Glossary
The small set of words we use consistently across the product and docs.
Continual uses ordinary words for business concepts. When a platform term is still being designed, this glossary says so rather than making a future contract sound current.
Core terms
Operating systemThe customer-owned software through which people and AI agents understand, run, and improve the business.
Company OSThe short name for a customer's complete operating system after the artifact has been defined. It is not a synonym for the Continual platform or the primary market category.
Company RuntimeThe technical name for the live implementation behind every app and agent.
Operating modelHow a business works: its objects, rules, knowledge, decisions, and measures.
BackendThe technical implementation that stores and serves the Company Runtime.
OperationA real-world business activity or outcome, such as onboarding or incident response.
Build and run terms
ObjectA typed business concept with fields and records.
InterfaceAn explicit contract implemented by more than one object.
ToolA typed, governed capability that can produce an effect.
LoopRecurring work that observes, acts, checks, and repeats toward an outcome.
SkillA reusable method combining context, tools, and checks.
BranchAn isolated version of a project for proposing and testing change.