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by mcguire 3362 days ago
A) Actually, we have plenty of ways of measuring software engineering competence.[1][2][3]

B) Weirdly, all of them are heavily process focused and none of them have much interest in the ability to write functioning code, because

C) Software engineering, as a field, is built on the belief that anyone can write software if properly managed.[4]

[1] http://cmmiinstitute.com/

[2] http://www.sei.cmu.edu/certification/

[3] https://www.computer.org/web/education/certifications

[4] and that would make software development much cheaper.
2 comments
BatFastard 3362 days ago
Indeed anyone can write software. However writing good, maintainable, scalable software is a totally different thing. There are so many skills (someone posted a skill matrix recently which I liked).

I taught martial arts for many years, and I can honestly say that I can teach martial arts to anyone. However 98% of those learning will suck at it. They don't have the aptitude, the dedication, or pain tolerance.

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mannykannot 3362 days ago
Re C): Indeed - and the belief extends to the proposition that to properly manage it, you do not need much understanding of what the detailed design and coding aspects of development actually entail, so long as you know Software Engineering.
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mcguire 3362 days ago
That is an extension of the old 'managers need to know how to manage, not how to do things.'
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