A few of you know my viewpoint about calling a “software developer” a “software engineer”. Perhaps due to my exposure to electronic engineering college my concept of that terms use is different than the rest of the world. The term computer science is also used which I think is also a misuse of the word science.

During my professional career I have been involved with engineering, science, music and programming. This morning while listening to some classical music before entering my place of employment (the salt mines), I had a thought:

1. In engineering we have a term “best practice”, which is the “classic” approach to a problem using a prescribed methodology. This is a rather ridged approach to problem solving but is successful.

2. Science uses the “scientific method” to approach, prove or solve a problem. What is scientific fact today may be found to be invalid tomorrow.


3. Music is an art form. It the western world it has 8 modes (7 of which are commonly taught) taken from the Greeks and incorrectly modified by the Church. Each mode evokes (or is said to evoke) a different human emotion. There are many possible notes that when used in a variety of combinations can “create something unique”. The composition may have a name such as fugue, concerto, rap (or is that crap – sorry for that), etc. The point is there is no one-way to write music correctly while you do have to follow some basic rules. It is the end result that is the true test. Does it work?

Comparing programming to the above list I thought that software development is most like music and not at all like engineering or science. How many ways are there to create an application? Is there only one way? I am not addressing egocentric individuals just trying to be realistic.

1. Is there a “best practice”? No, there are many valid approaches.

2. Is there a “scientific method”? If being creative is science then we need to have an agreement on the meaning of the terms we commonly use.

3. Can we “create something unique”? Of course we can! We can choose hardware/software/operating systems/development tools/ and most of all we can use our creativity to solve a need with our development approach.

I still cannot resolve the thought of “bugs” or “anomalies” as I like to call them, when it comes to a comparison to music. Perhaps I can after all! I just thought of something. I use a software program to create music. My eye tells me that everything is fine and then I play it back on my computer. If there is a mistake my ear tells me what my eye missed. So there is a methodology to find and resolve mistakes within music. Of course there is more than one approach to this.

Software “mistakes” can also be resolved and are “sometimes” found after the “finished product” is delivered. What all software needs is a broader audience to enjoy it and allow the author to know how well it functions. Sometimes an “incorrect note” finds its way into a program and creates dissonance that was not intended.

Tom