Click here to Skip to main content
15,899,937 members

Welcome to the Lounge

   

For discussing anything related to a software developer's life but is not for programming questions. Got a programming question?

The Lounge is rated Safe For Work. If you're about to post something inappropriate for a shared office environment, then don't post it. No ads, no abuse, and no programming questions. Trolling, (political, climate, religious or whatever) will result in your account being removed.

 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Ravi Bhavnani7-Nov-19 4:53
professionalRavi Bhavnani7-Nov-19 4:53 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Maximilien7-Nov-19 4:10
Maximilien7-Nov-19 4:10 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
PIEBALDconsult7-Nov-19 4:23
mvePIEBALDconsult7-Nov-19 4:23 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
michaelbarb8-Nov-19 7:32
michaelbarb8-Nov-19 7:32 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
PIEBALDconsult8-Nov-19 7:55
mvePIEBALDconsult8-Nov-19 7:55 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Bassam Abdul-Baki7-Nov-19 4:26
professionalBassam Abdul-Baki7-Nov-19 4:26 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Eddy Vluggen7-Nov-19 5:58
professionalEddy Vluggen7-Nov-19 5:58 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
MSBassSinger7-Nov-19 7:41
professionalMSBassSinger7-Nov-19 7:41 
That part sounds like a marketing spin on the term "programmers".

But there are practical distinctions between programmers (developers, coders, etc) and engineers.
Programmers are those who know how to productively efficiently write code to accomplish a purpose. If a professional, they understand why they choose the coding solution they use for a given problem domain. Some very experienced, very knowledgeable people choose to stick to being programmers because it suits them and the type of work they want to do.

As for software engineers, Merriam-Webster defines engineering (in general) as:
Quote:
a: the application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made useful to people
b: the design and manufacture of complex products


Software engineers are also programmers. But they look at a project beyond just the code at hand. They consider value engineering, systems requirements and limitations, the full software development life cycle, can manage a project, manage developers, do architecture, interface with customers, etc. That is not to say some programmers are not capable of doing all this, but we are talking about roles, not individuals.

The reluctance to hire good software engineers is why development teams typically have a BA, a scrum master, as well as developers and QA folks. A good software engineer can replace the BA and scrum master functions and produce a better product quicker and better. Why? Because the software engineer has the BA and scrum master knowledge domains within their total knowledge domain. BAs and scrum masters do not have the software development knowledge domain within their knowledge domains. That means an inefficiency is introduced by communication and translation to BAs and scrum masters, and that leads to an accumulation of small delays, mistakes that have to be corrected, and sometimes missed deadlines.

It is not about one being better than another. Software engineers need to trust the skills of their programmers, and communicate project details and status to all, as well as mentor programmers who want to grow into software engineers. Programmers who have not yet obtained the broader knowledge and experience of a good software engineer need to recognize that, and return the trust.

Differences can be seen as competitive, or hierarchical. Or, they can be seen as complementary as all part of the whole.
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
michaelbarb8-Nov-19 7:37
michaelbarb8-Nov-19 7:37 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
MSBassSinger8-Nov-19 7:46
professionalMSBassSinger8-Nov-19 7:46 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
j snooze7-Nov-19 11:42
j snooze7-Nov-19 11:42 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Michael Bergman7-Nov-19 15:18
Michael Bergman7-Nov-19 15:18 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Super Lloyd7-Nov-19 15:39
Super Lloyd7-Nov-19 15:39 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Arthur Lowe7-Nov-19 20:57
Arthur Lowe7-Nov-19 20:57 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
dshillito7-Nov-19 21:23
dshillito7-Nov-19 21:23 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
kalberts7-Nov-19 22:47
kalberts7-Nov-19 22:47 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Member 104115298-Nov-19 2:10
Member 104115298-Nov-19 2:10 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
wakerunner8-Nov-19 3:05
wakerunner8-Nov-19 3:05 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Reelix8-Nov-19 3:56
Reelix8-Nov-19 3:56 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
scoy68-Nov-19 5:01
scoy68-Nov-19 5:01 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Dan Sutton8-Nov-19 5:31
Dan Sutton8-Nov-19 5:31 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
jhunley8-Nov-19 6:37
jhunley8-Nov-19 6:37 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Stacy Dudovitz8-Nov-19 7:58
professionalStacy Dudovitz8-Nov-19 7:58 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Steve Naidamast8-Nov-19 7:46
professionalSteve Naidamast8-Nov-19 7:46 
GeneralRe: When did we become "Developers" rather than "Programmers" Pin
Member 37300338-Nov-19 11:54
Member 37300338-Nov-19 11:54 

General General    News News    Suggestion Suggestion    Question Question    Bug Bug    Answer Answer    Joke Joke    Praise Praise    Rant Rant    Admin Admin   

Use Ctrl+Left/Right to switch messages, Ctrl+Up/Down to switch threads, Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right to switch pages.


Straw Poll

Were you affected by the geomagnetic storms this past weekend?
Communication disruptions, electrified pipes, random unexplained blue-screens in Windows - the list of effects is terrifying.
  Results   478 votes