Pick your year
Home by Dark
×

Back

Words

Every word the lessons use, in plain English. Tap a word in any lesson to see it there too.

A

account
A sign-in with a company, like a domain, email or hosting. Whoever owns the account controls what's in it.
Explained in: Build track: a tool for a local business
A link to a store that pays you a small commission when someone buys through it.
Explained in: Build track: a comparison site
agent
Claude given a goal and some tools. It plans, does a step, checks the result and keeps going until the job is done.
Explained in: Agents, in plain English
AI
Short for artificial intelligence. Here it means a program like Claude that reads what you write and writes back in plain words.
AI policy
A short page of rules for how you and the people who work with you use AI at work.
Explained in: Your one-page AI policy
AI receptionist
Software that answers your phone or your messages when you can't, using an AI voice or AI-written replies.
Explained in: Missed calls and after hours
API
A way for one program to ask another for data directly, without going through web pages.
Explained in: Build track: a lookup tool on public data
approve
Say yes when Claude Code asks before it changes something. In manual mode, nothing gets written until you do.
Explained in: Your first real conversation with Claude
assumption
Something you're counting on being true without having checked it yet.
Explained in: Check the idea first
auto memory
Notes Claude Code saves for itself about you and your project, so it remembers them next time.
Explained in: Teaching Claude your setup: memory and skills
auto mode
Claude works without asking, and a separate safety checker blocks anything risky.
Explained in: Permission modes
auto-renewal
When a contract starts a new term by itself unless you cancel in time.
Explained in: Read the contract for me
auto-reply
A message your phone, email or software sends by itself when someone gets in touch, like an away message.
Explained in: Missed calls and after hours
Automator
An app that comes with your Mac for making Quick Actions and other small helpers.
Explained in: Your first build: a screenshot shortcut
average position
Where your site's top link sat in Google's results, averaged over every search that showed it. Position 1 is the top.
Explained in: Set up Google Search Console for your site

B

back up
Keep a copy of something before it changes, so you can go back if the change goes wrong.
Explained in: Ground rules, and "a person decides"
Backyard
The folder right inside your home folder where everything you build in these lessons lives.
baseline
Where things stand today, written down, so you have something to compare with later.
Explained in: Check again in 90 days
brainstorm
Opening an idea up wide before judging it. Here, it starts with questions, not answers.
Explained in: Agents as a team: brainstorm, expand, vet
branch
A copy of the project where you try a change without touching the main version.
Explained in: Branches and pull requests
browser
The app you use to visit websites, like Safari or Chrome.

C

cause
The real reason something broke, not the first thing you noticed.
Explained in: When something breaks
cd
The command that moves Terminal into a folder. Type cd, a space and the folder's name. It's short for change directory, an old word for folder.
chore-scoring sheet
A table of the jobs that repeat in your business, with how long each takes and how much it costs you, so you fix the worst first.
Explained in: Fix it once
Claude app (also claude.ai)
Claude on your phone or computer, where you chat with it by typing. claude.ai is the same thing in a web browser.
Claude Code
Claude, working inside Terminal. It can make files and run things on your Mac, with a safety checker watching what it does.
Explained in: Install Claude Code and sign in
CLAUDE.md
A note to Claude about how to work in this project. Claude Code reads it at the start of every session in that folder.
Explained in: The three files: README, CLAUDE.md and PRD
clause
One numbered part of a contract that covers one thing, like renewal or fees.
Explained in: Read the contract for me
click-through rate (also CTR)
Clicks divided by impressions. It says how often people who saw your site in the results chose it.
Explained in: Set up Google Search Console for your site
client
The business you're building for, even if it's a friend's and nobody is paying yet.
Explained in: Build track: a tool for a local business
clipboard
The invisible spot on your computer where copied things wait until you paste them.
Explained in: Your first build: a screenshot shortcut
close-out message
The message you send when a job or an order is finished. It thanks the customer and says what happens next.
Explained in: Ask every customer for a review, and reply to every review
collection agency
A company that chases unpaid bills for a business, usually for a share of what it collects.
Explained in: The money conversation
command
An instruction you type into Terminal. Your Mac does it when you press Enter.
Explained in: Find your Terminal
commit
A saved snapshot of your project, with a short note saying what changed. Git keeps every one, so you can go back to any of them.
confidential
Private information that someone trusted you with, like a client's numbers or a customer's details.
Explained in: Ground rules, and "a person decides"
connector (also connection, connections)
A link between Claude and another app or service, like Google Calendar or Linear, so Claude can read from it or work in it.
Explained in: Connect Claude to your tools
content calendar
A simple plan of what you'll post, where and on which day, for the next few weeks.
Explained in: A simple content calendar
The notice on a website that asks visitors whether it may store cookies, the small files that remember them between visits.
Explained in: Visitor stats: Google Analytics or PostHog
CSV
A plain spreadsheet file with commas between the columns. Most sales, booking and job systems can download one.
Explained in: CSV in, paperwork out

