Engineering Glossary

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

DevOps
Git
Cloud Computing
Containerization & Orchestration

Compliance

Adherence to laws, regulations, guidelines, and specifications relevant to a business.
DevOps

Compliance Level

Degree to which an organization meets regulatory or industry-specific requirements.
DevOps

Compliance as Code

Approach to maintaining regulatory compliance by defining compliance requirements as code, enabling automation and consistency.
DevOps

Complicated-subsystem Team

Team responsible for a specific complex component within a larger system, requiring specialized knowledge.
DevOps

ConDep

Open-source tool for automating continuous deployment and server provisioning, simplifying infrastructure management.
DevOps

Configuration Drift

Inconsistencies between the desired configuration state and the actual state of a system.
DevOps

Configuration Management

Process of maintaining systems, such as computer servers, in a desired, consistent state across time.
DevOps

Configuration as Code (CaC)

Managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files.
DevOps

Constraint

Limitation or restriction in a system that affects its performance or capacity, often a focus in optimization efforts.
DevOps

Consul

Service networking platform to connect and secure services across any runtime platform and cloud.
DevOps

Container Image

Lightweight, standalone, executable package of software that includes everything needed to run an application.
DevOps

Container Registry

Centralized repository for storing, managing, and distributing container images, crucial for container-based development and deployment.
DevOps

Containerization

Encapsulating an application and its environment to ensure consistent operation across different computing environments.
DevOps

Containers

Lightweight, standalone executable packages of software that include everything needed to run an application.
DevOps

Containers-as-a-Service (CaaS)

Model where container engines, orchestration and underlying compute resources are provided on-demand.
DevOps

Content Delivery Network (CDN)

Geographically distributed network of proxy servers to provide high availability and performance.
DevOps

Continuous Compliance

Ongoing process of adhering to regulatory and security standards throughout the development lifecycle.
DevOps

Continuous Delivery (CD)

Approach where teams produce software in short cycles, ensuring it can be reliably released at any time.
DevOps

Continuous Delivery Pipeline

Automated implementation of an application's build, deploy, test, and release process.
DevOps

Continuous Deployment (CD)

Practice of automatically deploying every change that passes all stages of the production pipeline.
DevOps

Continuous Feedback

Constant flow of information about a product or process to facilitate continuous improvement.
DevOps

Continuous Governance

Ongoing process of implementing and monitoring policies and controls in software development.
DevOps

Continuous Improvement

Ongoing effort to enhance products, services, or processes, central to many management philosophies including Lean and Six Sigma.
DevOps

Continuous Integration (CI)

Development practice where code changes are automatically built, tested, and prepared for a release.
DevOps

Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD)

Combined practices of Continuous Integration and either Continuous Delivery or Continuous Deployment.
DevOps

Continuous Intelligence

Real-time analytics embedded into business operations, processing current and historical data.
DevOps

Continuous Learning Culture

Organizational approach that encourages ongoing skill development and knowledge sharing.
DevOps

Continuous Monitoring

Automated process of identifying compliance and security risks in an IT infrastructure.
DevOps

Continuous Quality

Ongoing process of building quality assurance into every step of the development lifecycle.
DevOps

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

Systematic approach to enhancing processes and products to achieve better performance.
DevOps

Continuous Reliability

Practice of building and maintaining reliable systems through constant monitoring and improvement.
DevOps

Continuous Security

Integrating security practices throughout the entire software development and deployment lifecycle.
DevOps

Continuous Testing

Process of executing automated tests as part of the software delivery pipeline to obtain feedback on business risks.
DevOps

Contract Testing

Testing method that verifies interactions at the boundary of an external service meet expectations.
DevOps

Cordova

Mobile application development framework that allows developers to build mobile apps using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
DevOps

CoreOS

Lightweight Linux operating system designed for providing infrastructure to clustered deployments, now part of Red Hat.
DevOps

Coupon Scraping

Automated collection of online coupon codes, often to exploit promotional offers.
DevOps

Create Test for Every Bug

Practice of writing a test that reproduces a bug before fixing the issue, ensuring the bug doesn't recur.
DevOps

Credential Abuse

Unauthorized use of valid credentials to gain access to systems or data, often resulting from poor password practices or stolen credentials.
DevOps

Credential Stuffing

Cyberattack method where stolen account credentials are used to gain unauthorized access to user accounts through large-scale automated login requests.
DevOps

Credmgr

Credential manager tool for securely storing and managing passwords and other secrets.
DevOps

Cron Job

Time-based job scheduler in Unix-like operating systems, used to automate system maintenance or administration tasks.
DevOps

Cross Platform

Ability of software or hardware to work across different types of platforms or operating systems.
DevOps

Cross-Functional Team

Group of people with different functional expertise working toward a common goal.
DevOps

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Security vulnerability allowing attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by others.
DevOps

CruiseControl

Java-based framework for creating a custom continuous integration and deployment environment, popular in early CI/CD implementations.
DevOps

Cryptomining Malware

Malicious software that uses system resources to mine cryptocurrency without user consent.
DevOps

Culture

Shared values, beliefs, and practices that characterize an organization, crucial in shaping DevOps and Agile transformations.
DevOps

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Web performance metric measuring visual stability, quantifying how much page content unexpectedly shifts during loading.
DevOps

Cybersecurity

Practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks, crucial in today's interconnected world.
DevOps

