Dictionary

ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) is an automated data processing pattern where data is extracted from source systems, transformed into a desired format or structure, and loaded into a target system like a data warehouse. Modern variations include ELT, where raw data is loaded first and transformed in place. ETL pipelines are essential for automating data integration, reporting, and feeding clean data into ML training workflows.

An embedding is a dense numerical vector representation of data — such as text, images, or code — in a high-dimensional space where semantically similar items are positioned closer together. Embeddings are fundamental to semantic search, recommendation systems, and RAG pipelines. They are generated by specialized models and typically stored in vector databases for efficient similarity lookups.

Event-driven architecture (EDA) is a software design pattern where components communicate by producing and consuming events rather than making direct synchronous calls. When something happens — a user signs up, an order is placed — an event is emitted, and any number of subscribers can react independently. This decoupling enables highly scalable, loosely coupled systems where new automations can be added without modifying existing services.

Expo is a platform and set of tools built around React Native that simplifies mobile app development by providing a managed workflow, pre-configured native modules, and over-the-air update capabilities. With Expo, you can start building without installing Xcode or Android Studio, test on physical devices via the Expo Go app, and deploy updates without app store review cycles. Expo's EAS (Expo Application Services) handles cloud builds, submissions, and updates for production apps.