I've been told I should be called a software engineer due to the type of software I write
I fail to see how anyone who programs can in any way be called an engineer. So, in my book, a 'software engineer' is one of those idiotty job descriptions given by companies that are full of pillocks playing w@nk word bingo.
while i might somewhat agree that companies and industry do sometimes take diabolical liberties with titles..... I have to differ on the particular point in there.....
errr C++ embedded code, or equivalent, is a major part of any Electronics ENGINEERING degree course.
indeed the design of logic systems for digital electronics is rooted in precisely the same basic tenets of engineering principles as software only products. the same logic design , purely differing in where the code ends up being implemented, , a series of discrete devices, a more complex embedded device, or a computer... which, is really only a whole bunch of embedded and/or discrete, devices stuck together with a fancy human interfacing system . Modern Electronics engineering graduates are indeed possibly more programmer than hands on engineer in some cases... Digital systems and DSP / VLSI design being one point of skills crossover where the distinction can be very blurred indeed. The hardware guys will usually have some vague clue about analogue systems, but that's about the only way to tell....
many core code systems within a software framework are referred to as engines, as they power multiple services and procedures within that frame work.
An Engine however need not be a motive power plant, but the definition can be made to cover any device made to industrialise a process.....
as such code can indeed be engineered.
An Engineer is someone who takes the wild flights of fancy of the theoretical research scientist, and then actually makes it work, and , with any luck, do something useful.
the appliance of science, to rip off a phrase.
it matters not whether it's mechanical, optical, sonic, electronic, or logic...
(well, I'd be a little worried about crossing a bridge built entirely by some software engineers i know, but you take my point I hope....
)
Max