Developing a Community: How do developers refer to themselves?

uvox

I'm interested in developing a community aimed at software developers and am trying to get the messaging right - I'm interested to know how hobbyist and semi-professional developers refer to themselves in Ireland: developers, hackers, geeks, etc? My own observation is that "developer" is probably the most common, though for events "hackathon" is the most popular (don't see "jam")

any self-referential thoughts?

Kidchameleon

Developer

jgh_

Programmer

DonkeyStyle \o/

Neckbeard

uvox

Anyone tempted by 'brogrammer'? (OK, I was just blueskying...:))

Thanks for all the responses.

jgh_

gotta bro down and crush some code

hobochris

By community, do you mean something like stack overflow?

Manach

Engineer.

Odaise Gaelach

Developer. Though sometimes I refer to myself as a software engineer, usually to make my housemate (who's doing his PhD in engineering) foam at the mouth.

uvox

Good question - like a user group or individual fanboys for a particular type of development - python, java, etc...

Sparks

Engineer. Computer Engineer when I'm being persnickity (stuff your roommate Odaise, it says "Computer Engineer" on my degree )


... but uvox, I'm wondering, if you don't know something this basic, and you're talking about creating a community for people you can't even pigeonhole yet, do you not think that coming into an existing community and asking that question is a little bit cheeky?

uvox

No, not really, but I could be making this a lot more complicated than it needed to be. I was looking for something that a) people relate to b) travels globally, c) might combine some sense of innovation, edginess, and yet tie it to a career path or contracts, without being too corporate, and d) something that could translate into messaging (can't see brogrammer.ie taking off).

I guess looking at search keywords might be a way forward too.

It seems like "developer" is the one people use most, and works best for the enterprise apps space. Hacker and geek probably won't result in a contract, though it seems once the beer is flowing, it's used.

Thanks for all the responses.

Genghiz Cohen

Grand-Master: Fountain of all Knowledge

Evil Phil

Developer, Analyst/Developer, Software Developer, Web Developer, Software Engineer etc. it's all the same thing.

I've been called worse, but mostly by people who didn't read the document before signing off on it.

uvox

great answer(s). a profession/obsession that can look at itself and its ups and downs without losing sanity is a great thing. reminds me a bit of this guy:

https://twitter.com/devops_borat

(hits it in sports, but still some disturbingly accurate insights)

Dave!

Web developer, usually followed by "I make websites" so that I can feel confident that the nodding and smiling is not just because they still don't know what I do!

[-0-]

Hacker.

fergalr

Strange to see 'computer scientist' not present.

Personally, any/all of the above, depends on context, wouldn't worry about it, etc.