Re: Ada, Software Engineering and "weirdoes" (was License to Steal)

["Kevin Rigotti" <rigotti@atc.dera.gov.uk>]

Peter Richtmyer wrote in message ...
>
>"Jeffrey Carter" <jeffrey.carter@boeing.com> wrote in message
>news:3AE5A34F.B89C8D5F@boeing.com...
>>
>> This is fairly obvious. Anyone can learn to program. I call such people
>> "coders". In my experience, only 2% of coders are capable of becoming
>> software engineers. (I don't mean only 2% have been trained as software
>> engineers; I mean, no matter how much training and experience they get,
>> only 2% of coders will become software engineers.
>
>There seems to be quite some controversy as to whether there is such
>a thing as "Software Engineering". So I am not sure there is really such a
>thing as "Software Engineers". On the other hand, since you have called 2%
>of coders "software engineers" (not capitalized) then there is SOMETHING
>called that. (by you).
>


There certainly is here in the UK, I'm registered as a Chartered Engineer.

Minimum requirements for CEng are essentially a Masters degree in
engineering and four years appropriate training and experience. Engineering
exams and the professional bodies here have requirements common to all
disciplines (project management, engineering maths, relevant law, etc) so I
would consider myself as much an engineer as anyone producing a more
physical product.

If you want a bridge over your garden pond then a local builder will do, but
if it has to cross a river and carry a motorway then you need an Engineer.
The same applies to software.

"Jeffrey Carter" <jeffrey.carter@boeing.com> wrote ...
> There's no easy way to determine if someone is a coder or part of that
> 2%.
Aren't there MEng degrees in software engineering in the States?

Kevin
----
ATC Systems Group, DERA, St Andrews Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, UK
Phone +44 (0)1684 89 69 11, fax +44(0)1684 89 41 09
DERA disclaimers and restrictions apply, details on request