Computer Software Cannot Be Engineered Norman Young
Computer software cannot be engineered because there is no science of computer programs. Science is essential to engineering. The application of scientific models through engineering judgment defines the essence of engineering. Computer programs, as mathematical objects, are not subject to scientific laws. Consequently, by definition, computer software cannot be engineered.
The application of scientific models through engineering judgement,defines the essence of engineering. Engineering itself involves the creation of useful artifacts. What distinguishes engineering from other creative professions is the use of scientific models in creating those artifacts. Engineering judgement chooses among a number of available models to use in solving a problem, balancing risk of failure with the effort of analysis. What characterizes engineering is the scientific underpinnings of at least some of the available models.
Computer programs are mathematical objects. In particular, individual computer programs are specific values in a discretely parameterized model of the computer that executes them. ill The physical computers which execute computer programs have scientific meaning, but the programs themselves have no physical meaning apart from the meaning attributed to them by the computer. Consequently, computer programs are not subject to scientific laws.
As purely mathematical objects, with no underlying science, computer programs and computer software cannot be engineered....
See also "Computer Software Cannot Be Engineered" by Norman Young which argues that the concept of "Software Engineering," as an engineering discipline, is unfounded, and that "Computer Science" is not science, but mathematics.
"Computer software cannot be engineered because there is no science of computer programs. Science is essential to engineering. The application of scientific models through engineering judgment defines the essence of engineering. Computer programs, as mathematical objects, are not subject to scientific laws. Consequently, by definition, computer software cannot be engineered...."
http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1258979&cid=28236833
Computer Software Cannot Be Engineered
Norman Young
Computer software cannot be engineered because there is no science of computer programs. Science is essential to engineering. The application of scientific models through engineering judgment defines the essence of engineering. Computer programs, as mathematical objects, are not subject to scientific laws. Consequently, by definition, computer software cannot be engineered.
The application of scientific models through engineering judgement,defines the essence of engineering. Engineering itself involves the creation of useful artifacts. What distinguishes engineering from other creative professions is the use of scientific models in creating those artifacts. Engineering judgement chooses among a number of available models to use in solving a problem, balancing risk of failure with the effort of analysis. What characterizes engineering is the scientific underpinnings of at least some of the available models.
Computer programs are mathematical objects. In particular, individual computer programs are specific values in a discretely parameterized model of the computer that executes them. ill The physical computers which execute computer programs have scientific meaning, but the programs themselves have no physical meaning apart from the meaning attributed to them by the computer. Consequently, computer programs are not subject to scientific laws.
As purely mathematical objects, with no underlying science, computer programs and computer software cannot be engineered.
Mathematics is important but in itself not sufficient to characterize engineering
Mathematics is important to engineering but in itself not sufficient to distinguish engineering from other vocations [Davis. M.]. Engineering uses mathematics to express engineering problems, and to reason about the scientific models used in solving engineering problems. Specifically, all mathematical statements used in engineering have some physical interpretation, relating various quantitative aspects of a problem or its candidate solutions. The scientific basis of all mathematical statements found in engineering is part of what distinguishes engineering from other activities, not merely the use of mathematics itself.
In contrast, other fields use mathematics, but not necessarily in stating scientific properties about the physical world. For example, the commercial activities of accounting and finance use mathematics, but the mathematical statements used in these fields are based on conventions about the value of goods and services. Accountants and economists derive models based on these conventions and use mathematics to express ideas and reason about problems represented in these models, but the models themselves have no physical scientific meaning. The models and related mathematical statements only have meaning within the commercial conventions on which they are based.
Consequently, the use of mathematics is in itself not sufficient to characterize an activity as engineering. Permitting the use of mathematics as a sufficient basis to qualify an activity as engineering is the same as saying that whenever anyone is using mathematics then they are applying engineering. The statement must be further qualified. Whenever someone is using mathematics to reason about a scientific model in building a useful artifact, then they are applying engineering.
Engineering without science is craftsmanship
Like engineering, other professions use models and apply judgment to create useful artifacts. For example, many creative trades, from industrial design to pipe-fitting, use physical prototypes to analyse problems and evaluate alternative candidate solutions to those problems. These trades apply judgement in balancing the value and insight that the models provide with the effort of developing and analyzing them. Many professions also apply predefined models and conventional solutions manifest through the historical traditions of their respectiv
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Computer Software Cannot Be Engineered
Norman Young
Computer software cannot be engineered because there is no science of computer programs. Science is essential to engineering. The application of scientific models through engineering judgment defines the essence of engineering. Computer programs, as mathematical objects, are not subject to scientific laws. Consequently, by definition, computer software cannot be engineered.
