# Glossary

Source: [https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-41102-3/topic/glossary.html](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-41102-3/topic/glossary.html)

| **Term** | **Definition** |
| --- | --- |
| adef | Application definition file; defines the external interfaces and internal content of   <br><br>apps including bindings, bundles, components, and system settings. |
| .api files | Interface definition language (IDL) file for defining function-call-oriented APIs that   <br><br>are used over IPC by programs written in different programming languages than   <br><br>the language used to implement the API, e.g., the functions defined in the API are   <br><br>implemented in C while a program that calls the API is written in Java. |
| Build Environment | Collection of tools and environment variables to build and deploy applications on   <br><br>the TelAF. |
| cdef | Component definition file; defines the external interfaces and internal content of   <br><br>software components. |
| Component | Collection of functionally-related source code and other files that are grouped into   <br><br>a single, reusable unit for sharing between projects. |
| Config tree | Non-volatile data structure that stores configuration values. The trees are   <br><br>accessible through the config tree API or the TelAF configuration tool. |
| Definition files | Configuration files that define the system, application, APIs, kernel module, or   <br><br>component pieces needed to build your code within TelAF. |
| Development host (Host) | Computer system operated by a human developer to develop (write, build, test,   <br><br>debug) software. |
| Firmware | Any binary image stored in the target's non-volatile storage; read-only accessible   <br><br>by the device's own software during normal operation. Reboots are required to   <br><br>update firmware on the target. |
| FOTA | Firmware over-the-air; service to upgrade the firmware from a remote location. |
| ifgen | Code generation tool that parses API files and generates include files and IPC   <br><br>code. |
| Sandbox | The core security mechanism for running applications in separate secure   <br><br>containers. |
| sdef | System definition file; builds and interconnects apps with each other and within   <br><br>the runtime environment. |
| SOTA | Software over-the-air; service to update software from a remote location. |
| Supervisor | Daemon process that supervises apps running on the target device; controls the   <br><br>startup, shutdown, and fault recovery of apps; creates and destroys sandboxes. |
| Target (device) | Device that the TelAF is installed onto, e.g. SA515M, SA525M. |
| Toolchain | Collection of build tools, including compilers and linkers needed to build programs   <br><br>to run on a target device. |
| Yocto | Open source collaboration project that provides templates, tools, and methods to   <br><br>help create custom Linux-based systems for embedded products regardless of   <br><br>the hardware architecture. |

Last Published: Apr 23, 2025

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