What makes software development engineering

What makes software development engineering parksb.github.io

45 points•ibobev•1 day ago•58 comments•

#development #engineering #software #software development #makes software #development engineering #makes software development #software development engineering

58 comments

mikewarot1 day ago

> In fact, in some Canadian provinces, titles in computing such as “software engineer,” “computer engineer,” and others containing “engineer” are (in principle) reserved for people licensed as engineers by the provincial engineering regulator.

A most rational stance. One we should enforce here in the US.

Edit: Yes, I'm arguing that Software Engineer should be a licensed profession, but programmer shouldn't, and would be a fine substitution in the cases where you didn't need rigor.

If I were an engineer, there's no way I would trust any interface to a control system for a water purification plant that connected to the internet and allowed for ingress of control. Just as an example.

The OPM hack of 2015[1] is the worst case, in terms of national security, that clearly proves no Engineers were involved in the design of their computer system. Ingress of control should be absolutely prohibited, and it wasn't. I don't know why that database was ever put into a computer, instead of filing cabinets in a vault, nor why it was ever connected to any other system, and not completely air-gapped in said vault, with manual controlled exfiltration of data upon request.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Office_of_Personnel_Manag...

jt21901 day ago

This is one of those silly suggestions that comes up repeatedly, and solves a non-problem: In both the U.S. and Canada there are many instances where work needs to be approved by a credentialed and legally licensed engineer. Banning the use of the job title “engineer” in the U.S. would not change anything. (It would run smack into the 1st amendment though… it’s legal for me to call myself the King of France, and the onus is on you to decide if that’s all the due diligence you need to do before engaging me in treaty negotiations.)

sarchertech1 day ago

You probably couldn’t ban the term engineer completely. But states do have pretty wide latitude to regulate job titles. You can’t call yourself a Professional Engineer, Registered Nurse, CPA, or Psychologist for example.

Commercial speech doesn’t enjoy absolute protection.

g0231 day ago

I'm glad that Alberta has the common sense to allow the term 'Software Engineer' so that the engineer societies can't go around suing people like crazy.

the__alchemist1 day ago

The infrastructure-getting-hacked thing is wild to me! Something went very wrong early in the design process!

gumby1 day ago

SCADA (Supervisory control and data acquisition) goes back to the 50s with, yes, remote access. Security has never been a design factor (after all, how many people had mainframes in the 50s?).

So yes, from very early in the design process.

r_lee1 day ago

There's internet-connected industrial control panels online where you can just connect to them on your browser or some tool and start clicking buttons.

it's probably just convenient because there's no auth or VPNs required. yippee!

etcetcetcetceta1 day ago

oi, you got a licence for that keyboard?

American employment licencing needs urgent review, and fewer licenced professions, not more.

SenHeng1 day ago

So instance of SWE1 we become SWD1. I don't see the difference.

embedding-shape1 day ago

The difference is for others than "engineers" (software developers), where there is an expectation of certain quality when they hear someone call themselves "engineer". Just like the title "doctor" carries a certain expectation.

randysalami1 day ago

I think only some software work is engineering and if I call myself a software engineer (in regard to my employment), it’s because it’s actually “a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software”. And not just paying lip service. Otherwise, I’m something else with or even without the word software in the title (even if I work with software). Outside of work, I inherently consider myself a software engine but if work requires it, I have no problems treating it as less.

budman11 day ago

well said.

woah1 day ago

If you can't select the proper saplings and branches with the right elasticity to build a powerful ballista in any region in Europe, or plan and direct a mine under a fortress wall, you can't call yourself an Engineer. PERIOD

tfrancisl1 day ago

Using the engineering design process makes it engineering.

glenjamin1 day ago

Hillel Wayne did a series of interviews with people who are considered "proper" engineers, which you can read here:

https://www.hillelwayne.com/tags/crossover-project/

the tl;dr is that for the most part, modern software development is very similar to engineering

Read the full thread on Hacker News →

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