Xref: utzoo comp.object:3245 comp.software-eng:5401
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!unmvax!uokmax!uecok!bw
From: bw@uecok.ecok.edu (Bill Walker CS Dept. Chairman)
Newsgroups: comp.object,comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: Documenting OO Systems
Message-ID: <764@uecok.ECOK.EDU>
Date: 18 Apr 91 18:37:18 GMT
References: <1899:Apr1206:12:4991@kramden.acf.nyu.edu> <1991Apr12.201053.18348@visix.com> <STEVE.91Apr15150739@diana.Advansoft.COM>
Organization: ECU Faculty Machine, Ada, OK I.T.
Lines: 27


	Re: definition of "software engineering".

	I had opportunity to have lunch with several 
	prominent computer scientists (whose names I believe
	most folks would recognize.)  

	The conversation can be summarized like this:

		Prof A:  What is "software engineering"?

		Prof B:  The study of large programs.

		Prof A:  What is a large program ?

		Prof C:  Any program we do not understand.

		Prof A:  By this logic, software engineering
			is the study of programs we do not
			understand.  How do we escape this 
			dilemma ?

		Prof D:  "Don't call it 'software engineering!'"


Bill Walker
bw@cs.ecok.edu