Interesting, didn't know that! Can you comment a bit on the context in which 码农 is used in China? I'm curious how it differs from the usage of "code monkey" over here where it's usually in jest/tongue-in-cheek.
农=farmer, 工=worker. I don't think there's much difference between 码农 and 码工. The 2 words are interchangeable. 码农 seems more common. The usage is also same as or similar to "code monkey", in jest, or self-deprecating when used by programmers themselves.