Subj : Re: Are programmers like this in the real world?
To   : comp.programming
From : Ed Prochak
Date : Tue Jul 26 2005 02:41 pm



Matthias Kaeppler wrote:
> Ed Prochak wrote:
> > There are coders and there are Software Engineers. You cannot always
> > tell teh difference from their job titles, but you can tell the
> > difference from their results.
>
> Does that mean you think Software Engineers would be bad programmers?
NO.

A coder is someone who merely is able to write code, often with little
understanding of how the applications they produce actually work.  I've
met "coders" with the job title of Software Enginer, as well as others
without the Software Engineer title that were really good SEs.

 ^^
> I actually think it's essential for any good software engineer to be
> also a decent programmer--otherwise you lack the proper understanding
> of what it will cost to implement your design or architecture.
>
> --
> Matthias Kaeppler

I agree.  But the Software engineer is so much more than a coder.
Perhaps a quote I learned early in my career (and which I take
seriously) would show where I stand:

An engineer is someone that can do for one dollar
 what any dam fool can do for two.

Producing applications that not just work, but are robust and efficient
takes a good software engineer, not just a coder.

Have a good day,
   Ed

.