As both a seasoned software architect and lifelong coder, few questions I receive more often from new developers are "what’s the difference between coding and programming?" While intertwined disciplines, they entail distinct processes that together produce powerful software and applications. Given confusion over their exact definitions, in this comprehensive guide, I’ll decode once and for all how coding and programming diverge as well as when to leverage one vs the other.
Why Distinguishing Coding vs Programming Matters
Before diving in, it‘s important to recognize why decoding the contrast between coding and programming represents such a pivotal knowledge gap to fill for new computer science students and software engineers.
With the exponential growth in demand for software capabilities across every industry, both coding and programming have quickly become two of the most crucial and coveted technical skills. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts over 550,000 new software developer roles needing to be filled by 2026. On top of that, Glassdoor ranks Software Engineer and Full Stack Engineer as the #1 and #3 best jobs in America with median salaries of $110,000 and $105,000 respectively.
However, developers looking to capitalize on this career boom often struggle to convey how their skills truly align with modern software requirements if they cannot articulate coding’s tactical and programming’s strategic distinctions. Making matters worse, the terms are sometimes presented interchangeably in job descriptions depending on companies’ technical vocabulary.
Therefore, distinctly understanding coding vs programming in terms of processes, applications, tools, complexity, roles, and outputs unlocks major advantages for engineers to level up their abilities and prove these capabilities to employers.
The insights below aim to finally provide that necessary level of clarity as someone immersed daily in leveraging both coding and programming to deliver advanced software projects.
Defining Coding and Programming
Coding represents the tactical practice of writing code – the step-by-step instructions that direct computer operations – for software applications in development. Coders focus on translating higher level programming languages that are more easily readable by humans into lower level machine code readable by computers in binary. This coding process essentially establishes communication between computer hardware and software.
Programming encompasses the more strategic practice of designing, planning, testing and maintaining the logic that drives functional software. Using analytical processes and algorithms, programmers ideate solutions before directing coders translate that logic into executable programs. Programming intersects computer science and software engineering to holistically build applications.
In short, coding handles the translation while programming handles the big picture software architecture and planning.
| Coding | Programming | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Translating programming languages into machine-readable binaries to instruct computer systems | Designing, strategizing and architecting software program logic solutions for functionality |
| Focus | Enabling software execution via machine communication | Holistic planning, development and maintenance of software |
| Role | Code writer | Software architect |
| Process | More tactical, translates high-level code to low-level | More strategic, designs overarching program logic |
Key Process Differences
Drilling down, examining the step-by-step processes for coding vs programming further cements where they diverge.
The coding process revolves around translating commands for execution:
- Receive requirements for program functions from programmers
- Choose appropriate programming languages based on technology stack compatibility
- Write logical code strings to perform given functions per language syntax
- Translate higher level code into lower level machine code via compilers
- Execute code snippets continually to check they perform intended tasks
- Document code for programmers and other coders
- Troubleshoot errors by adjusting code instructions until successful
Notably, with its emphasis on translation to binaries, coding utilizes a rapid trial-and-error approach with less formal planning required up front before commencing work.
Contrastingly, the programming process applies an engineering mindset across software creation:
- Consult with stakeholders to deeply understand software requirements and constraints
- Research existing solutions/technical landscape to identify optimal tools and algorithms
- Compose technical specifications documents outlining software architecture and component design
- Create logical flowcharts and diagrams plotting program functional logic and UX flows
- Deconstruct requirements into coding tasks for assigning to developers
- Oversee coding team progress across code repositories using IDE project management tools
- Establish QA and testing protocols to validate software against specs throughout development
- Review developer check-ins, providing feedback on improvements
- Prepare user documentation explaining program usage and administrative upkeep
- Monitor performance post-release to guide improvements and new features
Whereas coding moves swiftly to code translation, programming requires extensive upfront coordination across design, planning and documentation before getting to production. This upfront investment however establishes the blueprint for efficient software construction.
Core Skills Comparison
Given the above processes, coding and programming also demand distinct core skills to be effective.
Coding Skills
- Fluency writing code in languages like JavaScript, Python, Go, C++ based on tech stack
- Understanding computer hardware specifications needed to inform code
- Knowledge of compilers and interpreters to translate between codebases
- Testing code snippets iteratively to validate function
- Familiarity with IDEs like VS Code for streamlined coding/debugging
- Clear commenting for other developers within codebase
Programming Skills
- System design skills to architect software logic models
- Advanced algorithms expertise to create optimal processing logic
- Requirements analysis abilities to breakdown functionality
- Fluent in multiple programming languages for versatility
- Data structure and database scheme mastery
- Security protocols and encryption fundamentals
- Debugging processes to efficiently resolve issues
- Familiarity with project management software and tools
- Documentation writing aptitude for specs and guides
While coding requires being productive in a few programming languages, programming necessitates technological breadth to strategically glue everything together.
Coding Languages vs Programming Languages
Speaking of programming languages, understanding the abilities associated with coding languages vs programming languages also clarifies coding and programming alignment.
Coding Languages
Coding centered languages like C, Go, Rust provide efficient interfaces to computer hardware and systems resources. By abstracting away higher level software complexities to focus on machine binaries, coding languages excel at:
- Memory management
- Keyboard/screen interfaces
- Operating system calls
- Network communication
- Hardware manipulations
Programming Languages
Programming oriented languages like Python, JavaScript, Java handle advanced software capabilities by abstracting away lower level hardware complexities. By focusing on multilayered application logic, programming languages excel at:
- Rapid prototyping
- Scalable data handling
- Web interfaces
- Business/scientific modeling
- Machine learning
- Data analysis
- Complex algorithms
Knowing coding vs programming languages assists directing the right languages towards the right applications based on tactical vs strategic programming needs.