DAST

Dynamic Application Security Testing; analyzes running applications to find vulnerabilities.
DevOps

DDoS

Distributed Denial of Service; cyberattack that floods a system with traffic to make it unavailable.
DevOps

DNS Lookup Time

Time taken to query the Domain Name System to translate a domain name into an IP address.
DevOps

DORA Metrics

Four key metrics (deployment frequency, lead time for changes, time to restore service, change failure rate) used to measure software delivery performance.
DevOps

Dark Launch

Technique of releasing features to production that are invisible to users until activated, allowing for testing in real environments.
DevOps

Dark Launching

Deploying code or feature flags to production without making them visible to users.
DevOps

Dark Release

Releasing new features to production that are invisible to users until activated.
DevOps

Dashboards

Visual displays of key performance indicators and metrics, providing at-a-glance views of business performance or system status.
DevOps

Data Breach

Incident where sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by unauthorized individuals.
DevOps

Data Leakage

Unauthorized transmission of data from within an organization to an external destination or recipient.
DevOps

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Set of tools and processes to ensure sensitive data is not lost, misused, or accessed by unauthorized users.
DevOps

Data Security

Protective measures applied to prevent unauthorized access to databases, websites, and computers.
DevOps

Database Management

Process of storing, organizing, and managing data in databases, ensuring data integrity, security, and accessibility.
DevOps

Database Versioning

Practice of keeping different versions of database schemas, often in conjunction with application versioning.
DevOps

Datadog

Monitoring and analytics platform for cloud-scale applications, providing full-stack observability for IT infrastructure and application performance.
DevOps

Dead Code

Source code that's never executed or has no effect on program output, often a target for removal to improve maintainability and performance.
DevOps

Declarative Infrastructure

Defining infrastructure using a descriptive model, focusing on what should be deployed rather than how.
DevOps

Dedicated Environment

Computing resources exclusively allocated to a single user, project, or organization.
DevOps

Defense-in-Depth (DiD)

Cybersecurity strategy that employs multiple layers of security controls to protect assets and data from various types of threats.
DevOps

Definition of Done

Agreed-upon set of items that must be completed before a project or user story can be considered complete.
DevOps

Deis

Open-source Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that makes it easy to deploy and manage applications.
DevOps

Denial of Service (DoS)

Cyberattack aimed at making a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users.
DevOps

Deploykit

Tool designed to simplify and automate the process of deploying software applications across different environments and platforms.
DevOps

Deployment

Process of making software available and ready for use in a specific environment.
DevOps

Deployment Frequency

Rate at which new code or features are deployed to production, often used as a key metric in DevOps practices.
DevOps

Deployment Pattern

Standardized approach to rolling out software updates or changes, ensuring consistency and reliability in the deployment process.
DevOps

Deployment Pipeline

Automated manifestation of the process for getting software from version control to users.
DevOps

Deployment Target

Specific environment or infrastructure where software is deployed, such as development, staging, or production environments.
DevOps

Design Patterns

Reusable solutions to commonly occurring problems in software design, providing tested, proven development paradigms.
DevOps

Dev (from DevOps)

Represents the development aspects in the DevOps methodology, focusing on software creation and testing processes.
DevOps

DevOps

Set of practices combining software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten the development lifecycle.
DevOps

DevOps Assembly Line

Series of automated steps for building, testing, and deploying software in a DevOps environment.
DevOps

DevOps Culture

Organizational culture that bridges the gap between development and operation teams.
DevOps

DevOps Engineer

Professional combining software development and IT operations skills to improve collaboration and productivity.
DevOps

DevOps Lifecycle

Continuous cycle of development, testing, deployment, and monitoring in DevOps practices.
DevOps

DevOps Model

Conceptual framework for integrating development and operations teams and practices.
DevOps

DevOps Pipeline

Automated processes and tools used to move code from development to production in DevOps.
DevOps

DevOps Team

Cross-functional team responsible for the entire software delivery process in a DevOps environment.
DevOps

DevOps-as-a-Service

Outsourcing of DevOps functions to a third-party provider, offering expertise and tools to improve software delivery processes.
DevOps

DevSecOps

Approach integrating security practices within the DevOps process, ensuring security is considered throughout the software development lifecycle.
DevOps

DevSecOps Pipeline

Automated workflow that integrates security at every phase of the software development lifecycle.
DevOps

DevXOps

Extension of DevOps principles to include all teams involved in delivering software.
DevOps

Developer Experience

Overall experience developers have when using tools, platforms, or processes in their work.
DevOps

Device Fingerprinting

Technique of collecting information about a device for identification purposes, used in security and fraud prevention.
DevOps

Diamond

Ruby-based system monitoring tool that collects metrics and allows configuring custom collectors.
DevOps

Digital Customer Experience

Overall experience a customer has with a brand through digital channels and touchpoints.
DevOps

Directory Traversal

Security vulnerability allowing attackers to access unauthorized directories, potentially exposing sensitive files.
DevOps

Distributed Tracing

Method of tracking application requests as they flow through distributed systems.
DevOps

Distributed Version Control System (DVCS)

Version control system where the complete codebase, including its full history, is mirrored on every developer's computer.
DevOps

Django Framework

High-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design.
DevOps
@mention

@mention

A feature in Git platforms that allows users to notify specific team members or reference issues by using the @ symbol followed by a username.
API preview

API preview

A feature allowing developers to test and provide feedback on new Git API functionality before it's officially released.
Bare Repository

