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Re:Ask HN: We do CS profs think programming is easy while SE... by PatriciaCrowley on Monday May 09, 2022 @12:41PM (#31316393)
CS profs are talking about small programs. A sort routine, a program to parse a file, maybe a compiler. These are challenging problems but once you think of a solution the actual act of programming it is fairly easy.

SE profs talk about large systems. Many people working for years on the same application, all doing a small bit. The hard part lies in getting correct requirements and hoping they don't change too soon. Integrating all the little parts into one big working system.

Programming is easy. Software engineering is still an unsolved problem. And, in my opinion, not any closer to a solution than in the seventies.

Re:Ask HN: We do CS profs think programming is easy while SE... by josephcsible on Monday May 09, 2022 @01:25PM (#31317010)
Compilers are small?
Re:Ask HN: We do CS profs think programming is easy while SE... by nh23423fefe on Monday May 09, 2022 @02:01PM (#31317549)
Compilers aspire to be something like a total function. Define you inputs and outputs and you are "forced" into a correct implementation.

real software isn't like that. I interpret "small" to mean localized in idea space.

Re:Ask HN: We do CS profs think programming is easy while SE... by toast0 on Monday May 09, 2022 @06:08PM (#31320462)
Depends on the compiler/language.