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 somehow. There is no problem with the first group. It's easy. But what's about another? It's too wordy to call them "noncoding people". Also I'm not a big fan of terms with negative prefixes like "non-coders".
I'm stuck and my English vocabulary isn't so good to find such definition. Also it's hard to determine whether there are negative connotations or not to name them on my own. Any suggestions?
Latest comments (20)
Layman / laymen is still the best fit.
Mortals!
Here's a short list to add to the wonderful suggestions already posted by others:
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.
"clueless and codeless" ... "interpreters"
I like codeless!
Managers. Architects...
My wife sa Project Manager who worked/is working sometimes as a programmer. She had a good laugh with this.
Ok a serious term:
Layman - a person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject.
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
Thanks, it covers my needs.
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.
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.
Normal people.
doders?
What's wrong with non-coders?
You could also say non-programmers.
I think there is (or should be) something more suitable than non-coders. We don't call pedestrians "non-drivers" or passengers "non-pilots".
Normies
Muggles
That was my first thought too the second I saw the post's title.
Definitely it's an option!