Bare Repository

A Git repository containing version control information without a working directory, typically used as a central repository for collaboration.
Bisect

Bisect

A Git command used to perform a binary search through a repository's history to identify the commit that introduced a bug or issue.
Bitbucket Pipelines

Bitbucket Pipelines

An integrated CI/CD service in Bitbucket for automating builds, tests, and deployments.
Blame

Blame

A Git feature that shows which user last modified each line of a file, helping developers trace changes and understand code history.
Blamestorming

Blamestorming

A collaborative process of analyzing Git blame information to identify the source of bugs or issues in a codebase.
Branch

Branch

A parallel version of a repository, allowing developers to work on different features or experiments without affecting the main codebase.
Branch policies

Branch policies

Rules enforced on Git branches to ensure code quality, require reviews, or restrict certain actions before merging.
Business plan

Business plan

A premium subscription tier offered by Git hosting services, providing advanced features and support for enterprise users.
CA certificate

CA certificate

A digital certificate issued by a Certificate Authority, used in Git to establish secure HTTPS connections and verify server identities.
Cache

Cache

A temporary storage area that holds frequently accessed data for quick retrieval, improving system performance.
Checkout

Checkout

A Git command used to switch between different branches or restore files from a specific commit in a repository's history.
Cherry-Pick

Cherry-Pick

A Git operation that applies the changes from a specific commit to the current branch, useful for selective code integration.
Cherry-picking

Cherry-picking

The practice of selecting and applying specific commits from one branch to another in Git, often used for targeted bug fixes.
Clone

Clone

The process of creating a local copy of a remote Git repository, allowing developers to work on the codebase independently.
Code owners file

Code owners file

A file specifying individuals or teams responsible for code in different parts of a repository.
Commit

Commit

Operation in version control systems that saves changes to the local repository, creating a new revision with a unique identifier.
Conflict

Conflict

A situation in Git where incompatible changes have been made to the same part of a file, requiring manual resolution before merging.
Continuous Integration

Continuous Integration

Practice of merging all developer working copies to a shared mainline several times a day.
DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph)

DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph)

Directed Acyclic Graph, the underlying data structure used by Git to represent the commit history and relationships between commits.
Detach HEAD

Detach HEAD

A Git operation that moves the HEAD pointer to a specific commit, allowing for temporary exploration of historical states.
Diff

Diff

A Git command or operation that shows the differences between two commits, branches, files, or other Git objects.
Downstream

Downstream

Refers to the direction of change propagation in Git, typically from a parent branch to its child branches or forks.
Explorer

Explorer

A feature in Git platforms for browsing repository contents, viewing files, and navigating through different branches.
Feature branch workflow

Feature branch workflow

A Git pattern where each new feature is developed in a dedicated branch, then merged back to the main branch.
Fetch

Fetch

A Git command that retrieves changes from a remote repository without automatically merging them into the local branch.
Force Push

Force Push

A Git push operation that overwrites the remote branch's history with the local branch, potentially causing data loss if used carelessly.
Fork

Fork

A personal copy of another user's repository on a Git hosting platform, allowing independent development without affecting the original project.
Free plan

Free plan

A no-cost tier offered by Git hosting services, typically with limited features and storage for individual users or small projects.
GPG (GNU Privacy Guard)

GPG (GNU Privacy Guard)

An encryption software used with Git for signing commits and tags, enhancing security and verification.
Gist

Gist

A simple way to share code snippets, notes, or small files using Git, often integrated into Git platforms.
Git

Git

Distributed version control system for tracking changes in source code during software development.
Git Alias

Git Alias

A custom shortcut command defined by users to simplify complex or frequently used Git operations.
Git Alternates

Git Alternates

A mechanism in Git allowing a repository to borrow objects from another repository, useful for saving disk space in large projects.
Git Annotate

Git Annotate

A Git command that shows the author and commit information for each line in a file, similar to the "blame" feature.
Git Assume Unchanged

Git Assume Unchanged

A Git feature that tells the system to temporarily ignore changes to a tracked file, useful for local configuration files.
Git Attributes

Git Attributes

A mechanism in Git for defining attributes on a per-path basis, controlling how Git handles certain files or directories.
Git Bisect

Git Bisect

A Git command used to perform a binary search through the commit history to find the commit that introduced a bug.
Git Bisect Run

Git Bisect Run

An automated version of Git Bisect that uses a script to determine if each checked-out commit is "good" or "bad".
Git Blame -C (Copy Detection)

Git Blame -C (Copy Detection)

An enhanced version of Git Blame that detects lines moved or copied from other files, providing better change tracking.
Git Bundle

Git Bundle

A Git command that creates a single file containing all the data needed to recreate a repository's branch or history.
Git Bundle Create/Verify

Git Bundle Create/Verify

Commands to create and verify Git bundles, useful for transferring repository data without using a network.
Git Cheat Sheet

Git Cheat Sheet

A quick reference guide summarizing common Git commands and their usage, helpful for both beginners and experienced users.
Git Cherry

Git Cherry

A Git command used to find commits that haven't been merged upstream, useful for identifying changes to be applied to another branch.
Git Clean

Git Clean

A command to remove untracked files from the working directory, helping to maintain a clean repository state.
Git Commit --amend

Git Commit --amend

A command that allows you to modify the most recent commit, adding new changes or updating the commit message.
Git Commit Amend

