Glossary


GLOSSARY
A Comprehensive Guide to the common terms used in MDriven Documentation and Tools

A

Access Expression
An expression that controls whether the ViewModel is shown or not
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Access Groups
These control what is visible and/or enabled for a user in a certain role or situation
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Actions
What a user or an API can execute to create an effect in the running system
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Angular JS
An open-source JavaScript framework that lets you build well-structured, easily testable, and maintainable front-end applications by using the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern
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AsString
A method or operator that's available on all objects of all classes - on a model object, it usually takes the default string representation and returns that
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AssetsTK
The strategy to move files along with your model onto the server that runs your Turnkey application every time you upload your model
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Association
The connection or relationship between Classes and Objects
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Association classes
Additional information on the relationship between Classes
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Async Ticket
A pattern you can easily add to your model, backed by recent MDrivenServers
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Attribute
Data stored within a modeled class, usually stored in an SQL Server database as a field
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AutoForm
A view generated from the backing model in MDriven Designer e.g. if you have a view based on SysSingleton, an autoform from SysSingleton will add all the different attributes of that class to a ViewModel. It is a shortcut to get a basic setup of views in a system.
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Autoguid
A DB-generated Guid value
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Azure
A cloud platform designed by Microsoft to simplify the process of building modern applications
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B

BEM(Block, Element, Modifier)
It is a convention on how to structure CSS rule
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Blazor
A web framework for building web UI components (Razor components) that can be hosted in different ways
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Blob
Binary Large Object - usually stores a string of bytes - has a Blob type that can be image, text, or binary
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Boolean
A data type that represents one of two possible values, typically denoted as true and false
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Bug
An error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that produces unexpected or incorrect results
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C

CodeDress
A function that allows you to write strongly typed C# code in Visual Studio and have that code implemented in a Turnkey site
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Class
A group of objects with similar properties (attributes), common behaviour (operations), common relationships to other objects, and common meaning (“semantics”)
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Class Actions
Actions that always have the context or the root objects as the object of a class
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Class Diagrams
Shows classes and their relations
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Collection
A data structure or container that allows developers to store, organize, and manipulate a group of related data items
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Column
A synonym to attribute - called column because it is represented that way and usually called the same in an SQL database
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Combobox
A picklist or dropdown list
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Component
A general term but most common with MDriven, it is something that is part of the User Interface - like a diagram component
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Constraints
Ways to introduce business rules in the model rather than using state machines and guards
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CORS
An HTTP-header-based mechanism that allows a server to indicate any origins (domain, scheme, or port) other than its own from which a browser should permit loading resources
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C-Sharp (C#)
A programming language developed by Microsoft that runs on the .NET Framework
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CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
A style sheet language that allows you to control the formatting of your website
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CSS Grid
A layout system in web design and development that allows developers to create complex two-dimensional grid-based layouts for websites and web applications
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D

DateTime
A type of attribute or column that stores date and time together, commonly used as a nullable attribute
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DB
Short for database. A database is an organized collection of structured data stored in a computer system.
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Debugger
A tool that helps you locate what is wrong with OCL and EAL expressions. You can also see what SQL is being generated and sent to the backend SQL server along with timing for increasing performance.
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Decimal data type
A numerical data type used to represent decimal numbers with a fixed precision and scale
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Deepclone
A reference to the idea of cloning many objects as a structure either as a direct clone or as a transformation from one object graph to another
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Derived attributes
Calculated fields that subscribe to all the values they are calculated from
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Derived associations
Writable associations that update other attributes or links when they themselves are set
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Diagram
The representation of the UML model. Diagrams show a perspective of the model or use case of a range of classes
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Domain Driven Design (DDD)
The idea that the model should adhere to the terms and definitions of the domain the system is built for
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E

EAL
When OCL language is used for action
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ECO
The core engine for all MDriven applications that, given a UML model and a Persistence Mapper, will help any .net application handle the objects of that model in memory
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Evolve
Refers to the process of updating the SQL schema so that it matches the model. It is used repeatedly during the development process
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F

Fashion
All the code to create a finish - the right look and feel
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Float
A data type that represents a decimal number with floating-point precision
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G

Gist
A type of code that describes what type of information the system is handling and which business rules guard the dynamics of that information
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Global Actions
Actions for the user to initiate something global in the always-available application
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Grid
A flexible layout structure used to display and arrange various types of content, not necessarily limited to data
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Guid
A 128-bit integer used to uniquely identify resources
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H

