[usgroup]

I was around when software "engineers" were called "coders". They were then called "developers". To me "engineer" is a bit of an aggrandisement of what is for most of us more akin to plumbing that it is to bridge building; but alas the world is replete with this sort of thing.

Most of us have to work quite hard to maintain a fragile sense of self. E.g. "I" the engineer, who is valuable and has a body of "knowledge". "I" who am "accomplished", "intelligent", "useful". Title, seniority and to a great degree even salary are artefacts of what we the people want.

I think over time the person who truly wants for transparency, meritocracy and flat structure is rare because obviously most devs aren't in the top 25%. Meanwhile, ambiguity, hierarchy, politics and other status quo preservers are much more reliable for the average.

The ageing dev; his complexes, aspirations and insecurities would be a marvellous book for someone to write; if it doesn't already exist.