Git Commit Amend

A command that allows you to modify the most recent commit, changing its message or contents, and update it without creating a new commit.
Git Commit Hooks

Git Commit Hooks

Scripts that run automatically before or after a commit, allowing you to enforce rules, format code, or perform checks on changes.
Git Commit Templates

Git Commit Templates

Predefined structures for commit messages, helping maintain consistency and include necessary information in commits.
Git Commit Trailers

Git Commit Trailers

Metadata added to the end of commit messages, often used for things like issue references or sign-offs.
Git Commit-graph

Git Commit-graph

A file format used to store commit graph structure, improving performance for operations that traverse commit history.
Git Commit-graph Verify

Git Commit-graph Verify

A command to check the integrity and validity of the commit-graph file in a Git repository.
Git Commit-tree

Git Commit-tree

A low-level Git command used to create a new commit object from an existing tree object.
Git Config

Git Config

A command and system for setting configuration options for Git on a global, local, or repository level.
Git Count-objects

Git Count-objects

A diagnostic command that provides statistics about the number and size of objects in a Git repository.
Git Credential Helper

Git Credential Helper

A system that securely stores and retrieves credentials for Git operations, reducing the need for manual authentication.
Git Daemon

Git Daemon

A lightweight server for the Git protocol, allowing anonymous read access to Git repositories.
Git Dangling Objects

Git Dangling Objects

Objects in Git that are not reachable from any reference, often created during rebasing or other history-altering operations.
Git Describe

Git Describe

A command that generates a human-readable name for a commit based on the most recent tag and additional commit information.
Git Diff

Git Diff

A command that shows changes between commits, branches, files, or the working directory and the index.
Git Diff Algorithms

Git Diff Algorithms

Various methods used by Git to compute differences between versions of files, optimizing for different scenarios.
Git Diff Tool

Git Diff Tool

An external program or interface used to visualize differences between files or commits in a more user-friendly manner.
Git Fetch --All

Git Fetch --All

A command that fetches updates from all remote repositories configured in a Git project.
Git Filter-branch

Git Filter-branch

A powerful tool for rewriting Git history, allowing for large-scale changes across many commits.
Git Flow

Git Flow

A branching model for Git that defines a strict branching structure designed to support multiple parallel developments.
Git Fork

Git Fork

The process of creating a personal copy of someone else's project, allowing for independent development without affecting the original.
Git Fsck

Git Fsck

A command that verifies the connectivity and validity of objects in the Git database.
Git Fsck (File System Check)

Git Fsck (File System Check)

Verifies the integrity of objects in the Git database, checking for corruption and inconsistencies.
Git GPG verification

Git GPG verification

A security feature in Git that uses GPG to sign and verify commits and tags, ensuring authenticity.
Git Garbage Collection (gc)

Git Garbage Collection (gc)

A process that optimizes the Git repository by removing unnecessary files and compressing objects.
Git Gc (Garbage Collection)

Git Gc (Garbage Collection)

Short for Git Garbage Collection, a command to clean up unnecessary files and optimize the repository.
Git Grep

Git Grep

A command for searching files in a Git repository using regular expressions or simple string matching.
Git Hook

Git Hook

A script that Git automatically runs before or after specific events, like commits or merges, to customize workflows and enforce rules.
Git Hooks

Git Hooks

Same as Git Hook, scripts triggered by various Git actions to automate tasks or enforce policies.
Git Ignore

Git Ignore

A mechanism to specify intentionally untracked files that Git should ignore, typically defined in a .gitignore file.
Git Index Format

Git Index Format

The internal format used by Git to store the staging area information, representing the next commit to be made.
Git Init

Git Init

A command used to initialize a new Git repository, creating the necessary directory structure for version control.
Git Interactive Rebase

Git Interactive Rebase

A feature allowing users to modify commits in their branch history, useful for cleaning up before merging.
Git Internals (objects, refs, etc.)

Git Internals (objects, refs, etc.)

The underlying data structures and mechanisms Git uses to store and manage version control information.
Git Interpret-trailers

Git Interpret-trailers

A command to parse and manipulate the trailer lines typically found at the end of commit messages.
Git LFS (Large File Storage)

Git LFS (Large File Storage)

A system that manages large files by storing them outside the main repository, replacing them with lightweight pointers to improve performance and efficiency.
Git Large File Storage (LFS)

Git Large File Storage (LFS)

An extension that replaces large files with text pointers in Git, while storing the file contents on a remote server.
Git Log

Git Log

A command to display the commit history of a repository, showing details like author, date, and commit message.
Git Maintenance

Git Maintenance

A set of tasks performed to keep a Git repository in good condition, including garbage collection and optimization.
Git Merge Strategies

Git Merge Strategies

Different algorithms used by Git to combine separate development histories when merging branches.
Git Merge Tools

Git Merge Tools

External programs or interfaces used to resolve merge conflicts in a more visual and user-friendly manner.
Git Merge-base

Git Merge-base

A command that finds the best common ancestor between two commits, useful for determining the point where branches diverged.
Git Multi-pack Index (MIDX)

Git Multi-pack Index (MIDX)

A feature that improves performance for repositories with many pack files by creating an index across multiple packs.
Git Namespaces

Git Namespaces

A feature allowing multiple references (like branches or tags) with the same name to coexist by separating them into different namespaces.
Git Notes

Git Notes

A way to add or inspect object notes, allowing additional information to be attached to Git objects without changing their SHA-1 hash.
Git Object Storage

