what is the difference between a SW programmer, a SW developer and ...

[takwong]

Hi,

I got a question, what is the difference between a software developer, a software engineer, a software programmer and a programmer analyst???

Are they all developing softwares??

thanks..

 

[vi edit]

Programmer I (IT -- Computers, Software)
Reviews, analyzes, and modifies programming systems including encoding, testing, debugging and documenting programs. May require an associate's degree in a related area and 0-3 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Works under immediate supervision. Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment. Typically reports to a project leader or manager.

Applications Systems Analyst I (IT -- Computers, Software)
Reviews, analyzes, and modifies programming systems including encoding, testing, debugging and installing to support an organization's application systems. Consults with users to identify current operating procedures and to clarify program objectives. May require a bachelor's degree in a related area and 0-3 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Works under immediate supervision. Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment. Typically reports to a project leader or manager.

Software Engineer I (IT -- Computers, Software)
Designs, modifies, develops, writes and implements software programming applications. Supports and/or installs software applications. Participates in the testing process through test review and analysis, test witnessing and certification of software. Requires a bachelor's degree in a related area and 0-2 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Works under immediate supervision. Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment. Typically reports to a manager.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The level of effort that goes into the step of planning, design, coding, testing, support and management .
System or unit areas.

There are no real hard & fast rules.

 

programmer = software developer = software engineer

The title just changes based on who you want to impress.

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: dwell
programmer = software developer = software engineer

The title just changes based on who you want to impress.

And which buzz words your companies HR dept. is using that day...

-geoff

 

[StageLeft]

I pretty well interchange all of them. When asked I say software developer. Software engineer sounds a bit pompous to me.

 

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss

And which buzz words your companies HR dept. is using that day...

True. My company insists on calling me a "Software Engineer" which is too snooty for me. Plus an insult towards hard working EE students AFAIC. I am comfortable with Software Developer. Not as geeky as programmer, not as snooty as Software Engineer.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: dwell
programmer = software developer = software engineer

While in practice this may be true, at the literal level there's a huge difference between programming and software engineering. While they both involve spitting out lines of code, software engineering also integrates aspects of design, analysis, and project management into the programming process.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: takwong
Hi,

I got a question, what is the difference between a software developer, a software engineer, a software programmer and a programmer analyst???

Are they all developing softwares??

thanks..

In general, companies (some not all) hire two kinds of people. Developers and programmers.

Programmers know how to write C++. They don't do any design work and never will. usually 2 year school type people.
Example: They know how to write JAVA code.

Developers are designers deisgn a program and the programmers put the code in. So,
Example: They know Object Oriented techniques, etc and design a software application. Then hand the design to the programmers to get it working.

It's all about resource management. Developers getthe big bucks.

 

[StageLeft]

It's all about resource management. Developers getthe big bucks.

Can you convince my employer of that?

 

[nord1899]

Originally posted by: kherman

Originally posted by: takwong
Hi,

I got a question, what is the difference between a software developer, a software engineer, a software programmer and a programmer analyst???

Are they all developing softwares??

thanks..

In general, companies (some not all) hire two kinds of people. Developers and programmers.

Programmers know how to write C++. They don't do any design work and never will. usually 2 year school type people.
Example: They know how to write JAVA code.

Developers are designers deisgn a program and the programmers put the code in. So,
Example: They know Object Oriented techniques, etc and design a software application. Then hand the design to the programmers to get it working.

It's all about resource management. Developers getthe big bucks.

Actually, I've always thought that developers would actually write code as well as design. What you described sounds more like a "System Architect".

 

Originally posted by: nord1899

Actually, I've always thought that developers would actually write code as well as design. What you described sounds more like a "System Architect".

What he said.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: nord1899

Originally posted by: kherman

Originally posted by: takwong
Hi,

I got a question, what is the difference between a software developer, a software engineer, a software programmer and a programmer analyst???

Are they all developing softwares??

thanks..

In general, companies (some not all) hire two kinds of people. Developers and programmers.

Programmers know how to write C++. They don't do any design work and never will. usually 2 year school type people.
Example: They know how to write JAVA code.

Developers are designers deisgn a program and the programmers put the code in. So,
Example: They know Object Oriented techniques, etc and design a software application. Then hand the design to the programmers to get it working.

