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What does "ship" mean in programming?
ship is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
To release a feature, fix, or product to users. 'Shipping' emphasizes delivering value rather than just deploying code. A common engineering principle is 'ship early, ship often': deliver small increments of value frequently rather than building everything before releasing.
Example
"Ship it — we can iterate based on user feedback rather than perfecting it in staging."
Word forms
| Form | Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ship | verb (infinitive) | To release software to users | "We need to ship this feature before the end of the quarter." |
| shipped | past tense | Already released to users | "We shipped the redesign last Friday." |
| shipping | gerund | In the process of releasing to users | "We are shipping the feature in today's deploy." |
Related terms
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