If your background is not software related, what is it. It might also help if you shared a bit more about just what writing you will be doing.
I tend to think philh is correct, you probably need to have some understanding of coding to be able to understand the higher level aspects and how things might relate. Then again, you might be able to borrow concepts from other areas you do know about that can serve as metaphor for what you’re trying to understand in software engineering related subjects you are writing about.
Also, you might take a look at the introduction to some CE textbooks, probably free looking at Amazon, and get something of an industry overview (but that seems like such a broad level it might be meaningless for you goal).
Fair point, I probably should have said more about my background. Will also add it to the OP.
I have an undergrad degree in physics, which gave me extremely minimal exposure to Python. I also took two quarters of intro CS, one in C and one in Racket. As a result I know how to write a for loop and a bit about very basic algorithms; that’s about it. I’ve been in my current job for nearly a year, and my primary task is to write about the skillsets of individual software engineers. This entails things like connecting someone’s verbal knowledge of back-end web development to their experience creating microservices; I can do this quite competently and don’t make many technical mistakes. I have also learned a bit on the job regarding a couple data structures, some web stuff, and smatterings of info about ML, data science, DevOps, front-end/UI, and mobile development.
And thanks for the Wikipedia link; I hadn’t looked at that yet and might end up pursuing that :)
Pretty tough job it seems, and I get a better understanding of your needs. I think you covered the need for understanding basic programming. I wonder if maybe looking into areas like system analysis and “system” architecture—system quoted here because that should cover the servers hardware, various software aspects, networking, security and… -- might identify some other books or online resources that software engineering might exclude. Those might help put all the part and details into that overview you are looking for.
If your background is not software related, what is it. It might also help if you shared a bit more about just what writing you will be doing.
I tend to think philh is correct, you probably need to have some understanding of coding to be able to understand the higher level aspects and how things might relate. Then again, you might be able to borrow concepts from other areas you do know about that can serve as metaphor for what you’re trying to understand in software engineering related subjects you are writing about.
Not sure if you’ve already looked at things like:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_engineering
Also, you might take a look at the introduction to some CE textbooks, probably free looking at Amazon, and get something of an industry overview (but that seems like such a broad level it might be meaningless for you goal).
Fair point, I probably should have said more about my background. Will also add it to the OP.
I have an undergrad degree in physics, which gave me extremely minimal exposure to Python. I also took two quarters of intro CS, one in C and one in Racket. As a result I know how to write a for loop and a bit about very basic algorithms; that’s about it. I’ve been in my current job for nearly a year, and my primary task is to write about the skillsets of individual software engineers. This entails things like connecting someone’s verbal knowledge of back-end web development to their experience creating microservices; I can do this quite competently and don’t make many technical mistakes. I have also learned a bit on the job regarding a couple data structures, some web stuff, and smatterings of info about ML, data science, DevOps, front-end/UI, and mobile development.
And thanks for the Wikipedia link; I hadn’t looked at that yet and might end up pursuing that :)
Pretty tough job it seems, and I get a better understanding of your needs. I think you covered the need for understanding basic programming. I wonder if maybe looking into areas like system analysis and “system” architecture—system quoted here because that should cover the servers hardware, various software aspects, networking, security and… -- might identify some other books or online resources that software engineering might exclude. Those might help put all the part and details into that overview you are looking for.