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What do you call people who don't code?

Paul Rumkin on September 08, 2019

There are two groups of people who can create programs and those who don't. I'm about writing article about this groups and I need to name them som...
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fluid_thoughts9 profile image
👽Fluid Thoughts 💭

Muggles

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peledzohar profile image
Zohar Peled

That was my first thought too the second I saw the post's title.

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Paul Rumkin

Definitely it's an option!

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Livan Jimenez

Normies

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peledzohar profile image
Zohar Peled

Here's a short list to add to the wonderful suggestions already posted by others:

  • Citizens (like the opposite of cops)
  • Q.A. (because you're either with us or against us)
  • Users (yes, computers are just like drugs)
  • People (well, most people don't write code, so...)
  • Acoders (the same way an atheists is the opposite of a theist)
  • DevNots (as in Dev - not [kinda weak, I know, but I'm running out of ideas here])

On a slightly more serious note - as far as I know (as a non-native English speaker) there's no real word for that in English, nor is there one in my native language - but that's just fine, because a citizen isn't actually the opposite of a cop, just like a passenger isn't the opposite of a pilot.

Just like you don't have a special word for anyone that's not collecting stamps, or not driving drag races, you don't have a special word for anyone that don't write code - and for a good reason - just think how many more words would we need in our vocabulary if a language would have a special word for the opposite of any occupation or hobby.

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Ryan Carter

It depends on the tone of your article whether you want a serious term or a funny one. I might say "muggles" to people who understand that reference (most people), but in general I'd say something like "people who aren't programmers" or "non-programmers". Those are fairly common ways to say it. For more funny terms, I'd use "the unwashed masses" or "the uninitiated" which both seem to say that I think people who aren't programmers are somehow less or worse than those who are programmers, which I don't actually believe. I hope this helps and isn't too wordy for you.

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fluid_thoughts9 profile image
👽Fluid Thoughts 💭

Ok a serious term:
Layman - a person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject.

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Paul Rumkin

Thanks, it covers my needs.

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Syed Ameer Sibuma

Made an account just to say you're an absolute legend! Been trying to remember this term for hours now, and it is seriously frustrating. Thanks my man

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Fred Richards

I like "non-developers". I am one! I have a long, successful career in technology and very rarely have I had to sit down and code. Yes, I have written stuff in bash, perl, some python (mostly rewriting bash and perl stuff), ansible, terraform. But if a "real coder" looks at it, they might call it what I call it... quick and dirty. A tool which does one specific thing I needed at the time.

I'm here because I consider myself an architect and as such, I acknowledge the areas I'm weaker at and need more exposure. So I'm learning by just being here, and eternally grateful.

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Almenon

What's wrong with non-coders?

You could also say non-programmers.

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Paul Rumkin

I think there is (or should be) something more suitable than non-coders. We don't call pedestrians "non-drivers" or passengers "non-pilots".

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vbilopav

Managers. Architects...

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mememe

My wife sa Project Manager who worked/is working sometimes as a programmer. She had a good laugh with this.

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Avalander

Normal people.

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Shreyans Jain

doders?

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Aschwin Wesselius

Layman / laymen is still the best fit.

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fredray88 • Edited

"clueless and codeless" ... "interpreters"

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Zohar Peled

I like codeless!

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Pato

Mortals!