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From: toolsmit@dec254.uucp (Toolsmith)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Accepted Practices
Message-ID: <1991Jun6.125833.18549@dec254.uucp>
Date: 6 Jun 91 12:58:33 GMT
Sender: toolsmit@dec254.uucp (Toolsmith)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Cincinnati-Milacron, Inc.
Lines: 37

I have this (probably naive) thought that what we really lack in the field
of software engineering is a complete set of "accepted practices".  Other
engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical or civil have a well
developed and widely understood set of accepted practices, some of which are
embedded in formal codes (i.e. the electrical code).

People engaged in the other engineering professions also enjoy(?) the legal
status of professional certification.  Anyone heard of a registered 
professional software engineer?  The exams for certification seem to me
to be a means for assessing the engineer's knowledge of accepted practices
in his/her discipline.

I think the reason for this situation is that the software engineering 
profession is quite immature compared to the other engineering professions.
The underlying theory of current practices is not as old (well-tested) as
that of the other engineering disciplines and is not as complete.

My point is that I think we (the software engineering community) need to
establish some sort of program or process to define accepted practices in the
same sense as the accepted practices of the other engineering disciplines.

Anyone care to comment?


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| Bill Brown                           |voicenet: (513) 841-8646             |
| Cincinnati Milacron Inc., Dept. 82G  |uucp: uunet!dec254!brown           |
| 4701 Marburg Avenue                  |also: uunet!dec254!toolsmit        |
| Cincinnati, OH 45209                 |compuserve: 70205,1146              |
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| DISCLAIMER: I don't speak for the company; they don't speak for me.  :-)  |
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| Bill Brown                           |dimenet: (513) 841-8646             |
| Cincinnati Milacron Inc., Dept. 82G  |uunet: uunet!dec254!brown           |
| 4701 Marburg Avenue                  |also:  uunet!dec254!toolsmit        |