Science vs Engineering

Debate distinguishing engineering from science, with commenters arguing that certain technical practices or achievements (e.g., prompt engineering, design processes) are engineering rather than science, exploring definitions and nuances of engineering.

➡️ Stable 0.6x Science
4,465
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#7000
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
6
2008
12
2009
41
2010
112
2011
103
2012
133
2013
176
2014
121
2015
205
2016
224
2017
256
2018
229
2019
253
2020
351
2021
370
2022
449
2023
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2024
406
2025
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2026
29

Keywords

FEM OP OK PS REST BEM UK i.e engineering science design engineer engineers science engineering constraints prompt assumptions bad idea

Sample Comments

ianb Nov 24, 2010 View on HN

It's not science, it's engineering.

PaulHoule Jun 24, 2021 View on HN

This is not science, it is engineering.

hutzlibu Oct 14, 2022 View on HN

"there's something to be said of how considerate and thoughtful "engineering" is."It is not just glueing things together and modify randomly until everything somewhat works under ideal conditions?

debacle Nov 24, 2014 View on HN

That's engineering, not science.

DeathArrow Jul 11, 2023 View on HN

That's engineering, not science.

soared Sep 15, 2017 View on HN

If it were good only engineering no one would know about it

_Microft Mar 7, 2021 View on HN

It’s engineering, not science by the way.

BiteCode_dev Jan 23, 2024 View on HN

Yes, because engineering is about context.

torginus Jan 14, 2025 View on HN

But most 'engineering' is not engineering.

coryl Jul 25, 2012 View on HN

What does "think like an engineer" entail?