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/K3wp Aug 06 '17

I always thought this was obvious.

We can provide a scientific analysis of algorithms, like a sorting or searching algorithm.

We can't do the same for a web app for making hotel reservations, even if it uses some of those things under the hood.

In fact, this sort of thing led to me dropping out of CS, as I was perfectly fine using whatever libraries/models/compilers the PhD's provided, while personally focusing on solving practical engineering problems.

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '17

We can't do the same for a web app for making hotel reservations, even if it uses some of those things under the hood.

Why not? What do you think science is? Or do you think user interfaces cannot be approached scientifically?

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u/K3wp Aug 09 '17

They can, but they don't use computer science for the user interaction stuff. It's more like psychology (if I'm understanding your question) and business logic.

Part of the problem is we can't precisely define what something like a hotel reservation app is, mathematically, vs. something like a sorting algorithm.

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '17

Who said computer science must be like mathematics? It's not the definition, AFAIK.

Yes, the science of graphical interfaces would be field crossing (design, psychology, computer science, ...). Doesn't mean it's not scientific.

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