D

dark mode
A setting on phones and computers that swaps light backgrounds for dark ones. Many people leave it on all the time.
Explained in: Working isn't the same as good: design and polish
database
Organized storage for information your app keeps, like sign-ups, orders or saved lists.
Explained in: The rest of the stack: hosting, data, domains, payments and visitors
deadline
The last day you can do something, like reply, pay or sign, before something else happens.
Explained in: Turn a long letter, lease or form into what you have to do
demo
When someone shows software working, often on a call, usually to sell it.
Explained in: Choose software without the sales pitch
design rules
A short written description of how your site should look, kept in CLAUDE.md so Claude follows it on every page.
Explained in: Working isn't the same as good: design and polish
digital download
A file people buy once and download, like a spreadsheet template, a printable planner or a guide.
Explained in: Build track: a digital download
disclosure
A plain line telling readers you get paid, or get something of value, for a listing or a link.
Explained in: Be the local hub
DNS
The settings that tell the internet where your domain's website and email live.
Explained in: Security basics: sign-in, email, domain and devices
domain
Your website's name on the internet, like gethomebydark.com. You rent it by the year from a company called a registrar.
Explained in: Security basics: sign-in, email, domain and devices

E

EEOC
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency that enforces the laws against discrimination at work.
Explained in: Hiring
EIN
A tax number for a business, from the IRS. Like a Social Security number, but for the business.
Explained in: What to build, and what you need first
email service
A company that stores your subscriber list and sends your newsletter, and handles unsubscribes for you.
Explained in: Build track: a newsletter
error message
The words a program shows when something goes wrong. Copy them exactly; every word can matter.
Explained in: When something breaks
/exit
Typed in Claude Code, it ends the conversation and takes you back to Terminal.
explanation of benefits
The statement your insurer sends showing what it paid, what it didn't and what you may owe. It isn't a bill.
Explained in: Read a medical bill and find what's wrong with it

F

FAQ
Short for frequently asked questions. A page of the questions customers ask most, each with a short answer.
Explained in: Write the answers AI wants to quote
file
One document on your computer, like a letter or a photo. Files live inside folders.
Explained in: Your first real conversation with Claude
FileVault
A Mac setting that scrambles everything on your disk, so nobody can read it if your Mac is lost or stolen.
Explained in: Security basics: sign-in, email, domain and devices
filter
A Gmail rule that does something automatically to matching emails, like adding a label.
Explained in: A Gmail for Claude, with tagged addresses
Finder
The Mac app for looking through your files and folders. Its icon is a blue smiling face.
finding
One thing an audit found, with the link and the words that show it.
Explained in: Audits that sell
finish line
How you'll know a job is done. "List every broken link" has one. "Make it better" doesn't.
Explained in: Agents, in plain English
folder (also directory)
A place on your computer that holds files and other folders, like a drawer in a filing cabinet.
Explained in: Folders, and where your project lives
follow-up
A short message you send after a quote or a visit, to check in when you haven't heard back.
Explained in: Quotes that went quiet
free tier
The no-cost version of a service, with limits. Fine for most small projects at the start.
Explained in: The apps on your phone and laptop

G

git
A tool that saves a snapshot of your project every time you ask, so you can always go back.
Explained in: Branches and pull requests
GitHub
A website that keeps a copy of your git project, with every version saved. Your backup, and where changes get reviewed.
Explained in: Branches and pull requests
Google Business Profile
Your free listing on Google Search and Google Maps, with your hours, photos, reviews and phone number.
Explained in: Keep your Google Business Profile current

H

hashtag
A word with a
Explained in: One finished job into a week of posts
heartbeat
A short line an agent sends every time it runs, even when there's nothing to report, so silence tells you something's wrong.
Explained in: Did it actually run?
home folder
Your own folder on the Mac, named after you. Desktop, Documents and Downloads all live inside it.
Explained in: Folders, and where your project lives
hosting
A company's computers that keep your site or app running on the internet, so people can reach it.
Explained in: The rest of the stack: hosting, data, domains, payments and visitors

