording of actions and events in cloud systems for security and compliance purposes.

Audit Trails

Chronological records of system activities for reconstructing and examining the sequence of events in cloud environments.

Augmented Analytics

Integration of machine learning and natural language processing in cloud-based data analytics workflows.

Augmented Reality (AR) Cloud

Shared, persistent digital content overlaid on the physical world, accessible via cloud infrastructure.

Augmented Reality Cloud Interfaces

Cloud-based systems for managing and delivering AR content and experiences, enabling scalable AR applications.

Augmented Reality Cloud Rendering

Cloud-powered generation of AR graphics and content, offloading processing from end-user devices.

Auto Scaling Groups

Collections of EC2 instances that automatically adjust capacity based on defined conditions.

Auto-scaling

Automatic adjustment of cloud resources to match workload demands, ensuring optimal performance and cost-efficiency.

AutoML

Automated machine learning processes for model selection, hyperparameter tuning, and feature engineering in cloud environments.

AutoML in the Cloud

Cloud-based services automating the machine learning pipeline from data preparation to model deployment and monitoring.

Automated AI Pipeline Optimization

AI-driven tools for improving efficiency and performance of machine learning workflows in the cloud.

Automated Cloud Governance Enforcement

Systems that automatically implement and maintain cloud resource policies and compliance.

Automated Compliance Monitoring

Continuous, AI-driven assessment of cloud systems against regulatory and security standards.

Automated Data Discovery

AI-powered tools for identifying, categorizing, and mapping data assets in cloud environments.

Automated Data Governance

AI-driven systems for managing data quality, security, and compliance in cloud environments.

Automated Data Wrangling Services

Cloud-based tools using AI to clean, transform, and prepare data for analysis, streamlining data preparation processes.

Automated Feature Engineering

AI-powered generation and selection of features for machine learning models in cloud environments.

Automated Incident Response Orchestration

AI-driven coordination of security incident detection and resolution in cloud systems, automating response workflows.

Automated Machine Learning (AutoML)

Cloud services that automate the process of creating and optimizing machine learning models, from data prep to deployment.

Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) Platforms

Cloud-based systems that automate the end-to-end machine learning model development process, including feature engineering and model selection.

Automated Penetration Testing

AI-driven tools for simulating cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in cloud systems and applications.

Automated Threat Modeling

AI-powered analysis of cloud architectures to identify potential security risks and attack vectors.

Autonomous Systems in the Cloud

Self-managing, self-healing cloud services requiring minimal human intervention, leveraging AI for operations.

Azure Edge Zones

Ultra-low latency edge computing extensions of Azure for 5G networks, bringing cloud resources closer to users.

Azure Policy

Service for creating, assigning, and managing policies to control Azure resources and ensure compliance.

B2B Integration Platforms

Cloud-based services facilitating data exchange and process integration between business partners.

Backend for Frontend (BFF) Pattern

Architectural approach creating backend services tailored to specific frontend application needs in cloud environments.

Bare Metal Server

Physical server dedicated to a single tenant, offering direct hardware access in cloud environments.

Bare Metal Servers

Dedicated physical servers without virtualization, offered as a cloud service for high-performance workloads.

Batch Processing (e.g., AWS Batch, Azure Batch)

Execution of series of jobs without user interaction, often for large-scale data processing in the cloud (e.g., AWS Batch, Azure Batch).

Big Data Clusters

Distributed computing environments for processing and analyzing massive datasets in the cloud.

Billing Dashboard

Interface for monitoring and managing cloud service usage and costs, providing detailed breakdowns and forecasts.

Biocomputing in the Cloud

Use of cloud resources for computational biology and genomics research, enabling large-scale analysis and modeling.

Biodiversity Impact Assessment for Cloud Facilities

Evaluation of cloud data center effects on local ecosystems and wildlife to ensure sustainable operations.

Block Storage

Cloud storage that provides fixed-size raw storage volumes, typically used for databases or file systems.

Block Storage (e.g., Amazon EBS, Azure Disk Storage)

Cloud services providing persistent block-level storage volumes for use with compute instances.

