Core concepts3 min read · Updated Jun 2026

Glossary

A reference table of every term used in Penling — what each concept means and where to learn more.

A quick-reference guide to every term in Penling.

Core terms

Term	Definition
Initiative	The top-level unit of work. A bounded piece of work with a clear outcome, a spec, and a plan.
Brief	A plain-language description of an initiative — what's being built, why, and what's out of scope.
Focus area	One reviewable slice of an initiative, described by a four-part spec: definition, results, boundaries, notes.
Goal	A high-level outcome the initiative is trying to achieve. Goals sit above focus areas and anchor every decision.
Plan	The ordered build sequence generated from an initiative's focus areas. Organised into phases.
Build	The active development phase — when work is underway against the plan.
Phase	A logical grouping of focus areas within a plan (e.g. "Foundation", "Core feature", "Polish").

Term	Definition
Definition	The first part of a focus area spec — what this slice of work is, in one or two sentences.
Results	The second part — observable outcomes that must be true when the focus area is done.
Boundaries	The third part — what is explicitly not in scope for this focus area.
Notes	The fourth part — constraints, risks, dependencies, and open questions.

Term	Definition
Action	A discrete task within a focus area, tracked during the build phase.
Check	A verification step linked to a result statement. Confirms a result has been met.
Clarification	A question raised against a focus area when the spec is ambiguous or incomplete.
Deviation	A build-phase change that wasn't planned — flagged for a decision on whether to update the spec.

Term	Definition
MCP	Model Context Protocol — the open standard Penling uses to publish plans to coding agents.
MCP server	The Penling-hosted server that makes your plans available to MCP-compatible agents.
Publish to MCP	The action that makes a plan available on the MCP server for agent consumption.

Term	Definition
Workspace	The shared environment for a team. Contains all initiatives, members, and settings.
Member	A person in a workspace. Roles: Admin, Member, Viewer.
Admin	A workspace member with permission to invite others, manage settings, and delete initiatives.