[alextgordon]

Engineers precisely specify a problem and then build a solution that's correct to within a tolerance. I'm afraid I don't see the resemblance to programming.

[troystribling]

A very precise definition of an engineer? Engineers build tools. Artists build amusements. Scientists build ideas. Programmer = Engineer.

[njharman]

By those definitions I'd consider Software Development as Sciartiginering. It's easier to say developer though.

[troystribling]

I have done all three and the motivations and results of each are distinct. If you are Sciartiginering you are not building software. Maybe ASCII art?

[argv_empty]

You could describe programming that way too, though the "within a tolerance" would probably have to be about input coverage rather than output/behavior.

[donaq]

That depends on the program, I suppose. Some programs require more engineering than others. I think you could make a very good argument for the programmers at Google being engineers.