Software Programmer or Software Developer

 

Software development is a complex process wherein the one major task is broken down into chunks of smaller tasks which are finally assembled together to create the software. However since many people are involved in the process each one is designated 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 th at write code towards the software, however, they are generally, or let us say loosely referred interchangeably interchangeab ly as either Software Programmer or a Developer. 

Nevertheless, as wethe would in thisand brief article, there isbea used stsed strong rong technical difference between twoexplore designations they can hardly u interchangeably.  Programmer OR Developer?  Developer?   The argument of those who profess Programmer and Developer mean the same and the terms can be used interchangeably:  interchangeably:    As noted above people people generally user the terms Programmer and and Developer interchangeably. interchangeab ly. What this means m eans 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 describing the functionalities. The argument of those who insist in differentiating between a Programmer and a Developer:  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

 

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 primarily subjected to only these duties. Thus, we can see 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 Developer is made responsible to create create the environment 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 package it; 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 rul e that) a “Programmer” would not be able to discharge the extra duties that a Developer could. After all al l Software related duties require knowledge which is the not the property of any single community.  With this we hope you get a better better understanding of the words words Programmer and Developer when somebody uses it on your face!