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From: dan@ece.arizona.edu (Dan Filiberti)
Newsgroups: comp.object
Subject: Re: Software "Engineers"
Message-ID: <1991Apr23.235730@ece.arizona.edu>
Date: 24 Apr 91 06:57:30 GMT
References: <3844@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP> <1991Apr15.230909@ece.arizona.edu> <1991Apr19.152242.8822@odgate.odesta.com>
Reply-To: dan@ece.arizona.edu (Dan Filiberti)
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Organization: University of Arizona Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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In article <1991Apr19.152242.8822@odgate.odesta.com>,
jor@odgate.odesta.com (Jor Bratko) writes:

>"Software engineering" then would be defined as:  the application of
>knowledge obtained through study or practice of writing software.  
>I have no problem with that, why does everybody else?

This is great!!!

Now I can say that whenever I'm programming, I'm software engineering!
I am writing software, have been for years, that is to say, I've
practiced.
Well... you could argue as to whether I've actually gained any
knowledge,
or applied it (you'd have to ask my boss :-).

The above paragraph was just to illustrate a problem that can arise
from
such a definition. You end up being able to call any programming
"software engineering".

--------------------------------

Interesting point.  I'm glad that you grasped what I am trying to say.
Ultimately, seeing the words "software engineer" on a business card
isn't going to convince anyone of the quality of your work.

By the way, it is absolutely true that if you are programming using
techniques that you have learned, you are "software engineering".
But, does that make you a "software engineer" in someone else's
eyes?

I can design my own shed, and build it, but am I a "civil engineer"?
I guess maybe its the quality and quantity of knowledge that really
counts. IMHO.


			Daniel Filiberti
			dan@helios.ece.arizona.edu [:)}

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