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Software Developer vs Software Engineer
- Thread starter Hamster
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6spdmanual
Executive Member
From someone on the outside looking in (i.e. not working in tech) I’ve always seen the “Engineer” as a fancy title but the work is the same. Am I correct?
Mike Hoxbig
Honorary Master
In some cases they bastardise the term, but software engineers are traditionally actual engineers...
6spdmanual
Executive Member
So they would be the ones who are more skilled/experienced than developers?
Mike Hoxbig
Honorary Master
Wouldn't say more skilled, it's just a different type of role.
Many developers (another title that's been bastardised by handing it out to every second person with a Damelin cert) have degrees in computer science.
We were always told at university that the difference between science and engineering, generally speaking, is that engineers develop the tools and scientists use the tools...
Hamster
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In the real world you call yourself whatever makes you feel happy: Developer, Engineer, Practitioner, Solutionist, Coding Ninja.... Software Architect™
Hamster
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*Programmar
Pretty much this.
I am in the process of dealing with a recruiter and they asked if it would be an issue if the title for the role will change from engineer to developer.
Told him they can call me whatever they like. As long as they pay me.
I do like Switch case expert though…
Hamster
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Yeah, check mate buddy.
In my experience the software developer/engineer usage is mostly a regional thing (Developer is far more common in SA, Engineer far more common in the Bay Area and USA). This distinction is for all practical purposes non-existent, and applies to people writing software for a living regardless of having a degree or not, or being an actual engineer or not.
Programmer vs Software Engineer: Programmer historically (i.e., when the "software engineer" term was first coming about) referred to people who "just coded", while Software Engineers followed Engineering/"Software Engineering" principles, but today Programmer is mostly just an antiquated term for a software engineer/developer, and everyone is lumped into Software Engineer/Developer regardless of type of software or skill level.
SDE (Software Developer Engineer) is used by some companies to differentiate from Software Test Engineers (who are more like QA or QA automation via code).
"Software Architect" is entirely YMMV in my opinion - it really means nothing, although "Solutions Architect" does imply a different job function.
Generally speaking, the meanings of all architect/software-engineer, along with prefixes such as senior, principal, staff, distinguished, etc. are almost entirely company dependent, and should not be extrapolated past that, unless you're actually using a table for comparison (e.g., on http://levels.fyi ).
Programmer vs Software Engineer: Programmer historically (i.e., when the "software engineer" term was first coming about) referred to people who "just coded", while Software Engineers followed Engineering/"Software Engineering" principles, but today Programmer is mostly just an antiquated term for a software engineer/developer, and everyone is lumped into Software Engineer/Developer regardless of type of software or skill level.
SDE (Software Developer Engineer) is used by some companies to differentiate from Software Test Engineers (who are more like QA or QA automation via code).
"Software Architect" is entirely YMMV in my opinion - it really means nothing, although "Solutions Architect" does imply a different job function.
Generally speaking, the meanings of all architect/software-engineer, along with prefixes such as senior, principal, staff, distinguished, etc. are almost entirely company dependent, and should not be extrapolated past that, unless you're actually using a table for comparison (e.g., on http://levels.fyi ).
Hamster
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Why not call them Software Test Developers?
Purely regional - developer is hardly used in some parts of the world.
How's this one: https://g.co/kgs/A2jpVh
"Senior SDET - Software Development Engineer in Test, Software QA Automation Engineer, Software Test Engineer to build in house test automation framework using Selenium"
"Senior SDET - Software Development Engineer in Test, Software QA Automation Engineer, Software Test Engineer to build in house test automation framework using Selenium"
Not as catchy as Senior Staff (Staph) STD.
I really don't like the term "Software Engineer", it feels pretentious. My job title in the corporate directory is "Software Engineer", but my email signature and when I introduce myself in meetings I always say "Software Developer".
I think I said this in a post a few years ago:
In hipster coffee shop, I’m a Coder, in a bar I’m a Programmer, to my friends I’m a Software Developer, to my colleagues I’m a Software Engineer, and on my resume I’m a Software Architect.
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