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By going through this site I get the impression that there are two schools of thought on this; Those that think you have to adhere to a particular stereotype and follow a certain code before declaring you're a programmer and those that just want to make good programs (probably amongst other things).

Thanks for some really good answers. It was useful to see some different points of view on this.

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someone that can program == programmer; Someone who can Program efficiently == good programmer; what you are? – Ranger Mar 18 '11 at 10:56
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Real programmers tend to think differently than an average person. Degree doesn't have anything to do with it. It's either in your nature or not. So someone may think as a programmer but is not writing code... – Robert Koritnik Mar 18 '11 at 14:14
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I'd rather call myself a programmer that can't program lol – Mercfh Mar 18 '11 at 14:17
Good point, just because I love your mom does not make me a motherlover. I never thought about it this way ... – Job Mar 18 '11 at 14:34
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@Robert I agree! I wonder if this sounds odd but (1) I see a program in a lot of everyday things..or even the way I should do something.. etc (2) Code is not letters and alphabets.. it seems more tangible to me, like when I'm writing classes I imagine them to be real objects, I mean like boxes or something.. thats why I focus and want to learn architecture a lot. Anyone else this weird? – gideon Mar 18 '11 at 14:40
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8 Answers

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I think the division might be better described as being between people who live to create software, and those that use programming to further some other goal.

That is, some people are programmers' programmers. They live to create software, solve problems, create algorithms, and otherwise push the limits of software creation. Its the aestetic of programming itself that is the attraction. That is, programming itself is the domain knowledge. No matter what their degree is in, what their career is, these people end up programming because thats what they find most rewarding.

On the other hand, there are people who can program. They use programming to solve problems, but the programming is just a tool to further some other goal. A biologist might write software to track a tagged animal, or an accountant might create tools to allow him to be a better accountant. Or, they are programmers just because they heard it payed more than being an insurance adjuster. If the need to program disappeared tomorrow, they'd just move on and stop programming.

Obviously in the real world people fall along a spectrum somewhere between the two, but I've always thought of that as the defining each end of the spectrum.

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up vote 11 down vote

If I understand your question well, you would like to know whether one identifies with his/her role as a programmer.

For me, the answer is no. I have been programming for a long time, and I have been doing a lot of other things during that time, often parallel to my programming job. A role is just a role - we should be able to detach from it and realize that we are something different than any of our roles.

I am a programmer in my day job, a dad and lover at home, and I also used to be photographer, yoga student and teacher, rock guitarist, ... each of these is/was (a part of) me, and neither of these are (exclusively) me. My life just becomes richer and fuller by exploring and developing each of these distinct roles and personalities.

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Thats exactly what I'm asking. I'm worried that some people are missing the point when asking questions like 'what I should do in my leisure time as a programmer?' and stuff like that. I could be misinterpreting but it's like they want to be told how to live their life as a programmer. – John Shaft Mar 18 '11 at 8:43
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@Pablo, yes, although this is not programming specific. I once heard the question "what I should do in my free time after I finished all my yoga practices for the day?" addressed to a yoga master in India :-) – Péter Török Mar 18 '11 at 8:55
+1 I rest my case :D – John Shaft Mar 18 '11 at 9:35
Some people need to identify themselves (or a part of themselves) by what they do for work (which isn't terribly crazy - it is ~1/3 of your life). Especially in the case where you really enjoy what you do. I happen to be one of those people, and I'm not ashamed of it. – Steve Evers Mar 18 '11 at 18:18
@SnOrfus, no need to be ashamed of it indeed - I also enjoy programming a lot, and take pride in doing it well. The same time I enjoy family life a lot, and take pride in being a good dad and partner. But all of these are just roles. I take great care in playing them well, but without overdoing it. Because one day I will leave all these behind. – Péter Török Mar 18 '11 at 20:12
up vote 8 down vote

For me the distinction is just a matter of degree - A programmer is someone who does a lot of programming, usually as a job, hobby or both. Whether that person "can program" depends on whether you ask his mom or Dijkstra.

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up vote 1 down vote

I love to tell others I am a programmer, though I have been in different roles/positions. Maybe it's due to the belief of I consider programming is the core among many things in a business. At this moment, I am listing the founders of Iris, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Firaxis, id Software ... in my mind. Yeah .. I just love to tell others I still do programming ;-)

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up vote 1 down vote

I'm a programmer, among other things. I'm not soley a programmer, or just a programmer, or anything like that.

I'm a programmer because a significant amount of my life is tied up with programming (like almost all of my income), and because I try to become a better programmer.

If I were to change to another sort of job, and not program in my spare time, or not learn more about programming, then I'd be somebody who can program.

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up vote 0 down vote

Neither, I'm a developer. I don't program computers, I develop systems that happen to be mainly computer-based to do things and add value.

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up vote 0 down vote

It has to be earned through merit or talent

I put some more thought in to it, based on my experiences
Respect


Someone that can program
I say, I CODE. I'm here from an other industry. If I got good at OOP and learn a whole IDE, I would consider the title of PROGRAMMER. It has to be earned through merit or talent.

Programmer
If you get away with calling yourself a programmer, you should be able to back it up. It's street ethics in this industry.

Thoughts
I had to back away from identifying myself as a programmer, because I got my ass kicked for a year straight, when I was learning a new IDE. Anyone got bullied at work or in forums?

Be nice, but realize you in an industry that is brutal. Most programmers are nice and with help you if you treat them with the respect they deserve.

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