Software architect vs Software developer: what is the difference?

Software architect vs Software developer: what is the difference?

Introduction

Often, you must have heard people using these terms, Software architect and Software developer, interchangeably and in the same context. But the fact is that they both are different. Many managers and top-level executives still confuse one with the other and mix up the terms. Though both the Software architect and Software developer perform vaguely similar roles at first glance, they are both vastly different. In this article, we will explore the differences between the two, and why one is different from the other, while of course having overlapping responsibilities in certain situations.

If you are looking to hire a software developer and a software architect or maybe one of them, this article would help you make the right choice. We have explained each of the roles in detail so you can have a better understanding and the right hire can take your project forward. 

Both the software developer and the software architect have a variety of roles, depending on the kind of software they are building. While they have distinct responsibilities, you can safely say that the software developer and the architect have a common goal: to create high-quality software solutions.

Familiarising with the roles of a software architect

A software architect is a person who manages the overall structure of the software system. Their role is almost similar to that of the civil engineer, and they create blueprints for the entire software architecture. The software architect articulates the architectural angle of the software with the view of the organisation that they are working for. They structure the software’s development process, but they don’t necessarily need to know the nuances of coding. But having some coding knowledge is, of course, an advantage. 

Software development is a vast field, and you need experts to handle the architectural aspect of the product, and play an important role in each stage of the software development project. Some companies insist on having a savvy software architect along with a technically adept and skilled software developer. Because they need someone handling the software planning and organising, not just churning out lines of code. Though the architect doesn’t have to write codes specifically, they make important decisions that will have an impact on how the codes are to be written. 

They even decide which tools are to be written

The software architect can decide which coding tools are to be used and must be able to convince the developer team, because their choice often directly is responsible for the probability and degree of success of the software project, especially when it comes to mobile stacks. 

They have a say on which coding and development standards

The advice of the software architect on what kind of development standards are to be used dictates the course of the software project, even how it aligns with the demands of the clients and stakeholders. Their knowledge of high-level concepts in coding and diagrams is crucial to the success of the project. Often it is the architect who writes the code examples, prototypes, proofs of concepts, and so on. They write a variety of modules that are used and reused by the team.  

A bridge between the technical and non-technical people in a project

The software architect is an excellent communicator who communicates between the software development team and the non-technical people in the project. They also work with the project managers to organise the workflow and help the team achieve their goals. So they must be aware of the feasibility of technical considerations. If you are wondering if there are any similarities between the project manager and the software architect, then remember, there is a difference between the two – the software architect focuses on the technical aspects of the project and the project manager is more about the market aspects of the project. 

Familiarising with the roles of a software engineer

The software engineer, with a background in computer science, works on how the software is built. So they will deal with everything related to software development, testing, quality analysis, and maintenance. Because of the scope of the project, the software engineer has many sub-roles like the Quality Analysis engineer who checks for the quality of the software and identifies any bugs or errors that might compromise the quality and working efficiency of the project. 

Knowledge of an array of tools and technologies

The software engineers must be whiz at the tools and technologies used in programming, especially Java, Python, C++, or JavaScript, and must be updated on the latest trends and techniques. The engineer must know all about Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) like Eclipse or Visual Studio Code and be aware of Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools, for example, Jenkins or Travis CI. Must also know how to handle Version Control Systems like Git or SVN.

Deeper sense of knowledge of computer science

Not only does the software engineer have a background in software engineering, he must have a deeper understanding of the principles involved in it. This helps them to improve the quality and functionality of the code and avoid potential future problems. It would help them refine their problem-solving skills and understand and debug code better.

So, where does the overlapping of the roles happen

While the roles of both the software developer and the software architect are so different, there are some overlapping responsibilities. So what are they?

They share the same skills, often. Both of them should know coding, and they work to shape and implement the vision or purpose of the software development. Both these roles are in great demand today.  

Whom should you hire?

As we explained earlier, both software engineers and software architects play an integral part in the software development project. Both software engineers and architects bring different imperative skills to the table. In certain cases, you might need both, especially when your project demands the skills and capabilities of both. If you want someone to focus on the actual coding part and implement the software in the right manner, the software engineer is whom you should hire. On the other hand, if you want the advice of an expert and want somebody to look at the big picture by taking on the major aspects of the software like the overall design and structure of the software, hire a software architect.

Conclusion

The software architect is in great demand when businesses require the specific needs of their software product. Tech experts will rely on the opinion of the software architect when they need advice on industry-specific functionality. So make sure the architect you hire knows systems architecture, project management, and business analysis too. In certain cases, more than one software architect works on large and complex projects with different product lines, and a solutions architect as well to provides technical governance on the project. You can hire the software developer to write and test the code and he/she will work with the architect to ensure the work proceeds according to the needs of the system. 

Interesting Links:

Find out the differences between a Software Architect and a Software Engineer

What are the skills, responsibilities and salary of a Software Architect?

Pictures: Canva

The author: Sascha Thattil works at Software-Developer-India.com which is a part of the YUHIRO Group. YUHIRO is a German-Indian enterprise which provides programmers to IT companies, agencies and IT departments.