Reference

Last updated on 2026-04-20 | Edit this page

Glossary

Here are the definitions of common technical terminology used throughout this course.

Command-line interface (CLI)
A way of running software by typing text instructions into a terminal
Codebase
The collection of source code files that makes up a software package.
Developer
A person who writes software
Documentation site
A software documentation website is a structured guide to using a library of research code.
Editor
A software tool for modifying plain text files
Gradware
A computer program written by a former postgraduate student that has been abandoned without any documentation and is near-impossible to reuse or to replicate the results.
Graphical user interface (GUI)
A visual way to provide instructions to a computer by manipulating buttons and icons.
IDE
An Integrated Development Environment is a powerful source code editor and debugging tool designed for software engineers
Installation
The process of putting software onto a computer
Linter
A system that analyses code for potential errors.
Operating system
Manages the files (data storage), software, and hardware that make up the computer and its services.
Package
A collection of code and functions that is bundled together and distributed for other people to use.
Software documentation
Written guidance for users of a computer system to understanding how to utilise it.
Static analysis
“a software verification activity that analyses source code for quality, reliability, and security without executing the code.” — MATLAB “What Is Static Code Analysis?”
Syntax
The rules that determine the structure of the words and symbols in a programming language.
Terminal
A text prompt that is used to enter commands into a computer
Type
The data structure that defines the set of values that a variable may contain.

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