The Software Engineer as Tool-User
<p>Engineers develop and use tools to make our work more efficient.</p>
<ul>
<li>Digging dirt with a stick is difficult — a shovel makes things go more quickly. If a large amount of dirt must be moved quickly, a more advanced tool can be employed, such as an excavator.</li>
<li>Similarly, joining together two pieces of wood is difficult without tools. If a carpenter wants to do this more quickly, they may use a hammer and nails, or clamps and glue.</li>
</ul>
<p>As we use tools, we must not give up our responsibility as engineers. There is an old saying that “Only bad craftspeople blame their tools”. Tools can make engineers more efficient, but tools can also introduce defects into engineered products. For example, if you are trying to join together two pieces of wood, you might glue them together. Yet suppose you are in Antarctica: the glue may fail in extreme cold.</p>
<p>An engineer must understand the context in which the product will be used in order to decide which tools to use. Tools must be used properly; the engineer is responsible for the product regardless of the chosen tools.</p>
<p><a href="https://davisjam.medium.com/the-software-engineer-as-tool-user-56e2748a2f31">Read More</a></p>