Is A Software Developer And Software Engineer Same?

When one hears Software Engineer or Software Developer the imaginary figure appears to be that of a geek sitting in a room or in a freewheeling set up focused on their laptop coding away to create things from thin air that can control physical instruments or processes. At the same time, people also do confuse a software engineer with a software developer and use the terms interchangeably.
 

Reality is different.

Though at the start of the software development career, it may look the same, the roles are quite different, and it is pertinent that the choice of professional path matches the person’s flair. While software engineer needs skills like scientific research, mathematics, and technical knowledge to build software programs by applying engineering principles, a software developer is more of a craftsman creating software design/ applications as per user needs.

A software engineer studies current programs and makes improvements in designs and functions. They quantify the programming needs of clients to make system plans, design, and develop prototypes and analyze codes to ensure their proper functioning or do troubleshooting. The screen, support, and lead software developers/ programmers while writing programs and are also responsible for the management of networking and hardware systems, databases, servers, and other technologies to turn an idea into a final product.
At the same time, a software developer is the one who codes and works on other different tasks of the software development lifecycle. They understand client needs, link this information with backend programming, and make the front end of applications while assimilating third-party programs. They act as the middle layer coordinating with different developers and programmers to ensure deployment of the application and assuring that it operates as developed.





The primary difference is that a software engineer is solely responsible for establishing and integrating engineering principles for software creation and a software developer is responsible for creating functional programs for clients. Software engineers focus on creating software tools and software developers focus on using these tools to develop the applications for the end-user.
Also, the expectation of roles is also different.

Software engineers are expected to have the technical expertise to design fault-tolerant systems, modify software programs, build IT architecture, cloud-based and data storage systems including their replacement to scale-up performance, and use automation and testing tools. Software developers need to have high analytical skills, knowledge of computer programming languages, and open-source tools to understand client needs and link them to the correct programming or coding requirement. They must possess networking skills to collect client needs and regular feedback, and align with other developers to manage all stages of software lifecycle development to deliver the requisite application.

In short, a software engineer is expected to take care of the complete process, whereas a software developer is expected to successfully deliver software projects as per client needs.
In line with role and responsibility, the required skill sets are also different.

While both software engineers and software developers may have computer science engineering degrees, firms look at higher experience, knowledge in backend processes, expertise working as a systems/ process engineer, Full Stack developer, etc. for software engineers and prefer domain-specific qualities and skills like Java, Ruby Rail and so on for software developer. Similarly, in terms of compensation software engineers have an edge over software developers.

As per ‘Payscale’s research in 2019, US average software engineer’s annual salary was $83,681 while a software developer can make around $70,388 yearly, on average.
To conclude the choice of being a software engineer or a software developer depends on self-analysis.

If a person is far more creative with decent logic to find solutions to the problems, a software developer role will be a better fit and if the person looks to solve large-scale problems by applying engineering logic and has a professional base, then the role of a software engineer is apt for you.

Exavibes has a large team of software engineers and software developers to take care of the end-to-end needs of your business. Please do let us know about your staffing or business needs.