Git Object Storage

The system Git uses to store all the versions of files, commits, and other objects in a content-addressable filesystem.
Git Pack Files

Git Pack Files

Compressed files containing Git objects, used to efficiently store and transfer repository data.
Git Packfile Format

Git Packfile Format

The internal format used by Git to store multiple objects efficiently in a single file, reducing disk usage and improving performance.
Git Partial Clone

Git Partial Clone

A feature allowing users to clone a repository without downloading all of its objects, saving bandwidth and storage.
Git Patch

Git Patch

A file format representing changes between versions, used for sharing and applying modifications across different repositories.
Git Plumbing Commands

Git Plumbing Commands

Low-level Git commands that expose the internal workings of Git, primarily used for scripting and advanced operations.
Git Porcelain Commands

Git Porcelain Commands

User-friendly commands for everyday tasks, like git status and git commit, designed for ease of use and clear output.
Git Protocol

Git Protocol

The native network protocol used by Git for efficient data transfer between repositories.
Git Prune

Git Prune

A command that removes objects that are no longer reachable from any references in the repository.

Human-Robot Interaction in the Cloud

Cloud-based systems facilitating communication between humans and robots or AI agents.

Hybrid Blockchain-Cloud Solutions

Systems integrating blockchain technology with traditional cloud services for enhanced security and transparency.

Hybrid Cloud Management

Tools and practices for managing resources across public and private cloud environments.

Hybrid Cloud Monitoring

Tracking performance and health of resources spanning both public and private cloud environments.

Hybrid Cloud Orchestration

Coordinating and automating workflows across multiple cloud environments and on-premises infrastructure.

Hybrid Cloud Storage

Data storage solutions that span both on-premises and cloud environments, offering flexible and scalable data management.

Hybrid Connectivity

Network solutions that connect on-premises infrastructure with cloud services, enabling seamless integration and data flow.

Hybrid Identity Management

Managing user identities and access across both on-premises systems and cloud services.

Hybrid Integration Platforms

Tools for connecting applications, data, and processes across on-premises and cloud environments.

Hybrid Quantum-Classical Algorithms

Computational methods combining quantum and classical processing in cloud environments.

Hybrid Quantum-Classical Computing

Using both quantum and classical computing resources in tandem for cloud-based problem-solving.

Hybrid Transactional/Analytical Processing (HTAP)

Database systems supporting both real-time transactions and analytics in cloud environments.

Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)

Integrated compute, storage, and networking in a single cloud-managed system, simplifying data center architecture.

Hyperparameter Tuning

Process of optimizing machine learning model parameters in cloud-based environments.

Hypervisor

Software layer that manages virtual machines in cloud computing environments, enabling efficient resource utilization and isolation.

IAM Roles and Policies

Defined permissions and access controls for users and services in cloud environments.

ISO 27001 Certification

International standard for information security management in cloud environments.

Identity-Aware Proxies

Security tools that verify user identity before granting access to cloud applications.

Image Scanning

Automated process of examining container images for vulnerabilities in cloud environments.

Immutable Infrastructure Security

Security approach based on replacing rather than modifying cloud infrastructure components.

Immutable Storage

Cloud storage that prevents data modification after writing, ensuring data integrity and compliance.

In-Memory Database (e.g., Amazon ElastiCache, Azure Cache for Redis)

Database system that primarily uses main memory for data storage in cloud environments.

In-Memory Grid Computing

Distributed computing using the collective memory of networked computers in the cloud.

In-Network Computing

Processing data within network devices to reduce latency and bandwidth use in cloud architectures.

Incremental Computing Frameworks

Systems for efficiently updating computation results when input data changes in cloud environments.

Indexing

Process of organizing data to optimize query performance in cloud databases, enhancing search and retrieval efficiency.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security Scanning

Automated tools for identifying security issues in infrastructure definition files.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Testing

Validating infrastructure definitions before deployment in cloud environments, ensuring reliability and consistency.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Cloud-based provision of virtualized computing resources over the internet, including servers, storage, and networking.

Infrastructure-from-Code

Generating cloud infrastructure configurations directly from application code, streamlining development and deployment processes.

Instance Types (e.g., General Purpose, Compute Optimized, Memory Optimized)

Predefined virtual server configurations optimized for different use cases in cloud environments.

Integration Flow Designer

Visual tool for creating and managing data integration processes in cloud environments.

Integration Monitoring and Analytics

Tools for tracking and analyzing the performance of integrated cloud systems and processes.

Intelligent Tiering

Automated data storage class selection based on access patterns in cloud environments.

Intelligent Tiering for Storage

Automatic movement of data between storage tiers based on usage patterns in the cloud.

Intent-Based Networking

Network management approach using AI to automate configuration based on business intent.

Internet Gateway

Network node that connects cloud VPCs to the internet, enabling communication with external resources.

Interplanetary File System (IPFS) Cloud Storage

Decentralized storage system for distributing and accessing files in the cloud, enhancing data availability and resilience.

Intrusion Detection System (IDS)

Security tool that monitors network traffic for suspicious activity in cloud environments.

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Security system that not only detects but also blocks potential threats in cloud networks.

IoT Analytics

Processing and analyzing data from Internet of Things devices in cloud environments.

IoT Anomaly Detection

Identifying unusual patterns in data from IoT devices using cloud-based analytics.

