A symbol for software engineering, evolved from the hacker emblem. It is very easy to draw, portable, adaptable, and uniquely expresses the nature of software. (350 words)
It is not a normal logo. It has an abstract definition: eight bits (as ‘0’ or ‘1’ characters), in a 4-connected structure (each element must be above/below/right/left at least one other). This gives various forms in a minimal pattern. Here are four examples:
001 1 10
1 1 0010
011 0
10 1
1 1001
011 010
00(If rendered directly in text, it requires a monospace font.)
It signifies: a respect for, an affiliation with, the extraordinary and fascinating thing that is ‘software’; and interest in producing it technically well-structured in an organised and effective way. Or maybe just: Built on Software!
The idea is inspired by and builds on the hacker emblem: http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/ – re-using and extending it, in the spirit of open software development. It retains (implicitly) an underlying 2D grid, changes cells to bit characters, fixes their count to eight, and abstracts the arrangement to a general 4-connected structure.
The meaning is complementary to the hacker emblem, or rather a subset or intersection of it.
It is graphically a little weak, but that is appropriate. It deliberately bends graphical rules for the particular purpose: It is like the internal structure of a logo, the abstraction of a logo, rather than a logo itself. So, it suits software engineering: it expresses something that is hidden from normal view, but familiar to those understanding the technicalities.
The symbol idea/concept/design/etc. is intended to be free – usable/copyable without restriction (being so abstract, could it even be covered by copyright?).
The ‘reference implementation’ is the above examples, in ASCII plain-text and monospace font. But variety according to the definition is good.