Contrary meanings of dependency/dependent?

Question

http://tutorials.jenkov.com/ood/understanding-dependencies.html#whatis says that

Whenever a class A uses another class or interface B, then A depends on B. A cannot carry out it's work without B, and A cannot be reused without also reusing B. In such a situation the class A is called the "dependent" and the class or interface B is called the "dependency". A dependent depends on its dependencies.

According to Google, the definition of "dependency":

a dependent or subordinate thing, especially a country or province controlled by another.

Since A depends on B, the dependency is A and the dependent is B. This is contrary to the first quote. Or am I missing something?

If state (etc) X has sovereignty over state Y, Y is a dependency (a country or province controlled by another, {ODO} of X. But X may still be dependent on Y for its iron ore. You're 'missing' the different senses of the words; Jenkov seems to be using an IT-specific sense. And to have a poor proofreader. — Edwin Ashworth, Jun 22 '18 at 10:41
I think you've made a good case that 'dependency' is an example of a contronym — Mitch, Sep 20 '18 at 14:24
See also "Single word for expressing "those which I am dependent on"", "What is the word for the complementary relationship implied by the word dependent?". — outis, Aug 05 '22 at 23:48

score -1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 22 '18 at 10:22

-1

I think Jenkov says: dependant (A) depends on dependency (B). The dependent thing is B, but A is the dependant.

Hope this helps.

answered Jun 22 '18 at 10:22

Peter

1

Contrary meanings of dependency/dependent?

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