Take the 2-minute tour ×

What would you call this type of specialty? Is "Microsoft Developer" misleading?

share|improve this question

migrated from stackoverflow.com Feb 13 '11 at 19:32

This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.

closed as not constructive by ChrisF Feb 14 '12 at 23:35


Also, on a note unrelated to my answer - is there any reason your are specializing "exclusively in Microsoft programming languages"? It seems to me that you might be limiting yourself. –  Craige Feb 17 '11 at 17:13
Please note that C# isn't only available on Microsoft. See Mono –  Jetti Feb 17 '11 at 20:39
Blinkered? Monocultural? –  Ant Feb 17 '11 at 20:46
Borrowed from "In the Heat of the Night" sequel, they call him "Mr. Soft!" though I'd imagine there may be a few other movie references one could combine to form various puns here. ;) –  JB King Feb 17 '11 at 21:33
It depends on whether you're trying to inform, denigrate, obfuscate, or market. –  JasonTrue Feb 17 '11 at 23:49

9 Answers 9

I call them a programmer.

...but that's just me.

I don't think you can call someone a Microsoft developer just because they choose the Microsoft stack. Just the same, I wouldn't call anybody an Oracle(company) developer, because they use Java and Oracle(database) (or MySQL).

When suffixing a title with developer, it is usually extremely specific.


  • C# Developer
  • Java Developer
  • Ruby Developer

and even...

  • RoR developer
  • .NET developer
share|improve this answer

As C# is part of the .Net framework, you could call someone who develops using C# a ".Net developer", Microsoft developer is not that misleading, but it's too general

share|improve this answer
He specifically mentions T-SQL, which is independent of .NET. –  Jerry Coffin Feb 13 '11 at 19:42
T-SQL is really knowledge that part and parcel of a developer. I would say either C# Developer, or if ASP.NET is included, an ASP.NET Developer –  TeaDrinkingGeek Feb 17 '11 at 17:02

I don't know how to develop in "Microsoft". I do know how to develop in C# and T-SQL, as those are languages. However, calling yourself a Microsoft Developer is pretty generic unless you know how to develop using all Microsoft languages / technologies. Are you also a:

  • C++ developer
  • BizTalk developer
  • MS Access developer
  • SharePoint developer
  • SSIS developer

There are a lot of different kinds of "developers" in the Microsoft stack. Be specific. If you know C# and T-SQL, you're a .NET developer. T-SQL is pretty much a given for .NET developers, but be sure to list it on your resume.

share|improve this answer

"Using the Microsoft stack" is usually how I'd describe my specialty where I'm used to using IIS, ASP.Net, Visual Studio, Sitecore and MS-SQL Server as some of the tools in my toolbox for web development stuff.

share|improve this answer

Microsoft developer sounds like someone working for MS (at least to me). So yes, it is misleading, and you definitely can't deduce MS developer -> C# developer, so why would you call them that?

share|improve this answer

I would call them Microsoft-Fanboy!

share|improve this answer
Completely ridiculous. –  Jay Feb 17 '11 at 21:34

I call them a developer-specializing-exclusively-in-microsoft-programming-languages-like-T-SQL-and-C#.

share|improve this answer

I wouldn't say Microsoft Developer is misleading, but just calling them a

  • Software Developer
  • Programmer
  • Software Engineer

  • C# Developer

  • .Net Developer

is better term.

share|improve this answer

Example: MSDN - Microsoft Developer Network It's a network for Microsoft Developers, so I think your expression should be fine.

share|improve this answer
I would say the MSDN is Microsoft's Developer Network, rather than the Microsoft Developer Network. Calling yourself a "Microsoft Developer" leaves room for people to misunderstand –  TZHX Feb 13 '11 at 19:38