First you learn to write code. Then you learn to debug it. Then you learn to read other peoples code. Then you learn to debug their code. Then you learn to improve their code. Then you’re a programmer.
Then you learn about software engineering, how to structure programs into patterns that are scalable and maintainable, and refactor legacy code. Then you're a software engineer.
Eventually, you get promoted and start designing systems only on whiteboards. Then, you're an architect.
Or, if you get tired of any of the above, then you're a manager instead of an IC.
