Difference between a Programmer, Coder, Developer and Engineer?

The titles such as Engineer, Programmer, Coder, Developer, and Computer Scientist are very confusing even for those who are working in the technology industry. Do you exactly know what do they do and in case of a problem or help whom should you approach?

So, how do you differentiate between these terms and know who’s who and what kind of expert you will require for a particular job? While there is no specific rule to follow, we will have a look at each title below and see what it means.

Developers and Programmers

They are more experienced code-writers who are versed in at least two to three languages and write awesome, clean, error free and well-factored codes. They can apply their algorithmic knowledge to create more sophisticated levels of software coding.

Developers in some firms are sometimes referred to as the start to finish overseers of a project, who are responsible for the overall design of the application. The developer within these companies will often oversee a team of coders and programmers to ensure that the design of the application is user-friendly and a cohesive end product is created. The developer in these cases would most probably be the client’s direct point of contact and would then interface with the rest of the team to solving problem, make requested changes, and answer client questions.

Coders

Anyone who writes code is often referred to as a coder by the people outside the tech industry. However, this all-surrounding term can be considered judgmental for those who live and breathe programming every day. Coders are commonly considered the least trained or experienced level of programmers. These individuals do not have the same algorithmic knowledge as a programmer or developer, as they are often a beginner in the field, skilled in just one coding language. Coders are usually given the job of writing forthright pieces of code that can easily be delegated by the developers. As some are put-off by the title, it is sometimes used interchangeably with “Junior Programmer” or “Junior Developer.”

Engineers

The title of engineer or software engineer is normally reserved for the highest level, or most expert coders around. Engineers are well versed in three programming languages or more and use their skills to design and implement the overall architecture of the application. They modularize the final product to develop a clean interface, and then work with the programmers and developers to implement the more comprehensive features of the design.

Do you agree with the definitions above, or think otherwise, do let us know in the comments section below.