🧠 I No Longer See Software as “Just Software”

The author initially viewed software engineering solely through the lens of functionality, speed, and user engagement. Their perspective shifted after exploring topics like traffic modeling and green software engineering. This experience prompted a focus on software's energy consumption, resource waste, and its impact on affected populations. Software then transcended its virtual form, recognizing its tangible consequences on the real world. Every coding decision carries a cost, affecting areas such as pollution and energy consumption. Software engineers are now integrated into global systems, influencing energy use, behaviour, and economic decisions. The author now evaluates software based on its responsibility and efficiency beyond performance metrics. They also consider whether the software is addressing the correct problems in a sustainable way. Ultimately, software engineering is now understood as designing systems that exist within the real world. The author concludes that once this broader perspective is adopted, it becomes impossible to revert to the initial view.