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Software Engineering Body of Knowledge

Posted by michael on from the you-should-be-eating-dinner-instead-of-reading-this dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes: "The IEEE has a project going to establish a Software Engineering Body of Knowledge. I'd recommend that all Slashdotters read this and send comments to this since this project could lead to the officially designating Software Engineers as a real Engineering discipline. That could then mean that licenses could be required to practice software development and that this could to regulation and other legal ramifications." On the surface this looks like a fairly boring document/process, but this is a major step forward - turning software engineering from an art into a science.

3 of 428 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Your first sentence is incorrect by Micky+the+knife · · Score: 0, Troll

    Learn what the acronym stands for:

    Microsoft
    Certified
    Systems
    Engineer
    Now it's real world value can be debated, but that is a different matter.

    --
    Go ahead and mod me up. I dare you!
  2. Certified? Insane! by wytcld · · Score: 1, Troll

    Software increasingly is everywhere. Everything, increasingly, is programmable. Use is programming. Do we want a world where our household, let alone office, devices say politely, "Sir/Madam, I've just scanned your national ID, and you are lacking the qualification to issue that last command"?

    We've already got pragmatic boundaries in place - most VCRs, famously, will not accept programming from common users. So it is with all complex systems - most folk can't make 'em do much. Which is why anyone who can can make decent bucks from doing so. That pragmatic test is plenty - burdening the economy by disqualifying and locking out people who otherwise are capable of charming our devices into productive behavior is lunacy - except for the priesthood who would be on the inside, and hoard the power of their certifications, while leading us into the twilight of eternal Microsoft.

    Yeah, too melodramatic ... still, it's like requiring a certificate in "kitchen engineering" before you can cook your family dinner. And don't bring up the certificates in food preparation required of restaurant operators - most of their kitchens are filthy anyhow - it's a false security.

    --
    "with their freedom lost all virtue lose" - Milton
  3. Licenses? by certsoft · · Score: 0, Troll
    We don't need no stinking licenses (or badges).

    I wouldn't be surprised if this is just another money-making scheme from IEEE.