What’s the Difference between a Computer Scientist & a Coder?

Legend has it that computer science started off as a mathematics subject. Mechanical inventions and mathematical theories paved the way for computer concepts and systems.

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The early history of computer science boasts of names such as Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, and of course, Alan Turing. It might surprise you to learn then, that the term computer science did not actually appear on the scene till the 1950s.

But, since when has anything related to the world of computer science ever been easy? Even though universities across the world created departments solely for the pursuit of computer science — people were still arguing among themselves about what the term ‘computer science’ actually meant.

Then came the debate over software engineering and computer science, which further complicated the issue. And, unfortunately for us, the debate continues to this day.

But, that’s exactly why, asking what being a computer scientist entails, is kind of like trying to figure out what Elon Musk truly does for a living. Everyone thinks they know exactly what it is, but no two people will ever give you the same answer.