> I can only imagine tech companies would be more than happy to lead us to a future where software engineering is similar in this regard to other engineering di

> I can only imagine tech companies would be more than happy to lead us to a future where software engineering is similar in this regard to other engineering disciplines. Perhaps this is what happens when a field matures, and since software is maturing, it will become more and more like this as the time goes on. Actually software engineering had been like that for years in (distant) past. Most operating systems and compilers (that mattered for businesses) cost significant amounts. Not to mention access to computers. It is said that Bill Gates' access to shared computers in his private high school [1] gave him advantage that very few people at that time could have had. [1] https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/24/bill-gates-got-what-he-needed-to-start-microsoft-in-high-school.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/24/bill-gates-got-what-he-neede...