I'm diving deep into computer science lately, and I've got a question that's been bugging me: what exactly is the difference between "software development" and "software engineering"? I find it hard to pinpoint if these two fields actually differ in any meaningful way or if they're just different terms for the same job. Anyone have some insights?
2 Answers
Honestly, it depends who you ask. Some folks think there's little difference, while others see them as entirely different roles. Today, they're often used interchangeably. For instance, one software developer’s role might be super different from another's, regardless of the title. Traditionally, a developer might design the software while an engineer focuses more on coding, but in reality, both jobs can feel quite similar nowadays.
In practice, a lot of people tend to use 'software engineering' because it has a more professional ring to it. But when you break it down, 'software development' is generally focused on the actual programming part, while 'software engineering' encompasses a broader range of responsibilities in the software creation process.
Thanks for clarifying! That 'code monkey' reference from your comment is new to me; could you explain what that term means?