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From: es2q+@andrew.cmu.edu (Erik Warren Selberg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: The programming CULT (WOW!)
Message-ID: <0akAEB_00WB28=cWdr@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: 9 Aug 90 02:01:49 GMT
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Lines: 29

(random post from someone who currently is a CS major)

in looking at the current carpenter comparison, I'd like to put my $.02 in.

the specialist: can lay bricks like you wouldn't believe, but is fairly clued
out on how the house is going to stand up.  Kinda like having some hacker
who can do wonders with the control manager -- she can create controls that
amaze, but don't ask her to play with serial communications.

the architect: knows how to make a neat house, and can probably do a few things
that a specialist can -- maybe cut wood & lay some bricks, but don't look at
him for electircal work.  On the other side, we have the software engineer,
who knows how to make a good program, and can probably do files & windows, but
wants someone else to do lists & serial communications.

The cement-maker: the dude who makes the cool cement which will last longer &
be stronger than ever.  Vs the research CS, who makes parallel (sp?) machines
& creates 68090s and the like.  Doesn't care much for what it's used for, just
so long as it's fast.

now, in looking at this, I think I've just described three different majors:
hacking, software engineering, & cs research.  Personally, from what I've seen
here (which, I'll admit, is hardly anything), I think they can be one in the
same -- people can have clues on how to bring a program together with many
parts, go into low-level stuff, and still be able to research into new stuff.

                          ...they call me fluppie...
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