kenambrose (6/5/2008)
Personally I think it is simply a self-serving fraud for software developers to call themselves engineers.There is neither the scientific basis for the analysis, design, construction, and testing processes in software development, nor the rigourous management of the practitioners (training, licensing, etc.) to warrant such a lofty title.
The widespread level of incompetence, ignorance of the few basic, well founded, theoretical principles we do have available for software development practice, and the lack of rigourous training and "certification" for the overwhelming majority of practitioners, makes it laughable to me to hear the term "software engineer".
"engineer": noun 1 a person qualified in engineering. 2 a person who maintains or controls an engine or machine. 3 a person who skilfully originates something. (Oxford Dictionaries, per AskOxford.com)
"engineering": noun the branch of science and technology concerned with the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures. (ibid)
"machine": noun: any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks (onelook.com); complex system: a complex system structured so as to accomplish a particular goal (Encarta Online Dictionary)
"engine": noun: something used to achieve a purpose (onelook.com)
Thus, actually knowing what the words actually mean, I find your post just as laughable as you find my pretentions. 🙂
First, "engineer" is not a lofty title. If you think it is, check a dictionary. It isn't. It's a functional title that describes the general function of working with engines (it's a derivation thing), and machines.
And before you think all engineering is some rigorous study, please understand that the guy who changes the oil in your car is technically an "engineer", in both the original sense and by dictionary definition.
And before you think that all software design is bereft of rigorous study, methodology, standards, predictability, and the rigors of a mathematical and scientific discipline, I recommend just trying to read almost any ANSI standards document. The ones for SQL would be pertinent to this page, but most any of them will do.
Yes, a lot of software engineers are sloppy about their work. Very true. But it's also true that you should get a good inspection of the house you want to buy, because the engineers who designed and planned it, and the technicians who built it and wired and plumbed it, might have been seriously incompetent.
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