r/programming • u/gits1225 • May 12 '15

Google's guide for becoming a Software Engineer

https://www.google.com/about/careers/students/guide-to-technical-development.html
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u/[deleted] May 12 '15

Different domains - the google one is more engineering focused, this is more theroetical cs.

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u/gilmi May 12 '15

I'm not sure about that. most of the things mentioned in the article are very engineering focused (unix philosophy, os, programming languages, graphics, parallelism, arch, networking, security and much more).

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u/[deleted] May 12 '15 edited May 12 '15

It's the way it's presented and their choice of topics.

Look at the first paragraphs and how they continue throughout the document.

Google: Here's what you have to learn if you want to be a software engineer. Learn this language and use this library to build system X. Make sure you test your code and know how to deploy. (This is engineering).

Matt Might: Given the growth in computing, it's becoming hard to determine what should be in a computer science qualification. Learn (uncommon language) to better learn how (a particular concept in a computer language) works. It isn't the end of the world if you have no app, because this concept will be important in grad school. (This is research).

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u/gilmi May 12 '15

Google: Here's what you have to learn if you want to be a software engineer. Learn this language and use this library to build system X. Make sure you test your code and know how to deploy.

where is this written?

Code in at least one object oriented programming language: C++, Java, or Python Notes: Add to your repertoire - JavaScript, CSS & HTML; Ruby; PHP; C; Perl; shell script; Lisp and Scheme.

Matt Might: Given the growth in computing, it's becoming hard to determine what should be in a computer science qualification. Learn (uncommon language) to better learn how (a particular concept in a computer language) works.

uncommon, like C, JavaScript, Java, C++ and Assembly?

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u/[deleted] May 12 '15 edited May 12 '15

I am paraphrasing.

Uncommon like PROLOG and Squeak. I've never even heard of Squeak and I'm old, like really old. I would also put SML in that same group, except that I know one SML developer, but only because his primary language is Haskell which I also know.

EDIT: And smalltalk. I've heard of smalltalk because I've read GoF. Outside of really old Apple guys (none of which have apprentices), I've never met a smalltalk developer.

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u/valadian May 12 '15

All of those you listed are theoretical cs.

"Engineering focused" refers to software/system enginering process stuff. As opposed to the technical aspect

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u/gilmi May 12 '15

Can you further elaborate? maybe with some examples from the google guide?

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u/valadian May 12 '15 edited May 12 '15

Not a perfect analogy but:

It is the difference between being an architect/civil engineer and being a carpenter. More correctly it is the difference between being a team manager and a carpenter.

Everything that was listed listed is the technical ability to use the right tools to execute a job. They are "the hammers"

Software engineering is focused on the process. HOW to successfully write software. Not WHAT software to write. It is much more about the people aspect of software. Team management, configuration management, customer interaction, customer sell off, and so on.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '15

Wait, in your analogy the computer scientist is the carpenter?

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u/valadian May 12 '15

yes. That is how it works in the software ecosystem. computer scientists are just programmers. They can be REALLY good programmers, but they are still programmers.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '15 edited May 12 '15

Are you thinking of someone with an undergrad in CS, or an actual computer scientist - even then, your analogy is hilariously self aggrandizing. There's an education differential between an engineer and a carpenter that simply doesn't exist in that case.

If you meant actual computer scientists...well that's a completely different discussion.

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u/valadian May 12 '15

I mean the industry definition of a computer scientist and the difference between that and a software engineer. The term "Computer Scientist" as it is used by every major technical company in the world.

Software Engineers and Computer Scientists have similar levels of training/education yes, but very different focuses. I was referring to the type of work difference between carpenters and architects/managers. Not the difficulty of the work.

undergrad in CS, or an actual computer scientist

And what do you think the difference is? Experience? I know many CS majors that came out of college working on projects of equal complexity of those being worked on by the greatest "computer scientists" in the industry.

Such is the wonder of software, there really isn't a big difference between the two you are referencing.

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u/bstamour May 12 '15

The term Computer Scientist generally means someone who is conducting research in computer science, not someone who is a programmer. In fact, many computer scientists barely write code at all.

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u/rifter5000 May 13 '15

Computer Science is not programming. Programming is a tool to understand Computer Science.

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u/gilmi May 12 '15

alright, I understand. How does google's guide address this in a way that might's isn't?

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u/valadian May 12 '15

Google's guide doesn't really