Why Computer Programmers Should Stop Calling Themselves Engineers

Re:Why Computer Programmers Should Stop Calling Themselves E... by brianpan on Saturday April 14, 2018 @12:23AM (#16835851)

This is completely backwards to me. Instead of changing the name because it doesn't provide enough civic value, how about provide more civic value? Software is increasingly part of our infrastructure. The Internet is becoming utility.

There are engineering companies of all sorts that are only trying to make a (zillion) bucks and not interested in "an explicit responsibility to public safety and reliability". This isn't unique to software.

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Re:Why Computer Programmers Should Stop Calling Themselves E... by zaksoup on Saturday April 14, 2018 @12:48AM (#16835929)

I really like this view. GetCalFresh[0] receives 30,000 applications for food stamps in 33 out of 58 counties in California each month. Not only is this absolutely a necessary utility but when it breaks or doesn't work the repercussions are far more sever than "somebody can't post a cat gif to reddit for a few hours".

Plug for Code for America[1], if you're interested in civic tech and want to contribute reach out. We're hiring, and there's almost guaranteed to be a local brigade working on cool stuff near you.

[0] https://www.getcalfresh.org [1] https://www.codeforamerica.org

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