What is the difference between computer hardware, software, and general engineering?

Just in case the question isn't clear.....
What is the difference between

Computer Engineering
Computer Hardware Engineering
and
Computer Software Engineering?
 
Generally, they mean whatever you say they mean.. They are what those engineers do. You will find different definitions all over the place, including different ones in different colleges of engineering.
 
Engineering is an approach to solving problems and delivering a solution
My favorite example is Kelly Johnson @ lockheed aircraft (which see): give him a requirements spec and he would deliver an aircraft that fulfilled it.

Hardware vs Software differs in the background necessary to 'solve problems' in each arena.

Assuming you are restricting the subject to computers, Hardware may still have many sub-areas
  • processor design
  • buss design
  • I/O interface design (eg USB, Video, Networking)
Software does too
  • Operating Systems design
  • Application design
  • Computer Language development (eg Perl, PHP, Java, C++)
  • Gaming
 
Just in case the question isn't clear.....
What is the difference between

Computer Engineering
Computer Hardware Engineering
and
Computer Software Engineering?

These are old titles / roles in IT. Today Computer Engineer as been replaced with a Desktop Engineer (this person role would be for creating software packages for imaging for deployment role outs in AD enterprise environment)

Software Engineer (Software Programmer, Developer)
Hardware Engineer (Systems Management of Server Farms Designs)

The word computer was use years ago, today they focus on what you're role is.
 
There are TWO job title name-spaces in the industry:
  1. functional
    manager, developer, quality control, sales support
  2. salary administration
    where you see prefixes like entry level xxx, jr xxx, senior xxx, consulting xxx
the latter names fit some job description in the HR office and have specific salary ranges attached to them.
RARELY do such titles match the job skills or functions being performed.

One can not get a degree in "Desktop Engineering" nor even "Package Engineering",
while a great many colleges offer Computer Science or Computer Engineering degrees.
 
Well things have change much since 1998. Title roles have completely changed. Still not standard buy normal channels.
 
Right, Tipstir

A useless exercise, really. for college work papers only, I suspect... and for the ego mill.
 
And now that the theoretical definitions have been given, I’ll supply the practical guidelines:

Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software.
 
Ummm... No, there really are standard definitions. Just refer to US Dept. of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics web site for job descriptions :)
A Computer engineer would be the general term for either hardware or software engineering.

@tipstir
Desktop Engineer???? I haven't heard that one before

@More generally, from personal knowledge and experience, I received both my BS ('74) and MS ('77) in Comp Sci from Northwestern University. Both in the 70's when I attended Northwestern as well as now, academia and industry still describe those positions with pretty much the same titles then as now, including Software Engineer which implies an emphasis on "Computer" Software Engineering.

/* edit */
  • A quick google seems to indicate "Desktop Engineer" emphasizes more of a system integration and support position/title?
  • I think Hardware and Software engineer titles tend more to system research and/or development
IMHO: I still find Hardware and Software Engineering titles both fairly common industry titles

/* edit 2*/
And @bobcat. LOL :haha:. Yes, I also like your very practical descriptions :p
And now that the theoretical definitions have been given, I’ll supply the practical guidelines:

Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software.
 
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