Which normal engineering concepts are you saying are more formal than in CS? I had to take a "Formal Methods" course in college. Gears are loops. Switches are switches. If statements are transistors.
Also recognize that CS is a much newer science than physics. Some of what you are saying may be due to the immaturity of the science, but it doesn't mean that it isn't engineering.
I took a lot of other engineering courses including statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, electronics and courses for premed requirements and I don't see a lot of difference between computer science/engineering and biomedical engineering or civil engineering except our perception of of the physical engineering as more important -- due only to their visibility.
CS/CSE is hidden from view. People don't understand where while loops are operating, but they can see gears spinning and cables holding up bridges.
Compare typical software projects to medical software products as a niche. Much more design, time, and money is spent there than on Web 2.0 sites because lives depend on it.
I phrased that incorrectly - the techniques are all there in CS, but if anything they are too formal. It's the practical benefits of applying formal methods that are missing from general development (usually for good reasons).
Also recognize that CS is a much newer science than physics. Some of what you are saying may be due to the immaturity of the science, but it doesn't mean that it isn't engineering.
I took a lot of other engineering courses including statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, electronics and courses for premed requirements and I don't see a lot of difference between computer science/engineering and biomedical engineering or civil engineering except our perception of of the physical engineering as more important -- due only to their visibility.
CS/CSE is hidden from view. People don't understand where while loops are operating, but they can see gears spinning and cables holding up bridges.
Compare typical software projects to medical software products as a niche. Much more design, time, and money is spent there than on Web 2.0 sites because lives depend on it.