Software Developer vs Programmer?

What is the difference between a software developer and a programmer?

My popular courses:

My business courses:

My social links:

Thanks!

Stef

#softwaredeveloper #programmer

[FISS]

You nailed it with the car analogy !
You have made it clear for everyone !

[ProgrammingwithPeter]

They both can be each other, it's true that you are programmer early on and become a software developer when you are able to make apps from scratch. Interesting view point!

[postfixnotation]

I watch your videos for quite some time and I still enjoy it. Good, well made content!

[Joren]

The way I see it, if you transition from scripter to architect, two things change. 1) Your scope increases. 2) The level of detail you code at, usually decreases. The more detail you can keep in, the better, I would say, you are as a coder. It means that you are more efficient if you can keep more detail in, while able to increase your scope.


But you can't code everything, and in big companies, you will usually see a few architects picking the tech and sketching the bigger picture, and then lots of coders who focus in high detail on very specific things, with quite little full stack developers. If you do see full stack developers in big corp, they are usually working on smaller projects or proof of concepts / minimum viable product kind of projects.

[tcshple]

Programming is just a tool for real inventors.

[cawsha]

Stef's explanation might sound plausible in a hypothetical world where the software development profession was highly organised like, for example, the medical or legal professions.
In practice the whole world of IT is still the Wild West (probably always will be) so terms like "programmer" and "software developer" mean whatever you want them to mean.
If you are looking for a job you search by skillset and perhaps years of experience. You are going to find a load of matches with job titles like "programmer", "software developer", "software engineer", "analyst/developer", "analyst/programmer" etc. They all mean pretty much the same in practice.
And if you are looking to hire someone the same applies - look at their skills and experience not current job title.

[immortaljanus]

Damn, this is exactly what I needed. I'm writing job proposals and I'm trying to write down my current situation. So I'm a programmer but I'm working on being a developer. Thanks, Stefan.

[mr_don_key]

developer and programmer are actually the same thing in practise .. you are confused with systems developer/programmer, that do very low level stuff (assembly, c. Not even C++ because that's quite high level in contrast to c itself). Scripter is also a programmer/developer, but is often a person that does little helper programs, that does not need deeper knowledge to create (think system administration tools, "simple" web stuff) Note: it's important nevertheless.!!

[Techaktien]

Scripter < Programmer < Developer < Architect < Stefan Mischook ^^

[MrPDTaylor]

I want to point out that there are a lot of online resources to learn coding out there. As far as I'm concerned Stefan's is the most honest and straightforward available. No bullshit, exactly what you need to freelance and more importantly he doesn't lead you to believe you're going to be a rockstar coder when you finish like so many in the YouTubes would like you to think. He is just as honest and straightforward in his channel videos as well.

[clintonnzedimma]

I agree 1000% but I feel there is a difference between Software Developers and Software Engineers, could you elaborate on this?

[TheOscarJB]

Finally some one can clearly clarify the diff between developer and programmer. Cool

[mazdaknazemi]

thanks for knowledge sharing, some episodes are so useful.

[TheFrankyJoe]

As an infrastructure architect, DevOps and Python developer, who's starting his own company, developing a backup software for small/medium businesses, and transitioning to the roles of software architect and developer, these videos helps me a lot.

Thanks Stefan for making these!

[BruceChastain]

haven't watched the video yet but my answer would be that generally I think of a software developer is a job role, and a programmer is anyone doing software programming. So a developer is also a programmer, but a programmer may not be a software developer. Additionally not all programming is really about making software, like CNC programmers who write machine programs to make stuff, they're not really writing software.

[guxershmeg]

As I understand from video software developer holds personal interest and responsibility for the project. And programmer is just employe, write code and move to another project. Developer is the one who cares.

[bawxc]

Anyone else hate the words ‘coder’ and ‘coding’?

[yeremyberlenman]

So, actually if somebody works in the application (Desktop App(Windows, Functions, Classes, business logic)) and at the same time builds the entire data base (Tables, SProcedures, Queries) and builds up the LAN network to work with DataBase Server and put all of it in a Client - Server functionality can be considered as a Software Developer ?

[tim_t]

That business partner probably took your advice to the next level and released what he thought was MVP.

[RameenFallschirmjager]

I remember a movie called "prestige". It's about two magicians who are obsessed about their career. So devoted to their work which they sacrifice everything they've got. I think in a sense software development or any career which is demanding is similar. You must be ready to give everything you got.