Glossary

This glossary defines key construction and software terms used throughout Baulit and its documentation. Terms are listed alphabetically.

Term	Definition
BYOK	Bring Your Own Key. Baulit's AI model where users provide their own Anthropic API key rather than using a shared key. This gives you control over costs and usage. See BYOK Setup.
Change Order (CO)	A written agreement that modifies the original scope, cost, or timeline of a construction project. In Baulit, COs follow a 4-status workflow: Draft, Submitted, Approved, Rejected. See Change Orders.
COI	Certificate of Insurance. A document from an insurance carrier confirming that a subcontractor carries general liability and/or workers' compensation coverage. Baulit tracks COI expiration dates in the Contact Directory.
CPM	Critical Path Method. A scheduling algorithm that calculates the earliest and latest possible start and finish dates for every task based on durations and predecessor relationships. See Gantt Chart & CPM and CPM for Builders.
Critical Path	The longest chain of dependent tasks through a project schedule. Tasks on the critical path have zero float — any delay to a critical task delays the entire project by the same amount.
EAC	Estimate at Completion. The projected total cost of a project based on the original budget plus approved change orders and actual spending to date. Displayed on the Budget tab.
Edge Function	A server-side function hosted on Supabase's edge network. Baulit uses Edge Functions for AI processing, Stripe billing, and other operations that require server-side execution.
Float (Slack)	The amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the overall project completion date. Tasks on the critical path have zero float. Tasks with positive float have scheduling flexibility. See Scheduling Fundamentals.
FS (Finish-to-Start)	A dependency type where the successor task cannot start until the predecessor task finishes. This is the only dependency type used in Baulit. Example: "Pour Foundation" must finish before "Frame First Floor" can start.
Gantt Chart	A horizontal bar chart that visualizes a project schedule over time. Each task is a bar whose length represents its duration, and bars are positioned according to their calculated start and finish dates. See Gantt Chart & CPM.
Predecessor	A task that must be completed before another task can begin. In Baulit, predecessors are linked using Finish-to-Start (FS) dependencies through the Dependency Wizard.
Punch List	A list of deficiencies and incomplete items identified during the final walkthrough of a construction project. These must be resolved before the project is considered complete. See Punch List.
RFI	Request for Information. A formal question submitted during construction to clarify design intent, material specifications, or other project details. Typically directed to the architect or engineer.
RLS	Row-Level Security. A database feature used by Supabase (PostgreSQL) that restricts which rows a user can read or modify based on their identity. Baulit uses RLS to ensure users can only access their own projects and data.
Successor	A task that depends on another task (its predecessor) being completed first. In a Finish-to-Start relationship, the successor cannot start until the predecessor finishes.
WBS	Work Breakdown Structure. A hierarchical decomposition of a project into phases and tasks. In Baulit, this is represented by the Phases & Sub-Tasks hierarchy.
Working Days	Monday through Friday, excluding weekends. All task durations in Baulit are measured in working days. A task with a duration of 5 working days that starts on Monday finishes on Friday of the same week.