The application of scientific models through engineering judgement,defines the essence of engineering. Engineering itself involves the creation of useful artifacts. What distinguishes engineering from other creative professions is the use of scientific models in creating those artifacts. Engineering judgement chooses among a number of available models to use in solving a problem, balancing risk of failure with the effort of analysis. What characterizes engineering is the scientific underpinnings of at least some of the available models.
Computer programs are mathematical objects. In particular, individual computer programs are specific values in a discretely parameterized model of the computer that executes them. ill The physical computers which execute computer programs have scientific meaning, but the programs themselves have no physical meaning apart from the meaning attributed to them by the computer. Consequently, computer programs are not subject to scientific laws.
As purely mathematical objects, with no underlying science, computer programs and computer software cannot be engineered. ...
For the full text: http://pastebin.com/nUutq9J1
See also "Computer Software Cannot Be Engineered" by Norman Young which argues that the concept of "Software Engineering," as an engineering discipline, is unfounded, and that "Computer Science" is not science, but mathematics. "Computer software cannot be engineered because there is no science of computer programs. Science is essential to engineering. The application of scientific models through engineering judgment defines the essence of engineering. Computer programs, as mathematical objects, are not subject to scientific laws. Consequently, by definition, computer software cannot be engineered. ..."
http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1258979&cid=28236833
Computer Software Cannot Be Engineered
Norman Young
Computer software cannot be engineered because there is no science of computer programs. Science is essential to engineering. The application of scientific models through engineering judgment defines the essence of engineering. Computer programs, as mathematical objects, are not subject to scientific laws. Consequently, by definition, computer software cannot be engineered.
The application of scientific models through engineering judgement,defines the essence of engineering. Engineering itself involves the creation of useful artifacts. What distinguishes engineering from other creative professions is the use of scientific models in creating those artifacts. Engineering judgement chooses among a number of available models to use in solving a problem, balancing risk of failure with the effort of analysis. What characterizes engineering is the scientific underpinnings of at least some of the available models.
Computer programs are mathematical objects. In particular, individual computer programs are specific values in a discretely parameterized model of the computer that executes them. ill The physical computers which execute computer programs have scientific meaning, but the programs themselves have no physical meaning apart from the meaning attributed to them by the computer. Consequently, computer programs are not subject to scientific laws.
As purely mathematical objects, with no underlying science, computer programs and computer software cannot be engineered.
Mathematics is important but in itself not sufficient to characterize engineering
Mathematics is important to engineering but in itself not sufficient to distinguish engineering from other vocations [Davis. M.]. Engineering uses mathematics to express engineering problems, and to reason about the scientific models used in solving engineering problems. Specifically, all mathematical statements used in engineering have some physical interpretation, relating various quantitative aspects of a problem or its candidate solutions. The scientific basis of all mathematical statements found in engineering is part of what distinguishes engineering from other activities, not merely the use of mathematics itself.
In contrast, other fields use mathematics, but not necessarily in stating scientific properties about the physical world. For example, the commercial activities of accounting and finance use mathematics, but the mathematical statements used in these fields are based on conventions about the value of goods and services. Accountants and economists derive models based on these conventions and use mathematics to express ideas and reason about problems represented in these models, but the models themselves have no physical scientific meaning. The models and related mathematical statements only have meaning within the commercial conventions on which they are based.
Consequently, the use of mathematics is in itself not sufficient to characterize an activity as engineering. Permitting the use of mathematics as a sufficient basis to qualify an activity as engineering is the same as saying that whenever anyone is using mathematics then they are applying engineering. The statement must be further qualified. Whenever someone is using mathematics to reason about a scientific model in building a useful artifact, then they are applying engineering.
Engineering without science is craftsmanship
Like engineering, other professions use models and apply judgment to create useful artifacts. For example, many creative trades, from industrial design to pipe-fitting, use physical prototypes to analyse problems and evaluate alternative candidate solutions to those problems. These trades apply judgement in balancing the value and insight that the models provide with the effort of developing and analyzing them. Many professions also apply predefined models and conventional solutions manifest through the historical traditions of their respectiv