Final answer:
The web has transformed software engineering by enabling easier website creation, revolutionizing communication and teamwork, and altering recruitment practices with platforms like LinkedIn.
It has fostered crowdsourcing in problem solving and impacted the economics of technology with the rise of open-source software. Additionally, search engines have become integral to information acquisition and software innovation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The web has vastly altered software engineering in several ways. First, the proliferation of websites, from a mere 2,738 in 1994 to over 2 million by 1998, signified the widespread adoption of the internet and a shift in how software was developed and distributed.
Tools like Microsoft's Frontpage made it possible for people with modest skills to create websites during the Web 1.0 era. However, as we moved into Web 2.0, the do-it-yourself (DIY) element of web creation diminished, leading to more sophisticated and professional software development practices.
Moreover, the internet has revolutionized communication within the software engineering field and beyond, enabling remote work and global teamwork which were not feasible before.
Platforms like LinkedIn have changed recruiting practices for engineers and other professionals. Lastly, the internet's role in crowdsourcing has facilitated the collective problem-solving approach in software development, broadening the reach for collaboration and innovation.
The development of open-source operating systems like Linux has influenced the economics of technology, allowing for cost-effective alternatives to proprietary systems, which in turn has impacted software development processes.
Search engines also became critical, shaping the approach to acquiring information and driving innovation in digital software for mobile devices.