Comparison of software engineering and computer science

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higher education is not yet consensus on what is meant by the many technical degrees, such as software engineering and computer science. These areas, along with information technology, information and computer engineering, are simply too new. For that one school or employer perceives as demand computing can be interpreted by others, such as software engineering.

There are many similarities between the two areas. Both will be expected to understand how computers work, how applications are built, and what the user is entitled to expect. However, the computer is usually oversee mathematics department of the Software is usually included in the engineering school.

In the early days, computers were hard-wired to perform a specific action. The user did little more than punch a button. Allowing greater user control led to the development of programming and collector mean “normal” language in computer language. Punched tapes or cards allow the user to write their own routines him. Actual keypunch was often performed by another, typically someone with clerical skills. A misplaced dot, missing bracket, or transposed letter meant that the entire system would fail. There was often no idea why, so programmers to pore over the cards and his plan.

Programming began to come into its own with the development of the personal computer. Simplified languages ​​such as BASIC gave more control to the average user. A few minutes spent with a book enabled the user to start to build a rudimentary program. Many times, however, the lack of understanding of what a computer could and could not do lead to failure. This laid the foundation for software engineers, who not only understands the program than physical talent hardware.

One way to see the difference between software engineering and computer science is to consider how most printers were under the control of the first personal computers. In most cases, changing printer functions such as font size, number of copies, or paper size required to enter the correct printer string in DOS. Today, these functions are controlled from the interface on the desktop. The user can enter data in the software or printer menu. The simplified declaration, the creation of the dialog and the underlying code was provided by a software engineer. Can printer to understand the instructions and follow them was provided by a computer scientist.

In the most basic terms, CS focuses more on hardware, circuitry, and networking involved. An SE is usually more concerned with creating applications that will be efficient in terms of size and speed and optimization of user interface. Neither area, however, has a patent on any one area. To build a network or computer that is reliable and efficient requires an understanding of what requirements will be placed on it. To write powerful, “bug-free” program requires knowing how compilers work, what processor speeds mean, and memory needed.

With little standardization between universities, the quality of the degree can be very different. Some colleges require CS majors to take Microsoft Office as a first programming project route. In some cases it may be for Pascal, COBOL or RPG, none of which are in high demand today. They can also teach Visual Basic, Visual C ++ or Visual J without teaching the underlying language. Likewise, software engineers can graduate without a basic understanding of wireless technology. Those who want a degree as well as employers might be better served by ignoring the title and see the actual courses required.

Not too many years ago, computer science positions were often filled by those with other degrees, such as electrical engineers. Software engineers were usually those with programming skills, many of whom held no degree at all but were self-taught. As technology became more complex, increased specialization followed. Only by examining the goals can distinguish between them. For example, if the goal is to produce the greatest game of all time, a software engineer is likely to be the one to meet the challenge. If the goal is to produce the next generation of gaming systems, however, a computer is probably going to make the greatest contribution.

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