I am not a Software Engineer
In a blog post on Lobsters, the author reflects on their career and concludes they are not a software engineer. They point out that unlike civil or mechanical engineers, software developers are not typically licensed, do not follow standardized practices, and are rarely held legally accountable for failures. The post cites examples such as the lack of a professional engineering license for software, the absence of a formal code of ethics enforced by a governing body, and the common practice of shipping code with known bugs. The author suggests that calling oneself an 'engineer' inflates expectations and can lead to overconfidence. Instead, they propose titles like 'software developer' or 'software craftsman' as more accurate. The post has sparked discussion on Lobsters about the nature of software work and professional identity.
Challenges the inflated title of 'engineer' in software, prompting reflection on professional standards and accountability.