1. Take responsibility for detecting, correcting, and reporting errors in software and associated documents on which they work.
2. The Code prescribes these as obligations of anyone claiming to be or aspiring to be a software engineer.
3. Ensure that there is a fair agreement concerning ownership of any software, processes, research, writing, or other intellectual property to which a software engineer has contributed.
4. Consider issues of physical disabilities, allocation of resources, economic disadvantage and other factors that can diminish access to the benefits of software.
5. Maintain professional objectivity with respect to any software or related documents they are asked to evaluate.
6. However, even in this generality, the Code provides support for software engineers and managers of software engineers who need to take positive action in a specific case by documenting the ethical stance of the profession.
7. s humanity, in special care owed to people affected by the work of software engineers, and the unique elements of the practice of software engineering.
8. Because of their roles in developing software systems, software engineers have significant opportunities to do good or cause harm, to enable others to do good or cause harm, or to influence others to do good or cause harm.
9. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
10. Be accurate in stating the characteristics of software on which they work, avoiding not only false claims but also claims that might reasonably be supposed to be speculative, vacuous, deceptive, misleading, or doubtful.
1. Obey all laws governing their work, unless, in exceptional circumstances, such compliance is inconsistent with the public interest.
2. These Principles should influence software engineers to consider broadly who is affected by their work; to examine if they and their colleagues are treating other human beings with due respect; to consider how the public, if reasonably well informed, would view their decisions; to analyze how the least empowered will be affected by their decisions; and to consider whether their acts would be judged worthy of the ideal professional working as a software engineer.
3. Ensure realistic quantitative estimates of cost, scheduling, personnel, quality and outcomes on any project on which they work or propose to work, and provide an uncertainty assessment of these estimates.
4. Work to follow professional standards, when available, that are most appropriate for the task at hand, departing from these only when ethically or technically justified.
5. Keep private any confidential information gained in their professional work, where such confidentiality is consistent with the public interest and consistent with the law.
6. Review the work of others in an objective, candid, and properly-documented way.
7. Identify, define and address ethical, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues related to work projects.
8. Strive to fully understand the specifications for software on which they work.
9. Credit fully the work of others and refrain from taking undue credit.
10. Ensure an appropriate method is used for any project on which they work or propose to work.
1. Principle 2: CLIENT AND EMPLOYERSoftware engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best interests of their client and employer, consistent with the public interest.
2. Because of their roles in developing software systems, software engineers have significant opportunities to do good or cause harm, to enable others to do good or cause harm, or to influence others to do good or cause harm.
3. These Principles should influence software engineers to consider broadly who is affected by their work; to examine if they and their colleagues are treating other human beings with due respect; to consider how the public, if reasonably well informed, would view their decisions; to analyze how the least empowered will be affected by their decisions; and to consider whether their acts would be judged worthy of the ideal professional working as a software engineer.
4. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
5. Attract potential software engineers only by full and accurate description of the conditions of employment.
6. To ensure, as much as possible, that their efforts will be used for good, software engineers must commit themselves to making software engineering a beneficial and respected profession.
7. Principle 6: PROFESSIONSoftware engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest.
8. In particular, software engineers shall continually endeavor to:Further their knowledge of developments in the analysis, specification, design, development, maintenance and testing of software and related documents, together with the management of the development process.
9. PRINCIPLESPrinciple 1: PUBLICSoftware engineers shall act consistently with the public interest.
10. Not unfairly intervene in the career of any colleague; however, concern for the employer, the client or public interest may compel software engineers, in good faith, to question the competence of a colleague.
1. Improve their knowledge of this Code, its interpretation, and its application to their work.
2. These situations require the software engineer to use ethical judgment to act in a manner which is most consistent with the spirit of the Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, given the circumstances.
3. However, even in this generality, the Code provides support for software engineers and managers of software engineers who need to take positive action in a specific case by documenting the ethical stance of the profession.
4. Provide for due process in hearing charges of violation of an employer's policy or of this Code.
5. The Code is not a simple ethical algorithm that generates ethical decisions.
6. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
7. The dynamic and demanding context of software engineering requires a code that is adaptable and relevant to new situations as they occur.
8. In all these judgments concern for the health, safety and welfare of the public is primary; that is, the "Public Interest" is central to this Code.
9. It is not intended that the individual parts of the Code be used in isolation to justify errors of omission or commission.
10. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.
1. The Code helps to define those actions that are ethically improper to request of a software engineer or teams of software engineers.
2. The Code provides an ethical foundation to which individuals within teams and the team as a whole can appeal.
3. Principle 8: SELFSoftware engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession.
4. In particular, software engineers shall, as appropriate:Help develop an organizational environment favorable to acting ethically.
5. Work to follow professional standards, when available, that are most appropriate for the task at hand, departing from these only when ethically or technically justified.
6. The Principles identify the ethically responsible relationships in which individuals, groups, and organizations participate and the primary obligations within these relationships.
7. Be careful to use only accurate data derived by ethical and lawful means, and use it only in ways properly authorized.
8. However, even in this generality, the Code provides support for software engineers and managers of software engineers who need to take positive action in a specific case by documenting the ethical stance of the profession.
9. As this Code expresses the consensus of the profession on ethical issues, it is a means to educate both the public and aspiring professionals about the ethical obligations of all software engineers.
10. These situations require the software engineer to use ethical judgment to act in a manner which is most consistent with the spirit of the Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, given the circumstances.