Are you a Developer, a Coder or a Programmer?

Programmer, Coder or Dev?

  • Programmer

    Votes: 2 10.5%

  • Coder

    Votes: 2 10.5%

  • Developer

    Votes: 15 78.9%
  • Total voters
    19

wonder

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klaus said:
How do you define yourself ?
I would say that I am all three !?
If you expect concrete answers you need to define more precicely the three functions !
Click to expand...
Well, back in the 90's the only term I knew was "programmer".
The first time I heard the term "coder" was on the last decade.
I haven't heard the term "dev" or "developer" prior to 2008.

Someone on the web wrote:
- If you have a feeling that you have a problem but cannot even define it clearly, then you need a Developer to help you find the problem first, and then solve it.
- If you have a clear problem and a clear solution in human or pseudo-human language, all you need is a Coder to code it in the appropriate computer language for you.
- If you have a clear problem but don't have a solution, you can hire a Programmer to solve it and code it for you.
 

HotShoe

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wonder said:
Which term fits you best?
Click to expand...

I can't remember ever being called a software engineer, but that is on my degree. I figure if I am working for a client under contract to create a new piece of software, then I am a software designer (I guess that could be a developer). If I am doing something on spec (speculation to sell on my own), or adding to/repairing someone elses program, I am a programmer.

In the end, it's all programming, designing, developing, and coding. It just depends on the lingo at the time, and how important you need to feel about it.

--- Jem
 

RandomCoder

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Well up to now it seems that I'm the only coder, but my definition is a little different. To my way of thinking, a programmer is someone who specialises in a select number of languages and has a very in-depth knowledge of the ins and outs of each. There's little he doesn't know about the language he specialises in.

A coder on the other hand has little specialist in-depth knowledge of any particular language but rather a broad knowledge of several. He uses the knowledge he has to interpret similarities in the code and modify it as required. Often requiring the manual or help documentation for reference.

A developer is both of the above along with a flare of creativity. A developer will often have a language they are most comfortable using but they are not limited solely to this. They will use whatever is felt to be most suitable for the given task. A developer will often try to push the boundaries of what is possible.

Of course this is just my uneducated opinion
 

Ed Brown

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The way I see it is that the terms are all the same thing. They have just been introduced and evolved over time. I started as a junior programmer that later evolved into developer, senior developer, software developer, etc. etc. I think the word I'm looking for is 'buzz-words'. IE. managers feel the need to be creative and come up with a new word/phrase to describe the same thing. Take 'Cloud' and 'IoT' as an example which just describes web/Internet connected systems.

My friends have called me 'code monkey', 'code jockey', 'codie', etc. Not sure if I should be offended with those but I just ran with it.

That's just my 5 cents worth. Now I have to go to work for the day to earn the remaining 45 cents
 
S

sorex

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I use the term coder since the 80s since it was the common naming to use in credit pages when releasing a demo/intro/tool on 8-bit platforms like the C64.

It probably comes from programming machine code which was at first entering pure hexadecimal codes
since we didn't have assemblers that converted a textual source into the right bytes/op-codes.

These days developer sounds more common tho.
 

udg

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Hi all,

in early 80s we used to distinguish between an analyst (or system analyst) and a programmer. The former's job was to turn a real-world process in its software-based equivalent, while the latter made use of schemes, notes and meta-language decriptions from the former to put everything in code and bring it to life.
You could say that the analyst had to understand a real world problem or scenario to then design a software solution using DBs, UIs and the needed hardware. The programmer had to follow directions from the analyst and revise his own (or others') code in order to make it as bug-free as possible.
On bigger projects you could count on a DB specialist, a network specialist....

Most of us, nowadays ex-teenagers, used to cover all those roles.

I agree with @Ed Brown that many of today roles exist due to managers and marketing depts.
 
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MikeH

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I write code to program my computer to develop software, which presently is mobile device applications or "apps". So that covers all three (and more - graphic artist, sound engineer, project manager, etc etc).

Informally, "I write apps". Formally, I`m a "computer programmer". I suppose it depends from which angle you look at it but most people understand well enough one or the other.
 

Cableguy

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I

I kinda of share RandomCoder's opinion...

Here's my version:
The Programer creates stand alone routines that can/will later included in a bigger software project, like M§ does with Wind0ws...
The Coder can/usually takes a routine that was initialy designer to do a specific task and adapts it to its needs, sometimes recourring to trial'n'error...
The Developer takes an idea, choses the language to use and turns the idea in to reallity

I am a Coder wannabe!!!
 
Last edited:
S

susu

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How about a guy that:
1. Write code for his app.
2. Design UI/icon of his app.
3. Make intro video about his app.
4. Create website to introduce his app.
5. And try to sell his app too?
 

Ed Brown

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susu said:
How about a guy that:
1. Write code for his app.
2. Design UI/icon of his app.
3. Make intro video about his app.
4. Create website to introduce his app.
5. And try to sell his app too?
Click to expand...
I guess that would make you an Analyst Programmer/Marketing Manager/Graphic Designer/Publisher. That's a lot of hats and would describe most indie devs.
 
T

Troberg

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My definition:

Developer: Able to work all the process, from requirements, to architecture and design, to coding, all the way to deployment and the necesseary change management to implement at the users'.

Programmer: Design, coding, possibly a little architecture.

Coder: Coding, only.
 
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