Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of software engineering

Posted by jedimastert on Tuesday October 30, 2018 @09:28AM
from the ask-hn dept.

What are some good resources for learning the aspects of software design, development, and other elements?

I'd like to learn more about everything that's outside of just typing code. Things like design principles, project management, architecture, communication, and even things like creative processes and ethics. I feel like my education was really lacking in these areas and I think it's important to be more than just someone typing at a keyboard.

( 10 comments | 26 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by genericone on Tuesday October 30, 2018 @10:55AM (#18337048)

US SW Engineering license exam prep might be a good starting point, a lot of the items listed are applicable across all engineering disciplines. At least it should help identify key areas to expand on: https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SWE-Apr-2013.pd...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by jedimastert on Tuesday October 30, 2018 @01:54PM (#18339450)

I didn't think there was a licensing body for software engineers! You're right though, this is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. There are a few topics on here that didn't even occur to me.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by bradstewart on Tuesday October 30, 2018 @12:27PM (#18338368)

That's actually a really good list of topics. I had no idea a software engineering license actually existed.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by genericone on Tuesday October 30, 2018 @02:08PM (#18339642)

The road to hell is paved with well-meaning licenses though. I'm not sure if the licensure route is a good thing for the general software industry at large, but I think it should definitely exist at least as a signal for companies that make life-critical software to know you're not just a wide-eyed padawan.

Leave the wiz-kids to Facebook/Pinterest/Snapchat/Instagram, I think few people have an interest in having some young ego moving fast and killing people. This SW Engineering license may be a way to filter them out. But if a company ends up making the license a requirement, then that's a difficult road to be on for the next decade, since the license has only existed for 5 years.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by maerF0x0 on Tuesday October 30, 2018 @04:53PM (#18341196)

TLA+ ?

> It is used to design, model, document, and verify concurrent systems. TLA+ has been described as exhaustively-testable pseudocode, and its use likened to drawing blueprints for software systems [1]

resource: https://lamport.azurewebsites.net/video/videos.html

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TLA%2B

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by dcolkitt on Tuesday October 30, 2018 @01:55PM (#18339462)

The classic book in this area is The Mythical Man Month by Fred Brooks. It was published in 1975, but is just as relevant today as ever.

Another great resource is The Architecture of Open Source Applications series. (Available for free online.) Each chapter has the author(s) of a major open source system go in to detail and history about their design decisions and philosophy. Very good for getting the feel about how maestros think about the large-scale organization of software.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by itamarst on Wednesday October 31, 2018 @12:54PM (#18347331)

I write about a lot of these topics, e.g.:

1. Communication of technical ideas: https://codewithoutrules.com/2018/03/09/win-technical-argume...

2. Feedback loops aren't just for your benefit: https://codewithoutrules.com/2017/02/10/voice-exit-user-rete...

3. Ethics: https://codewithoutrules.com/2017/01/29/job-contradict-belie...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by JamesBarney on Tuesday October 30, 2018 @10:57AM (#18337070)

Pretty much any book by Steve McConnell, but I'd start with Code Complete.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by mindcrash on Tuesday October 30, 2018 @12:40PM (#18338555)

https://github.com/ossu/computer-science

"Path to a free self-taught education in Computer Science!"

Have fun!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Resources for the “engineering” aspects of softwa... by roundthecorner on Friday November 02, 2018 @01:14AM (#18360854)

Look into books by Gerald Weinberg and Steve McConell. Both have served as great mentors for me in the mentioned areas.

[ Parent | on HN ]