Developer and programmer – what’s the difference?
The world of programming is wide and it’s always expanding every day. There are so many streams that might catch your eye. Even if you’re not familiar with the computer science field in general, in everyday life, you must’ve come across terms like developer, programmer, software developer etc. You might see people use these terms interchangeably even, although some of these terms are dissimilar.
So, what’s the difference?
Programmers, let’s get this daily java
Before I get into what programmers actually are and what they do, you must know that there exists a software development life cycle. In this life cycle, there are multiple phases where software is developed to be used in the real world. So, how does a programmer fit in here?
Well, consider it this way. A programmer is a chef and the software is the dish they are preparing. A chef follows the recipe but they also make changes wherever necessary. A chef works on the dish they’re making with diligence so that there is minimal to no space to err, and they try to perfect the dish they’re making at every step and level.
Following the chef example, this is also what a programmer does. A programmer’s responsibility is not simply to write code and make it work, they also have a responsibility to write code with minimum errors and maximum efficiency.
But wait, who is a coder, then? And aren’t the terms ’coder’ and ‘programmer’ the same?
A coder is someone who writes code, who converts the logic of a program into code. A programmer must do the same, only they have to come up with the logic. They can’t just roll with anything and “make things work”. A programmer comes up with the logic of the program, which is the core part of any program. A programmer also has to think of all possible scenarios before writing code, with the added responsibility of writing efficient code.
Do these terms get used interchangeably often? Yes. Do they mean the same thing? Not rudimentarily so. A programmer and coder perform the same task: coding, but there is some added responsibility on the shoulders of the programmer.
Developers, we piece the puzzle together
Now that you know what the programmers’ primary task is, let’s talk about what a developer does.
A software developer, according to Wikipedia is “a company or person that creates software - either completely, or with other companies or people.” A software developer is not to be confused with a programmer, although they both write code.
Let’s go back to the software development life cycle. There are primarily five stages in the software development life cycle. These are planning and analysis, design, implementation (coding), testing, release, maintenance. A programmer is someone who is required during the implementation phase, but a software developer is the one who is responsible for following through all the five stages of software development. Their task at hand is not merely coding, but they also play a crucial part in analysis, designing, testing and maintenance of the software.
In this sense, a software developer is someone present in all the stages of the development of software. They manage the entire process of creating an application, from the analysis and planning to the release and maintenance of the software.
This is what differentiates a software developer from a programmer.
A developer and a programmer are vital to the whole process of software development, but it’s the responsibility which differs between both. Take it this way, the developer is someone who takes an abstract image described by a person who wants this picture to be painted. They place the responsibility of procuring said picture on the shoulders of the developer. A programmer is a painter with the brush, bringing the image to life, while the developer guides them into bringing this picture to life.
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Mansi Pandey
When I'm not busy contemplating the bizzare phenomenon which is life, I pen down some words and try to make sense of them. I'm constantly learning, reading, exploring, and then writing about it.
