What different terms mean the same thing (or don't, but people think they do)? [closed]

Answer 1

Some users will use the term "downloading" to generally mean "transferring" instead of distinguishing between "downloading" and "uploading." So, if they say "The error happened right after I downloaded the data," it might refer to another part of the process than what a tech person would take it to mean.

Answer 2

parameter == argument

Parameter is the variable in the declaration of function or method.

Argument is the actual value of this variable that gets passed to function.

I like this one because it happens even to programmers

Answer 3

I once heard a junior dev use NULL and VOID interchangeably.

Scariest thing I'd ever heard.

Answer 4

deprecate != depreciate

Seriously people. Features are not depreciated from upcoming releases of software. They are deprecated.

Answer 5

"open source" == "free software"

If you watch Revolution OS, you'll hear Richard Stallman use the term "free software" and others like Linus Torvalds and Bruce Perens use "open source." After watching the film, I think they're talking about the same thing, but disagreeing (vehemently in some cases) on what to call it.

(I hope none of them are reading this.)

Answer 6

Value Object == Value Type

Value Objects are classes representing immutable attributes, as in Domain Driven Design.

Value Types are variables whose values are held on the stack (int, bool, struct, etc). These are spoken of in relation to Reference Types, which live on the heap and have memory pointers.