> My first undergrad school had classes in software engineering.
>
> There's two types of CS, after all; EECS is the "hack and slash"
> style, while (Math)CS is a more theoretical approach. Usually the
> character of the department is determined by whether it grew out of a
> math department or an engineering department.
>
> Kelly
>
I have a problem with 'formal' (ie, mathematical) design models - they're no
good in industry :) Most places I've seen tend to use more traditional type
approcahes (ie, from a user requierements spec, the design of the program is
through psuedocode, descriptions, diagrams et al). Example: SSADM has, as far
as I have seen, only been used on one project, even though we do a lot of
database stuff.
I had friends doing CS type courses being taught a formal specification thing
called "Z" (I believe it was Z anyhow...my memory may be failling me - will
check and confirm if people want). After much searching, it seemed most stuff
about Z pointed back to our University. After further searching, it seems
Sheff Hallam Uni can claim credit for Z. I've also never een it outside the
classroom.
I took Electonic Engineering, which included some chunks of software, but
software design is something we weren't taught. Approach it in the same way
you'd approach an engineering problem was the main emphasis. We were taught
the languages (C, C++ and 68000 assembler), but as to putting it altogether,
we were mostly on our own (I spent ages helping people that had never touched
a peice of code before).
When on placement, my works supervisor remarked to my placement contact at
university that it seemed engineering bods were a lot more deft and practical
than those from CS - who knew the theory well, but couldn't problem solve to
the same extent as the engineers.
Whilst I suspect there is a place for formal design languages, notations and
the like, most of it seems to be resigned to the research and educational
centres for the time being...
Chris...
--
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