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

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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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[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (2 children)

In the US, there aren't as many certification requirements. In civilized countries, "engineer" is a protected professional title like doctors and others, and you have to have your PE cert to say you're an engineer.

Given the general quality of software, I think it would be a good thing to make it a protected title in the US too.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

There is a professional engineer title in the U.S. top and misrepresentating your self is illegal. However since software engineer isn’t a real type of engineering it doesnt get covered. It’s like how a medical doctor is a protected term but if you misrepresent your self as a PhD that’s not protected

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

I live in Australia, which I guess is not a civilized country.

In any case, what does that even mean for software engineers to be certified? Do we get certifications for specific programming language? Or a stack? Or is it specific to what industry your tech is based on? Cos I don’t think it makes sense for someone working on a social media platform to have the same certification as someone who’s working on health tech for example. Why does it need to be a protected title? Does the general public even care or is it just other certified engineers who care?