The problem is: most of the worst software disasters have been perpetrated by exactly the kind of people who would get licensed under such a system, while much

The problem is: most of the worst software disasters have been perpetrated by exactly the kind of people who would get licensed under such a system, while much of the most important software in history has been written by people who would never get licensed (Linux, Python, etc etc). As appealing as it is to try and solve the software quality challenge through regulation, all the evidence seems to be that it just wouldn't work and would probably be highly counter productive.