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by malcolmgreaves 3877 days ago
To me, saying "programmer" implies that one has no understanding of the crucial mathematics underlying the nature if computation. A programmer only knows how to slap together JS with the latest framework, throw it on top of RoR with code copied from a dozen SO posts, and say "job's done." An engineer uses mathematical reasoning and scientific knowledge to solve the problem. This is certainly a subtle difference. But it speaks volumes.
1 comments

Well, I think that you would be wrong in that assessment.

Jack Dorsey calls himself a computer programmer and so does Douglas Englebart. Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Stallman and James Gosling all call themselves computer programmers and not one of the people I have mentioned calls themselves an engineer. I think that if you are a lowly computer programmer then you find yourself in some good company.