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This is really the root of the problem. Computer science/programming is immature as a profession. There are not clear, broadly accepted rules for what roles e
by pzb 15y ago
This is really the root of the problem. Computer science/programming is immature as a profession. There are not clear, broadly accepted rules for what roles exist and what requirements there are for one to fill the role.
Looking at building houses (just the construction side, not the mechanical systems), we have:
- Architect
- Structural Engineer
- Architectural Technologist
- Carpenter
plus construction employees not officially certified.
Each of these has a specific test, both written and practical (apprenticeship), and specific roles in the building process.
In software, we have no standardized tests, so companies substitute "BSCS" for "Software Engineer" in the requirements. And there is only ever one role officially defined; there is no separate "Software Programmer". Internally every companies has "Software Engineer I", "Software Engineer II", etc however this is rarely exposed in job postings and requirements and is never standard between companies.
The software industry could solve all this hand-wringing by creating a set of standardized roles, testing to create Certificates of Qualification for each, and getting HR departments to require these. And it would be possible, even with an established industry. Canada has added several new Professionals over the last decade, working with the existing industry to define the job, requirements, and build a phase-in plan that allowed the industry to continue operating.
- rbanffy 15y agoI am horrified by the idea of a body moving at government-speed dictating the norms I have to follow when my competitors move at internet-speed. Disclaimer: I am a professional engineer trained to design and build computers rather than program them.
- ijuhygfghj 15y agoIt's nothing to do with quality of work or education. The professional engineers have Canadian government stitched up - in almost all local and federal govt jobs only a PEng can supervise staff. You can work for the Canadian space agency and have as many physics PhDs as you like - but you will have to be unionised employee and managed by an engineer. There is a even a campaign to remove the current exemption that university profs have, which allows them to supervise PhD students. If a CS course doesn't qualify for PEng then nobody is going to take it.