Blockchain Analytics

Cloud-based tools for analyzing and visualizing blockchain data and transactions, offering insights into network activity.

Blockchain Databases

Distributed databases using blockchain technology for enhanced security and immutability in cloud environments.

Blockchain Governance Tools

Software for managing and enforcing rules, permissions, and consensus mechanisms in blockchain networks deployed on cloud platforms.

Blockchain Integration Services

Cloud-based solutions for connecting blockchain networks with existing enterprise systems and applications.

Init Containers

Specialized containers that run to completion before other containers in a Kubernetes pod, used for initialization tasks.

Init Containers Resources

Specification of CPU and memory limits for initialization containers in Kubernetes pods, ensuring efficient resource utilization.

Initializers

Deprecated Kubernetes feature for dynamically modifying resource configurations before they become visible to the system.

Inter-Container Communication

Methods and patterns for containers within a pod to exchange data and signals, utilizing shared volumes or localhost networking.

IoT Edge Patterns

Architectural designs for deploying and managing containerized applications on edge devices in Internet of Things scenarios.

Istio

Open-source service mesh providing traffic management, security, and observability for cloud-native applications.

Istio Control Plane Components

Core services of the Istio service mesh responsible for configuring proxies and implementing policies.

Istio Destination Rules

Istio traffic management resource defining policies that apply to traffic intended for a service after routing has occurred.

Istio Gateways

Istio resources managing inbound and outbound traffic for the service mesh, providing fine-grained control over traffic flow.

Istio Mixerless Architecture

Istio design that removes the Mixer component, improving performance and scalability of the service mesh.

Istio Service Entries

Istio resources allowing the addition of entries to the service registry, enabling traffic to external dependencies.

Istio Virtual Services

Istio traffic management resources defining a set of traffic routing rules to apply when a host is addressed.

Istio's Ambient Mesh

Istio feature providing a sidecar-less service mesh implementation, reducing resource overhead and simplifying deployment.

Jaeger

Open-source, end-to-end distributed tracing system for monitoring and troubleshooting microservices-based distributed systems.

Jaeger Operator

Kubernetes operator for automated deployment and management of Jaeger tracing infrastructure in container environments.

Jaeger Tracing

Implementation of distributed tracing using Jaeger to monitor and optimize performance in microservices architectures.

Jenkins X

Cloud-native CI/CD solution for Kubernetes, automating the entire software development lifecycle for containerized applications.

Jib

Tool for building optimized Docker and OCI images for Java applications without the need for a Docker daemon.

Job

Kubernetes resource that creates one or more pods to perform a specific task and ensures they successfully complete, ideal for batch processes.

K3s

Lightweight Kubernetes distribution designed for edge, IoT, and resource-constrained environments, simplifying cluster deployment.

K9s CLI

Terminal-based UI for managing and monitoring Kubernetes clusters, providing an intuitive interface for cluster operations.

KEDA (Kubernetes Event-driven Autoscaling)

Kubernetes-based Event Driven Autoscaling, enabling fine-grained autoscaling for event-driven workloads based on event sources.

KUDO (Kubernetes Universal Declarative Operator)

Kubernetes Universal Declarative Operator, a toolkit for writing operators using a declarative spec, simplifying complex application management.

Kaniko

Tool for building container images from a Dockerfile inside a container or Kubernetes cluster, without requiring a Docker daemon.

Kanister for Application-Consistent Backups

Framework for application-level data management in Kubernetes, ensuring consistent backups of stateful apps.

Karmada

Open-source project for multi-cluster application management in Kubernetes, facilitating resource distribution across clusters.

Kata Containers

Lightweight virtual machines that feel and perform like containers, but provide the workload isolation and security of VMs.

Kata Containers 2.0

Major update to Kata Containers, introducing improved performance, reduced footprint, and enhanced security features.

Keptn

Cloud-native application lifecycle orchestration tool, automating deployment, testing, and remediation for containerized apps.

Kernel Bypass Networking

Technique allowing network packets to bypass the kernel, improving performance in container networking scenarios.

Kernel Namespaces

Linux feature providing isolation for system resources, fundamental to container implementation and resource separation.