History Server
A special mode of the MDriven Server that records or changes to a running MDriven Server so that the database can be seen at a specific point in time
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HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)
The standard markup language for creating Web pages. HTML describes the structure of a Web page
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I

IIS (Internet Information Services)
A web server software developed by Microsoft for Windows Server operating systems used to host and manage websites and web applications on the Internet or an intranet
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Integer
A data type that represents whole numbers
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J

JSON (Javascript Standard Object Notation)
The text representation of an object in Javascript and is widely used in many transport formats for serializing objects, for example, it is the object notation in a Rest Interface
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K

L

Linq (Language Integrated Query)
An addition to the .net framework that can be used to write query expressions in C# code for other .net language code
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M

MCoins
MDriven's artificial coin system enabling users to pay for all MDriven services. One MCoin is equal to the value of 1 Euro
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MDriven
A rule engine that, given a UML model and a Persistence mapper, will help any .net runtime handle the objects of that model in memory. MDriven is also the name of a Visual Studio Plugin that brings MDriven, Modlr, Derived Code, Derived DB scripts, and Database Evolution to Visual Studio
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MDriven Designer
A UML modeling tool that allows you to capture sufficient details to cover every aspect of a software system
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MDriven Framework
An MDriven tool that allows you to write strongly typed c# code, accessing all the types and classes from your model
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MDriven Server
An IIS application that stores your MDriven data in a database
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MDriven Start
A series of introductory texts to introduce and guide new users through MDriven Designer
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MDriven Turnkey
A new way to develop Internet applications
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MDriven Portal
A bridge to the different parts of the MDriven World
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Methods
Part of a class - could also be called a function - and executes operations either in OCL, EAL, or C#
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Mockotype
MDriven Designer started in simplified mode
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Model
A UML model that describes data stored in an application
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ModelMeta
A model of another model. In the MDriven context, it usually refers to the model that holds the Designer's user's model. For example, there's a metamodel Class that describes how a ViewModel is stored in the UML model
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Modernity
The code the infrastructure of a system needs to work
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Modlr
A file format of MDriven Designer
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MVC
A design pattern Model U controller; a statically or fully serverside rendered web page that is returned by the MDriven Turnkey Server
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MySQL
A widely used SQL server that is free-to-use and open-source
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N

.net
A developer platform made up of tools, programming languages, and libraries for building many different types of applications.
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Nuget
The package manager for Microsoft development platforms including .net
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Null
Is empty - none
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O

OAuth
An open standard for token-based authentication and authorization.
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OCL
The query and action language used in MDriven.
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OCL Expression
A statement in OCL that evaluates or indicates an action language does something.
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OCL Operator
A method or function to be performed on or with an object and parameters in an OCL expression.
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OCL PS
A subset of the OCL language that can be translated to SQL.
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OclSingleton
An operator that helps you implement the Singleton pattern.
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Object
An instance of a class.
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OpenDocument report
A report created by the feature in MDriven to take an OpenDocument standard to make e.g. a Microsoft Word or Excel document and merge that with data from a ViewModel.
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OpenID
The protocol to negotiate authentication and get back an access token that your app can verify comes from your OpenId authority so that you may trust the information in the ticket.
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Opting out Actions
The work done by a Designer to exclude Class actions or ViewModel actions from a ViewModel so that they are not shown to the end user.
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ORCID
An ID system used for online identification in the scientific world.
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ORMapping (Object Relation Mapping)
A feature of the MDriven system to store objects in an SQL database by mapping one class to one table in the basic format but with the inheritance available in the class, not the SQl server.
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P

Package
A "container" for a model section.
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Parse
An operator on value types to convert from string representation of, for example, from DateTime to the values stored in the DateTime type attribute.
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Periodic action
A ViewModel action that runs automatically over and over again when the Disabled expression is False.
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Persistence
The ability of a program or application to store and retrieve data even after the program is terminated or the system is shut down.
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Persistence mapping
A technique used in MDriven to map objects in an object-oriented programming language to relational database tables.
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Pivot table
A table of values that are aggregations of groups of individual values of a more extensive table within one or more discrete categories.
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PlacingContainer
A way to organize a view based on the box-in-box principle.
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Prototyping
The process in which you whip something together quickly as a mock-up to show or test it to learn something that otherwise would be hard to know.
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PSEval
An OCLOperator that makes it possible to use OCL PS in any OCL expression.
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Q

QueryPlan
The ability to statically analyze a ViewModel to know ahead of time what data it will use.
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R

