Are We Really Engineers? A Comparison of Software and Traditional Engineering

Explore a thought-provoking conference talk from SREcon24 Europe/Middle East/Africa that investigates the fundamental question of software engineering's relationship to traditional engineering disciplines. Through interviews with 17 professional "crossover" engineers who have worked in both software and traditional engineering fields, discover key insights about the nature of engineering practice across disciplines. Learn why software engineering qualifies as a legitimate engineering discipline, understand the surprising similarities between software and traditional engineering fields, and examine the valuable lessons these disciplines can share with each other. Gain perspective on how software engineering fits into the broader engineering landscape and what this means for the future of the field.