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From: hsrender@happy.colorado.edu
Subject: Re: Accepted Practices
Message-ID: <1991Jun6.101639.1@happy.colorado.edu>
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Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
References: <1991Jun6.125833.18549@dec254.uucp>
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Date: 6 Jun 91 10:16:39 MDT
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In article <1991Jun6.125833.18549@dec254.uucp>, toolsmit@dec254.uucp (Toolsmith) writes:
> My point is that I think we (the software engineering community) need to
> establish some sort of program or process to define accepted practices in the
> same sense as the accepted practices of the other engineering disciplines.
> 
> Anyone care to comment?

A few comments:

First, the IEEE is trying to do this (after a fashion) by establishing 
guidelines and standards for various kinds of project documents (Requirements
docs, design docs, user docs, etc.)  They also have standards for creating
QA plans, CM plans and test plans.  Together, these go a fair way towards
defining what it is that a software engineer is supposed to know about and
do on the job.  The DoD's 2167 standard also seems to have this goal in mind.

Second, a problem with the standards is that they tend to "freeze" the
current way that things are done (at least if they are followed to the letter).
This can stifle innovation.  Since I think very few people would say that we
now know exactly how software should be created and maintained, anything that
leads people (particularly project sponsors and managers) to think that we
do could inhibit their acceptance of new ideas. 

Third, there is some certification for programmers.  I know that there is a 
Data Processing Certificate (or something like it) that one can receive by
taking some kind of test.  I know this because I have seen study guides for
the test in amongst the Schaum's outlines in the local bookstore.  It seems
pretty much a test of terminology and a few practices.  I think such a test
could be useful for certifying software engineers if we ever do come up with
a standard set of terminology and practices.

hal.
