Software Engineering Stack Exchange
Software Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [engineering]

Software engineering (SE) is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the design, development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software.

Definition is taken from Wikipedia.

117 questions
13
votes
6 answers

What needs to change for Software Engineering to become a formal profession?

Unlike other professions (such as Accounting, Law, Medicine, etc.), there is no profession-wide certification for Software Engineering. I am well aware of the multitude of technology and methodology specific certifications that aim to serve as proof…
Kosta Kontos
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13
votes
11 answers

Is Information Technology really Engineering?

While travelling I met a mathematician who was sitting near me. In a discussion he said: "...there is nothing like engineering in IT or rather programming". A true engineering is what Architecture is, what Electrical and Mechanical is. It made me…
RPK
  • 4,378
9
votes
12 answers

How would you explain that software engineering is more specialized than other engineering fields?

I work with someone who insists that any good software engineer can develop in any software technology, and experience in a particular technology doesn't matter to building good software. His analogy was that you don't have to have knowledge of the…
Spencer Kormos
  • 745
3
votes
2 answers

Where should UI errors be generated and printed from? Log errors?

Function A() calls B() calls C(), which encounters an error. Which function writes to the log and which function reports to the user? My first inclination is that all functions should write to the log, and that the inner-most UI-facing function…
dotancohen
  • 1,041
-2
votes
2 answers

implementation team - Inputs and outputs

I have questions regarding software development process, Let's assume we have three teams Business analysts Implementation team Quality assurance team I think that Business analysts inputs is BRD (Business requirements) from the client, My…
JavaSheriff
  • 97
-2
votes
2 answers

Programming vs Engineering

I am in high school at the moment and soon reaching stages where I would have to make choices. To introduce, I love programming. I had started learning programming a year ago and have some experience with ActionScript3 and Java + (the web languages…
Joe Slater
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-4
votes
1 answer

Why is Software Development so far from being an engineering discipline?

I'm a strong advocate for Software Engineering, but even I must admit that we do not have many of the same tools, priniciples, and laws as other engineering disciplines. Why is this? And, what should we do to get there?
LeWoody
  • 252