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  3. Is "programming" a dirty word, suddenly?

Is "programming" a dirty word, suddenly?

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  • M Member_5893260

    What's with the use of "coder" or "engineer" or "coding" and so on, instead of "programmer" and "programming" all over the place: to read people's articles these days is, seemingly, to observe a carefully-planned avoidance of the terms... I even read one article which said, "When you're going for a job, don't use the word 'programmer' because it puts employers off," but then again, if they're hiring programmers, then what's wrong with being a programmer? More to the point, don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing, but are simply sitting on an assembly line, putting together other people's ideas? It seems to me that there's a type of self-denigration going on in the programming world: twenty years ago, we appeared to people as gods; now we're seemingly trying to blend in and appear to them in a form they can understand... I don't like it.

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    KarstenK
    wrote on last edited by
    #10

    programmer sounds like someone who is write code as a better secretary. I like more software developer, because it sounds more discovering new ways in software. I feel more and more writing code is sometimes annoying and an easy routine, but finding a concept "how to solve this problem" or GUI is really harder. :rolleyes:

    Press F1 for help or google it. Greetings from Germany

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    • M Member_5893260

      What's with the use of "coder" or "engineer" or "coding" and so on, instead of "programmer" and "programming" all over the place: to read people's articles these days is, seemingly, to observe a carefully-planned avoidance of the terms... I even read one article which said, "When you're going for a job, don't use the word 'programmer' because it puts employers off," but then again, if they're hiring programmers, then what's wrong with being a programmer? More to the point, don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing, but are simply sitting on an assembly line, putting together other people's ideas? It seems to me that there's a type of self-denigration going on in the programming world: twenty years ago, we appeared to people as gods; now we're seemingly trying to blend in and appear to them in a form they can understand... I don't like it.

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      Lost User
      wrote on last edited by
      #11

      dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/[^] "“Programmer” sounds like “anomalously high-cost peon who types some mumbo-jumbo into some other mumbo-jumbo.” If you call yourself a programmer, someone is already working on a way to get you fired. "

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      • L Lost User

        dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/[^] "“Programmer” sounds like “anomalously high-cost peon who types some mumbo-jumbo into some other mumbo-jumbo.” If you call yourself a programmer, someone is already working on a way to get you fired. "

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        Member_5893260
        wrote on last edited by
        #12

        Interesting. It'd be fascinating to get the ages of everyone who posts: I wonder if opinions like yours come from a different generation from mine (I'm 48 - been programming since 1979): perhaps I'm just old...

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        • L Lost User

          dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/[^] "“Programmer” sounds like “anomalously high-cost peon who types some mumbo-jumbo into some other mumbo-jumbo.” If you call yourself a programmer, someone is already working on a way to get you fired. "

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          Lost User
          wrote on last edited by
          #13

          Alternative title: why you should run like hell from business programming

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          • L Lost User

            Alternative title: why you should run like hell from business programming

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            Member_5893260
            wrote on last edited by
            #14

            Ah, now that I can agree with. It's a shame that's where most of the money is, though... however, I've found over the years that if you want to, you can still do elegant things where business programming is concerned - of course, you'll never have an audience for it, but then again, most programmers are fairly solipsistic anyway.

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            • K KarstenK

              programmer sounds like someone who is write code as a better secretary. I like more software developer, because it sounds more discovering new ways in software. I feel more and more writing code is sometimes annoying and an easy routine, but finding a concept "how to solve this problem" or GUI is really harder. :rolleyes:

              Press F1 for help or google it. Greetings from Germany

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              Member_5893260
              wrote on last edited by
              #15

              Funny. To me, "software developer" sounds like a soft programmer: the exact opposite impression that you have of it. You're (possibly) right about the "writing code" thing -- but it depends on why: a good programmer will say that all the work takes place in the head - the part where you actually type the program into the computer is done after the event, and is the menial bit...

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              • M Member_5893260

                What's with the use of "coder" or "engineer" or "coding" and so on, instead of "programmer" and "programming" all over the place: to read people's articles these days is, seemingly, to observe a carefully-planned avoidance of the terms... I even read one article which said, "When you're going for a job, don't use the word 'programmer' because it puts employers off," but then again, if they're hiring programmers, then what's wrong with being a programmer? More to the point, don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing, but are simply sitting on an assembly line, putting together other people's ideas? It seems to me that there's a type of self-denigration going on in the programming world: twenty years ago, we appeared to people as gods; now we're seemingly trying to blend in and appear to them in a form they can understand... I don't like it.

