What term is used to describe a place where finished software is stored?

An artifact repository is a centralized location where finished software components, binaries, libraries, and other artifacts are stored. This repository serves as a critical element in the software development lifecycle, allowing teams to efficiently manage and distribute software components. It makes it easy to share and version these components, enhancing collaboration among developers and ensuring that the correct versions of software are used across different environments.

Artifact repositories support various types of artifacts, including application binaries, Docker images, and package libraries, making them versatile tools in software development. They help manage dependencies and facilitate continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes.

While image registries and Docker Hub specifically deal with Docker images (which are indeed a type of artifact), they do not encompass the broader range of artifacts managed by an artifact repository. A version control system focuses on tracking changes to source code and does not store finished software components in the way an artifact repository does. Thus, the term “artifact repository” accurately captures the concept of a location specifically designed for storing finished software.