Software Processes: Developer versus Engineer

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There's no one standard definition that applies to a software developer, engineer, coder, or scientist. They could be used as titles at a company but could eventually lead to the same position. 

Coder: 

Generally, a coder would be someone who is starting out in the software development industry and is perhaps new to programming. A coder is an absolute beginner in the world of software development who has some experience coding and might have passed through a couple coding courses. They generally do not have a lot of real-world code experience. A coder can also be substituted by the title "Junior programmer". Coders are not involved in the design process and are typically assigned specific coding jobs. They work under a set scope of responsibilities. 

Software Developer: 


A software developer or a computer programmer is a more advanced position in software development. These are people with more experience in the field. Typically job postings alternate between the terms, software developer, and computer programmer. 



Software Engineering:

A software engineering position could be classified under the design process of software development. As a software engineer, you're not just programming or working under a set scope of tasks, you're also an architect. You have to put some work into designing the application and not just programming the design. Software Engineers have a say in the blueprint of the application and can design functionalities that they think fit the requirements. 

Analogy: 


A software engineer could be seen as a building architect who comes up with the blueprint of a building. The architect then provides the blueprint to a builder who would be a software developer. In practice, there is a lot of overlap in between these terminologies and so the definitions vary and depend on the task at hand. 



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