Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

How I successfully became a software engineer in 3 months

blog.edmondhui.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 98 posts

Re: How I successfully became a software engineer in 3 months

#31

Post by EddySchauHai »

goodpoint wrote: post #15
kohanz wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In his jurisdiction (NYC), probably. Not everywhere, even though in places where this is technically prohibited (e.g Canada), it is poorly enforced.

Just because something is legal it does not mean it's reasonable.

Just because something isn’t reasonable doesn’t mean it isn’t correct. If someone is hired as a software engineer and they refer to themselves as a software engineer, that’s their prerogative. Do I think it’s reasonable the term is used for people without professional experience or formal education? Not really. But that’s how it is and we shouldn’t put someone down (as OP seems to have done) because of it.

Re: How I successfully became a software engineer in 3 months

#32

Post by jddil »

digdugdirk wrote: post #12
Kalanos wrote: post #3

you should probably avoid the term engineer and use "developer" instead, and "junior"

As a non-computer "real" engineer - what is the actual designation between these two terms in the CS world? In my experience the title "Engineer" is a legally protected one, and those using it without proper licensure can suffer penalty - take a look at the Strongtowns case for one example. But those in the programming world seem to be able to throw around the title on a whim. Any discussion/history/insight would be…

It's a guild system in some countries to try and retain high wages.

Engineer means, "Clever builder", how does that not describe software engineering?

Re: How I successfully became a software engineer in 3 months

#34

Post by Workaccount2 »

jddil wrote: post #11
Kalanos wrote: post #3

you should probably avoid the term engineer and use "developer" instead, and "junior"

Why? Are the people that drive trains(original engineers) going to be upset? If he writes code he's an engineer.

The classic definition of an engineer is someone who practises applied physics.

However many SWEs do have the same engineering mindset, just applied in a different space.

Re: How I successfully became a software engineer in 3 months

#37

Post by wahnfrieden »

HidyBush wrote: post #27

"How I successfully became a civil engineer in 3 months" Brrrrr. Why the hell this is allowed when talking about software is beyond me.

language evolves, but professional societies are important for workers, I think it will take a bigger revolution for workers to re-frame the term again given the now-standard title inflation to software engineer across industry, even here in canada
Post reply on HN