Glossary

AWS Managed Services

AWS Managed Services (AMS) is a service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that provides ongoing management and support for your AWS infrastructure. It's designed to help businesses leverage the power of AWS cloud computing while reducing the burden of managing the underlying infrastructure themselves.

Android Deployment

Android deployment refers to the process of making your developed Android application available on a device for users to run. This typically involves several steps, from preparing your app to distributing it to users.

Android Emulator

An Android emulator is a software program that simulates an Android device on your computer. It allows you to develop and test Android applications without needing a physical Android phone or tablet.

Android Studio

Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) specifically designed for developing Android apps. It's created by Google in collaboration with JetBrains, the company behind the IntelliJ IDEA platform that serves as the foundation for Android Studio.

App Store Connect

App Store Connect is a suite of tools offered by Apple to developers for managing their apps on the App Store. It essentially acts as a central hub for everything related to your app's presence on the App Store.

Application Workflow

An application workflow refers to a set of steps a program or a machine takes to complete a task

Artifact

A file or set of files produced as a result of the CI/CD process, such as compiled applications (APK for Android, IPA for iOS), libraries, or test reports.

Artifacts

An artifact can be a output file generated by a build process

Automated Builds

Automated builds refer to the process of using software tools and scripts to automatically execute the tasks involved in building and preparing software for deployment. This eliminates the need for manual intervention, streamlines the development process, and helps ensure consistency and reliability.

Bazel

Bazel is an open-source, multi-language build tool used for large-scale software development and testing. Bazel is designed for large-scale, complex software projects where build speed, reliability, and handling a multitude of languages are crucial. Companies like Google, Stripe, and Dropbox use Bazel for building critical software infrastructure and applications.

Beta Testing

Beta testing is a crucial stage in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) that involves testing a software application with a limited group of real users before its official release to the general public. It's essentially a real-world trial run under controlled conditions

Bitbucket

Bitbucket is a Git-based source code repository hosting service owned by Atlassian. It provides a platform for developers to store, manage, and collaborate on their code projects.

Blue Green Deployment

In the realm of software deployment, a blue-green deployment (also sometimes called blue/green deployment) is a technique for minimizing downtime and risk during application updates. It involves maintaining two identical production environments, conventionally named "blue" and "green."

Build Cache

Build cache is a feature used to store certain directories between builds on Bitrise, which can significantly speed up build times by reusing data from previous builds.

Build Pipelines

A build pipeline is an automated workflow that orchestrates the process of transforming source code into a final executable application. It streamlines and automates various tasks involved in software development, typically encompassing version control, building, testing, packaging, and deployment.

Build System

A build system is a collection of software tools and scripts designed to automate the process of transforming source code into a final executable product.

CLI

CLI, which stands for Command-Line Interface, is a text-based interface used to interact with a computer program by typing commands and receiving textual responses. It allows users to control the computer or application by issuing specific instructions through a command prompt.

Cloud Infrastructure

Cloud infrastructure refers to the collection of hardware, software, and networking resources that provide the foundation for cloud computing services. These resources are owned and managed by cloud providers, and they are offered to users on a pay-as-you-go basis

Cloud Native

Cloud native is an approach to designing, building, and operating applications specifically to take advantage of the distributed computing and scalability offered by the cloud. It's not just about running existing applications in the cloud, but about rearchitecting them to leverage the unique characteristics of cloud environments.

Code Signing

Code signing is the process of digitally signing executables and scripts to confirm the software author and guarantee that the code has not been altered or corrupted since it was signed.

Continous Delivery (CD)

An extension of CI, where the software release process is automated to enable easy and confident deployments to production at any time.

Continuous Integration (CI)

A development practice where developers integrate code into a shared repository frequently, with each check-in being verified by an automated build to detect integration errors as quickly as possible

Cordova

Apache Cordova, also known simply as Cordova, is an open-source framework that enables developers to build hybrid mobile applications using web technologies.

Cross Platform

In computing, something considered "cross-platform" refers to development frameworks like React Native or Flutter that can compile multiple executables that each target different platforms.. Imagine a universal remote control that works across different TVs; cross-platform applications are similar. They can be used on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web or any other supported platform, with minimal adjustments needed.