I

iCloud
Apple's online storage. It can copy folders from your Mac to the internet and keep them in sync.
Explained in: Folders, and where your project lives
impressions
How many times your site showed up in Google's search results, whether or not anyone clicked.
Explained in: Set up Google Search Console for your site
inbox watcher
A scheduled task in the Claude app that reads your new mail each morning and tells you what needs you. It changes nothing.
Explained in: Read-only first: an inbox watcher
incentive
Something offered in return, like a discount, a gift or a prize draw. Review sites don't allow one for a review.
Explained in: Ask every customer for a review, and reply to every review
install
Put a new program on your computer so you can use it.
Explained in: Install Claude Code and sign in
issue
One task or one problem in Linear, with a title, the details, and whether it's open or done.
Explained in: Linear: one place for every task
itemized bill
A bill that lists every charge on its own line, with a code and a price.
Explained in: Read a medical bill and find what's wrong with it

J

job card (also agent job card)
One page that says what an AI agent does, what it reads, what it may never do and the one report it gives you.
Explained in: One agent, one job

K

keyboard shortcut
A few keys you press together to make something happen, like Cmd+V to paste.
Explained in: Your first build: a screenshot shortcut

L

label
Gmail's version of a folder. One email can have more than one label.
Explained in: A Gmail for Claude, with tagged addresses
ledger
A list of payments, one per line, with the date, who was paid, how much and what for.
Explained in: Where did the money go this month?
Free or low-cost legal help for people who can't afford a lawyer.
Explained in: Turn a long letter, lease or form into what you have to do
lens
A way of looking at something. Four lenses means four different starting points for ideas.
Explained in: Agents as a team: brainstorm, expand, vet
line item
One row on a quote or a bill. It names one thing and gives it its own price.
Explained in: Write the quote
Linear
A website for keeping track of tasks and problems, one issue each, so nothing lives only in your head.
Explained in: Linear: one place for every task
LLC
A limited liability company, a simple way to set up a business that's legally separate from you.
Explained in: What to build, and what you need first
localhost
Your own computer, used as a web address. A site at localhost is running on your Mac, and only you can see it.
log
A running list a program writes as it works, saying what it did and what went wrong.
Explained in: Knowing it still works: the morning check
ls
The command that lists everything in the folder Terminal is in.

M

manual mode
Claude asks you before it changes a file or runs a command. It only reads on its own.
Explained in: Permission modes
margin
What's left of the price after your costs, written as a percentage of the price.
Explained in: What to charge
marketplace
A place that lists things from many makers, so you can pick what you want. Etsy is one for shoppers, and takes a cut of each sale. In Claude Code, a marketplace is a list of plugins, usually kept on GitHub, that you add once and install from.
Explained in: Finding and installing skill collections
MCP
Short for Model Context Protocol. It's a standard way to connect Claude to other apps and services, so it can read from them or work in them.
.md (also Markdown)
Short for Markdown, a plain text file with a few marks for headings and lists. Any text app can open it.
Explained in: The three files: README, CLAUDE.md and PRD
Measurement ID
The short code, starting with G-, that tells Google Analytics which website a visit belongs to.
Explained in: Visitor stats: Google Analytics or PostHog
Medicare
The US government's health insurance for people 65 and older, and some younger people with disabilities.
Explained in: Helping a parent who's getting older
merchant of record
The company that legally makes the sale. When a platform is the merchant of record, it handles more of the tax for you.
Explained in: What to build, and what you need first
merge
Bring a change from a branch into the main version.
Explained in: Branches and pull requests
merged
Brought into the main version. Merged doesn't mean working. You still check.
Explained in: Knowing it still works: the morning check
mkdir
The command that makes a new folder. Type mkdir, a space and the new folder's name. It's short for make directory.
mystery shopper
Someone who visits a business as an ordinary customer, to see what a real customer would see.
Explained in: The mystery shopper: who gets recommended in your town

N

newsletter
A regular email for people who signed up to hear about one topic.
Explained in: Build track: a newsletter
niche
One narrow topic or kind of product, like mahjong sets or protein powder.
Explained in: Build track: a comparison site
notice period
How long before a date you must tell the other side, often in writing, that you're leaving or not renewing.
Explained in: Read the contract for me

