Live data from Hacker News

Iron Ring

en.wikipedia.org

41–50 of 194 posts

Re: Iron Ring

#41

Is there something like this for Software developers? We make the world go round and round; shouldn't we also have something this beautiful?

Software Engineers get them too! Sadly, Computer Science students won't get them.

This depends on the university. At UofT, for example, "software engineering" is actually taught outside of the engineering faculty, and is not CEAB approved... and therefore doesn't qualify.

Re: Iron Ring

#42
post #13

Random trivia: the "iron version" picture is of my own ring, uploaded a few years back when I was messing around with my friend's new camera. Pleasant surprise not only to see this on HN, but to see that the picture is still there after all this time :) As far as I know my year (2005) was one of the last years that U of T still offered an actual iron version, as opposed to stainless steel (most other schools no longe…

UBC '10 here, mine is stainless and I don't recall a iron option.

The ring (and ritual) is a great idea for the community and the idea behind it. I strive to include in my professional and non-professional life.

It also makes for good barstool chat since fewer people have heard of it compared to say the Hippocratic Oath.

Re: Iron Ring

#43
post #22

I never wore mine. Got one mostly to be able to go through the ritual with friends. OT: Funny to see that the term 'engineer' is held in high regard in Canada but here in UK there's no such connotation.

Well the Chartered Engineer title awarded by the IET was always held high in regard at my uni (which, in theory at least, is focused on Engineering). Unfortunately for me though, there is little point spending time, energy and money to acquire one as a Software Engineer, as it applies to Mech/Civil etc schools more.

Re: Iron Ring

#45
post #3

After introducing the ring, still bridges collapsed in Quebec while in service not at construction and people died. I am not sure how effective is this ring.

What the hell did I just read ? It was not bridges, but a single overpass that fell and it is unrelated to the ring or engineers. The main problem was that two governements failed to identify the weaknesses because they wanted to save money. I despise people like you who try to link two totally unrelated facts to sound smart. http://www.cevc.gouv.qc.ca/

Ooops, I apologize pal, I guess I hurt your feelings, I didn’t mean that. But here is another example:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/07/30/montreal-tunnel-coll...

BTW, I don’t need to sound smart and still I like you.

Re: Iron Ring

#46
post #43
post #22

I never wore mine. Got one mostly to be able to go through the ritual with friends. OT: Funny to see that the term 'engineer' is held in high regard in Canada but here in UK there's no such connotation.

Well the Chartered Engineer title awarded by the IET was always held high in regard at my uni (which, in theory at least, is focused on Engineering). Unfortunately for me though, there is little point spending time, energy and money to acquire one as a Software Engineer, as it applies to Mech/Civil etc schools more.

I believe it is possible to qualify as a CEng through the BCS - though not sure why anyone would do this.

Re: Iron Ring

#47

Perhaps we should have a silicon ring for software engineers. And in case you are thinking "that would break too easily", well that's part of the point: to remind you that software can also be very easily broken, sometimes without even trying :)

Wouldn’t a rubber ring be more suitable for a software engineer? It also wouldn’t break that easily :)

Re: Iron Ring

#48
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well the Chartered Engineer title awarded by the IET was always held high in regard at my uni (which, in theory at least, is focused on Engineering). Unfortunately for me though, there is little point spending time, energy and money to acquire one as a Software Engineer, as it applies to Mech/Civil etc schools more.

I believe it is possible to qualify as a CEng through the BCS - though not sure why anyone would do this.

True but in my case I'm actually a Software Engineer with a BEng

Re: Iron Ring

#49
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was at a networking event once, and handed a gentleman my business card. My title listed on the card was 'Software Architect'. He himself was an actual Architect (who designs physical structures), and he became upset and claimed I had absolutely no right to that title. I had never given it much thought until that point, but some folks are very protective over that sort of thing.

I hate to break it to the guy, but if you architect software systems, you are indeed a Software Architect. You're not "an architect," you did not call yourself "an architect," but it's the word that fits the job. Now, if the World of Academia could attempt to catch up with technology (I know, it's a mad mad world that travels at high velocity and may even continue to accelerate, but a guy can dream) and start offerin…

In all fairness, there has never been anything quite like "architecting" software, or "engineering" software. As Brooks put it, software is the most complex thing humans have ever built; perhaps we should find some other term that sets us apart from ordinary engineers and architects. Or we could just continue working, not caring what other people think. That's usually what I do, after I tell people I'm a "code monkey".

Re: Iron Ring

#50

Sort of relevant: In Canada the word "Engineer" is protected. While I am a Computer Scientist, I can not call myself a Software Engineer (or any form of Engineer), unlike in the US. In Canada you must have graduated from an Engineering College of a University to use the title.

I was at a networking event once, and handed a gentleman my business card. My title listed on the card was 'Software Architect'. He himself was an actual Architect (who designs physical structures), and he became upset and claimed I had absolutely no right to that title. I had never given it much thought until that point, but some folks are very protective over that sort of thing.

I dunno about software architects, but it's not terribly surprising that people are defensive over the engineering title.

The difference in difficulty between computer science courses and the engineering courses is like night and day, so it doesn't really surprise me when my EE/CE friends are frustrated when compsci majors try to call themselves engineers.

Post reply on HN