Glorifying God by Creating Better Software

Calvin computer science professor has created a professional journal that focuses on the link between Christian faith and software development.

Dynamic Link: Christian Perspectives on Software Development is written by professional software developers who strive to glorify God through their work.

"Rather than approach it from the purely academic sense, I decided to approach professional software developers who are also professed Christians and ask them if they see the link," said Patrick Bailey, the Calvin CS professor and creator of Dynamic Link.

The new journal contains articles exploring an entire universe of faith issues in the field of software development, including an article by Dorothy Graham, a 1966 Calvin graduate and software tester living in the United Kingdom, about her company's "ethos," a thoroughly articulated Christian code of conduct for the workplace.

Remington Steed's entry, in which the 2006 Calvin grad shares about his experiences creating better software for the Wycliffe Bible Translators, is also an exhortation to software developers to pursue God's distinctive calling for their lives: "Whatever the case, expect the call to require obedience, sacrifice and trust," he writes. And Jared Staal, a 2006 grad, writes about faith and the work environment.

Bailey's contribution to Dynamic Link-besides editing the journal-was an article summarizing the results of his survey of 80 Christian software developers about how their faith influenced their work. It was that survey, in fact, that led to the creation of Dynamic Link, which included funding from Vocation Venture Fund of Calvin College, part of the Lilly Endowment Program.

Bailey sees a common theme in the new journal's offerings: "They're saying, 'Let's not do it for ourselves. Let's do it for the glory of God!" That means looking out for other people, Bailey emphasized. "You're there for the team. There are a lot of pressures on software developers. There are a lot of things happening for money reasons. And doing the right thing is another way of loving your neighbor."

For the full story see http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2007-08/dynamic-link.html