P

pantry
The cupboard or shelf where you keep food that doesn't need the fridge.
Explained in: A week of dinners and one grocery list
partner
A local business that serves the same customers as you but doesn't compete with you.
Explained in: Be the local hub
password manager
An app that remembers a different strong password for every account, so you only remember one.
Explained in: Security basics: sign-in, email, domain and devices
pasting
Putting whatever you last copied right where you're typing. On a Mac, that's Cmd+V.
Explained in: Find your Terminal
payment terms
What you and the customer agreed about paying, like how much, by when and how. They're usually on the quote, the bill or the contract.
Explained in: The money conversation
permission
Your Mac asking "is this OK?" before an app can do something private, like see your screen or press keys for you.
Explained in: Your first build: a screenshot shortcut
permission mode
How much Claude Code does before checking with you. You can switch it any time with Shift+Tab.
Explained in: Permission modes
phone width
How a page looks on a narrow phone screen, about 390 pixels wide. Many visitors see your site this way first.
Explained in: Working isn't the same as good: design and polish
pinned note
A note you've set to stay at the top of the list in Notes, so it's always the first one you see.
Explained in: Keep a notebook
plan mode
Claude reads and makes a plan, but changes nothing until you approve the plan.
Explained in: Permission modes
plugin
A package of skills and other add-ons for Claude Code that you install in one go.
Explained in: Finding and installing skill collections
PRD.md
One page on the problem, who it's for, and what "done" looks like. PRD stands for product requirements document.
Explained in: The three files: README, CLAUDE.md and PRD
privacy policy
A page that tells visitors what information your site collects about them and what you do with it.
Explained in: What to build, and what you need first
product outline
A one-page plan for a product before you make it, saying who it's for, the one job it does and what goes in each part.
Explained in: Sell what you know
project folder
One folder in your Backyard that holds everything for one thing you're building.
Explained in: Install Claude Code and sign in
prompt
What you type to Claude. A good one says what you want, how to work and what never to do.
Explained in: Starter prompts you'll use again and again
prompt line
The line in Terminal that ends with a % sign. The word right before the % is the folder you're in.
Explained in: Folders, and where your project lives
proof
Something you or Claude actually saw, like the page loading or the line in the result. Not "it should work".
Explained in: Prove it, don't believe it
protected trait
A personal characteristic the law says you can't treat people worse for, like age, race, sex, religion or disability. Which traits are covered depends on where you are.
Explained in: Hiring
public data
Information a government or organization publishes for anyone, like property or business records.
Explained in: Build track: a lookup tool on public data
public reply
Your answer under a review. Anyone who reads the review can see it.
Explained in: The hard customer
pull request
A request to bring a branch's change into the main version. You read it first, then merge it or don't.
Explained in: Branches and pull requests
pwd
The command that tells you which folder Terminal is in right now. It's short for print working directory.

Q

Quick Action
A small helper you add to your Mac. It can run from any app, and you can give it a keyboard shortcut.
Explained in: Your first build: a screenshot shortcut
quote request
A message from someone asking what a job or an order would cost. It's often the first time they get in touch.
Explained in: The one-minute reply to a quote request

R

read-only
Allowed to look at things but not change, send or delete anything.
Explained in: Connect Claude to your tools
README.md
The front door of a project. It says what the project is and how to run it, for you in six months and anyone you hand it to.
Explained in: The three files: README, CLAUDE.md and PRD
refute
To argue that something is wrong, with reasons.
Explained in: Audits that sell
renewal test
One yes-or-no question you write when you start paying for something, and answer before it renews, to decide whether it stays.
Explained in: Is my AI paying for itself?
repository (also repo)
One project on GitHub, with all its files and every saved version. People say repo for short.
Explained in: Branches and pull requests
running costs (also overhead)
What it costs to keep the business open whatever you sell, like rent, insurance, phone and software. Some people call this overhead.
Explained in: What to charge

