Faith Integration and Software Development
Welcome to the project website where we study the integration of the Christian faith and software development. Our initial research was supported by the Lilly Vocation Venture Fund, and we have just recently completed our first publication.
Now Available: Dynamic Link - Christian Perspectives on Software Development
Our initial project was to contact professional software developers who were professed Christians and ask them how their faith influences their work. In addition to the responses provided in an online questionnaire, we had the opportunity to talk to several of the participants in phone interviews. Dynamic Link includes a summary of those respones.
In addition to that study, Dynamic Link includes six articles by members of the software development profession. Dorothy (Dot) Graham, an expert in software testing who consults in Europe and the United States, describes the integration of her faith into the business practices of her consulting firm. Mike McIntosh, a project manager at Amway, describes the challenges of optimistic thinking in project management. Independent consultant Ken Shafer describes the aspects of stewardship in software design, and Website designer James Stewart of the United Kingdom explains his views on our calling to provide software to improve the lives of others. Two recent Calvin graduates, Remington Steed and Jared Staal, share their recent experiences as well.
If you would like a copy of the printed publication, contact Pat Bailey at pmb4@calvin.edu . A PDF copy of the pre-press proof is available by clicking here: Proof Copy of Dynamic Link.
Would you like to be in the next issue of Dynamic Link?
If you would like to participate, the guidelines and submission dates are as follows:
- We should be notified by September 30, 2008 if you wish to make a submission. When notifying us, please let us know the topic of your paper. Forward you proposal to Pat Bailey at pmb4@calvin.edu .
- The paper should address the direct relationship between your faith and your career experience in software development. Our primary reading audience will be students at Christian colleges. Our goal has been to share with the next generation the experiences and advice from those already in the field. We are open to a broad variety of viewpoints to include those of software engineers, architects, project managers, sales people and information technology managers.
- The length of the paper should be between 500 to 1500 words. We will give consideration to lengthier scripts, but please let us know ahead of time.
- We are not looking for an academic tone necessarily, but we do hope that the essays are well structured and effectively communicate your perspective.
Contact Us
If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Patrick Bailey
Assistant Professor
Computer Science, Calvin College
pmb4@calvin.edu
(616) 526-7543