Dedicated Environment

Dedicated environments cater to specific needs. They may be optimized for performance, security, or compatibility with certain applications.

DevOps

DevOps is a cultural philosophy, set of practices, and collection of tools that aims to bridge the gap between software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) teams. Its primary goal is to improve collaboration, communication, and automation throughout the software development lifecycle, ultimately leading to faster, more reliable deployments and higher quality software.

DevSecOps

DevSecOps (short for Development, Security, and Operations) is an approach to software development that integrates security practices and considerations throughout the entire software delivery lifecycle (SDLC). It aims to foster collaboration and communication between development, security, and operations teams, ensuring that security is not an afterthought but rather embedded into every stage of the development process.

Developer Experience

Developer Experience (DX) refers to the overall experience developers have while using the tools, processes, and environment for creating and maintaining software. It encompasses all the feelings, perceptions, and interactions developers encounter throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

Docker Compose

Docker Compose is a tool used to define and run multi-container applications with Docker. It allows you to develop and deploy complex applications with ease by simplifying the process of managing multiple interrelated containers.

Docker Container

A Docker container is a running instance of a Docker image, which is a standardized unit of software that packages up code and all its dependencies so the application runs quickly and reliably from one computing environment to another.

Dora Metrics

DORA metrics, which stands for DevOps Research and Assessment, are a set of four key metrics used to measure the performance and effectiveness of software delivery teams that follow DevOps practices. These metrics provide valuable insights into how quickly, reliably, and securely teams can deliver new features and updates to their applications.

EC2

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a web service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that provides scalable, secure, and resizable compute capacity in the cloud. In simpler terms, it allows you to rent virtual servers on-demand, instead of having to purchase and maintain your own physical hardware.

Environment variable

An environment variable is a dynamic-named value on a computer that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer. In Bitrise, environment variables can be used to store API keys, credentials, or configuration options.

Failed Builds

In the context of software development, failed builds refer to instances where the automated build process encounters an error or issue and cannot successfully complete the task of building the software.

Feature Management

Feature management is a software development practice that allows you to control the rollout of new features to your users. It involves using feature flags, which act like switches within your code, to enable or disable features on demand.

Flaky Test

Flaky tests are software tests that exhibit inconsistent behavior across multiple test runs, meaning they pass or fail seemingly at random despite no changes to the code or the test itself. This inconsistency poses significant challenges for developers and hinders the reliability of the testing process.

Flutter

Flutter is an open-source framework developed by Google for building beautiful, natively compiled, multi-platform applications from a single codebase. It utilizes the Dart programming language and offers several advantages for developers.

Git Branch

In the realm of Git, a branch is a pointer to a specific snapshot of your codebase. It essentially allows you to create divergences from the main codebase to work on new features, bug fixes, or experiments without affecting the main line of development. Read more here.

Git Ops

GitOps is an operational framework that leverages Git, a popular version control system, to manage infrastructure and application deployments. It essentially treats infrastructure as code (IaC) and enforces its desired state through Git repositories.

Git Repository

A Git repository, often shortened to "repo," is a fundamental element in the Git version control system. It's essentially a specialized database that stores all the information about your project.

Gradle

Gradle is an open-source build automation tool used for software development projects. It automates tasks involved in the development process, from compiling and packaging code to testing, deployment, and publishing. Gradle is known for its flexibility and can handle projects written in various languages, including Java (as well as Kotlin and Groovy), Scala, C/C++, and JavaScript.

Heroku

Heroku is a cloud platform as a service (PaaS) that supports development, deployment, management, and scaling of modern applications. It's essentially a platform that allows developers to focus on building their applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.

IDE

An IDE, which stands for Integrated Development Environment, is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities for software development. It essentially combines a variety of tools developers need into a single, unified platform, streamlining the development process.

Intelligent Automation

Intelligent automation (IA), also sometimes referred to as cognitive automation, combines artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA) to automate tasks in a more intelligent way than RPA alone.

Ionic

Ionic is an open-source framework used to develop hybrid mobile applications. It allows developers to build apps using web technologies, primarily HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, that can then run on various mobile platforms like iOS, Android, and web browsers.

