Here's an informative google search: https://www.google.com/search?q=%22finite+element+codes%22 https://www.google.com/search?q=%22finite+element+codes%22 I d

Here's an informative google search: https://www.google.com/search?q=%22finite+element+codes%22 https://www.google.com/search?q=%22finite+element+codes%22 I don't know about a recent uptick in "codes", but I know it is incorrect to attribute using "codes" to non-native English. As I noted in another comment, software for numeric and scientific computing is very commonly referred to as "codes". Finite element simulations are a good example of something where the code has been written and refined over many decades, and so the result is a treasured collection of discrete objects that are passed down. You can see that in how "codes" is used in the search results above.