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                Kenneth Haugland
                wrote on last edited by
                #16

                This smells too much of marketing efforts. My guess is that this has something to do with the fact that you want a shallow description to separate the good from the bad/ugly. Meaning that the ones that cant use google or doesn't know anybody that works on code, would blurp out programmer instead of engineer or coder? I wouldn't be surprised if it was :laugh:

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                • K Kenneth Haugland

                  This smells too much of marketing efforts. My guess is that this has something to do with the fact that you want a shallow description to separate the good from the bad/ugly. Meaning that the ones that cant use google or doesn't know anybody that works on code, would blurp out programmer instead of engineer or coder? I wouldn't be surprised if it was :laugh:

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                  Member_5893260
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #17

                  No - it's not about that. It's about the fact that, back in the days, being a "programmer" was something to be proud of - perhaps because it was a new thing to be -- there wasn't much of a history of programming in the '70s... perhaps it's just old-fashioned at this point, or ubiquitous, or something -- mind you, these days, there's a slew of shitty programmers around (just try hiring one) whereas 30 years ago, there wasn't room for shitty programmers -- the whole industry's different at this point.

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                  • M Member_5893260

                    What's with the use of "coder" or "engineer" or "coding" and so on, instead of "programmer" and "programming" all over the place: to read people's articles these days is, seemingly, to observe a carefully-planned avoidance of the terms... I even read one article which said, "When you're going for a job, don't use the word 'programmer' because it puts employers off," but then again, if they're hiring programmers, then what's wrong with being a programmer? More to the point, don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing, but are simply sitting on an assembly line, putting together other people's ideas? It seems to me that there's a type of self-denigration going on in the programming world: twenty years ago, we appeared to people as gods; now we're seemingly trying to blend in and appear to them in a form they can understand... I don't like it.

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                    thrakazog
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #18

                    I was worked with some glass lickers who thought calling themselves Software Developers was the answer. They'd explain this by saying software developers went beyond programmers by: [list of tasks you do in programming]. I'd point out that's exactly what programmers do. They'd get angry. Loop.

                    Play my game Gravity: Android[^], Windows Phone 7[^]

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                    • J Jeremy Falcon

                      Dan Sutton wrote:

                      More to the point, don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing,

                      To me, I don't like the term code monkey. That's menial, like I'm brainless. Anything else I can live with.

                      Dan Sutton wrote:

                      It seems to me that there's a type of self-denigration going on in the programming world: twenty years ago, we appeared to people as gods; now we're seemingly trying to blend in and appear to them in a form they can understand... I don't like it.

                      It's because the industry is a lot more blurred now in what we do. Back in the day we didn't have as many roles like QAs, BSAs, et al sticking their hand in the development pot. As the industry got more complex and more titles hopped on board, we're no longer the end all be all to development. But that shouldn't make you feel bad, it just means we also have to broaden our horizons and continue to grow with the industry. Guys like us started our work lives with a very fresh and new industry around the dot com boom. That doesn't happen too often, especially on the magnitude of something globe changing like the Internet. Dilution of one single role is what happens with any industry that starts maturing.

                      Jeremy Falcon

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                      Paul Conrad
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #19

                      I much to prefer going by software developer or software architect since it to me gives more meaning of developing new ideas/products, or being the architect behind a software tool/process that helps my business clients move forward.

                      "I've seen more information on a frickin' sticky note!" - Dave Kreskowiak

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                      • M Member_5893260

                        No - it's not about that. It's about the fact that, back in the days, being a "programmer" was something to be proud of - perhaps because it was a new thing to be -- there wasn't much of a history of programming in the '70s... perhaps it's just old-fashioned at this point, or ubiquitous, or something -- mind you, these days, there's a slew of shitty programmers around (just try hiring one) whereas 30 years ago, there wasn't room for shitty programmers -- the whole industry's different at this point.

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                        Kenneth Haugland
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #20

                        Well, I'm not that old, but the people that are educated as an engineer in a discipline other than programming, sees it as a tool to do their work and little else, and the professors I had seem to have the same idea.

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                        • T thrakazog

                          I was worked with some glass lickers who thought calling themselves Software Developers was the answer. They'd explain this by saying software developers went beyond programmers by: [list of tasks you do in programming]. I'd point out that's exactly what programmers do. They'd get angry. Loop.

                          Play my game Gravity: Android[^], Windows Phone 7[^]

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                          Member_5893260
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #21

                          Funnny. I had a similar experience. Then I trapped them with logic, thus: "If this sentence is not untrue, then I'm right and you're wrong" -- they didn't understand that, of course, and thus the pseudo-proof failed - but at the same time, by failing, validated itself. So then I followed the advice a colleague of mine gave me years ago: "Step away, and Feel Superior!"

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                          • K Kenneth Haugland

                            Well, I'm not that old, but the people that are educated as an engineer in a discipline other than programming, sees it as a tool to do their work and little else, and the professors I had seem to have the same idea.

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                            Member_5893260
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #22

                            Well, sure... but programming's a bit more than that, really: I think (well, actually I know) that if you're deeply into it, then it becomes a mindset: it's not by accident that things like "The Tao of Programming" and thecodelesscode.com exist; programming bleeds into everything else in life, and changes you fundamentally as an individual.

