Smelly diplomas or a steel ring?

The first version of the suspension bridge in the United States, in the state of Washington through the Tacoma-Nerrows Strait, which collapsed on November 7, 1940 due to under-counting of the wind load and the phenomenon of mechanical resonance. The restored bridge was opened in 1950.

“ Smelly diplomas or a steel ring? "- so called the final paragraph of one of the chapters of the book" Professional software development. " I recommend to those who develop software and those who use software and are customers - to the entire IT community and not only.
I have long wanted to put this small paragraph (I’ll post a couple of excerpts from the book somehow), but there was no reason. And then an event occurred that made me do it. And this is what happened: " In Volgograd, the strongest wind and waves swung one of the largest bridges across the Volga ."

Smelly diplomas or a steel ring?
In Canada, engineers who receive a diploma after graduation from certified engineering programs receive a steel ring upon release. Since 1923, this ring has been awarded at a closed ceremony, which was developed by Rudyard Kipling. Tradition says ... The tradition says that these rings are made of steel of the bridge that collapsed, and the engineers wear them on the working hand as a reminder of their responsibility to society. There have been attempts to transplant this tradition on American soil, but so far without much success.
The steel ring is important because, without denoting a full professional title, it really symbolizes belonging to engineering as a professional workshop. Certification can play a similar role in software, symbolizing a commitment to the highest standards of software engineering.
If you think: “We do not need any diplomas or steel rings,” then you will probably be right. Most software engineers will not get a professional license of engineers - their diplomas - even after widespread licensing. Most likely, the majority will not become certified. But as software matures become more mature, licensing and certification will become increasingly important. A software engineer who wants to demonstrate his commitment to the software profession will be able to obtain a license or certificate, or both.
“Professional Software Development,” Steve McConnell, Chapter 19, “Smelly Diplomas or the Steel Ring?”
Video with a bridge from Volgograd, Russia, 2010 .
Video of the destruction of the Tacoma-Narrows Bridge, USA, 1940 .