Dev

Dev is a term with multiple uses in English and other languages. In technology and software, dev is an abbreviation for developer or development. As a noun, it refers to a person who writes, tests, or maintains code; as an adjective or noun in contexts like dev environment, dev workflow, dev team, or dev branch in version control systems. The term is common in software engineering culture and project management, with dev builds and production builds distinguishing development and release stages.

In onomastics and culture, Dev is also a given name in South Asia and beyond. Derived from Sanskrit deva, meaning "god" or "deity," the name is widely used in India, Nepal, and diaspora communities. It can be used as a standalone given name or as part of longer names. The English-language shorthand "Dev" is sometimes used as a nickname for people named Devon or Devin.

In media, branding, and online communities, Dev appears as a name, title, or brand element. The term is widely recognized in developer culture, with platforms such as dev.to serving as communities for programmers. The word also appears in phrases such as development, development environment, development lifecycle, and DevOps, which describe practices that integrate software development and IT operations.