3 ms·

Sure, we’ve stolen the term “engineer” for long enough, let’s bother the scientists now.

gnulinux 8y ago
Why is software engineering not a valid engineering? I worked on both software and hardware engineering and general principles seem to be the same. You deal with complexity and simplify it by making abstractions. You make calculations to make sure your project is feasible. It's not like EE and Aerospace engineering are literally the same field but there are some principles shared in those fields, and with software engineering. Am I missing something?
- r-bit-rare-e 8y ago
  Education is one particular difference. With few exceptions, engineering jobs require an engineering degree, and consequently an ability to basic engineering math and understand basic physics. The same cannot be said of software
- throwaway2048 8y ago
  When software engineers stop disclaiming all liability for their products failing, we can talk about them like we talk about engineers (sidenote: some are already take responsibility)
  - pjmlp 8y ago
    Depends on the country, as some do require a certain level for people to call themselves software engineers to start with. As for the liability, I fully agree.
  - M_Bakhtiari 8y ago
    It's foolish for anyone to take responsibility for any software written under the current prevailing industry practices. It would be funny if real engineers were able to get away with making crumbling messes that can't hold their own weight because their middle managers don't believe in concepts like stress and strain like ours don't believe in refactoring or abstractions.
- pjmlp 8y ago
  Yes, while in many countries Software Engineering is actually a degree that needs accreditation and in some cases even a professional exam if you need to sign off projects as the responsible person, on US apparently you can call yourself software engineer after a three week bootcamp.
  - rsynnott 8y ago
    My degree was called computer science, and run by the school of maths rather than the school of engineering, but I’m eligible to apply to be accredited as a chartered engineer (the regulated professional title for engineers in this country), though people who graduated after 2012 aren’t, due to course changes. The whole thing is a bit of a mess. Just to add to the confusion, my degree was a BA(Mod) rather than a BSc or BEng, for obscure historical reasons.

Why is software engineering not a valid engineering? I worked on both software and hardware engineering and general principles seem to be the same. You deal with complexity and simplify it by making abstractions. You make calculations to make sure your project is feasible. It's not like EE and Aerospace engineering are literally the same field but there are some principles shared in those fields, and with software engineering. Am I missing something?

r-bit-rare-e 8y ago
Education is one particular difference. With few exceptions, engineering jobs require an engineering degree, and consequently an ability to basic engineering math and understand basic physics. The same cannot be said of software
throwaway2048 8y ago
When software engineers stop disclaiming all liability for their products failing, we can talk about them like we talk about engineers (sidenote: some are already take responsibility)
- pjmlp 8y ago
  Depends on the country, as some do require a certain level for people to call themselves software engineers to start with. As for the liability, I fully agree.
- M_Bakhtiari 8y ago
  It's foolish for anyone to take responsibility for any software written under the current prevailing industry practices. It would be funny if real engineers were able to get away with making crumbling messes that can't hold their own weight because their middle managers don't believe in concepts like stress and strain like ours don't believe in refactoring or abstractions.
pjmlp 8y ago
Yes, while in many countries Software Engineering is actually a degree that needs accreditation and in some cases even a professional exam if you need to sign off projects as the responsible person, on US apparently you can call yourself software engineer after a three week bootcamp.
- rsynnott 8y ago
  My degree was called computer science, and run by the school of maths rather than the school of engineering, but I’m eligible to apply to be accredited as a chartered engineer (the regulated professional title for engineers in this country), though people who graduated after 2012 aren’t, due to course changes. The whole thing is a bit of a mess. Just to add to the confusion, my degree was a BA(Mod) rather than a BSc or BEng, for obscure historical reasons.