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Programmers: Stop Calling Yourselves Engineers (www.theatlantic.com)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by drd@lemmy.ml to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Old, but fun read that argues that today's programmers are not like typical Engineers and shouldn't really call themselves that as Engineering requires certification, is subject to government regulation, bear a burden to the public, etc.

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[–] conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Wait, not "software engineer", just "engineer"? That's definitely bullshit.

[–] otp@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Even "software engineer" is a bit sketchy. Should testers start calling themselves "Software doctors"? Lol

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

No, that's silly.

They should call themselves "exterminators" since they look for bugs.

[–] MoonlightFox@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

But they don't actually remove the bugs 🤔

[–] conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 days ago

I'm ambivalent. I don't really care about titles generally, but at least software engineer clearly isn't anything else.

That said, while the term software engineer is a lost cause, I wouldn't be opposed to some comparable, regulated title where the person has to sign off on code bases and is responsible for major flaws. Obviously you wouldn't use that as a barrier for every piece of code, but as a requirement for handling personal information on a certain scale? (Obviously it would be pointless until you also regulated intentional sharing of information a hell of a lot better, but still.)

[–] Peffse@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

Yeah! My job is to triage, diagnose and remedy. Don't confuse the two!