[wjnc]

I'm trained as an economist so might have a different view. But what I think I know from physics is that, say, the people actively involved in engineering things like matter collidors do get authorship or at least appreciation for their role in furthering science.

For me, our discussion is mainly in where to draw the line around "the process of science". The chair, laptop and coffee machines aren't science. The statistical methods, papers and engineering are. You seem to cut parts of the engineering out, namely the non-novel parts. There's a lot to say for that. But a PhD is proof of apprenticeship as well. I wouldn't grant someone a PhD if all of his work is 'mere retooling'. But in a mainly research papers based PhD-application I wouldn't feel some retooling couldn't be allowed. One could demonstrate scientific craftsmanship in retooling.

[throwaway-wroc]

oh i completely agree that a binary distinction between 'tools' and 'science' is not useful. it's also extremely hard to be a good scientist without being very good at 'tools'. however, editors at peer-reviewed academic journals or people awarding degrees mainly need to ask whether the work has advanced our knowledge on X.

if X is e.g. microbiology then it's fair to ask whether (1) some python library proposes something in terms of microbiology, and (2) bunch of biologists should make that decision.

this is why refactoring code is mostly dismissed as 'doing science' by most phd supervisors. sure counts as 'developing skills', which certainly should feature prominently as part of your training, but it cannot be all there is to a project.