5 ms·

Do you say that to give poor software engineering legal consequences?

• chabsf 8y ago
  In Canada, that's the legal definition of engineering. You may not call yourself an engineer without accreditation and such accreditation will be rescinded if you make severe enough engineering mistakes.
  • walrus01 8y ago
    I don't disagree with you, but there's a LOT of people in Canada calling themselves software engineers or network engineers who don't have a degree qualified to wear the iron ring.
  • igivanov 8y ago
    That's about being a Professional Engineer, which legally entitles you to certain actions (e.g. sign off on design docs). Anyone can call themselves engineers of any kind as long as they don't pretend to be P.Engs. I am not sure though that being P.Engs in software means anything in practice, unlike in e.g. structural engineering.
• _jal 8y ago
  Not the poster, but I think there are multiple paths of action encouraged by a code similar to other engineering disciplines[1]. More involvement of the legal and insurance industries are one of them. Another is to give software engineers something solid to brace themselves on when pushing back at management - completely aside from consequences for the company, if you're bonded or worry about a license, there are some things you won't let your manager sweet-talk you in to. Another is to provide a model of behavior for engineers, like it says on the tin. It doesn't mean everyone will, or even that the model is always absolutely correct. But giving folks a way to think about things when they feel something's off is a good thing. Yet another is theoretically providing a baseline of competence. I think that depends more on improving informal culture than any formal mechanism, though. [1] Note: not arguing in favor of one; I haven't made up my mind on what I think about the topic.