IoT Central (Azure)

Fully managed IoT application platform in the Azure cloud for connecting, monitoring, and managing IoT devices at scale.

IoT Data Ingestion

Process of collecting and importing data from IoT devices into cloud systems for storage, analysis, and processing.

IoT Data Lake

Centralized repository in the cloud for storing large volumes of IoT device data.

IoT Device Management

Cloud-based systems for monitoring, updating, and controlling IoT devices, ensuring efficient operation and security at scale.

IoT Device Provisioning

Process of setting up and configuring IoT devices for secure cloud connectivity.

IoT Device SDK

Software development kit for building applications that connect IoT devices to cloud services.

IoT Edge

Deploying cloud intelligence directly to IoT devices for local processing and analytics.

IoT Edge Computing

Processing data from IoT devices locally before sending to the cloud, reducing latency and bandwidth usage.

IoT Greengrass (AWS)

AWS service for running local compute, messaging, and data caching for connected IoT devices.

IoT Hub

Central message hub for bi-directional communication between IoT applications and devices.

IoT Integration Frameworks

Tools for connecting and managing diverse IoT devices and data streams in cloud environments.

IoT Lifecycle Management

Cloud-based tools for managing IoT devices from deployment through retirement, ensuring efficient device administration.

IoT Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates

Remote software updates for IoT devices managed through cloud platforms, ensuring device security and functionality.

IoT Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Cloud-based platform for developing, managing, and integrating IoT applications and devices.

IoT Protocols (MQTT, CoAP)

Lightweight communication protocols designed for IoT devices in cloud environments.

IoT Rules Engine

Cloud service for processing and acting on data from IoT devices based on predefined conditions.

IoT Security

Measures to protect IoT devices, data, and infrastructure in cloud-connected environments.

IoT Streaming Analytics

Real-time processing and analysis of data streams from IoT devices in the cloud.

Key Management Service (KMS)

Cloud service for creating and managing cryptographic keys for data encryption, ensuring secure data protection.

Knative

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

Kubeless

Kubernetes-native serverless framework enabling function deployment without managing underlying infrastructure.

Kubernetes Network Policies

Rules for controlling network traffic between pods in Kubernetes clusters, enhancing security in cloud-native environments.

Kubernetes Security Posture Management (KSPM)

Tools for assessing and improving security configurations in Kubernetes environments.

Kubernetes Services (e.g., Amazon EKS, Azure AKS, Google GKE)

Managed Kubernetes platforms offered by major cloud providers for container orchestration.

Kustomize

Kubernetes native configuration management tool for customizing application configurations.

Lambda@Edge (AWS)

AWS service for running Lambda functions at edge locations to customize content delivery.

Launch Configuration

Template for EC2 instance settings used in Auto Scaling groups, defining instance type, AMI, and other parameters.

Least Privilege Principle

Security concept of granting only the minimum permissions necessary in cloud environments.

License Optimization for Cloud

Managing software licenses efficiently to reduce costs in cloud environments, ensuring compliance and cost-effectiveness.

Lift and Shift

Migration strategy of moving applications to the cloud without significant modifications.

Lightweight VMs (like Firecracker)

Minimalist virtual machines designed for fast startup and low resource usage in cloud environments.

Linkerd

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

Liquid Cooling for High-Density Compute

Using liquid to dissipate heat in densely packed cloud data centers for improved efficiency.

Load Balancer (Application, Network, Classic)

Service that distributes incoming network traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server becomes overwhelmed.

Log Analytics

Process of collecting, analyzing, and visualizing log data from cloud resources for insights and troubleshooting.

Log Intelligence

AI-driven analysis of log data to identify patterns, anomalies, and insights in cloud environments.

Low-Code Integration Platforms

Tools for building application integrations with minimal hand-coding in cloud environments.

Low-Code/No-Code Development Platforms

Cloud-based tools for creating applications with little to no traditional programming.

Low-Code/No-Code Platforms

Cloud services enabling app development with minimal coding, using visual interfaces and pre-built components.

MQTT Protocol

Lightweight messaging protocol designed for IoT devices and low-bandwidth networks in cloud ecosystems.

Machine Learning Platforms (e.g., Amazon SageMaker, Azure Machine Learning)

Cloud-based services for building, training, and deploying machine learning models at scale.

Master Data Management (MDM) in the Cloud

Centralized management of critical business data entities in cloud environments.

Meta-Learning Frameworks

Tools for developing AI models that can learn how to learn, improving adaptability in cloud environments.

Metadata Management Services

Cloud tools for organizing, integrating, and governing metadata across various data sources.

Metamaterial Antennas for Cloud Connectivity

Advanced antenna designs using engineered materials to enhance cloud network performance.

Metric Collection

Gathering and storing quantitative data about cloud resource performance and usage.

Micro-Frontends

Architectural style where frontend apps are composed from independently deployable components in the cloud.

Microsegmentation Orchestration

Automating the process of dividing cloud networks into secure zones for enhanced protection.

Microservices Integration

Connecting and coordinating interactions between independent microservices in cloud architectures.

Migration Planning

Strategic process of preparing and scheduling the move of applications and data to cloud environments.

Mixed Reality as a Service

Cloud-based platforms for developing and deploying mixed reality applications, combining virtual and physical environments.

Mobile Edge Computing

Bringing cloud computing capabilities closer to mobile users to reduce latency and improve performance.

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC)

Extending cloud computing capabilities to the edge of mobile networks for lower latency.

