Ask HN: Developers versus programmers versus engineers?

1 pointexolymph2 comments

I see the words "developer", "programmer", and "engineer" used pretty interchangeably. I'm familiar with the non-software meaning of "engineer" obviously, but I'm not sure if people who work as one of the above perceive distinctions between the three terms. Do you? What are the differences?

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For the most part Developer, Programmer, and Software Engineer are used interchangeably, at least here in Mexico. I know some countries don't call people 'Engineers' unless they have a degree, but that's as far as the distinctions go.

Here is how I interpret it : You start out as programmer, progress towards being a developer early-mid-career and then hopeful figure out the engineering in software.

From a practical standpoint though they are used interchangeably in the industry.

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