difference between programming and coding?

Different names for the same thing.

theTroll

are you sure? it seems to me that on that site it gets the idea across that coders are basically amateur programmers; and i have heard other people say they can code but not program.

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Original post by destron are you sure? it seems to me that on that site it gets the idea across that coders are basically amateur programmers; and i have heard other people say they can code but not program.

Nope, they mean the same thing. You probably either misunderstood them or they don't know what they're talking about.

ah. ok, well thank you guys.

I usually thik of coding as just mindlessly typing out computer commands, whereas programming is actively thinking about abstract solutions to a problem then expressing in in code. To be a coder, you need to know the syntax, but to program, you need to understand various alogrythms and data structurs. Still, the names are more or less interchangeable.

Usually, the words are synonymous.

However, linguistically, I believe "coding" is the process of entering stuff into the computer, whereas "programming" is the process of both figuring out what stuff to enter, and entering it.

Don't worry about the difference, though; nobody else does :-)

Yes, they are the same. However, I'll often refer to myself as "coding" when I'm doing the boring stuff: mundane code, boring code, or painful debugging. "Programming" is the real treat; you get to actually make progress and do relevant things with your program.

Sadly, most of us spend our time coding. [grin]

Context defines meaning.

As mentioned already:

1. In general usage: the word coding means the entering or the putting of information into a system, almost always synonomous with either ciphering (like into a code, or the older word for reading and writing) - remember that decoding is the same as to decipher meaning from a less natural form, or entering information (just like typing / data entry). The word program (noun) means either a chronology of what is to occur (like a play's program or a print out of a computer program), or (verb) the act of issuing instructions that MUST be carried out (such as programming your VCR, or programming a brainwashed assasin to kill a target).

2. In the computer world in normal usage, they are perfect synonyms.

3. In the computer world some groups in some context choose to distinguish the words differently. Some consider coding to have connotations that imply a lighter, less planned nature, more like a hobbiest would do - as directly opposed to the types of programming your would be doing if you we're doing software engineering. In this context, the word programming would cover both of these acts and everything in between.

4. In another usage, people use the word coding in a derogatory manner, as in "he's just a simple coder" (implying they cannot design their own systems, but are more of a junior programmer).

Every group has their subgroups who use their own slang.

[Edited by - Xai on May 10, 2006 4:44:21 PM]

Don't let me forget the affectionate usage when me and my friends refer to being Code Monkeys (taken out of context this would seem derogatory - but like many such idioms the group normally says it with a sense of pride).

I always called the people that did my boring code for me "Code Grunts", I even advertised for "Code Grunts", I didn't want them to think they were going to be doing exciting stuff.

theTroll

"As a programming teacher, one thing does irritate me: the persistent misuse of the word "programming" when the author means coding. Programming is creating the logic, coding is translating that logic into code. Many students come into class able to code, but almost none come in able to program -- that is, create the logic. They think sitting down and making spaghetti code is programming." - Tom Fordham

They mean the same thing, as previously stated. I think you might be confused in a sense that programming tends to seem like perhaps it is a more structured language. For instance, HTML is structured but its not as complex and sophisticated as something like Java or C++.

Therefore you would be "coding" HTML where as your "programming" in Java or C++. I've seen people confuse this quite often. Really they are the same thing, though some people consider them differen't for some reason.

Usually I always use "coding", just coz it types faster than "programming" :)

I want to see something on tv, so im going to ... my video recorder.

I think that Programming and Coding are different yet the same

Programming is writing a program (This is technology independent) that is it doesn't have to be a computer that your programming. You could be programming sprinkler timer in the backyard and you could deem yourself as a programmer.

Coding is writing a program but this time it means that you are programming a compiler to assemble a program that can be executed.

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Original post by DevLiquidKnight Therefore you would be "coding" HTML where as your "programming" in Java or C++. I've seen people confuse this quite often. Really they are the same thing, though some people consider them differen't for some reason.

I guess you could call HTML coding as it is executed by the web browser but it still could be considered a program as you are also instructing the web browser how your to interpret your document.

I guess one instance of where coding doesn't mean programming is when you are just writing something down on paper. You aren't programming anything really if you think about it. However, if you then take your code that you have written down which ironically is called a program and present it to a compiler then you would be programming.