Coders Vs Programmers
A few days ago, I was reading in Times of India an article enunciating the difference between coders and programmers. It went to some effect of this sort. Coders: They are the ones who code based on somebody’s design/ideas. Programmers are the ones not only they code, but also design.
Ok now unfortunately, a large percentage of the population in India(software techies) are coders. Sounds bad I know, but we are so.
Why this situation is in place: Very simple, we do not stick long enough in doing something, nor do we try and understand the intricacies of business. Not many of us realise that technology is a tool and not the end of everything. Till the day we do not explore the business/human needs of something, and apply technology it never helps. What pains more is, how many people who know Java/J2ee or any other platform are true experts of it. I mean not the certification kind, but of the passionate kind. Very few, so even if we have some geeks in a certain technology, we still have coders rather than having programmers, programmers who can change the next gen of business/human needs.
Anybody out there who are other than coders, please do something to increase others.
7 comments so far
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Well… i do agree with this.. but the only step I can see is to see the business first and then to commence a project. Without a business perspective… coders as well as programmers are of no use…
If you cant sell something.. you just need not make it… (I hope my message here is understood)
Hey, A.J., I got your message loud and clear.
And since I’ve just been using my extremely limited technical skills to launch my business website and blog (check it out, you’ll see exactly why your comment is bang-on!), I am going to get out there and sell.
Oh, I guess I should have left a link:
ChristophDollis.com
Well said Jayanth! I think the problem is that we need to understand that value is in application of the technology, not the technology itself. And IMHO this should start right in the schools.
Regarding programmers and coders, the industry seems to give more importance to syntax than the programming concepts, which hurts both ways in the long run. Not that everyone is into this, but usually it is easier for companies to ask for and get coders. Easier, but not better.
Well said but not totally, there are always time constraint for the coders to complete the project ASAP which limits them from becoming a programmer i think.
Very true. A coder is just someone who learns from the book, and knows a languages API like the back of their hand.
A programmer is someone who is not interested in the actual language them self, but interested in ALGORITHMS. Java is not about programming, nor is C++, they are just tools to implement an algorithm. The actual programmer creates an algorithm. A programmer can even technically programmer on paper, using flowcharts.
[...] vs Programers - Redux Posted January 10, 2008 My earlier write on Coders vs Programers, gave a nice platform for me to understand various people’s thoughts on this topic. So I [...]