Glossary

Platform terms, in alphabetical order, each linking to its full page.

Application#

One deployed project, linked to one repository (or created from an upload or template). Holds the settings its environments inherit. See Deployments.

Build#

The step that turns a commit into something runnable: a folder of static files or a container image. Runs on Cloud Build. See Builds.

Cold start#

The seconds an app at zero instances takes to boot for its first request after idle. The price of scale to zero. See Scaling.

Concurrency#

How many requests one instance serves at the same time. Default 80, capped per size. See Scaling.

CPU target#

The average CPU percentage at which autoscaling adds an instance. Default 80%. See Scaling.

Deployment#

One commit, built and released to one environment. Each environment keeps its last 20. See Deploy history.

Detection#

Light Cloud reading a repository to work out the framework, package manager, build command, and output directory. See How detection works.

Environment#

One running copy of an application, with its own URL, settings, and variables. One per connected branch: one production, the rest previews. See How it works.

Environment variable#

A configuration value or secret set on an application or environment, delivered at build time (static) or runtime (container). See Environment variables.

Extra usage#

Usage above what the plan includes. On a paid plan it is added to the next invoice at the same rates; nothing pauses unless you set a usage limit. Free has no extra usage: its server apps pause instead, and it is never billed. See Billing.

Fair use#

The static-site bandwidth a workspace's sites share each month: 20 GB on Free, 1 TB on paid plans. It is not a meter and is never charged; going past it means an email first. See Pricing.

Included usage#

The amount of usage a plan includes each month, worth the plan's price ($5 on Lite, $19 on Starter, $49 on Pro, $149 on Business); Free includes $1. Everything you run counts against it at the same rates on every plan. See Billing.

Instance#

One running copy of a container app. Autoscaling adds and removes instances between the min and max. Billed per instance-hour.

Output directory#

The folder a static build writes the finished site into - exactly what the CDN serves. See Build settings.

Paused#

What happens on Free when its $1 of included usage is used up: server apps and deploys pause until the next billing cycle or an upgrade, while static sites keep serving. Nothing is billed. See Billing.

Plan#

A fixed price, monthly or yearly, that includes the same amount of usage each month - Free, Lite, Starter, Pro or Business. See Pricing.

Plan limits#

What a plan lets you create: how many server apps, which sizes and database tiers, how many databases, custom domains, always-on instances, team members. Static sites and preview URLs are unlimited on every plan. Separate from the usage it includes. See Limits.

Point-in-time recovery#

Restoring a PostgreSQL database to a chosen moment rather than to the last daily backup. See Backups.

Preview environment#

An environment created for a branch, at its own URL, removed when the branch is deleted. See Preview environments.

Production environment#

The protected environment deployed from the production branch (main or master by default). Cleanup never touches it. See Deployments.

Region#

The data centre a container app or database runs in. Tier-1 regions bill at base rates; tier-2 (coming) carry a surcharge. See Application settings.

Root directory#

The folder of a monorepo an application builds from. Pushes elsewhere in the repo don't rebuild it. See Application settings.

Scale to zero#

An app with min instances 0 sleeping when idle - and not billing while asleep. See Billing.

Shared tier#

The pooled database tier: your own credentials and database on a shared instance, ready in seconds, about $4 a month, from Lite up. See Databases.

Size#

The vCPU and memory of each instance, Nano through Large. See Application settings.

Stack#

A template that creates an application and a connected database in one go - WordPress, Open SaaS. See Templates.

Static site#

A build served entirely from the CDN: no server, no region, no cold starts, bandwidth included up to fair use. Unlimited on every plan. See Frameworks.

Usage alerts#

The emails sent at 80% of the included usage and when it is used up, plus one optional alert at a dollar amount of your choosing. Alerts only email; they never pause anything. See Billing.

Usage limit#

An optional ceiling on a paid plan's extra usage. At an amount you choose it either alerts you or pauses server apps. Offered at checkout, off unless you choose it. See Billing.