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                            • K Kenneth Haugland

                              Well, I'm not that old, but the people that are educated as an engineer in a discipline other than programming, sees it as a tool to do their work and little else, and the professors I had seem to have the same idea.

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                              Member_5893260
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #23

                              I suppose, ultimately, that this either makes sense to you or it doesn't, and if it doesn't then you're not all the way there as a programmer yet: http://thecodelesscode.com/case/8[^]

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                              • J Jeremy Falcon

                                Dan Sutton wrote:

                                More to the point, don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing,

                                To me, I don't like the term code monkey. That's menial, like I'm brainless. Anything else I can live with.

                                Dan Sutton wrote:

                                It seems to me that there's a type of self-denigration going on in the programming world: twenty years ago, we appeared to people as gods; now we're seemingly trying to blend in and appear to them in a form they can understand... I don't like it.

                                It's because the industry is a lot more blurred now in what we do. Back in the day we didn't have as many roles like QAs, BSAs, et al sticking their hand in the development pot. As the industry got more complex and more titles hopped on board, we're no longer the end all be all to development. But that shouldn't make you feel bad, it just means we also have to broaden our horizons and continue to grow with the industry. Guys like us started our work lives with a very fresh and new industry around the dot com boom. That doesn't happen too often, especially on the magnitude of something globe changing like the Internet. Dilution of one single role is what happens with any industry that starts maturing.

                                Jeremy Falcon

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                                Frank Alviani
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #24

                                Or vastly before the dot-com boom. . .

                                According to my calculations, I should be able to retire about 5 years after I die.

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                                • M Member_5893260

                                  Interesting. It'd be fascinating to get the ages of everyone who posts: I wonder if opinions like yours come from a different generation from mine (I'm 48 - been programming since 1979): perhaps I'm just old...

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                                  Frank Alviani
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #25

                                  I'm 63 - been programming since 1967. I am older than all others in my department and started programming before my immediate manager was born. :sigh:

                                  According to my calculations, I should be able to retire about 5 years after I die.

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                                  • L Lost User

                                    Alternative title: why you should run like hell from business programming

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                                    jschell
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #26

                                    harold aptroot wrote:

                                    why you should run like hell from business programming

                                    Versus what exactly? Academics? Myself, businesses make money and I like getting paid.

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                                    • M Member_5893260

                                      What's with the use of "coder" or "engineer" or "coding" and so on, instead of "programmer" and "programming" all over the place: to read people's articles these days is, seemingly, to observe a carefully-planned avoidance of the terms... I even read one article which said, "When you're going for a job, don't use the word 'programmer' because it puts employers off," but then again, if they're hiring programmers, then what's wrong with being a programmer? More to the point, don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing, but are simply sitting on an assembly line, putting together other people's ideas? It seems to me that there's a type of self-denigration going on in the programming world: twenty years ago, we appeared to people as gods; now we're seemingly trying to blend in and appear to them in a form they can understand... I don't like it.

                                      J Offline
                                      J Offline
                                      jschell
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #27

                                      Dan Sutton wrote:

                                      ... all over the place

                                      Perception, perception, perception. Most people that pay other people to work want people that can actually do the job. The verbiage doesn't have anything to do with it.

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                                      • J jschell

                                        harold aptroot wrote:

                                        why you should run like hell from business programming

                                        Versus what exactly? Academics? Myself, businesses make money and I like getting paid.

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                                        Lost User
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #28

                                        I don't pretend to have the answer. That article, however, strongly argues against going into (or being in) business programming.

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                                        • M Member_5893260

                                          What's with the use of "coder" or "engineer" or "coding" and so on, instead of "programmer" and "programming" all over the place: to read people's articles these days is, seemingly, to observe a carefully-planned avoidance of the terms... I even read one article which said, "When you're going for a job, don't use the word 'programmer' because it puts employers off," but then again, if they're hiring programmers, then what's wrong with being a programmer? More to the point, don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing, but are simply sitting on an assembly line, putting together other people's ideas? It seems to me that there's a type of self-denigration going on in the programming world: twenty years ago, we appeared to people as gods; now we're seemingly trying to blend in and appear to them in a form they can understand... I don't like it.

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                                          Tim Carmichael
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #29

                                          Having read the thread, I can now respond. I am 51 and have been professionally employed designing and writing code since 1986. Having said that: Programmers are perceived as those that simply key in the code; they are not analysts Analysts are perceived as those that can think through an issue; they don't necessarily write the code Combintations of the two can think and code Architects are so far above the analsyis and coding that they sometimes forget that a foundation must be built And I expect a process to come crashing down in a few months because the solutions architects, application architects and data architects forgot to ask the people that actually support the underlying structure what simple level configuration is required (trusts, firewalls, application IDs... you know... the unimportant stuff). Tim

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