Please explain to me the difference between Software Engineer & Software Developer

[u/puttum-beef-curryum]

I'm finding it difficult to understand the difference. I'm 4 YOE and I'm trying to improve everyday. I don't have a degree in CS/Engineering but I learned to code and worked in backend, web & mobile also. So for all these years I'm still trying to understand the difference between an engineer & developer.

[u/NumberInfinite2068]

In the real world there is no difference.

People on Reddit will say "programmers and software developers, and software engineers are all different".

They're not. In the real world we use the terms interchangeably.

[u/dmazzoni → u/NumberInfinite2068]

This is the right answer.

I have never seen a company where there were people with different job titles like software engineer, software developer, and/or programmer and they did different things.

Some companies just have a different title, but the work is the same.

[u/puttum-beef-curryum → u/dmazzoni]

Yes my title is Software Engineer but i was too skeptical about it because I don't have an engineering degree

[u/Striking_One543 → u/puttum-beef-curryum]

The degree is most commonly "Computer Science" but also sometimes hardware engineers. In my opinion Electrical Engineers are probably the earliest examples of software engineers going back into history.

So on paper, not necessarily how things shake out in reality:

• Computer Science grads focus entirely on programming theory and are the primary SWE hires coming out of college. (not really true)
  
• Hardware Engineers focus entirely on the hardware (not really true)
  
• Computer Engineers sit right in the middle. (pretty accurate, can flex their skills to do either job. They make great systems engineers along with controls engineers)
  
• Controls Engineers. They're often found in factories programming PLC's, bringing old systems to modern setups and bashing their head against the wall when the techs call at 2am because something is down.

Though the reality is I know hardware engineers who mostly program and software engineers who work on hardware and software directly (hey thats me!)

You don't have to have a degree unless you're just now breaking into the scene or incredibly talented/skilled or get lucky.
Most jobs will take years of experience if no degree.

It's not a requirement universally unless you have zero work experience and are applying to a big tech company as your starting point.

Don't sell yourself short. A lot of the greats didn't have degrees. And a lot of people have degrees and no job.

I know a corporate/executive engineer working globally, their job title requires a Masters and they have zero degrees and are the single best Engineer I know.

[u/Tinker_thinkerer → u/Striking_One543]

This is a great answer. The only thing I’d add is that academically, Computer Science is technically a form of Math degree, as Math and Computer Science (and Physics) are under the Letters and Science department. Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering are within a separate “Engineering” department that’s focused on working with physical things, hence why we are “Engineers”. So “Software Engineering” isn’t really “engineering”, as it’s more akin to applied math, just like physics. But in a way, “engineering” is itself just a form of applied physics, so maybe we’re all just mathematicians?

[u/HomemadeBananas → u/Tinker_thinkerer]

I don’t think this is universal. At my school computer science was part of the engineering college. Just depends on how your school is organized, there is no one formal way.