Kilo for WireGuard-based Overlay Network

CNI plugin using WireGuard to create a mesh overlay network for Kubernetes, enhancing security and simplicity.

Knative

Kubernetes-based platform for building, deploying, and managing serverless workloads, simplifying serverless application development.

Knative Eventing

Knative component providing tools for routing events between publishers and subscribers in cloud-native applications.

Knative Serving

Knative component for deploying and managing serverless workloads, handling scaling and routing of containerized applications.

Krustlet for WebAssembly in Kubernetes

Tool allowing WebAssembly modules to run in Kubernetes clusters, enabling language-agnostic workloads.

Kube-OVN

Network virtualization solution for Kubernetes integrating the Open vSwitch software switch to provide advanced networking features.

Kube-OVN for Open vSwitch-based Networking

Implementation of Kube-OVN to leverage Open vSwitch for flexible, high-performance container networking.

Kube-bench for CIS Benchmarks

Tool for checking whether Kubernetes deployments adhere to Center for Internet Security (CIS) best practices.

Kube-bench for Security Auditing

Use of kube-bench to perform automated security audits of Kubernetes clusters against established benchmarks.

Kube-router for Direct Container Routing

Kubernetes networking solution providing direct container-to-container networking with BGP-based routing.

Kube-score for Kubernetes Object Analysis

Tool for static code analysis of Kubernetes object definitions, identifying misconfigurations and potential issues.

Kube-state-metrics

Service that listens to the Kubernetes API server and generates metrics about the state of Kubernetes objects.

KubeEdge

Open-source system extending native containerized application orchestration capabilities to hosts at Edge.

Kubeadm

Tool for bootstrapping a minimum viable Kubernetes cluster, simplifying the process of setting up a production-grade cluster.

Kubeaudit for Kubernetes Auditing

Open-source tool for auditing Kubernetes clusters and workloads for potential security issues and best practice violations.

Kubebuilder

Framework for building Kubernetes APIs using custom resource definitions (CRDs), simplifying the creation of operators and controllers.

Kubecost for Cost Monitoring

Tool providing real-time cost visibility and insights for running applications on Kubernetes, optimizing resource allocation.

Kubefed

Kubernetes Cluster Federation, enabling resource management across multiple Kubernetes clusters from a single control plane.

Kubeless

Kubernetes-native serverless framework, allowing deployment of small bits of code (functions) without managing underlying infrastructure.

Kubernetes API Versioning

System for evolving the Kubernetes API over time, allowing for backwards compatibility and gradual feature deprecation.

Kubernetes Admission Controllers

Plugins intercepting requests to the Kubernetes API server before object persistence, enforcing policies.

Kubernetes Aggregation Layer

Feature allowing the Kubernetes API to be extended with additional APIs, enabling custom resources and controllers.

Kubernetes Annotations

Key-value pairs for attaching non-identifying metadata to objects, used for tooling and client retrieval.

Kubernetes Autoscaling (HPA, VPA, Cluster Autoscaler)

Mechanisms (HPA, VPA, Cluster Autoscaler) for automatically adjusting resources based on demand and metrics.

Kubernetes Conformance Program

CNCF initiative ensuring consistency and portability across Kubernetes distributions and installations.

Kubernetes Events

API objects automatically created when other objects change state, providing a cluster activity audit trail.

Kubernetes Federation

Mechanism for coordinating multiple Kubernetes clusters, enabling multi-cluster application deployment and management.

Kubernetes Finalizers

Field on resources preventing accidental deletion, ensuring proper cleanup of related resources or external dependencies.

Kubernetes Garbage Collection

Process of automatically deleting objects that no longer have owners, preventing resource leaks.

Kubernetes Gateway API

Evolved ingress and service networking, providing a more expressive, extensible way to configure traffic routing.

Kubernetes Labels

Key-value pairs attached to objects for identification and selection, crucial for organizing and selecting object subsets.

Kubernetes Metrics Server

Cluster-wide aggregator of resource usage data, providing CPU and memory metrics for Horizontal Pod Autoscaler.

