Via Reg Braithwaite, Ravi Mohan questions the arrogance of software developers calling themselves "engineers". Ravi's argument is they do not do math...
If you don’t use mathematics in your day to day work, you aren’t an engineer...Certainly "logic" is a form of math and is a central aspect of software development.The title “Software Engineer” is (most of the time) a particularly deceptive one.
Algorithms.
Processes.
Cost / benefit trade-off analysis and assessment, i.e. kinds of "forecasting", "budgeting", "accounting".
These are all mathematical, and significant aspects of software development.
Not that I care. I'm "just a programmer".
3 comments:
I use math in my programs all the time:
i = i + 1
And a programming language is a formal language, plus we do use such language to do formal reasoning. No guarantee that such reasoning is correct? Well, can engineers or mathematicians guarantee their calculation/proof correct even after numerous peer reviews?
It's an interesting point. I personally never thought of it that way. I think such a definition of "engineering" would be too narrow. Wikipedia defines it as:
"The creative application of scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions; all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property."
Not that it matters. I too consider myself "just a programmer."
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