It's all about resource management. Developers getthe big bucks.

Actually, I've always thought that developers would actually write code as well as design. What you described sounds more like a "System Architect".

Developers can do both. At m company, we don't ire programmers. We software engeers (as we're called here) do everything. Design, code test, documentation, SWIT(software hardware integration testing), etc........ Some even do estimate and proposals.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

It's all about resource management. Developers getthe big bucks.

Can you convince my employer of that?

I'm having trouble doing that on my own

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: nord1899

Originally posted by: kherman
Developers are designers deisgn a program and the programmers put the code in. So,
Example: They know Object Oriented techniques, etc and design a software application. Then hand the design to the programmers to get it working.

Actually, I've always thought that developers would actually write code as well as design. What you described sounds more like a "System Architect".

Depends on the scope of the design decisions. Architects come up with the overriding designs that a team of other developers adhere to. Not everyone who uses OO and patterns is an architect.

There's clearly a spectrum of job responsibility between programming and architecture, and they're not mutually exclusive roles, although I find that a lot of people I know who use the "architect" title are no longer in the business of producing code.

 

[denali]

Most states require anyone using the term engineer to be licensed. I don't know why software people they can get away with using this term. I usually say software developer, this is a broader term than programmer and better describes what I do.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: denali
Most states require anyone using the term engineer to be licensed. I don't know why software people they can get away with using this term. I usually say software developer, this is a broader term than programmer and better describes what I do.

I never heard of this. It's just a job title.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw

Originally posted by: nord1899

Originally posted by: kherman
Developers are designers deisgn a program and the programmers put the code in. So,
Example: They know Object Oriented techniques, etc and design a software application. Then hand the design to the programmers to get it working.

Actually, I've always thought that developers would actually write code as well as design. What you described sounds more like a "System Architect".

Depends on the scope of the design decisions. Architects come up with the overriding designs that a team of other developers adhere to. Not everyone who uses OO and patterns is an architect.

There's clearly a spectrum of job responsibility between programming and architecture, and they're not mutually exclusive roles, although I find that a lot of people I know who use the "architect" title are no longer in the business of producing code.

 

[takwong]

What do you think of this then?

Software Developer: I think it sounds high class
Software Engineer: Sound OK
Software Programmer: Sounds lower class than developer and engineer

then what is a programmer analyst??

If my company hired me as a software programmer, is it ok i put software developer on my resume?? Is that lying?? Same case if say I am a programmer analyst, is that lying??? After all, I was hired as a software programmer.....

 

[SP33Demon]

First of all, takwong, u should never lie about that stuff. If they call your company and ask your boss what u did, then you could get burned...

Second, at my company (large defense contractor), in order to become a "Software Engineer" you have to have an Engineering degree. I have NO CLUE why that is, but that's what I read... Software engineers make major $$, then Developers, then programmers...

 

[BoberFett]

I call myself a Software Engineer. I don't know what you'd call it but I'm more than a programmer. I code, but that's just a part of my job. I also help design the system specs, and layout the OO and database design.

 

[nord1899]

My complete view on it is this.

A Software Programmer is someone who just programs. Design is at the smallest level, basically designing how a function works. No high level design.
A Software Developer is someone who designs, writes and maintains code. Basically they can do everything related to software.
A Software Engineer is just another way to describe a Developer. I really don't see the difference. Maybe its to piss off all the other Engineers out there (one prof at school described it that way to me).
A Software/System Architect is someone who only designs. They do not write code, at least not code that will be in the final product, say a rapid prototype. Their design would be handed off to a Developer or Programmer.

But really, most of these are very interchangable. I think in my two years at this company, I've been called a SD and a SE without changing jobs.

I wouldn't worry too much about the title on a resume so long as its accurate to what you did. If you replace Software Programmer with Software Developer no one will kill you for it. If you replace it with CTO or something like that, well then yes they will kill you.

 

[takwong]

then what the hell is a programmer analyst????

 

[Ameesh]

anybody who says there is any practical difference is a stupid hr drone and should get me some coffee.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: takwong
then what the hell is a programmer analyst????

dont worry about it! anybody who knows anything will know what you do when you tell them that you are a software engineer or a programmer or a developer, they are interchangable.