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There was a time when Software Engineering was the application of a branch of Mathematics called Computer Science.

anotherhue 2y ago
That feels like a good definition of 'Programming' today? Implementing CS concepts through various levels of machine code generation.
- AnimalMuppet 2y ago
  I don't think so. I think Computer Science is the theory of computation, and the analysis of algorithms, and even the design of languages. And I think Software Engineering is the efficient[1] production[2] of larger-scale programs that adequately meet the need. It's a different discipline, though it's related. You could think of it as being like Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Chemistry worries about the properties of atoms, and how those atoms affect the properties of molecules. They worry about where the outer shell electrons go. Chemical Engineering worries about "how do we make this stuff in multi-ton quantities without blowing up downtown". They worry about cost of raw materials, and disposal of waste products. They worry about pipe bursting strength. In the same way, Software Engineering needs to worry about some things that Computer Science doesn't. (Maintainability is the big one that first comes to mind, though there are probably others.) [1] Or "somewhat less inefficient" production, but the sentence was long enough already. [2] And maintenance.
  - drewcoo 2y ago
    Yes, the engineering part is where the applied science meets business. It's not just a "better" job title.
- usgroup 2y ago
  I'm not sure the bulk of programmers are implementing CS concepts, except perhaps in a tautological sense. I think the Haskell sphere gives one a sense of what developing applications would look like if programmers really were implementing CS concepts.
kazinator 2y ago
There was a time when Computer Science was what is Numerical Analysis today.
- usgroup 2y ago
  I think there was no such time , not least because numerical analysis today leans on computer science to an extreme degree. I also think the two had very different development trajectories with some overlap (like much of maths).

That feels like a good definition of 'Programming' today? Implementing CS concepts through various levels of machine code generation.

AnimalMuppet 2y ago
I don't think so. I think Computer Science is the theory of computation, and the analysis of algorithms, and even the design of languages. And I think Software Engineering is the efficient[1] production[2] of larger-scale programs that adequately meet the need. It's a different discipline, though it's related. You could think of it as being like Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Chemistry worries about the properties of atoms, and how those atoms affect the properties of molecules. They worry about where the outer shell electrons go. Chemical Engineering worries about "how do we make this stuff in multi-ton quantities without blowing up downtown". They worry about cost of raw materials, and disposal of waste products. They worry about pipe bursting strength. In the same way, Software Engineering needs to worry about some things that Computer Science doesn't. (Maintainability is the big one that first comes to mind, though there are probably others.) [1] Or "somewhat less inefficient" production, but the sentence was long enough already. [2] And maintenance.
- drewcoo 2y ago
  Yes, the engineering part is where the applied science meets business. It's not just a "better" job title.
usgroup 2y ago
I'm not sure the bulk of programmers are implementing CS concepts, except perhaps in a tautological sense. I think the Haskell sphere gives one a sense of what developing applications would look like if programmers really were implementing CS concepts.

kazinator 2y ago

There was a time when Computer Science was what is Numerical Analysis today.

usgroup 2y ago
I think there was no such time , not least because numerical analysis today leans on computer science to an extreme degree. I also think the two had very different development trajectories with some overlap (like much of maths).