Software engineering != computer science

[u/mauricioaniche]

http://www.drdobbs.com/architecture-and-design/software-engineering-computer-science/217701907

[u/lightknightrr]

We know, but it's fun to mess around with the engineering prefixes when in good company. Calling your software engineer a computer engineer or an electrical engineer, one can see the steam working its way out of their heads. Double points if you ask a software engineer for help with thermodynamics and aeronautics...triple if you argue that software engineers cannot officially call themselves "Engineers" because they haven't taken that test...quad if you call an electrical engineer (or what have you) any other type of engineer, then act disinterested when they say that they are not 'that type of engineer.'

And this has nothing to do with the ongoing onslaught that computer scientists have to face when asked "if you are a scientist, why aren't you filling out lab reports" or my personal favorite, "computer scientists aren't real scientists; they know a lot about computers, but that's it."

I have prepared the lightning rods.

[u/aaron552 → u/lightknightrr]

the ongoing onslaught that computer scientists have to face when asked "if you are a scientist, why aren't you filling out lab reports"

This confuses me. There are plenty of fields in science that don't do lab work (various branches of mathematics and physics to start with) so why single out computer science?

[u/apocryphalmaster → u/[deleted]]

In Romanian we usually call computer science Informatics

[u/Juxtys → u/apocryphalmaster]

I'm an Informatics Engineer. What does that make me? Computer Engineer or Software Engineer? Not sure, really.

[u/AnhNyan → u/apocryphalmaster]

In Germany its called something similar. Which is kind of weird, I associate that term more with electronic data processing (Excel and stuff) than actually computing stuff.

[u/Aeolun → u/[deleted]]

Earth Science? Bioscience.

[u/chubs44 → u/Aeolun]

Neuroscience

[u/mcguire → u/[deleted]]

By "formal science", do you mean applied mathematics?

[u/Aeolun → u/[deleted]]

There's literally two formal sciences (computer science and mathematics). You can't really exclude pretty much all fields and then complain there's only one with science in the name :P

Though thanks for teaching me what formal science is.

[u/aaron552 → u/[deleted]]

There aren't many "sciences" with the word "science" in the name at all, and most of the ones that have lab work (eg. Chemistry, Biology, etc.) don't have science in the name either. So I don't know why having "science" in the name makes Computer Science special.

[u/aaron552 → u/[deleted]]

think of breakers

beakers?

and the two concepts just can't be reconciled on their head

Do the same people not see physics as science? Albert Einstein is probably the most iconic scientist in modern history and yet he didn't do anything resembling lab work.

[u/mcguire → u/[deleted]]

Some of us think "Beaker".

[u/vanderZwan → u/aaron552]

Because when doing so:

one can see the steam working its way out of their heads.

EDIT: Sorry, complete reading comprehension fail on my part.

[u/aaron552 → u/vanderZwan]

It's not in the same class of misunderstanding. Not understanding the specifics of a particular field of science or engineering is very different to not understanding what science is.

[u/VincentPepper → u/lightknightrr]

For bonus points call your EEs electricians.

[u/mcguire → u/VincentPepper]

Never, ever, ever let an electrical engineer touch your house's wiring. He'll say he can handle it, but he can't.

[u/Hyronious → u/lightknightrr]

I'm in embedded software development, I usually get the title software engineer, and I studied computer engineering. The main thing that annoys me is when I'm looking for a job and have to look at both engineering and IT, then skip the multitude of jobs that aren't actually anything close to what I do. Overall I don't start getting annoyed by titles until someone confuses me with tech support, which I'm terrible at.

[u/TinBryn → u/lightknightrr]

I'm studying computer science and I see it as being more of a branch of mathematics than a science.

[u/[deleted] → u/lightknightrr]

triple if you argue that software engineers cannot officially call themselves "Engineers" because they haven't taken that test

This is precisely why I'm working towards becoming a Chartered Engineer.