November 3rd, 2022
Computer Programmer vs Software Developer: What’s the Difference?
Both computer programmers and software developers play important roles in tech and beyond. Those games, apps, and programs that you probably use every day—all started in the hands (and brains) of developers and programmers. But who’s who and what do they do? Although the words are often mistakenly used interchangeably, there’s a big difference between the two roles. If a developer is like the architect of a building, the programmer is like the general contractor who executes the plans.
Responsibilities of a Software Developer
As a software developer, you design computer systems, software, and apps. You’re involved from the very beginning of the project. That might mean listening to the needs of a client to determine exactly what the software will need to accomplish. Then, there’s research, design, implementation, testing, and modifications. You know code, might even write some, but most of the coding goes on to the programmer. You create the diagrams and instructions to share with your team. In the best-case scenario, you work with other developers and programmers to consider the user experience, test, and tweak the software over several iterations. When bugs are discovered or it comes time for new features to be added, you develop plans to make that happen.
Responsibilities of a Computer Programmer
If you became a programmer, you would spend much of your time writing the actual code that tells a computer what to do. Using computer languages like Python, Java, C++, and HTML, you take the designs that the developer hands off to you to work toward an end product. But code is only one part of your job. Testing, debugging, troubleshooting system errors, identifying coding errors, conducting updates, and fixing problems are still just some of what you do. You may also need to manage and maintain databases and operating systems and rewrite programs for different operating systems. Or profile and analyze algorithms and machine learning systems. And you need to write the technical instructions for the programs you help to create so others can understand and use them.
Overlap Between Programmers and Developers
One reason why the programmer and developer titles are often confused or even interchanged is because there is an overlap of professional skills and abilities. As a developer, you know how to code. If you’re a programmer, you know about IT project management even if you don’t run the show.
Programmers and Developers within the Technology Team
Adding to the confusion between developers and programmers are all the other roles involved in producing a piece of software. On a typical team, you might find:
- Product Lead
- Product Manager
- Project Manager
- Computer Architect
- Front-End Engineers
- Algorithm Engineers
- Team Leads
- UI Designer
- UX Designer
- Database Developers
- Quality Control Testers
- Business Analyst
And that doesn’t even consider all the other people in an organization who help make decisions about what kinds of products are developed, for whom, and when.
What Skills Do Developers and Programmers Need?
Just like their job responsibilities overlap, the skills developers and programmers need are often similar. For either role, you should be tech savvy, with a passion for computers. You need to be a good problem-solver. Programmers especially might need to run through thousands of lines of code to figure out which single one might be causing all the problems. And developers need to be able to translate the needs of a user into a plan that will work as intended. Both also need to be good communicators and team players because they need to collaborate with others as they work on projects. Some other overlapping skills include:
- Programming and Coding Languages
- Database Knowledge
- Data Structure and Algorithms
- Source Controls
- Testing Procedures
- Debugging Knowledge
- Operating Systems
- Text Editing Software
- Cryptography
- Cloud Platforms
- Software Frameworks
- Spreadsheet Software
Specializations for Computer Programmers and Software Developers
Each profession also offers specific career paths that depend on your interests. For example, if you want to become a computer programmer, you could specialize in code for computer systems like MacOS or Windows, or you could write code for video games. You could also specialize in mobile apps rather than computer software, or you could write code for AI or machine learning programs, which include chatbots and face recognition software.
If software development seems a better fit, you might specialize in mobile applications or computer games. But you might also become a full-stack developer, where you would manage the development of front and backend software. This involves the user interface that runs in the foreground as well as the code that runs in the background. You could also find jobs in UI/UX development, which focuses on interfaces and how the user engages with products. Or you could work in DevOps and facilitate the collaboration between software developers and IT professionals so your programs can continuously be maintained and updated.
Although the jobs of a computer programmer and a software developer differ, the first step toward either career path can be the same. At Limestone University, we offer a Bachelor of Computer Science with a concentration in Programming that can help you build the technical skills you need to succeed as a programmer or developer in the technology industry. Click the button to learn more.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Computer programmers are key components of the technology industry in their role of designing and maintaining information systems as well as writing code for a variety of businesses and organizations.
