8/13/2019 Software Programmer or Software Developer

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Software development is a complex process wherein the one major task is brokendown into chunks of smaller tasks which are finally assembled together to create thesoftware. However since many people are involved in the process each one isdesignated separately.

Since major area of concern in a Software company is the creation of software itself,the majority of professionals in such companies are those that write code towardsthe software, however, they are generally, or let us say loosely referredinterchangeably as either Software Programmer or a Developer.

Nevertheless, as we would explore in this brief article, there is a strong technical

difference between the two designations and they can hardly be used

interchangeably.

Programmer OR Developer?

The argument of those who profess Programmer and Developer mean

the same and the terms can be used interchangeably:As noted above people generally user the terms Programmer and Developer

interchangeably. What this means is that anybody who can write computer codes in

any stipulated language; and can do testing on the code; and can implement it by

assembling the code snugly with its mother code (assuming the code to be a part of

the larger code); and even possibly prepare documentation around the code

identifying the key parts in it. If a professional is sufficiently able to perform all such

roles then s/he is generally termed as a Programmer or a Developer. In fact if we

observe Developer is a term which has come into the vogue only in the recent past -

may be about a decade ago; however, earlier Programmer was the term describingthe functionalities.

The argument of those who insist in differentiating between a

Programmer and a Developer:

However across the spectrum are those people from the school who think that

Programmers and Developers are two distinct labels based on the separate

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functionality which each provide. Concluding on the distinction of functionality, they

profess that the designations cannot be interchangeably used.

The division of functionalities works as follows: A Programmer is professional in the

company who is responsible for writing quality computer code in the prescribed

computer language. S/he must ensure that the code is bug free and can be easily

understood and assimilated into the larger system. The Programmer should also

keep leeway for any further modifications into the code which should be hassle free.

And the Programmer is primarily subjected to only these duties. Thus, we can see

that the Programmers duties are very well defined and bounded.

Unlike this, the term Developer is broader; it envelops various other responsibilities

within itself. Herein a Developer is made responsible to create the environment and

provide the infrastructure in which the code would run; to deploy the code in the

environment and infrastructure; to test the code against desired results; to packageit; to develop the documentation of the for code in-house usage and for the reference

of the user (the client).

Consequently, on the foregoing, it is inferable that a Developer is more towards a

holistic preparation of the software; the Developer strives towards coming out with a

complete software package than just a block(s) brilliantly written lines of code which

is actually the role of a Programmer. Having said this, it does not mean that (or it is

not a hard and fast rule that) a Programmer would not be able to discharge the

extra duties that a Developer could. After all Software related duties requireknowledge which is the not the property of any single community.

With this we hope you get a better understanding of the words Programmer and

Developer when somebody uses it on your face!