Re: Any research putting c above ada?

[Roy Grimm <ragrimm@cca.rockwell.com>]

Kaz Kylheku wrote:
> 
> In article <Pine.GSO.3.95.970427131344.138C-100000@nunic.nu.edu>,
> Richard Riehle  <rriehle@nunic.nu.edu> wrote:
> 
> >Someone constrained by a lifetime of blindness will have difficulty
> >comprehending color.  A programmer with no understanding of engineering
> >may not see the difference between an engineering view of the software
> >process versus a computer-science view.  To really understand the value of
> 
> What is a computer-science view and how is it incompatible with a software
> engineering view? Do I detect a slight bias against computer science folk?

If I'm not mistaken, you may have just illustrated his point.

I was trained in the computer-science paradigm.  When I arrived at
Rockwell and started working on engineering projects, I was astounded to
see the difference between how I had done things before and how I had to
do them here.  At my previous position, we cranked out code.  Here, we
design and build software.  The focus here is on the design process and
how we can build software to meet the design.  At my former employer, we
were simply asked to crank out some code that did the job.  If it wasn't
quite right, we'd throw some fixes into it and release it again, and
again, and again until we either got it close enough or the buyer wanted
something completely different.  That kind of slip shod programming
doesn't fly very far here.

> Have you ever seen code written by engineers with no understanding of
> computer science? :))

I have.  Let me tell you, the code is atrocious.  However, it is only
slightly worse that code written by "computer scientists" with no
understanding of software engineering.  In both cases, I find that the
code is hacked together to fit what the person felt the design should
be.  The only real difference is that the computer scientis uses more
efficient algorithms than the engineer.

Almost any schmuck with a smattering of computer knowledge can crank out
code.  It takes a lot of good training and experience to become an
effective software engineer.

-- 
Voicing my own opinion, not speaking as a company representative...

Roy A. Grimm
Rockwell Collins Avionics
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
ragrimm@cca.rockwell.com