One of the most frequent question i get from newbie during training programs and events is, what is the difference between programmer and developer? Most of the novices are very curious to know about differences in the responsibility of a web designer, web developer, web programmer, web master, front-end developer, back-end developer, GUI developer, search engine optimizer, web strategist, web marketer, Computer Scientist & like so many others posts. But today i am going to put forward some of the differences between developer and a programmer.

From my knowledge, "programmers" are those who are primarily invoked in coding very well defined pieces of web, whereas "developer" are more involved with design issues and are proposed to have more freedom in their decisions. I've collected some of the definitions, rumors, sayings from many sites, please read it and do comment if you ain't agree with these lines.

Definition from the dictionary:

Pro·gram·mer

A person who writes computer programs
A device that automatically controls the operation of something in accordance with a prescribed program

De·vel·op·er

A person or thing that develops something
    - a property developer
    - software developers
A person who grows or matures at a specified time or rate
A chemical agent used for treating photographic film to make a visible image

Here are some basic steps of web developments, from that you can distinguish the job responsibility of web developer and a programmer.

First you need a Developer (an idea)
Second you need a Programer (to make idea real)
Third a Developer (to tweek real idea to something more)
Fourth a Programer (make idea stable)
Fith a Developer (to make old idea new again)

Start as a developer and end as a developer.

Developer: He who involves in the development of something new that may not have pre-existed. As in the idea, design, code, test and finally the finished item.
eg: Development of a new language C.

Programmer: He who applies the developed language in building applications or things that need to be produced by using & applying the already built software.
eg: Programmer uses all the commands of the language C to develop applications and other real world modules. He is not involved in fixing the bugs in the language C.

Software programmer can be any person who knows the flows,algorithim,stacks and queues and code related to any programming language in which he/she is fluent.He/She may not be a part of software development team or can share her set of skills through teaching only!

Software Developer is a part of a solution team that  develops a software product.He/she is well versed with technical(programming) and non technical(implementation)  details for design and development that lead to ultimately making of the software product according to customised  prefrences of the client who ultimately pays and uses the software product.

programmer is a subset of developer in the perspective of the responsibilities they have and they attends less meeting compared to developer.

Software Developers design, develop, test, and evaluate software programs and systems. Although programmers write and support programs in new languages, much of the design and development  is the responsibility of software engineers or software developers.

Whereas Programmer is a different thing, the job role mainly involve in programming / writting a computer program and/or writing documentation i presume. But need not to involve in analysis, design and full SDLC.

programmer is the person who responsible for only coding of core of programming language and solving algorithm for program. The programmer have not to take interest to design of software and fully development of software.
But the developer is the person which have to take interest in designing of software and fully development of software. Developer pay attention on both core and advance part ofprogramming language.

Have you heard about developer programmer, i found this new title in Australian Computer society, especially used for Australian professionals/Skilled Migration Visa.

Developer Programmer:

According to Australian Skills Recognition Information (ASRI), the skill requires for a developer programmers are Interprets specifications, technical designs and flow charts, builds, maintains and modifies the code for software applications, constructs technical specifications from a business functional model, and tests and writes technical documentation.

• researching, consulting, analysing and evaluating system program needs
• identifying technology limitations and deficiencies in existing systems and associated processes, procedures and methods
• testing, debugging, diagnosing and correcting errors and faults in an applications programming language within established testing protocols, guidelines and quality standards to ensure programs and applications perform to specification
• writing and maintaining program code to meet system requirements, system designs and technical specifications in accordance with quality accredited standards
• writing, updating and maintaining technical program, end user documentation and operational procedures
• providing advice, guidance and expertise in developing proposals and strategies for software design activities such as financial evaluation and costings for recommending software purchases and upgrades

What do you think now? are they distinct? I'd love to hear your thoughts in comments below.