Model Deployment

Process of making machine learning models available for use in cloud production environments.

Model Explainability

Techniques for understanding and interpreting decisions made by AI models in cloud environments.

Model Monitoring

Tracking the performance and behavior of deployed machine learning models in cloud environments.

Model Registry

Centralized repository for storing and managing machine learning models in cloud environments.

Model Serving

Process of making trained machine learning models available for real-time predictions in cloud environments.

Scheduler Extender

External process allowing custom logic to be added to the Kubernetes scheduling decisions.

Scheduling Algorithms

Methods used by Kubernetes scheduler to determine the best node placement for pods based on various factors.

Scheduling Framework

Kubernetes component allowing plugins to customize the scheduling process without changing the core scheduler code.

Scheduling Plugins

Modular components in Kubernetes scheduler implementing specific scheduling behaviors and policies.

Scheduling Profiles

Configurations defining sets of scheduling plugins to be used for different scheduling scenarios in Kubernetes.

Seccomp BPF

Use of Berkeley Packet Filter programs to define fine-grained seccomp profiles for container security.

Seccomp Profiles

Security profiles defining allowed system calls for containers, enhancing isolation and reducing attack surface.

Secret

Kubernetes object for storing and managing sensitive information such as passwords, tokens, or keys.

Secrets Management

Process of securely storing, distributing, and rotating sensitive data in containerized environments.

Secure Computing Mode (seccomp)

Linux kernel feature limiting the system calls a process can make, often used to secure containers.

Secure Supply Chain

Practices ensuring the integrity and security of container images and their dependencies throughout the development lifecycle.

Security Context Constraint

OpenShift object defining a set of conditions that a pod must run with to be accepted into the system.

Security Context Constraints

OpenShift feature for fine-grained control over the actions containers can perform and the resources they can access.

Security Scanning in CI Pipeline

Integration of vulnerability and compliance scans into the continuous integration process for container images.

Serverless Frameworks

Tools and platforms for building and deploying serverless applications on container orchestration systems.

Serverless Observability

Techniques and tools for monitoring, tracing, and debugging serverless functions and applications.

Serverless Patterns

Architectural patterns for designing and implementing serverless applications in containerized environments.

Serverless Security

Practices and tools for securing serverless functions and applications in container-based infrastructures.

Serverless Workflows

Orchestration of multiple serverless functions to create complex, event-driven applications.

Service

Kubernetes abstraction defining a logical set of pods and a policy by which to access them.

Service Account Token Volume Projection

Kubernetes feature for securely delivering service account tokens to pods, enhancing security.

Service Account Tokens

Credentials automatically generated for pods to authenticate with the Kubernetes API server.

Service Discovery Pattern

Technique allowing services to locate and communicate with each other dynamically in containerized environments.

Service Mesh Control Plane

Component of a service mesh responsible for managing and configuring the data plane proxies.

Service Mesh Data Plane

Component of a service mesh consisting of proxies that intercept and control service-to-service communication.

Service Mesh Interface (SMI)

Specification defining a set of common APIs for service meshes on Kubernetes, promoting interoperability.

Service Mesh Pattern

Architectural pattern providing a dedicated infrastructure layer for handling service-to-service communication.

Service Mesh Performance (SMP)

Standard for measuring and characterizing the performance of service mesh deployments, aiding in optimization.

Service Monitors

Custom resources in Prometheus Operator for declaratively defining how services should be monitored.

Service Networking

Mechanisms and configurations for enabling network communication between services in container orchestration platforms.

Service Topology

Kubernetes feature allowing services to route traffic based on node topology for improved performance.

Service-to-Service Authentication

Process of verifying the identity of services communicating with each other in a containerized environment.

ServiceAccount

Kubernetes object providing an identity for processes running in a pod, used for authentication and authorization.

Sharding Pattern for Data Partitioning

Technique of dividing data across multiple database instances in containerized environments.

Sidecar Containers

Additional containers in a pod that enhance or extend the functionality of the main container.

Sidecar Pattern

Design pattern where a sidecar container is deployed alongside the main application container to provide supporting features.

Sidecar Proxy

Proxy container deployed alongside application containers to handle network traffic and implement service mesh functionality.

Sidecars for Service Mesh

Use of sidecar proxies to implement service mesh features like traffic management and security in Kubernetes.

SigNoz

Open-source application performance monitoring and observability platform for microservices and Kubernetes environments.

Skaffold

Tool facilitating continuous development for Kubernetes applications, handling building, pushing, and deploying application code.

Skaffold for Local Kubernetes Development

Use of Skaffold to streamline the development workflow for Kubernetes applications in local environments.

Snyk Container Security

Platform providing vulnerability scanning and security management for container images and Kubernetes deployments.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

Approach to network management enabling dynamic, programmatically efficient network configuration in container environments.

Source-to-Image (S2I)

Tool and workflow for building reproducible container images from source code, simplifying the build process.

Spinnaker

Open-source, multi-cloud continuous delivery platform for releasing software changes with high velocity and confidence.

Splunk for Containers

Integration of Splunk's data platform with containerized environments for logging, monitoring, and analysis.

StackRox Kubernetes Security Platform

Security platform providing vulnerability management, compliance, and runtime protection for Kubernetes.

Stateful Applications in Containers

Containerized applications that maintain data or state, requiring special considerations for persistence and scaling.