Kubernetes Operators

Software extensions to Kubernetes that use custom resources to manage applications and their components.

Kubernetes Owners and Dependents

Relationship between API objects where one object owns another, used for cascading deletion and orphan handling.

Kubernetes Selectors

Label query over a set of resources, used for identifying and grouping API objects based on their labels.

Kubernetes Version Lifecycle

Policies and timelines for Kubernetes version releases, support, and deprecation, guiding upgrade planning.

Kubernetes Virtual Clusters

Fully functional Kubernetes clusters running on top of other Kubernetes clusters, enabling multi-tenancy.

Kubesec.io for Kubernetes Manifests Scanning

Web-based tool for security risk analysis of Kubernetes resource manifests, identifying vulnerabilities.

Kustomize

Kubernetes native configuration management tool that allows customization of YAML manifests without templating.

Kustomize Overlays

Technique in Kustomize for creating variations of a common base of Kubernetes resources, enabling environment-specific configs.

Kustomize Patches

Method in Kustomize for modifying existing Kubernetes resources without directly editing the original YAML files.

Lacework for Container Compliance

Cloud security platform providing compliance monitoring and threat detection for containerized environments.

Layer

Unit of a container image representing a set of files or changes, crucial for image building and optimization.

Layered File System

Storage mechanism used by container runtimes, allowing efficient storage and quick updates of container images.

Leader Election Pattern

Design pattern ensuring only one instance of a distributed application component is active at a time.

Leader Election in Operators

Process where multiple instances of an operator elect a leader to prevent conflicts in resource management.

Least Privilege Principle

Security concept of giving a user or process only the minimum levels of access necessary to perform its function.

Lens IDE for Kubernetes

User-friendly, open-source IDE for managing Kubernetes clusters, providing a unified interface for multiple clusters.

Lightstep

Observability platform providing insights into the behavior of highly distributed software systems and microservices.

Limit Ranges

Kubernetes policy for constraining resource allocations (CPU and memory) for pods or containers in a namespace.

LimitRange

Kubernetes object defining the min, max, and default compute resources for pods and containers in a namespace.

Linkerd

Lightweight service mesh for Kubernetes, providing observability, reliability, and security for microservices.

Linkerd Data Plane

Component of Linkerd responsible for proxying traffic between services, implementing service mesh functionality.

Linkerd Service Profiles

Linkerd resource providing service-specific traffic metrics and control, enhancing observability and management.

Linkerd's Ultra-lightweight Proxy

High-performance, minimal-footprint proxy used in Linkerd's data plane for efficient service mesh operations.

Linux Security Modules (LSM)

Framework allowing various security models to be plugged into the Linux kernel, enhancing container isolation.

Load Balancer Integration

Process of connecting external load balancers with Kubernetes services for distributing incoming traffic.

Load Balancing Algorithms

Methods used by load balancers to distribute traffic across multiple container instances or pods.

LoadBalancer

Kubernetes service type that provisions an external load balancer in cloud environments for routing external traffic to services.

Local Persistent Volumes

Kubernetes volume type for locally attached storage, providing high-performance storage options for stateful workloads.

Locality Load Balancing

Technique for routing traffic to geographically or topologically closer endpoints in distributed container deployments.

Log Aggregation Patterns

Techniques for collecting, processing, and storing logs from distributed containerized applications for centralized analysis.

Logging Architecture

Design of systems for capturing, storing, and analyzing logs from containers and orchestration platforms.

Loki

Horizontally-scalable, multi-tenant log aggregation system designed for use with Prometheus and Kubernetes.

Longhorn

Cloud-native distributed block storage system for Kubernetes, providing persistent storage for stateful workloads.

Longhorn Distributed Block Storage

Implementation of Longhorn for providing resilient, replicated block storage in Kubernetes clusters.

Materialized View Pattern

Technique for precomputing and storing query results, improving performance in microservices architectures.

Memory Pressure

Condition where a node or container is running low on available memory, potentially triggering evictions or OOM kills.

Mesh Expansion

Process of extending service mesh capabilities to workloads running outside the primary container orchestration platform.