Are Web Developers real programmers?
Web developers like other programmers use Programming Languages to Write Websites and web applications. This alone makes them real programmers.
In today’s insight, we are going to understand who web developers are and what makes them real programmers.
WHO IS A PROGRAMMER?
A programmer sometimes called a software developer is an individual who writes computer software or applications by giving the computer specific programming instructions.
Computer programmers use programming Languages to write different applications. There are many programming languages that software developers use such as Python, Java, C++, C#, Kotlin, Dart, Php, Javascript, Ruby, Swift, etc.
The work of Programmers encompasses designing, developing, and testing software, they also make sure that software adheres to the best industry standards and practices in performance, reliability, and security.
Most programmers can specialize in one or more programming fields such as Software, Web programming, Mobile app development, Firmware, Game development, Systems programming, Desktop app development, etc.
WHAT IS WEB DEVELOPMENT?
Web development is simply the process of developing websites for the Internet (World Wide Web) or an intranet (a private network) using specialized programming languages and tools.
Web development ranges from developing a simple static page of plain text to more complex web applications, electronic businesses, and social network services.
WHO IS A WEB DEVELOPER?
A web developer is a programmer who specializes in the design, development, testing, and deployment of World Wide Web Applications.
Web Developers typically use HTML, CSS, and Javascript on the front-facing side of web applications. The server-side is implemented using backend technologies and Languages such as Php, Go, Java, Python Django, Node.js, C# (ASP.NET), Ruby on Rails, etc.
HTTP is used for communication between the Front-end (Client side) and the backend (Server-side).
A web developer who specializes in client-side applications is commonly known as a Frontend developer. Frontend developers use HTML, CSS, and Javascript for frontend applications.
There are a lot of frontend frameworks employed by Frontend developers to make interactive Frontend applications. Such frameworks include React, Angular, Vue, Svelte, Bootstrap, Materialize, Tailwind CSS, Bulma, and many others.
On the other hand, a web developer who specializes in server-side applications is a Backend developer. Backend Developers use programming languages and frameworks such as Node.js, Php, Python, Java, Go, Ruby on Rails, Django, Express.js, Laravel, etc.
Full stack web developers focus on both the client-side and the server-side applications.
Web Developers can also work on Mobile Applications using such platforms as React Native (Javascript), Flutter (Dart), Ionic (Javascript), Xamarin (C#);
Desktop Applications using Election.JS, NW.JS;
Games using Phaser, Pixi.JS, Three,js, Babylon.js;
Machine Learning using Tensorflow, Apache Singa, Caffe2
All of the aforementioned involve a lot of programming.
Considering the scope of work of web developers and how they make web applications, it can be seen beyond any reasonable doubt that web developers are real programmers.
Like all programmers, they use programming languages to write web applications. Some of the programming languages used by web developers are the same languages used by other software developers working in other programming fields.
Web developers are not any less of programmers just because they write applications for the web. The basic principles and fundamentals applied in other software development fields are also applied in web development.
Web developers use programming to write complex applications that are used in Business, Finance, Education, HealthCare, social networking, entertainment, traffic monitoring, and many others.
These applications involve a lot of planning, analysis, designing, coding, and testing, the very things that other software developers do.
Anyone who says web development is not real programming has not worked on a project that is solving real-life problems for its users.
Some people think web development is too easy to be programming, most of the people who think this way have not created anything useful with web development.
Others consider writing, compilers, systems, drivers, embedded systems, or using low-level languages like C/C++ as what defines true programming.
Whether developing, systems, desktop software, or web applications, the principles of programming remain the same, what differs is the amount of work it takes to write low-level applications versus high-level applications like web applications.
Web developers can easily switch from one programming field to the other because they already understand programming. It may be hard to work on systems as a web developer but it will not take long to fit in.
Equally, other software developers can easily switch to web development because they understand the fundamentals of programming, they may find web development easy but it is still programming.
If you are a web developer, understand that you are not any less of a programmer, don’t be buried in the negativity that exalts other fields of programming than yours. Work on improving your skills and creating applications that solve real-life problems.
If you are interested in developing your programming skills, check out our article TIPS TO BECOME A BETTER DEVELOPER.
Let me reemphasize this; Web developers are real programmers because they use the same fundamentals, principles, tools, and programming languages that other software developers use.
Happy coding.
