Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!dsinc!widener!iggy.GW.Vitalink.COM!lll-winken!ubvax!igor!rutabaga!jls From: jls@rutabaga.Rational.COM (Jim Showalter) Newsgroups: comp.object Subject: Re: Software Engineering (was Re: Documenting OO Systems) Message-ID: Date: 18 Apr 91 05:30:00 GMT References: <3201:Apr705:40:4591@kramden.acf.nyu.edu> <1899:Apr1206:12:4991@kramden.acf.nyu.edu> <1991Apr15.205218.6914@visix.com> Sender: news@Rational.COM Lines: 36 >I like engineering. Put simply, I like building stuff. Creating a piece >of software, though, is a lot more like writing something than building >something. I'm a software architect. I build stuff. The actual coding part of the process is about as creative and interesting to me as driving in nails would be to a construction engineer. Interestingly, Bertrand Meyer called his book "Object-oriented Software CONSTRUCTION", not "Object-oriented Sofware Composing". Perhaps there was a reason for this?... The company I work for is essentially in the business (and successfully so) of converting software shops from artists' studios to construction sites. Why? Because construction is a pretty well understood pursuit, whereas artists tend to be rather flaky and temperamental (sp?). >In most engineering disciplines, tests are done by testing knowledge, >not by testing performance. What you describe sounds more like an >exam in art, music, or writing (usually called a "practical" or >"recital" exam). Hmm... I wonder how that could be? Would you test a hardware engineer's competence by having him answer multiple choice questions about this or that chip's gate delay? I wouldn't: I'd ask him/her to design me up a fine circuit or two. This is ALSO a practical test, and the only kind I can think of that would give me any real understanding of that engineer's competence. I see no difference between this and testing a software engineer. If the professional tests given to engineers in other disciplines are NOT practical in nature, I'm inclined to view this as a bug in the tests. -- * The opinions expressed herein are my own, except in the realm of software * * engineering, in which case I borrowed them from incredibly smart people. * * * * Rational: cutting-edge software engineering technology and services. *