What exactly is 'Software Engineering'?

Galtee

srsly78 wrote: »

For fifty quid an hour I sweep the floors and make coffee too. :pac:

Work for a small company, and this thread becomes laughable. You end up doing all the stuff discussed, analyst, architect, engineer, programmer, admin etc.

Networking, Machine Maintenance, Building Maintenance, Client Quotes (and not things they've said ), fixing toilets etc. Basically anything that needs to be done to keep the company going so they can pay your wages

fergalr

ada lovelace wrote:

It may be desirable to explain, that by the word operation, we mean any process which alters the mutual relation of two or more things, be this relation of what kind it may. This is the most general definition, and would include all subjects in the universe. In abstract mathematics, of course operations alter those particular relations which are involved in the considerations of number and space, and the results of operations are those peculiar results which correspond to the nature of the subjects of operation. But the science of operations, as derived from mathematics more especially, is a science of itself, and has its own abstract truth and value; just as logic has its own peculiar truth and value, independently of the subjects to which we may apply its reasonings and processes. Those who are accustomed to some of the more modern views of the above subject, will know that a few fundamental relations being true, certain other combinations of relations must of necessity follow; combinations unlimited in variety and extent if the deductions from the primary relations be carried on far enough.

Came across Ada Lovelaces notes on the analytical engine, online, recently, and thought there was what you could consider a pretty neat definition of Computer Science, hidden in there. Ok, its maybe not quite what we'd say today, and its written in olden-ish english, but its pretty amazing stuff, for 1842.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/sketch.html

k.p.h

This thread is really entertaining, the whole field of computer/software whatever is a shambles.

Sparks

k.p.h wrote: »

This thread is really entertaining, the whole field of computer/software whatever is a shambles.

Yeah, we should pack it all in and go back to slide rules, paper and the abacus.

The Corinthian

k.p.h wrote: »

This thread is really entertaining, the whole field of computer/software whatever is a shambles.

Yup. I suspect (IMHO) it's because of the following:

The industry is unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a developer or whatever. Qualified 'Computer Scientists' may technically be engineers, but no one cares and other engineers (civil, mechanical, chemical, etc) will often scoff at the notion.

Roles are no longer so simple. As the industry has grown, it's become more complex. A 'coder' may not simply be a coder, but also fulfil other roles such as analysis or architecture. Or specialize in specific areas that mean they're not strictly speaking 'developing' any more, such as DBA's or even Sysadmins.

It's business, not academia. In absence of regulation, any such definitions are largely academic and the industry doesn't care about academia (unless they can cite some of their software as having come from the research of a university in their marketing materials). As such a job title will often reflect what the company wants the client to see - or as a means to keep an employee happy without actually giving them a raise.

AlmightyCushion

Sparks wrote: »

Yeah, we should pack it all in and go back to slide rules, paper and the abacus.

Then we'd just get threads asking what is the difference between abacus developers and abacus engineers.

The Corinthian

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Then we'd just get threads asking what is the difference between abacus developers and abacus engineers.

Engineers hold the frame and slide the balls.

Developers hold the balls and slide the frame.