S

sales tax
Tax added to what a customer pays, which the seller has to collect and pass on to the state.
Explained in: What to build, and what you need first
scam
A message or call that pretends to be someone it isn't, to get your money or your details.
Explained in: Is this a scam? Ask before you send anything
scheduled task (also routine, routines)
A job Claude does on its own on a schedule, like every morning, even when your computer is closed.
Explained in: Scheduled tasks
scoreboard
A short list of the few numbers you check every week, each next to where you've decided it should be.
Explained in: The weekly scoreboard
scorecard
A short table that gives each part of something a score, with the reason next to it.
Explained in: Your business, as a stranger sees it
screening questions
Short questions applicants answer when they apply, so you can see who meets the must-haves before you interview.
Explained in: Hiring
script
A list of instructions your Mac follows in order, written down so it can do them again whenever you ask.
Explained in: Your first build: a screenshot shortcut
Search Console
A free Google tool that shows whether Google has found your site and what people searched to get there.
Explained in: Build track: a comparison site
search query (also queries)
The words someone typed into Google. Search Console calls them queries.
Explained in: Ask Claude about your search data
session
One conversation with Claude Code, from when you start it until you leave.
SHIP counselor
A trained counselor in your state who helps with Medicare questions for free. SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
Explained in: Helping a parent who's getting older
sign in
Tell Claude Code which Claude account is yours, so it knows you've paid for it.
Explained in: Install Claude Code and sign in
skill
A saved set of instructions for one kind of job. Claude uses it when the job comes up, or when you type its name.
Explained in: Teaching Claude your setup: memory and skills
slash command
Something you type in Claude Code starting with a slash, like /memory or /exit.
Explained in: Teaching Claude your setup: memory and skills
smallest test
The least you can build or do that answers one question about your idea, like a sign-up form before a whole website.
Explained in: Check the idea first
SOP
Short for standard operating procedure. The written steps for how a job is done, so anyone can do it the same way.
Explained in: Write it down once
source
Where a fact comes from, like the web page, the person or the paper that says it.
Explained in: Your first real conversation, in the app
special hours
Hours that change for a day or a few days, like a holiday, without changing your usual hours.
Explained in: Keep your Google Business Profile current
SPF, DKIM and DMARC
Three settings on a domain that prove email really came from you, so it doesn't land in spam or get faked.
Explained in: Security basics: sign-in, email, domain and devices
Spotlight
The Mac's search box. It finds apps and files when you type their name.
Explained in: Find your Terminal
stack
The set of services a project runs on, like where it's hosted, where its data lives and how it takes payments.
Explained in: The rest of the stack: hosting, data, domains, payments and visitors
status file
One page that says what's working, what's broken and what nobody has checked, as of a date.
Explained in: Prove it, don't believe it
stop result
The result, written down before a test starts, that means you drop the idea or change it.
Explained in: Vet the idea in an hour
Stripe
A company that takes card payments for a website and sends the money to your bank, keeping a small fee from each sale.
subject line
The short line people see in their inbox before they open an email.
Explained in: Emailing your own customers
subscription
Something you pay for every month or every year until you cancel it.
Explained in: The apps on your phone and laptop

T

tagged address
Your Gmail address with a plus and a word added, like [email protected]. It still reaches the same inbox.
Explained in: A Gmail for Claude, with tagged addresses
Team plan
A Claude plan for a company of 2 to 150 people, with one bill and someone in charge of who gets in.
Explained in: Which account and plan you need
template
A starting point with blanks to fill in, so you don't start from nothing every time.
Explained in: Starter prompts you'll use again and again
temporary folder
A folder for files you only need for a few minutes. It's out of the way, so nothing piles up on your Desktop.
Explained in: Your first build: a screenshot shortcut
Terminal
An app on your Mac where you type instructions instead of clicking on things. Claude Code works inside it.
Explained in: Find your Terminal
terms of use
The rules a website or data source sets for how you can use what it publishes.
Explained in: Build track: a lookup tool on public data
two-step sign-in
Signing in with your password plus a second thing, like a code on your phone, so a stolen password isn't enough.
Explained in: Security basics: sign-in, email, domain and devices
TXT record
A line of text in your domain's DNS settings. Google reads it to check that the domain is yours.
Explained in: Build track: a comparison site

U

unsubscribe
Ask to stop getting someone's emails. A marketing email needs a working way to do it, usually a link at the bottom.
Explained in: Emailing your own customers
URL (also web address)
The address of a page on the internet, like gethomebydark.com. You type it in the bar at the top of your browser.
usage limit
How much you can use Claude before it asks you to wait a while. Bigger plans have bigger limits.
Explained in: Which account and plan you need

V

vet
Check an idea quickly and fairly, the same way every time, to decide whether it's worth more of your time.
Explained in: Agents as a team: brainstorm, expand, vet

W

Claude looking things up on the internet during a chat. Its answer comes with links to the pages it used.
Explained in: The mystery shopper: who gets recommended in your town
Start