[caoyangs]

碼工 is also correct.

Programmers are literally 程序員, where 程序 means program, and 員 means worker. People also call them 程序猿, where 猿 has the exact same pronunciation as 員 but means monkey. So basically programmers are also called code monkeys in China.

[ctchocula]

Interesting, didn't know that! Can you comment a bit on the context in which 码农 is used in China? I'm curious how it differs from the usage of "code monkey" over here where it's usually in jest/tongue-in-cheek.

[caoyangs]

农=farmer, 工=worker. I don't think there's much difference between 码农 and 码工. The 2 words are interchangeable. 码农 seems more common. The usage is also same as or similar to "code monkey", in jest, or self-deprecating when used by programmers themselves.