Engineer here (mechanical). The problem is that they gave programmers the "Software Engineer" title. But real, physics and advanced math-based engineering requires a deep understanding of both. Programmers only need to pass a few of these classes and then they put the physics and math in the rearview forever. They're upper-level courses in college focus is on coding, logic and structure - not physics-based engineering. What I'm saying is that most Software Engineers aren't really "Engineers". They're coders. Not to say no programmers deserve the "engineer" title, some do...just not the majority
While software engineers don’t really deal with physics, we do deal with a lot of unknowns.
I saw this earlier today, but it’s a pretty good read...
The physical engineering (aerospace, civil, etc) and theoretical engineering (software) are vastly different.
Controls. Software has very little control over input or users. Imagine building a bridge for general traffic but having no rules that stop a 400 ton building on wheels from crossing. There's an entire judicial system intercepting input.
Evolution. The very environment that software lives in evolves including threats. What if gravity could be changed by an ill intentioned party? That bridge isn't looking so awesome anymore.
Accessibility. Anyone can learn to code and anyone can learn to hack.
Software development is a whole lot more theory than anything. At least from a scientific point of view. But it also has a high degree of artistic influence in it's user design. Being proficient in both left brain and right brain activity, simultaneously, doesn't exist at a quantity to meet the current demand of software required, meaning the talent pool is diluted.
It makes me sad. All that hard work I did in school... and it feels like it's going to waste. Every passing year and that engineering/math knowledge just drifts away because I don't use it. Most of the technical work I do now involves computer programming and data manipulation.
Engineer here (mechanical). The problem is that they gave programmers the "Software Engineer" title. But real, physics and advanced math-based engineering requires a deep understanding of both. Programmers only need to pass a few of these classes and then they put the physics and math in the rearview forever. They're upper-level courses in college focus is on coding, logic and structure - not physics-based engineering. What I'm saying is that most Software Engineers aren't really "Engineers". They're coders. Not to say no programmers deserve the "engineer" title, some do...just not the majority
Agreed with you pede.
While software engineers don’t really deal with physics, we do deal with a lot of unknowns.
I saw this earlier today, but it’s a pretty good read...
The physical engineering (aerospace, civil, etc) and theoretical engineering (software) are vastly different.
Controls. Software has very little control over input or users. Imagine building a bridge for general traffic but having no rules that stop a 400 ton building on wheels from crossing. There's an entire judicial system intercepting input.
Evolution. The very environment that software lives in evolves including threats. What if gravity could be changed by an ill intentioned party? That bridge isn't looking so awesome anymore.
Accessibility. Anyone can learn to code and anyone can learn to hack.
Software development is a whole lot more theory than anything. At least from a scientific point of view. But it also has a high degree of artistic influence in it's user design. Being proficient in both left brain and right brain activity, simultaneously, doesn't exist at a quantity to meet the current demand of software required, meaning the talent pool is diluted.
It makes me sad. All that hard work I did in school... and it feels like it's going to waste. Every passing year and that engineering/math knowledge just drifts away because I don't use it. Most of the technical work I do now involves computer programming and data manipulation.
Lol are you doing flow simulations by hand? Stress analysis by hand?
I would draw the line when you are writing programs for systems that interface with the physical environment