Coding vs. Developing: What AI Reveals About Developer Growth

Welcome to a fresh season of the Building Better Developers podcast—Building Better Developers with AI. In this AI-assisted episode, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit a fan-favorite discussion, now viewed through a modern lens. The focus? The transformation in mindset and skills involved in the journey of coding vs. developing.

“We’re feeding past seasons into AI—and seeing where it takes us.” – Rob Broadhead

Coding vs. Developing: Shifting the Mindset

At the heart of becoming a developer, not just a coder, is a shift in mindset—coders complete tasks. Developers solve problems. AI reinforces this by highlighting the importance of outcome ownership rather than task completion. This is one of the most essential transitions from a coder to a developer.

“A developer doesn’t just solve the problem—they find the best way to solve it.” – Rob

Michael notes that while time and budget can constrain developers, understanding the purpose behind the task is what separates coding vs. developing.

Problem Framing in Coding vs. Developing

Developers don’t jump into code. They ask questions, define success criteria, and understand the "why." Michael discusses how reading and challenging ticket requirements upfront is critical to producing valuable outcomes, a significant step in your development journey.

“Clarifying requirements early avoids disaster later.” – Michael

Pattern Recognition and Abstraction in Software Development

Great developers look for patterns they can abstract and reuse. Whether it's a function, a test module, or a reusable page object, this step is a defining trait of developing over coding. Rob links this to product creation, citing examples of tools that evolved from personal needs.

Michael adds perspective from testing, showing how modular thinking and reusable components streamline the development lifecycle—another key difference between a developer and a coder.

Product Thinking and Collaboration

Another significant leap in the evolution of coding versus developing is thinking like a product owner. Developers who consider user interactions, usability, and feedback loops offer far more value. Rob emphasizes that collaboration with non-technical teams is essential.

“You can’t build a successful product in a silo.” – Rob

Michael notes this is one area where AI currently falls short—human empathy and cross-functional understanding still matter.

Innovation Through Constraints and Debugging

Developers thrive under constraints. Rob encourages listeners to view limitations, such as time and budget, as opportunities for creativity. He also highlights debugging as a learning opportunity—a true hallmark of coding vs. developing.

“If you hate debugging, development may not be for you.” – Rob

Feedback Loops and Developer Growth

Modern developers rely on data and feedback—logs, metrics, user behavior—to iterate and improve. Rob champions a mindset of "release, observe, learn, improve." This continuous loop separates developers from coders, highlighting the core difference between coding and developing.

Final Thought: Coding vs. Developing for Business Success

The season opener wraps with reminders that technology is just a tool. Developers think critically, adapt, and aim to solve business problems—not just write code. That’s the essence of coding vs. developing.

“You're solving a problem—not playing with a shiny new tool.” – Rob

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Stay Connected: Join the Develpreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

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Additional Resources

• Coder or Developer – Learning To Solve Problems
• Tools to Separate Developers from Coders
• Start A Developer Career – Interview With Robert Cooke
• Building Better Developers With AI – With Bonus Content