StatefulSet

Kubernetes workload API object used to manage stateful applications, providing unique network identities and stable storage.

StatefulSet Patterns

Design patterns for deploying and managing stateful applications in Kubernetes using StatefulSets.

Static Pods

Pods managed directly by the kubelet on a specific node, without the API server observing them.

Static Provisioning

Process of pre-creating storage resources in Kubernetes before they are claimed by persistent volume claims.

Static Token File

File-based method for providing authentication tokens to the Kubernetes API server, useful for bootstrap authentication.

Status Subresource

Kubernetes API feature allowing updates to an object's status without modifying its spec, enabling more granular updates.

Storage Capacity Tracking

Kubernetes feature for making scheduling decisions based on the available storage capacity of nodes.

Storage Classes

Kubernetes objects defining different classes of storage with varying performance characteristics or policies.

StorageClass

Kubernetes object describing the "classes" of storage offered by the administrator, used for dynamic provisioning.

StorageOS

Software-defined storage for cloud-native applications, providing persistent storage for containers.

Strangler Fig Pattern for Modernization

Incremental approach to modernizing legacy applications by gradually replacing components with microservices.

Streaming Protocols

Network protocols optimized for real-time data transmission in containerized environments.

SubPath

Kubernetes volume feature allowing mounting a specific directory of a volume instead of its root.

Submariner for Multi-cluster Networking

Open-source project enabling direct networking between pods and services across Kubernetes clusters.

Subresources

Kubernetes API feature representing sub-components of a resource, allowing more granular access control and operations.

SuperEdge

Open-source container management system for edge computing, extending Kubernetes to manage edge nodes efficiently.

Sysdig Secure for Runtime Protection

Security platform providing real-time threat detection and response for containerized environments.

TUF (The Update Framework) for Secure Updates

Specification for securing software update systems, applicable to container image distribution.

Taints

Kubernetes node attributes that repel certain pods from scheduling unless they have matching tolerations.

Taints and Tolerations

Kubernetes mechanism for controlling which pods can be scheduled on specific nodes, enabling node specialization.

Tekton

Cloud-native CI/CD framework for Kubernetes, providing custom resources for defining pipelines and tasks.

Tekton Pipelines

Kubernetes-native CI/CD solution using custom resources to define pipelines as a series of tasks.

Telepresence for Local Development

Tool allowing developers to run a single service locally while connecting to a remote Kubernetes cluster.

Tenable.io Container Security

Platform providing vulnerability management and compliance monitoring for container images and registries.

Tenant Isolation

Techniques for separating and securing resources belonging to different users or groups in multi-tenant Kubernetes clusters.

Terrascan for Kubernetes Security Scanning

Open-source tool for static code analysis of Infrastructure as Code, including Kubernetes manifests.

Thanos

Open-source project extending Prometheus for long-term storage and global query view in large-scale deployments.

Thanos for Long-Term Storage

Use of Thanos to provide durable storage and global query capability for Prometheus metrics.

Throttling Pattern

Technique for limiting the rate at which a containerized service processes requests to prevent overload.

Tilt for Microservices Development

Development environment as code for teams building Kubernetes microservices, streamlining local development.

Timeout Configuration

Settings controlling the maximum duration for various operations in containerized applications and infrastructure.

Tolerations

Kubernetes pod specifications that allow (but do not require) pods to be scheduled on nodes with matching taints.

Topology Manager

Kubernetes feature coordinating resource allocation decisions to provide topology-aligned resource allocations.

Traffic Mirroring

Technique of duplicating live traffic to a separate service instance for testing or debugging purposes.

Traffic Shifting

Gradual redirection of traffic from one version of a service to another, often used in canary deployments.

Traffic Splitting

Distribution of incoming requests across multiple versions of a service, enabling advanced deployment strategies.

Trivy for Vulnerability Scanning

Open-source security scanner for containers and other artifacts, finding vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

Twelve-Factor App Methodology

Set of best practices for building software-as-a-service apps that can be easily deployed to the cloud.

Twistlock

Container security platform providing vulnerability management, compliance, and runtime protection (now part of Prisma Cloud).

Twistlock (now Prisma Cloud)

Comprehensive cloud-native security platform for containers, serverless, and cloud environments.

Underlay Networks

Physical network infrastructure upon which overlay networks for container communication are built.

Unikernels as Container Alternatives

Specialized, single-purpose machine images offering potential advantages in size and security over containers.

Union File System

Filesystem service for Linux allowing files and directories of separate filesystems to be overlaid, forming a single coherent filesystem.

User Impersonation

Kubernetes feature allowing a user to act as another user, useful for debugging and testing access controls.

User Namespaces

Linux kernel feature providing per-process isolated instances of user and group ID number spaces.

VXLAN

Network virtualization technology used in container networking for creating overlay networks.

VXLAN Overlay Networks

Virtual networks using VXLAN encapsulation to enable container communication across hosts.

Valet Key Pattern for Secure Resource Access

Design pattern for providing clients with restricted direct access to a specific resource or service.

Validating Webhooks

Admission controller webhooks in Kubernetes that validate resource requests without modifying them.

Validation Webhooks

Kubernetes admission control mechanism for validating API requests against custom logic before persistence.

Velero for Backup and Restore

Open-source tool for backing up and restoring Kubernetes cluster resources and persistent volumes.

Version Skew Policy

Guidelines defining supported version differences between Kubernetes components to ensure compatibility.