Vendor Lock-in
Vendor Lock-in is when switching away from a service becomes so painful or expensive that you're basically stuck with them. Something to avoid when possible.
Definition
When switching away from a service becomes so painful or expensive that you're basically stuck with them. Something to avoid when possible.
Example
Building everything on proprietary AWS services means migrating to Google Cloud later could cost months of work.
Related Terms
More Business & Contracting Terms
MVP - Minimum Viable Product
The simplest version of your product that still solves the core problem. Ship fast, learn from real users, then improve. Don't build everything at once.
POC - Proof of Concept
A small test to prove an idea actually works before investing serious time or money. It's not a product—it's evidence that building the product makes sense.
Prototype
A working model of your product used for testing and feedback. It doesn't need to be pretty or complete—it needs to let people interact with your idea.
Wireframe
A basic sketch showing the layout and structure of a page without any design polish. Think blueprint, not finished building. It's about where things go, not how they look.
Mockup
A high-fidelity visual design showing exactly how the final product will look. Unlike wireframes, mockups include colors, typography, and real content.