The Call of Engineering

Arthur C. Clarke said that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Software technology is sufficiently advanced, and the general public is mystified by it. The public doesn't understand the safety risks posed by its software products or the financial risks posed by its software projects. As high priests of this powerful magic, software developers have a professional responsibility to use their magic wisely.

The engineering approach to design and construction has a track record of all but eliminating some of the most serious risks to public safety while supporting some of the most elevating expressions of the human spirit. Whether the goal is safety, aesthetics, or economics, treating software as an engineering discipline is an effective way to raise software development to the level of a true profession.