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  3. Programmer vs software engineer

Programmer vs software engineer

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  • M Munchies_Matt

    It not just fancy new stuff with me, it is stuff I have been doing for 20 years I forget the details of. I had to look up how to write a function pointer and pass it in an argument the other day! :)

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    Jeremy Falcon
    wrote on last edited by
    #7

    Chances are you're just getting old then brother. ;P

    Jeremy Falcon

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    • M Munchies_Matt

      I continually have to check the details of syntax and stuff when programming. Things like print format specifiers, the syntax of things I havent used for a year or so, and use a calculator to work out bit masks and check my bit wise logic. I can never get it right in my head. I dont remember details. I dont pride myself on that. I spend my time and energy on the big picture. Designing and understanding complex mechanisms. The architecture. The guts of the machine. So I think of myself as a software engineer, not a programmer. How about you lot?

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      CPallini
      wrote on last edited by
      #8

      The Klingon kind of. :-D

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      • M Munchies_Matt

        I continually have to check the details of syntax and stuff when programming. Things like print format specifiers, the syntax of things I havent used for a year or so, and use a calculator to work out bit masks and check my bit wise logic. I can never get it right in my head. I dont remember details. I dont pride myself on that. I spend my time and energy on the big picture. Designing and understanding complex mechanisms. The architecture. The guts of the machine. So I think of myself as a software engineer, not a programmer. How about you lot?

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        P Offline
        Pete OHanlon
        wrote on last edited by
        #9

        I think of myself as Pete, don't really care about the job label.

        This space for rent

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        • M Munchies_Matt

          I continually have to check the details of syntax and stuff when programming. Things like print format specifiers, the syntax of things I havent used for a year or so, and use a calculator to work out bit masks and check my bit wise logic. I can never get it right in my head. I dont remember details. I dont pride myself on that. I spend my time and energy on the big picture. Designing and understanding complex mechanisms. The architecture. The guts of the machine. So I think of myself as a software engineer, not a programmer. How about you lot?

          S Offline
          S Offline
          Slacker007
          wrote on last edited by
          #10

          Software Engineers design and implement entire software application systems. Programmers/developers take those designs and code individual units of work from those designs/specs. Programmers/developers rarely design. So, if you are designing things, then you are an engineer/architect, if you are strictly just coding to someone else's designs/specs, you are a developer/programmer. Simples. Edit: Semantics. Some would argue that "developers" develop software, similar to engineer/architect. With that said, I guess the word "developer" is interchangeable here. - depends on your employer.

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          • P Pete OHanlon

            I think of myself as Pete, don't really care about the job label.

            This space for rent

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            S Offline
            Slacker007
            wrote on last edited by
            #11

            Just Pete? Not Pete O'Hanlon? "Hi. My name is Pete, Pete O'Hanlon. You can call me Pete".

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            • S Slacker007

              Software Engineers design and implement entire software application systems. Programmers/developers take those designs and code individual units of work from those designs/specs. Programmers/developers rarely design. So, if you are designing things, then you are an engineer/architect, if you are strictly just coding to someone else's designs/specs, you are a developer/programmer. Simples. Edit: Semantics. Some would argue that "developers" develop software, similar to engineer/architect. With that said, I guess the word "developer" is interchangeable here. - depends on your employer.

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              CodeWraith
              wrote on last edited by
              #12

              Ok, so far. Let's add that you ar a manager or a wizard if you get things done by waving your hands.

              I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.

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              • C CPallini

                The Klingon kind of. :-D

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                C Offline
                CodeWraith
                wrote on last edited by
                #13

                So, you are not the sort this rapper is looking for.[^]

                I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.

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                • M Munchies_Matt

                  I continually have to check the details of syntax and stuff when programming. Things like print format specifiers, the syntax of things I havent used for a year or so, and use a calculator to work out bit masks and check my bit wise logic. I can never get it right in my head. I dont remember details. I dont pride myself on that. I spend my time and energy on the big picture. Designing and understanding complex mechanisms. The architecture. The guts of the machine. So I think of myself as a software engineer, not a programmer. How about you lot?

                  P Offline
                  P Offline
                  peterkmx
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #14

                  It could be DevOps if programming is accompanied by related activities like use case analysis, testing, deployment, monitoring, updating, etc ... BR

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                  • M Munchies_Matt

                    I continually have to check the details of syntax and stuff when programming. Things like print format specifiers, the syntax of things I havent used for a year or so, and use a calculator to work out bit masks and check my bit wise logic. I can never get it right in my head. I dont remember details. I dont pride myself on that. I spend my time and energy on the big picture. Designing and understanding complex mechanisms. The architecture. The guts of the machine. So I think of myself as a software engineer, not a programmer. How about you lot?

                    H Offline
                    H Offline
                    HobbyProggy
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #15

                    For me the basic rule to separate those both terms is: Programmer : Codes stuff (Mostly on base of plans or decisions) Engineer : Developes/Designs (Keeping track, planning, managing, defining Architecture etc.) stuff + programming Therefore i see myself as SW Engineer.

