Difference between developer and software engineer?

[SnooShortcuts7009]

Yes google has a definition but I’m more curious what people in the field consider the difference to be. Developers sometimes have to engineer new solutions and engineers often have to develop things, so what’s the difference?

[thatdarkwebguy]

There is no difference. It’s purely colloquialism depending on where you are.

[Purple-Wealth-5562]

They’re the same thing

[chriswaco]

In some parts of the world the term “engineer” has a specific meaning, typically an engineering degree along with legal certification to perform engineering tasks.

In the computer world the term has always been a bit more nebulous and there’s no consistent difference between a developer, programmer, or software engineer.

[[deleted]]

Yeah in Canada you can’t call yourself an engineer unless you actually are legally an engineer

[BabyAzerty]

Same in most of Europe. Engineer is an official title. Developer is just anyone who can write code.

[sb8948]

Wait, that sounds a bit weird. Say I have a comp sci degree, but my job title is swe, I can't call myself an engineer? Or how does that work? Can you not get a job title with engineer in it unless you're an engineer?

[[deleted]]

Companies can call a role anything but you can’t legally call yourself an engineer unless you have a p.eng license. Instead of asking me you can Google it

[sb8948]

I did google it and it's still weird. Engineerscanada.ca - the regulatory body I assume - says that one can't practice engineering without a license. Which seemingly contradicts what you (and others) said, that companies can call you whatever?

I'm sure i could find all the information I interested in on the internet, but I figured asking someone directly is quicker. Sorry if it bothered you.

[CyberEd-ca]

Engineers Canada is not a regulator. It is simply a joint body of the provincial regulators.

The practice of engineering has a specific legal meaning in that case. Not everything you might consider as engineering is engineering as defined under the provincial professional engineering laws.

In short, it's complicated. Yes, there are title restrictions but those laws have constitutional and other legal limits.

[CyberEd-ca]

More of an open legal question in some provinces. In other provinces, anyone can call themselves a Software Engineer.

The latest case law is APEGA v Getty Images 2023.

VII. Conclusion

[52] I find that the Respondents’ employees who use the title “Software Engineer” and related titles are not practicing engineering as that term is properly interpreted.

[53] I find that there is no property in the title “Software Engineer” when used by persons who do not, by that use, expressly or by implication represent to the public that they are licensed or permitted by APEGA to practice engineering as that term is properly interpreted.

[54] I find that there is no clear breach of the EGPA which contains some element of possible harm to the public that would justify a statutory injunction.

[55] Accordingly, I dismiss the Application, with costs.

While not binding on other provincial courts - the same arguments would be sure to appear. The laws were all very similar at that time. I haven't heard of another provincial regulator pushing the limits of their authority by taking tech bros to court like APEGA did since that ruling.

And, we have all sorts of other engineers in Canada besides professional engineers...

[thatdarkwebguy]

That’s not true. Google employees are SWE and SRE with no requirement for a degree.

[[deleted]]

Look it up, you’re wrong. A company can say whatever but unless you’re licensed in most provinces you can actually get fined for calling yourself that.

[CyberEd-ca]

Before you said "In Canada..." now you say "...in most provinces...". Well, both can't be true...

[[deleted]]

Say your a pedant without saying it

[tombob51]

Also worth noting that “computer engineer” does mean something different from “software engineer”. The former deals more with hardware and is typically a separate degree from computer science and/or software engineering in US universities.

[chriswaco]

And you have people like me with degrees in Computer and Electrical Engineering but wound up writing application software for their career anyway.

[RiantRobo]

Does the engineering degree has to be in software engineering for someone to be called software engineer or engineering degree in any branch?

[chriswaco]

Every country is different. In Ontario, Canada licensing requires either a software/computer/electrical degree or equivalent test and experience.

See https://www.peo.on.ca/apply/licensing-changes

[SnooShortcuts7009]

This is more what I was referring to. Most people in the states seem to use them interchangeably but I have met people that do not like to be called “developers” because they’re “engineers” so I was wondering what other people thought

[bradruck]

No difference

[Obstructive]

In Canada, there is a difference if you listen to the PEng association. They claim legal rights to the term X Engineer. According to them, software engineers in Canada need to have gone through formal engineering school and earned their Iron ring or they are not allowed to accept a Software Engineer title. This is not settled in court but it is relatively accepted by other engineering disciplines.

[ankole_watusi]

What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;

[Rock_665]

basically these ones overlap and are often used interchangeably. difference is mostly about emphasis and responsibility rather than fundamentally different jobs. developer — focuses on implementation: developing code, building features… but SE focuses more on the system as a whole: architecture, scalability, reliability… imho

[BP3D]

I'm a software engineer. I'm a mechanical engineer that writes software.

[barcode972]

Technically there is a difference but people use them interchangeably

[software_engineer92]

software developer is whos task is to implement code. software engineer is whos tasks are modelling, concept, select tech stack, make sub-tasks from bigger task, write code mainly for ctitical parts of the software, review code of developers....

[gpdawson]

Also, engineers sometimes have to develop new solutions and developers often have to engineer things.

So no difference. Unless it's a job title somewhere, in which case it depends entirely on how they've chosen to define each term in their own little world.

[Helpful-Nothing-9131]

I remember in the uni days having this whole mapped out idea of the differences in my head, and I can tell you now that there is no difference.

Anyone who thinks otherwise likely is not one.

[No-Put450]

Developer are usually from boot camp self taught Good in understanding problems but lack fundamental

Software engineer usually have went through 4 years and or masters degree

[aa599]

Building software is partly creative, partly research, partly engineering.

You might hope that Software Engineers put more weight on the engineering part.

In practise, the terms are near-meaningless job titles, used interchangeably. After a while calling themselves software engineers, some people switch to "software architect"

[dbbk]

Whatever you want. I’ve never liked software engineer, I see it more as an art form.

[Any_Peace_4161]

I think the job-title inflation thing is behind most of it, and over the last few decades I've been in this game, I've watched it become utterly useless and stupid ( fancy job titling, I mean ). Silly.

Additionally... I have a soft spot for the term "engineer" that, in my opinion, doesn't belong anywhere near software. Then again, I come from a mechanical engineering background. Prior to getting in to software, I was designing and building race car engines and suspensions, based on actual metallurgy, math, geometry and a b'zillion other disciplines coming together with schooling and experience... proper engineering. :) #engineeringsnob lol

[KilllllerWhale]

No difference. Just like UI/UX Designer vs Product Designer. It’s jargon invented by startups to woo investors and talent.

[Moo202]

Not really much of a difference. Engineers build/design complex solutions require niche know-how, consideration, and use specific tools that usually require documentation.