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You start saying 'software engineer' and end with programmer. Clarify your terms. There is a huge difference between willing to take on liability for your fau

You start saying 'software engineer' and end with programmer. Clarify your terms. There is a huge difference between willing to take on liability for your faults versus slinging code.

kbenson 9y ago
> You start saying 'software engineer' and end with programmer. Clarify your terms. Eh, it snuck in there. I specifically changed programmer to software engineer in multiple spots to disambiguate it because I was talking about "programming" as an act distinct from applied CS. I missed doing so at the end. > There is a huge difference between willing to take on liability for your faults versus slinging code. Based on your assumption of what I meant, it sounds like you have something you wish to express on this point. Perhaps you should do so in more detail?
- sethammons 9y ago
  "Engineer" means someone who is licensed and is professionally and legally liable for the work they produce. Those who are licensed engineers often feel that the term "software engineer" cheapens the term because software folks are not licensed and not held liable for their work (and in some places, it is illegal to have "engineer" in your title without a license). On the flip side, software developers need a way to differentiate titles between the folks who copy-paste code from Stack Overflow with little understanding and those who build well thought-out, robust solutions. Folks sometimes put this on a spectrum from script kiddy, programmer, developer, to software engineer. Perhaps a new term is needed...
  - someguydave 9y ago
    The opinion that the term "engineer" should be regulated (voluntarily or by the state) is definitely a minority view here on HN in my experience. Imagine if anyone who "knew enough about doctoring" could drop out of undergrad and "become a doctor" without any license or credential.
Clubber 9y ago
They're all made up terms that are mostly meaningless.
literallycancer 9y ago
Software engineer is what you call yourself because programmer has negative connotations, while an engineer is the guy that built your house, your roads, your bridges and your airplanes - with "engineer" in your title, you are obviously more trustworthy.

You start saying 'software engineer' and end with programmer. Clarify your terms. There is a huge difference between willing to take on liability for your faults versus slinging code.

kbenson 9y ago

> You start saying 'software engineer' and end with programmer. Clarify your terms. Eh, it snuck in there. I specifically changed programmer to software engineer in multiple spots to disambiguate it because I was talking about "programming" as an act distinct from applied CS. I missed doing so at the end. > There is a huge difference between willing to take on liability for your faults versus slinging code. Based on your assumption of what I meant, it sounds like you have something you wish to express on this point. Perhaps you should do so in more detail?

sethammons 9y ago
"Engineer" means someone who is licensed and is professionally and legally liable for the work they produce. Those who are licensed engineers often feel that the term "software engineer" cheapens the term because software folks are not licensed and not held liable for their work (and in some places, it is illegal to have "engineer" in your title without a license). On the flip side, software developers need a way to differentiate titles between the folks who copy-paste code from Stack Overflow with little understanding and those who build well thought-out, robust solutions. Folks sometimes put this on a spectrum from script kiddy, programmer, developer, to software engineer. Perhaps a new term is needed...
- someguydave 9y ago
  The opinion that the term "engineer" should be regulated (voluntarily or by the state) is definitely a minority view here on HN in my experience. Imagine if anyone who "knew enough about doctoring" could drop out of undergrad and "become a doctor" without any license or credential.

Clubber 9y ago

They're all made up terms that are mostly meaningless.

literallycancer 9y ago

Software engineer is what you call yourself because programmer has negative connotations, while an engineer is the guy that built your house, your roads, your bridges and your airplanes - with "engineer" in your title, you are obviously more trustworthy.