When Developers Speak in Code: Deciphering Dev Lingo as a Non-Techie.

Ever felt like developers have their own secret language? You’re not alone. Does this sound familiar?

(In meeting)
*Nods*
*Nods*
*Nods*
*Nods*
(Leaves meeting)
*Immediately pings team to have “quick debrief” because understood nothing.*

In the tech world, acronyms fly around like confetti, and jargon is part of the daily life… For reference, Google Search: “Mark Cuban and cohort”. But fear not, non-techies like myself! The time for silently nodding along is over. Here’s the DL on demystifying world of Dev lingo.

1. API (Application Programming Interface):
   • ELI5: It’s like a waiter in a restaurant. You tell them what you want (your request), and they go to the kitchen (the system) to get it for you.
2. Git:
   • ELI5: Imagine a magical diary that records every change you make. If you don’t like something, just flip back to the older pages where things were better.
3. Agile:
   • ELI5: It’s like building a Lego set without instructions. You have an idea of what you want, and you adjust as you go along.
4. Scrum:
   • ELI5: A team huddle in sports, but for techies. Everyone shares what they’re doing and tackles problems together.
5. Front-End vs Back-End Development:
   • ELI5: Front-End is like the interior design of a house – what you see and interact with. Back-End is the plumbing and wiring – you don’t see it, but it makes everything work.
6. DevOps:
   • ELI5: They’re the peacekeepers between the creators (developers) and the maintainers (operations). Like referees in a game, making sure everyone plays nice and things run smoothly.
7. Cloud Computing:
   • ELI5: Instead of storing all your toys in your room (your computer), you keep them in a magical cloud where you can reach them from anywhere.
8. Machine Learning:
   • ELI5: Teaching computers to learn tricks from data, like teaching a dog to fetch, but with numbers.
9. Algorithm:
   • ELI5: A recipe for computers. It tells them step-by-step how to do something.
10. Sprint:
    • ELI5: A mini-mission in the world of Agile. Teams rush (sprint) to complete tasks in a short time, like a race.
11. Open Source:
    • ELI5: Like sharing your toys with everyone, and they can add new parts or improve them.
12. Version Control:
    • ELI5: Keeping track of all the changes in your project, so if something goes wrong, you can find out who broke it.
13. Full Stack Developer:
    • ELI5: A tech wizard who knows both interior design (front-end) and plumbing (back-end) of websites.
14. Blockchain:
    • ELI5: A chain of digital blocks that store information securely, like a diary that many people can write in but no one can erase.
15. Framework:
    • ELI5: A basic structure for building software, like the frame of a house to which you add walls and a roof.
16. Production:
    • ELI5: Like the opening night of a play. After rehearsals (testing), the software goes live in production, where real users see and use it. It’s where everything needs to work perfectly.

Congratulations, you’re now fluent in dev-talk! Next time you hear an engineer talking about pushing to Git or handling a scrum, you’ll be nodding along like a pro. But seriously, the business of tech is at the cutting edge, and thus it requires life-long learning & growth. The more you know, the better you’ll be at your job, and the better asset you’ll be to your team!