Jest

Jest is a popular JavaScript testing framework used for writing unit tests and integration tests. It's particularly well-suited for modern JavaScript development involving libraries like React and frameworks like Node.js.

Jetpack Compose

Jetpack Compose is Android's recommended modern toolkit for building user interfaces (UIs). It offers a significant shift from the traditional UI toolkit used on Android and aims to simplify and accelerate the development process.

Kubernetes

Kubernetes (often abbreviated as k8s) is an open-source system for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It groups containerized applications with their dependencies into units called pods, and manages them across a cluster of computers.

Low Code

Low-code development is a method of building software applications with minimal traditional hand-coding based on predefined blocks of functionalities.

M1 Silicon

M1 Silicon is a series of ARM-based system-on-a-chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. for powering their Mac computers, iPads, and Apple TV devices. Introduced in late 2020, it marked a significant shift from Intel processors previously used in Mac computers.

M2 Silicon

Building upon the success of the M1 series, M2 Silicon is the second generation of Apple's custom ARM-based system-on-a-chip (SoC) designed to power their Mac computers.

Managing Secrets

Managing secrets refers to the practices and tools used to secure sensitive information within an organization's IT infrastructure. These secrets can encompass various types of credentials, data, or keys critical for system operation and user access.

Mobile Analytics

Mobile analytics is the practice of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data about how users interact with mobile applications and websites. This data provides valuable insights into user behavior, app performance,

Mobile App Automation

Mobile app automation refers to the process of using software tools and scripts to automatically perform tasks and interact with a mobile application. This includes, Testing, Data Collection, Repetitive Tasks, Accessibility Testing.

Mobile App Testing

Mobile app testing is the process of rigorously evaluating and ensuring the quality of a mobile application across various aspects. It aims to identify and rectify any issues that might hinder the user experience, functionality, performance, security, or compatibility of the app before it is released to the public.

Mobile Artificats

In the context of mobile development, mobile artifacts refer to the various files, resources, and data elements that are combined and packaged to create a mobile application (app) for deployment on devices like smartphones and tablets.

Mobile Testing

Mobile testing is a comprehensive process of evaluating mobile applications to ensure they function as intended and provide a positive user experience across various devices and operating systems. It involves a range of activities designed to identify and address potential issues before the app is released to the public.

Monorepo

In version control systems, a monorepo (short for "mono repository") is a software development strategy where the code for multiple projects is stored in a single repository.

NPM

NPM stands for Node Package Manager. It's the default package manager for the JavaScript runtime environment Node.js and is widely used for managing dependencies in JavaScript projects.

Nestjs

NestJS is a progressive JavaScript framework specifically designed for building scalable and efficient server-side applications on the Node.js runtime environment. It emphasizes a modular architecture and incorporates principles from object-oriented programming (OOP), functional programming (FP), and functional reactive programming (FRP) to create well-structured and maintainable applications.

Node.js

Node.js is a popular open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that executes JavaScript code outside of a web browser. It allows developers to build fast and scalable server-side applications, command-line tools, and even real-time applications.

On Premise Infrastructure

In contrast to cloud infrastructure, on-premise infrastructure refers to computing resources that are physically located and managed within an organization's own facilities. This includes all the hardware, software, and networking equipment needed to run applications and store data.

Open Source Applications

Open source applications, also known as open-source software (OSS), are software applications for which the source code is publicly available.

Open Telemetry

OpenTelemetry, often abbreviated as OTel, is an open-source observability framework that provides a vendor-neutral collection of tools and APIs for generating, collecting, and exporting telemetry data.

Performance Testing

Performance testing is a type of software testing that evaluates how a software application performs under various workloads. It's crucial for ensuring that the application meets expected performance benchmarks.

Platform Engineering

Platform engineering is a practice within software development that focuses on designing, building, and maintaining internal developer platforms (IDPs). These platforms serve as a centralized, standardized, and self-service environment for developers within an organization.