Realtime
Communication done point to point at the time of need.
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Rest Services
Services executed by connecting to a URL that defines operation and parameters and returns an answer – not seldom as JSON objects.
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Reverse derivation
When you use code (EAL) to process a composite value into separate parts when updating.
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S

Seeker
A special ViewModel for searching the database.
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Self
A reference to the current context - equivalent to "this" in C#.
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selfVM
A variable available within the context of a ViewModel.
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Serverside actions
Actions used when you want to delegate work to the server.
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Serverside jobs
Actions with views that the MDriven server can execute in a periodic fashion to do things automatically either on a clock or as a reaction to something the user does such as SysAsync Ticket.
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Set
A collection of something.
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SignalR
A .net software component used for Realtime communication.
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Singleton
The name of a design pattern that establishes a Class that will only have one object instance.
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SOAP
A calling protocol between servers much like REST.
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SQL (Structured Query Language)
A language to store and organize information in databases.
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SQLServer
The general term and Microsoft's name of their relational database for SQL server; another vendor is MySQL.
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SQLite
A small database engine suitable to embed in applications as a data store for a single user.
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Snippets
Small, saved UML model pieces that can be inserted into the UML mode by the Designer for easy access to repetitive model pieces or special features.
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State Diagram
Another way to describe the states of your domain with your information.
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State machine
Helps us describe the different allowed states an object can be in and how it is transitioned between these states.
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String
A data type used to represent a sequence of characters.
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StylesInModel
MDriven's name for integrating style information into the UML model, making styles easier for users with CSS knowledge - it is available across different client technologies.
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SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics - a great way to express data in a form other than text.
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SysAsyncTicket
A model pattern that gets easy access to serverside jobs when they're part of for example a process that needs both user interaction and serverside actions like assigning a number in a sequence.
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SysSingleton
A Turnkey application's primary place to store login information and can be seen as the root object of an application.
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SysUser
A System User.
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T

Tagexpander
Discovers files in _AssetsTK/Views/EXT_OverridePages that are named according to this pattern: .tagexpander.cshtml
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Tag extensions
The ability to attach a tag that is a key value pair of settings for most things in the model that gives access to additional features.
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TaggedValues
An extension mechanism that is available on all model elements in MDriven.
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Tajson
A declarative approach to receive, send, transform, and store JSON messages, with setup and maintenance environment done in minutes.
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Tiny MCE
An open-source HTML editor that is used in a lot of Turnkey applications to give the user access to editing text content.
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Tkusercss
A file in which you can introduce new styles that match the names of the styles given in the ViewModel columns style attribute.
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Tuple
A word describing something “taped together from bits and pieces of other stuff”.
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U

UI
A User interface.
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UML (Unified Modeling Language)
A way to visualize the structure of a model.
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URL
Short for Uniform Resource Locator.
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V

Validation rules
Rules to help you improve the quality of the data recorded and applied by the user according to the standards you've specified.
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ValueStore
A general term to describe classes and tables of items that are used to store values used in an application.
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vCurrent
A variable that shows what the user has focused on/clicked on last in the ViewModel nestings.
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ViewModel
A UML model containing all the information of the application but doesn't have clear perspectives or views of how that information should be used.
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ViewModel Actions
Actions that have access to the views' context like vCurrent and vSelected. It is part of the ViewModel in contrast to the Class action which has the context of a modeled class.
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ViewModel Editor
An editor where you design an MDriven application's user interface and APIs.
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VistaDB
An embedded DB licensed from Gibraltar Software.
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Visual Studio
Refers to Microsoft Visual Studio application for software development. MDriven Designer can be installed as an addition to Visual Studio.
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vSelected
The variable shown when the user allows multi-select in grids in the ViewModel nestings.
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W

Web API
A set of components that simplify HTTP programming.
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WebApplication
Refers to the general application executing on the web or web server or consumption of web users. Also can refer to an Azure web app, a web server hosted on Microsoft Azure.
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Web UI
A web user interface that permits users to interact with software and other content running through a web browser.
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Wednesdays at MDriven
A monthly online meeting, hosted on Google Meet by the MDriven team, to showcase product demos, discuss product features and answer questions.
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WECPOF
The prototyping ability and runtime assembly MDriven Framework users can use to get the Prototyping engine inside their own applications.
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WPF
Short for Windows Presentation Foundation.
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X

Xamarin
A free and open-source mobile app platform for building native and high-performance iOS, Android, tvOS, watchOS, macOS, and Windows apps in C#.
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XML
A software- and hardware-independent tool for storing and transporting data.
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Y

Z