5 ms·

I've found that In my career as a software developer, I rarely have a need for any math beyond what I learned in high school (set theory being the one exception

I've found that In my career as a software developer, I rarely have a need for any math beyond what I learned in high school (set theory being the one exception).

r_smart 8y ago
But you're really just one small part of the E in STEM. Others use math all the time.
- riskneutral 8y ago
  I think you mean the T in STEM.
  - r_smart 8y ago
    Well, T is Technology and E is engineering. I will leave it up to any person in either category to decide where they go. My rough estimate was Sysadmin, IT support, etc is T. Electrical, Mechanical and Civil engineering are E, but I'll let software squeak in too I suppose.
    - riskneutral 8y ago
      STEM is a categorization of academic disciplines in K-12 and university education. Sysadmin and IT support are not academic disciplines. If software doesn’t fall under the (T)echnogy category in STEM then I don’t know what does.
      - Retric 8y ago
        Aircraft mechanics go to technical school. If you're maintaining something it's technical. Developing something it's engineering even if it's the same basic highway bridge and their are 10,000 that look the same you need to figure out what works for this area.
zdragnar 8y ago
Programming software is a pretty substantial difference from computer science, and (at least when I went to school) there was in fact very little in the way of courses that would prepare you for a job doing either web or mobile development. Instead, you would learn all of the things that went into compilers, databases, and then optionally pick a specialized path such as AI, fluid dynamics modelling or what have you. The strongest direct use of maths was probably algebra until you focused on some of the more specialized fields. This is among the reasons, I think, why such a huge percentage of software programmers I met didn't even have a 4 year degree; it simply wasn't a practical requirement for baseline skill like you would expect from other careers.

I've found that In my career as a software developer, I rarely have a need for any math beyond what I learned in high school (set theory being the one exception).

r_smart 8y ago

But you're really just one small part of the E in STEM. Others use math all the time.

riskneutral 8y ago
I think you mean the T in STEM.
- r_smart 8y ago
  Well, T is Technology and E is engineering. I will leave it up to any person in either category to decide where they go. My rough estimate was Sysadmin, IT support, etc is T. Electrical, Mechanical and Civil engineering are E, but I'll let software squeak in too I suppose.
  - riskneutral 8y ago
    STEM is a categorization of academic disciplines in K-12 and university education. Sysadmin and IT support are not academic disciplines. If software doesn’t fall under the (T)echnogy category in STEM then I don’t know what does.
    - Retric 8y ago
      Aircraft mechanics go to technical school. If you're maintaining something it's technical. Developing something it's engineering even if it's the same basic highway bridge and their are 10,000 that look the same you need to figure out what works for this area.

zdragnar 8y ago

Programming software is a pretty substantial difference from computer science, and (at least when I went to school) there was in fact very little in the way of courses that would prepare you for a job doing either web or mobile development. Instead, you would learn all of the things that went into compilers, databases, and then optionally pick a specialized path such as AI, fluid dynamics modelling or what have you. The strongest direct use of maths was probably algebra until you focused on some of the more specialized fields. This is among the reasons, I think, why such a huge percentage of software programmers I met didn't even have a 4 year degree; it simply wasn't a practical requirement for baseline skill like you would expect from other careers.