| > | | | | managerial skills. |
| The terms software engineer or computer | | | | A computer programmer on the other hand, is |
| programmer may be confusing to the average | | | | required to develop, test and maintain code that is to |
| computer user. Most of us associate computer | | | | be run on the computer. He is responsible for |
| programs with the generic term 'Software'. To us it | | | | converting the specifications provided in the software |
| may seem that the terms are interchangeable. That | | | | requirements definition phase into working code for |
| is not so. The role played by a software engineer is | | | | the computer. Computer programmers are involved |
| significantly different from that of a computer | | | | with design and maintenance of websites too. They |
| programmer. Before learning what the difference | | | | should be proficient in analysis of programs. They are |
| between a software engineer and a computer | | | | required to collaborate with manufacturers in |
| programmer is, let us see what is meant by the term | | | | developing new methodologies for software with |
| software engineering and how it relates to computer | | | | evolution of hardware. Training, documentation and |
| programming. | | | | generation of reports are also tasks that should be |
| Software engineering is a rigorous approach to | | | | handled by a computer programmer. |
| development, maintenance and testing of software. | | | | We can observe that the skill set required by a |
| These are engineers who must be knowledgeable | | | | computer programmer is a subset of the skills |
| about software requirements, design, development, | | | | expected from a software engineer. The computer |
| maintenance and testing. They must be well versed | | | | programmer is a specialist in some areas covered by |
| with the tools and methods used for the | | | | software engineering. A software engineer is in |
| development process as a whole. It is thus a | | | | charge of the overall software development process |
| convergence of the fields of computer science and | | | | and is expected to improve the reliability and |
| systems engineering with a great deal of project | | | | maintainability of this complex process. A software |
| management added for good measure. They are | | | | engineer may have a team of computer |
| expected to have technical skills in addition to | | | | programmers working under his supervision. |