Provisioning Profile

A provisioning profile is a collection of information that links an Apple App ID with signing certificates and authorized devices. It is used to control and authorize the devices on which the app can run and the Apple services it can access (such as iCloud or In-App Payment). Learn how to generate a provisioning profile in bitrise.

React Native

React Native is an open-source framework created by Meta (formerly Facebook) that allows developers to build native-looking mobile applications for iOS and Android using JavaScript.

Release management

Release management is the process of managing, planning, scheduling, and controlling a software build through different stages and environments; including testing and deploying software releases.

Runner

A runner can be a program that automates the process of building and testing software. It can trigger builds based on changes in the codebase and execute tests to ensure everything works as expected.

SAML

SAML stands for Security Assertion Markup Language. It's an open standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties, specifically between an identity provider (IdP) and a service provider (SP). In simpler terms, SAML enables single sign-on (SSO) functionality, allowing users to access multiple applications with one set of login credentials.

SDK

An SDK, which stands for Software Development Kit, is a collection of tools and resources provided by a platform, software vendor, or service provider to help developers create applications for that specific platform or service. It's like a developer toolkit containing various building blocks and instructions to streamline the app creation process.

Shift Left Testing

Shift Left Testing is a software testing philosophy that emphasizes performing testing activities earlier in the software development lifecycle (SDLC). It's rooted in the idea that finding and fixing bugs earlier is less costly and disruptive than finding them during later stages where they've had time to become more ingrained.

Step

A single task in a Bitrise workflow. Each step can perform a specific action, like cloning a repository, running a script, deploying an app, etc.

Streamline Releases

In software development, streamline releases refer to a strategy aimed at optimizing the process of releasing new versions of software. It focuses on increasing release frequency, reducing lead time, and minimizing the risk and potential impact of issues, ultimately leading to faster delivery of new features and fixes to users.

Swift

Swift is a high-level, general-purpose, multi-paradigm, compiled programming language developed by Apple Inc. and the open-source community. It is known for its readability, safety, and performance.

Testflight

TestFlight is an online service offered by Apple that enables developers to distribute pre-release versions of their apps (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and iMessage apps) to external testers for internal and external testing. It acts as a platform for controlled distribution and feedback collection before the app is officially released on the App Store.

Typescript

TypeScript is essentially JavaScript with added features for better organization and error prevention in large projects. Overall, TypeScript provides a way to write more robust and maintainable JavaScript code, especially for complex applications.

UI Testing

UI Testing, also known as User Interface Testing, is a software testing technique that focuses on validating the functionality, usability, and visual appearance of the user interface (UI) of an application. It ensures that the UI elements work as intended, are easy to understand and use, and provide a visually appealing experience for users.

Unbuntu

Unbuntu is a popular free and open-source operating system based on Debian and composed mostly of free software. It is referred to as a Debian-based distribution.

Virtualization

Virtualization is a technology that creates virtual versions of computer resources, such as hardware, operating systems, storage devices, and networks. It allows you to run multiple isolated environments on a single physical machine, optimizing resource utilization.

Workflow

The core function of a workflow is to automate repetitive or manual tasks involved in a business process. This can involve data transfer, approvals, notifications, or other actions.

Xcode

Xcode is Apple's Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specifically designed for developing software for Apple platforms. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools and functionalities to cover the entire development lifecycle, from writing and editing code to testing, debugging, and deploying applications.

YAML (Yet Another Markup Language)

YAML is a human-readable data serialization standard that can be used to write Bitrise configuration files. YAML files in Bitrise define the workflows, steps, and environment variables used for the CI/CD process.

iOS Deployment

In the realm of mobile development, iOS deployment refers to the process of making your developed iOS application available to users on Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. It involves several crucial steps, from preparing your app for distribution to making it accessible on the App Store or through other channels.

macOS

macOS is an operating system developed by Apple since 2001. It is the primary operating system for Apple's Mac computers.

Accelerate Your Mobile Builds: An Introduction to Bitrise Build Cache

Master test distribution and store releases: Navigating App Center's Shutdown

Accelerate Your Mobile Builds: An Introduction to Bitrise Build Cache

Master test distribution and store releases: Navigating App Center's Shutdown

Mobile DevOps Glossary