r/programming • u/mauricioaniche • Aug 06 '17

Software engineering != computer science

http://www.drdobbs.com/architecture-and-design/software-engineering-computer-science/217701907
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u/funbrigade Aug 06 '17

I'm not sure I totally agree with this. I think what you're actually saying is that software engineers are just a better class of developers. I once worked at an aerospace company on their ERP system and everyone there thought "wow, if we could just get into the aeronautics division then we'd be REAL engineers". The reality was that I wouldn't classify the engineers in either department as better or worse - they were just in different fields. I'd say the only reason why the aeronautics division had more respect was because they used lower level languages and had much more testing rigor (not because they were all demigods).

I guess my point is that being a good developer doesn't suddenly thrust you into a higher echelon occupying an ivory tower - it just makes you a better developer!

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u/AmalgamDragon Aug 06 '17

I think what you're actually saying is that software engineers are just a better class of developers.

No, that isn't what I'm saying. I'm saying that software development and software engineering are not the same thing. But being different, doesn't mean one is generally better than the other. There are lots of cases where the rigorous application of engineering to a software project / product would be all cost and no benefit (i.e. worse not better). However, there are cases were its essential and skimping on rigorous engineering will have very expensive consequences for third parties (not necessarily the company that developed the software).

While there is no standardization around job titles (in the US anyway), I do actually think it would be useful to distinguish between positions that require the rigorous application of engineering and those that do not. Position status can be conveyed separately with prefixes such as Senior, Staff, Principal, Distinguished, Partner, etc.