                    Rules for the FOSW ![^]

                    if(this.signature != "")
                    {
                    MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + signature);
                    }
                    else
                    {
                    MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found");
                    }

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                    • P peterkmx

                      It could be DevOps if programming is accompanied by related activities like use case analysis, testing, deployment, monitoring, updating, etc ... BR

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                      Slacker007
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #16

                      DevOps was a term coined by fucking geek ass nerds who want to sound like SpecOps. Take that devops crap and flush it down the toilet.

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                      • J Jeremy Falcon

                        Chances are you're just getting old then brother. ;P

                        Jeremy Falcon

                        M Offline
                        M Offline
                        Munchies_Matt
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #17

                        :( Could be.

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                        • C CPallini

                          The Klingon kind of. :-D

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                          D Offline
                          Daniel Pfeffer
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #18

                          Today is a good day to code!

                          If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill

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                          • S Slacker007

                            Software Engineers design and implement entire software application systems. Programmers/developers take those designs and code individual units of work from those designs/specs. Programmers/developers rarely design. So, if you are designing things, then you are an engineer/architect, if you are strictly just coding to someone else's designs/specs, you are a developer/programmer. Simples. Edit: Semantics. Some would argue that "developers" develop software, similar to engineer/architect. With that said, I guess the word "developer" is interchangeable here. - depends on your employer.

                            M Offline
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                            Munchies_Matt
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #19

                            True, of course, but I have never worked in a situation where the two were separated. In all my roles the engineers designed and coded the product.

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                            • M Munchies_Matt

                              True, of course, but I have never worked in a situation where the two were separated. In all my roles the engineers designed and coded the product.

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                              Slacker007
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #20

                              Yep. My experience as well, and seems to be the current trend. IMHO, I think it has to do with more shops are going "agile" so to speak, and there is less up front time spent purely in design. So, your "coders" have to know design as well (design & code as you produce and deliver). That is my high level opinion about that - don't know if it is accurate or not.

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                              • S Slacker007

                                Yep. My experience as well, and seems to be the current trend. IMHO, I think it has to do with more shops are going "agile" so to speak, and there is less up front time spent purely in design. So, your "coders" have to know design as well (design & code as you produce and deliver). That is my high level opinion about that - don't know if it is accurate or not.

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                                G Offline
                                GuyThiebaut
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #21

                                In agile there are product architects who decide on the overall direction for design. Software developers then take this general direction hint and write the code.

                                “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

                                ― Christopher Hitchens

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                                • M Munchies_Matt

                                  I continually have to check the details of syntax and stuff when programming. Things like print format specifiers, the syntax of things I havent used for a year or so, and use a calculator to work out bit masks and check my bit wise logic. I can never get it right in my head. I dont remember details. I dont pride myself on that. I spend my time and energy on the big picture. Designing and understanding complex mechanisms. The architecture. The guts of the machine. So I think of myself as a software engineer, not a programmer. How about you lot?

                                  K Offline
                                  K Offline
                                  KarstenK
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #22

                                  My job has evolved more into the buzz word known dev ops because primary code writing and debugging is becoming a smaller part of my work. Today I struggle with design, app store and deployment, minor but regular server issues, second level customer support and marketing.

                                  Press F1 for help or google it. Greetings from Germany

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                                  • S Slacker007

                                    DevOps was a term coined by fucking geek ass nerds who want to sound like SpecOps. Take that devops crap and flush it down the toilet.

                                    P Offline
                                    P Offline
                                    peterkmx
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #23

                                    Oh no ... my favourite term gets bashed ... It could also be "programmer++" :-D

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                                    • H HobbyProggy

                                      For me the basic rule to separate those both terms is: Programmer : Codes stuff (Mostly on base of plans or decisions) Engineer : Developes/Designs (Keeping track, planning, managing, defining Architecture etc.) stuff + programming Therefore i see myself as SW Engineer.

                                      Rules for the FOSW ![^]

                                      if(this.signature != "")
                                      {
                                      MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + signature);
                                      }
                                      else
                                      {
                                      MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found");
                                      }

                                      G Offline
                                      G Offline
                                      Gandalf_TheWhite
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #24

                                      HobbyProggy wrote:

                                      Programmer : Codes stuff (Mostly on base of plans or decisions) Engineer : Developes/Designs (Keeping track, planning, managing, defining Architecture etc.) stuff + programming

                                      :thumbsup: IMO, this is the most accurate definition. This description perfectly fits in Agile project development. Btw, all these related words are more or less same for those who do not know more about Software world. Whatever you say to them, they will just think, we can do anything with computers.

                                      You can have all the tools in the world but if you don't genuinely believe in yourself, it's useless.

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                                      • S Slacker007

                                        DevOps was a term coined by fucking geek ass nerds who want to sound like SpecOps. Take that devops crap and flush it down the toilet.

                                        N Offline
                                        N Offline
                                        Nathan Minier
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #25

                                        Based on how many coders don't seem to have any idea about SysAdmin or Ops work, I completely disagree.

                                        "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." - Benjamin Disraeli

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                                        • P Pete OHanlon

                                          I think of myself as Pete, don't really care about the job label.

                                          This space for rent

                                          J Offline
                                          J Offline
                                          jgakenhe
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #26

                                          :thumbsup: Same here. You get an email from me it says Joe. I get one from someone sitting 5 feet from me I get a 10 line email signature, chain or not.

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