[bigyikes]

This seems like gatekeeping. You’re describing the awesome power of software: it can be updated and infinitely replicated and is therefore more tolerant of mistakes. Just because the field has this boon doesn’t mean that those working in it aren’t “real engineers” or whatever.

Suppose technology was sufficiently advanced to make steel mold production nearly free and instant. Are the mold designers no longer engineers then? (Watch out for 3D printing, by the way...)

[mewpmewp2]

This is an interesting topic. "Engineer" is a word that people respect. "Developer" is a meh word. You'd rather want to be Software Engineer as opposed to Software Developer even though some companies call you former and the other latter despite your responsibilities and everything being exactly the same.

Common people would respect classical engineers more because they can see that they are building something tangible. And it seems many definitions for engineers everywhere seem to exclude "software", something like "a person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or structures.".

Fun story is, when I was doing medical checkup for my work the old lady saw I was marked as "software engineer", and she didn't like it and asked me for an alternative.

[orange8]

I believe this confusion arises between the valid definition of the act of "engineering" with another equally valid definition of the profession of engineering, which like most professions, require some sort of formal degree.

[deregulateMed]

Yep at that point you can have technicians designing molds.

Stick your engineers on projects that require correct answers.