Development Tools and Environments
Additionally, mastery of software coding vs programming requires leveraging quite different tools and environments.
As coding produces the executable machine code fundamental to all software, coders work close to the metal using lower level IDEs and direct code manipulation tools including:
- Text editors like Sublime Text, Atom, Notepad++
- Low-level debuggers like Valgrind, GDB
- Compilers like GCC, Clang
- Build tools like GNU Make, CMake, autotools
- Git version control via CLI
Working further up the software stack, programmers utilize advanced tools to manage, model and generate immense enterprise applications:
- Full software IDEs like PyCharm, VS Studio
- Database engines like PostgreSQL, MongoDB
- Data science notebooks like Jupyter and Colab
- Diagramming platforms like Lucidchart for system design
- Agile lifecycle tools with JIRA and Trello
- API and cloud platform builders
- Automated testing frameworks like JUnit and Selenium
The professionally sharped tools align with the job at hand – either translating coding or strategizing the programming behind entire software products.
| Coding Tools | Programming Tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Low-level, close to system hardware | Higher-level, close to software requirements |
| Key Tools | CLI code editors, compilers, debuggers | Cloud platforms, DBs, data science notebooks |
| Focus | Streamlined coding environment | Robust system design/modeling/automation |
Abstraction from Hardware
Moreover, coding and programming differ substantially regarding technical abstraction – hiding hardware complexities to enable easier software authoring.
- Coding focuses on directly manipulating system resources – memory, data buses, peripheral devices. This requires working 2-3 abstraction layers above hardware such as machine code and low level Assembly.
- Programming concentrates on extensive data and process modeling essential for applications. This requires working 10+ abstraction layers above hardware within high level languages like Python and database data schemes.
Consider professional contractors building a house. Carpenters focus on the essential framing while architects obsess over the high level blueprints. Like carpentry constructs the skeleton, coding constructs the base software scaffolding. And like architects guide the vision, programming guides software capabilities.
Scope of Software Role
Related, coding and programming typically assume vastly different software scope and components depending on software roles.
Coding Roles
Coders fill specialized development roles translating or hardening infrastructure code:
- Embedded Systems Coders – Code microcontroller hardware with C/C++
- Game Engine Coders – Optimize 3D graphics performance in Assembly
- Device Driver Coders – Produce OS kernel modules in Rust
- Blockchain Software Coders – Engineer crypto wallet code in Go
- Web Security Coders – Fortify firewalls and proxies with C
Programming Roles
Programmers fill expansive multidomain architecture and engineering positions:
- Full Stack Engineers – Architect client + server application logic and UIs with JavaScript MEAN stack
- Platform Engineers – Design expansive cloud platforms as Amazon/Facebook/Uber have done
- API Program Managers – Model intricate workflows between 100s of business systems
- Principal Data Scientists – Create ML systems answering wide-ranging analytics inquiries
Like a house’s basic timber infrastructure versus its expansive floor plans, coding tackles narrow vertical challenges while programmers architect wide horizons.
Timelines and Velocity
Furthermore, software coding and programming progress along vastly different schedules and velocities.
A single coder can translate functional requirements into working code in hours or days by iterating quickly through compiler build cycles. Learning a few new syntax adjustments enables adapting to new coding tasks without overhead.
However, even with large teams, programming system designs takes months or years given required coordination across groups verifying requirements, designing data models, documenting behaviors, implementing modular logic, and testing repeatedly. Mastering the interplay of components behind robust programs represents hard won experience over time.
Consider the differences between scribbling some quick custom VBA macros for Excel versus engineering the intricate macro-based formulas behind its spreadsheet functions. Both coding and programming produce logic driving software yet at substantially different scales.
Salaries and Job Outlook
Naturally, the above variations between essential tactical coding and strategic programming resonate in software job titles, salaries and demand outlooks.
Coding Salaries
According to Payscale, specialized code and script developers see median salaries ranging:
- Web Developers: $61,500
- Computer Programmers: $68,500
- Software Quality Assurance Engineers: $65,500
- Game Developers: $68,500
Programming Salaries
However, strategic software programming roles open higher income brackets, including:
- Data Scientists: $100,000
-Backend Developers: $76,000 - Full Stack Engineers: $83,500
- Cloud Engineers: $92,000
- Machine Learning Engineers: $114,000
Likewise, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts much heavier growth in strategic programming positions above 80K+ with 524,400 new programmer jobs anticipated through 2026 compared to just 22,200 new coding positions.
Programming drives breakthrough technologies – coding executes their possibilities.
| Role | Median Salary | 5 Yr U.S Job Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Programmers | $80-115K | +19-21% |
| Coders | $61-69K | +5-9% |
This data proves both coding and programming central to tomorrow’s software revolution yet programming powering leading edge technologies in demand by employers.
Which Should You Learn?
So with such stark contrasts on skills and capabilities, which skillset should new developers invest in – coding or programming?
The short answer is both!
Here are my recommendations on getting started:
Learn coding first to…
- Grasp how software logic executes line-by-line on hardware
- Sharpen rigor and structure around writing precise instructions
- Build a software foundation before expanding scope
- Troubleshoot bugs and performance issues through code reviews
Then grow into programming to…
- Design bigger picture data schemes and system models
- Lead complex software engineering initiatives
- Architect reliable large-scale applications
- Unlock career advancement as a senior engineer and architect
Ultimately fluency in coding establishes the roots for excelling across programming’s opportunities. Master leveraging each at the right times and your software capabilities transform.
I hope mapping coding and programming differences aids both grasping where they diverge and intersect so you can orient your skills accordingly. Please reach out with any other questions!
Jeremy Johnson
Principal Software Architect
Acme Dev Company
