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I have an API library, what do I call code/applications that use it? I want to avoid "client" because in my context, it is ambiguous with another concept.

Also it doesn't have to be a single word, as long as it's short and not awkward to repeat a lot of times in a formal document.

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Personally, I would use calling code if you can't use client. – Maxpm Apr 28 '12 at 4:32
Or calling processes. – FumbleFingers Apr 28 '12 at 4:47
One word for "codes/applications that calls" is ungrammatical. (^_^) Editing... – RegDwighт♦ Apr 28 '12 at 10:52

3 Answers

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From a technical point of view an API define a contract between a caller and a callee.

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any reference that these terminology is accepted/formal? – Louis Rhys Apr 28 '12 at 12:39
As far as I know this convention comes from telecommunications standards : caller references the calling party, callee the called party. API of most (all) programming languages expose a caller property which references the component which called a function. – Jef Apr 28 '12 at 12:49
From en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calling_convention : "between the caller and the callee", "receive parameters from their caller", etc. – Jef Apr 28 '12 at 12:53
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The answer is calling code.

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In a document that is truly formal, you can invent your own word and put it into the glossary. When it first appears in your document, write it in italics and give a definition. Then after that use that word consistently.

"The program which calls this API, hereafter referred to as the caller, etc."

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By formal, I don't mean like a legal document. It's more like a business/professional document. But it's a good suggestion. Thanks! – Louis Rhys Apr 28 '12 at 4:26
You've never seen an engineering document in which terms are introduced in this way? What do you think of caller, by the way. – Kaz Apr 28 '12 at 4:40

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