First, software engineers exist in a broader culture. The connotations of the various words in our respective languages are not in our control. "Engineer" and "gardener" have very different connotations. In a profession that sometimes struggles to gain respect, it would not behoove us to use a term that (wrongly in my opinion) is associated with lower social and professional status. If we could rewrite the English language and define "gardener" as a person with rare, hard-to-learn, and highly valuable skills, then perhaps we would do well to embrace the term "software gardener." But we can't.[1]
Second, software is engineering. This article seems to define engineering as Big Design Up Front. While that may describe part of what engineering can entail, it's not a complete or general description. If I had to describe engineering generally, I'd say it has to do with understanding and manipulating complex systems, analyzing and fulfilling requirements, distilling vague notions to concrete implementations, and building things that work. Software fits all of that.
[1] As I hinted above, I don't think it's fair, right, or accurate to denigrate actual gardeners as compared to software engineers. I'm stating the way most people perceive social status, not the way I'd like them to.
First, software engineers exist in a broader culture. The connotations of the various words in our respective languages are not in our control. "Engineer" and "gardener" have very different connotations. In a profession that sometimes struggles to gain respect, it would not behoove us to use a term that (wrongly in my opinion) is associated with lower social and professional status. If we could rewrite the English language and define "gardener" as a person with rare, hard-to-learn, and highly valuable skills, then perhaps we would do well to embrace the term "software gardener." But we can't.[1]
Second, software is engineering. This article seems to define engineering as Big Design Up Front. While that may describe part of what engineering can entail, it's not a complete or general description. If I had to describe engineering generally, I'd say it has to do with understanding and manipulating complex systems, analyzing and fulfilling requirements, distilling vague notions to concrete implementations, and building things that work. Software fits all of that.
[1] As I hinted above, I don't think it's fair, right, or accurate to denigrate actual gardeners as compared to software engineers. I'm stating the way most people perceive social status, not the way I'd like them to.