Are We Really Engineers?
summary
Interviews with 17 crossovers (12 hours total) probe whether software counts as engineering and report 15 of 17 say yes, with nuance: software’s key differences are iteration speed, reliance on discrete math, and high consistency, while traditional fields face physical inconsistency and regulatory rigor. Concrete examples include Boeing 737 Max software-stabilizer tradeoffs, moving bridges, and tiny “snap fit” design books. A repeated takeaway: other engineers crave version control and practitioner-style openness.
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chapters (15)
- 0:00Intro
- 3:48Methodology
- 5:14Whats Engineering
- 6:19Is Engineering Physical
- 8:49Is Engineering consequential
- 10:43Is Engineering licensed
- 15:57Software vs Traditional Engineering
- 18:08Engineering is predictable
- 22:48Engineering is more rigorous
- 26:16Whats different
- 28:16Consistency
- 30:24Are we special
- 33:10What can we learn
- 34:49Version Control
- 36:14Final Thoughts
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