Glossary
Hiring and software terms, explained in one paragraph each
The words that come up when a business hires a developer or outsources a project, defined the way I would explain them on a call.
By Dilawar Khan · Updated
AEO (answer engine optimization)
- Structuring web content so AI assistants and search features can extract direct answers from it: question headings, short answers, FAQ schema, consistent facts. Related page →
AI agent
- Software that uses a language model to decide and take actions in other tools (update a CRM, send an email, book a meeting), usually with rules and human approval steps. Related page →
AI chatbot
- An assistant that answers questions from a business's own content using a language model. Unlike an agent, it answers but does not take actions. Related page →
Backend
- The server side of an application: database, API, authentication, business rules and integrations with other services. Related page →
Dedicated developer
- A named developer who works on one client's product for an agreed share of their time each month, in the client's tools and reporting to the client, billed monthly. Related page →
Discovery sprint
- A short paid engagement that turns an idea into a scope, screens, a data model and a fixed quote, so the project can be priced accurately or taken to another vendor. Related page →
Electron.js
- A framework for building Windows, macOS and Linux desktop applications with web technologies. Used for VS Code, Slack and Discord. Related page →
Fixed-scope project
- An engagement where the deliverables, timeline and price are agreed in writing before work starts and paid against milestones. Changes are quoted separately. Related page →
Frontend
- The part of a website or app that runs in the user's browser or on their device: layouts, forms, navigation and interaction. Related page →
Full-stack developer
- A developer who builds both the frontend users see and the backend that stores data and runs business logic. Related page →
GEO (generative engine optimization)
- Making a website readable, trustworthy and citable by generative AI search such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews, through entity data, crawler access and consistent facts across the web. Related page →
IP assignment
- A contract clause transferring ownership of code and designs to the client. Standard in DevKey Technologies agreements: ownership transfers on final payment. Related page →
llms.txt
- A plain-text file at a website's root that summarises the site and links its key pages for AI assistants and crawlers. This site serves one at /llms.txt. Related page →
MVP (minimum viable product)
- The smallest version of a product that real users can use and pay for, built to learn what to build next. Typically 4–8 weeks with our team. Related page →
NDA (non-disclosure agreement)
- A contract keeping a client's information confidential, signed before project details are shared. Also covers white-label arrangements. Related page →
Next.js
- A React framework that renders pages on the server, so sites load fast and search engines and AI crawlers can read the content without running JavaScript. Related page →
Offline-first software
- Software designed to work fully without an internet connection, storing data locally and syncing when a connection is available. Common for Pakistani businesses with unreliable connectivity. Related page →
RAG (retrieval-augmented generation)
- A technique where relevant documents are retrieved and given to a language model before it answers, so the answer is grounded in the business's own data. Related page →
React Native
- A framework for building Android and iOS apps from one JavaScript/TypeScript codebase that renders native components. Related page →
Retainer
- A monthly agreement for a set amount of development time, prioritised with the client, used for live products that need steady improvement. Related page →
Time-zone overlap
- The hours when both the client's and the team's working days are running. Islamabad (UTC+5) overlaps the UK and Gulf for most of the day, Australia in its afternoon, and North America in its morning. Related page →
W-8BEN-E
- A US tax form a foreign company gives its US clients to confirm it is not a US taxpayer. US clients routinely request it from overseas vendors. Related page →
White-label development
- A software project that an agency sells and manages under its own brand while a separate team builds it. The client deals only with the agency. Related page →
Workflow automation
- Software that runs a repeatable sequence of steps automatically, such as copying a new lead into a CRM, notifying sales and sending a welcome message. Related page →
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