I have always referred to my trade as "programmer". I'm not a trained engineer. My title-inflation path was something like this: - Sales Support Analyst - Sal

I have always referred to my trade as "programmer". I'm not a trained engineer. My title-inflation path was something like this: - Sales Support Analyst - Sales Support Specialist - Senior Support Analyst - Software Engineer - Senior Developer I have nothing against the professionalisation of programming; it would be a good thing. But the fact remains that the great majority of programmers are not engineers. We are tradesmen, a bit like plumbers or domestic electricians. There's nothing to be ashamed of in being a skilled tradesman; for a good part of my career, a plumber earned more than I did.