I think the way software will evolve into a more traditional engineering role will be in layers of abstraction starting closest to the hardware. Which will become certified services/systems to build more loosely on top of or using as components.
We’re starting to see this with commoditization/formalization of platforms. OS, storage, cloud, infrastructure, e-commerce are getting to the point where they’re pretty well explored. In another 20 years it’ll be so specialized and optimized that you’d need a Ph.D to make meaningful improvements in those areas.
So people won’t feel the need to try and recreate it themselves except for learning and as that process continues we’ll see those things formalize best practices which would eventually turn into engineering standards, etc…
You’ll have licensed and bonded engineers building low level highly formalized systems/services which meet certain guarantees. Similar to how I imagine civil engineering works.
Then for the rest of the industry you’ll have what we currently have which is like home construction where almost anything goes, but there are pieces that need to be validated by actual engineers or licensed professionals similar to how electricians and plumbers are licensed.
We’re starting to see this with commoditization/formalization of platforms. OS, storage, cloud, infrastructure, e-commerce are getting to the point where they’re pretty well explored. In another 20 years it’ll be so specialized and optimized that you’d need a Ph.D to make meaningful improvements in those areas.
So people won’t feel the need to try and recreate it themselves except for learning and as that process continues we’ll see those things formalize best practices which would eventually turn into engineering standards, etc…
You’ll have licensed and bonded engineers building low level highly formalized systems/services which meet certain guarantees. Similar to how I imagine civil engineering works.
Then for the rest of the industry you’ll have what we currently have which is like home construction where almost anything goes, but there are pieces that need to be validated by actual engineers or licensed professionals similar to how electricians and plumbers are licensed.