Google Releases 'Testing on the Toilet' 192
JasonK writes "Here's a type of Google launch you don't see every day: Testing on the Toilet. This is a service that has been apparently been running internally for several months and teaching developers about testing during their 'down time,' so to speak. Due to the wild success of the program inside of Google, they decided to start a blog where they will post these weekly episodes so that the rest of us can print them out and have our own reading on the can. Is this a step towards Google becoming more open about their development practices?"
Huh? Wha? (Score:5, Interesting)
Honestly, I don't see this as a positive development. My time on the pot is a time for reflection and grunting. If someone leaves the section with the comics and "Dear Abby" in the stall, I might elect to read, but I prefer to dump and run (TMI??). Also, knowing what Google employees are reading while they crap... Would "disquieting" be the right word for the sense of unease this gives me?
- Greg
Re:Huh? Wha? (Score:5, Interesting)
Now having said that I don't want that stuff in the bathroom at work. I'd rather have a bit of peace than more work shoved at me
The road to hell is paved with good intentions (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:Huh? Wha? (Score:5, Funny)
If your job doesn't afford you enough time to exercise (=1hr/night), QUIT because your life is worth more than an extra 20k/year!!!!!
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The Google cult (or maybe not....) (Score:5, Insightful)
I think it's the attempt to work the job and group mindset into every part of an employee's day and life. The insinuation (by default) that an employee will want (not just be expected to) to contribute to the company in this way; even in rare "private time" like this (*).
I think what really bothered me (in this context) was the group-oriented friendliness. It took me a while to figure out why, then I realised that it was faintly reminiscent of a cult. Not the mass-suicide, Waco types (or at least, not at that stage), but the friendly pressure "we're your friends and we want to help you" newcomer stage- often with good intentions by those taking part (**)- where the group slowly enters every aspect of the newcomer's life.
Okay, I'm reading too much into this now; just bear in mind that Google's uber-friendly, everything-you-want-here campuses and the like have the advantage of keeping their employees happy, productive and within the Google sphere of influence. Sinister or not?
(*) Please *don't* start a discussion about how, as the employee is being paid during work hours, this is reasonable. Besides which, the employee- of their own volition- would probably be thinking about their work while they were on the toilet anyway. Plus, it's often more productive to give the mind a rest or let it wander every so often. Isn't it normal and healthy for employees to think about something else (e.g. outside interests) every so often?
(**) Yes, I did notice that this project was started by volunteers. Draw your own conclusions.
Yes, it is a cult (Score:5, Interesting)
It was indeed a very weird environment. I have worked in other big companies, but never say anything like that. The day my contract ended was a good one.
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I think they're notorious for being difficult to get people out of; most members don't want to leave (often because of brainwashing and other indoctrination techniques), and the cult strong opposes outsiders who try to remove members.
Again, I don't know as I've never been there, but that's the popular perception, at least as I perceive it.
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If "unperson" is not part of your know vocabulary you need to go and read 1984 [orwell.ru] right now!
(not that I think Google is that bad, but it was the first thing that stroke my mind when reading the above comments)
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Re:The Google cult (or maybe not....) (Score:5, Insightful)
Man, those guys just can't win. Be a jerk to your employees, and you're a jerk. Try to make your employees happy, and you're sinisterly keeping them under your influence. I guess the optimum, then, is to give employees free soda and plenty of vacation time, but have the guy at the front desk smack them in the face and call them a bitch when they first walk in the door in the morning.
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It took me a while to figure out why, then I realised that it was faintly reminiscent of a cult.
You're not the only one who thought that. There's something about putting work in a bathroom and just expecting everyone to be onboard that smacks of weirdo groupthink. The fact that it was done independently is quite telling.
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Re:Huh? Wha? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Huh? Wha? (Score:5, Funny)
This is your boss... (Score:2)
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Same here. I've never understood this whole "toilet reading" phenomenon. When I have to take a shit, I sit down, dump, wipe, get up, and wash. Unless I'm sick or something, it never takes me long enough to sit and read or ponder anything; if not for the clean-up, it'd take about as much time as a typical piss. After all, it's not like it's an especially comfortable place to sit. Are people in general that more constipated than I am, do they have that much more difficulty finding
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It's a balance. You try to do it too fast and you could cause some damage to your system. But you sit there too long for no reason you can also cause damage of a different kind, and you waste time.
You need to be relaxed and not pressure yourself, but get through it and off fairly quickly. Personally, I enjoy having something to read or do while I'm in there, even for only the couple of minutes I'm there. But I've always done
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You must be new here.
Seriously though, you're right. That's why generally I don't sit there very long. However, even with the short period, I prefer to be reading something. Additionally, sometimes things don't turn out quite that nicely.
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This is easy for bosses to suggest... (Score:5, Funny)
Somebody has to say it! (Score:2, Funny)
Compare to Wiiing and weeing (Score:4, Funny)
At least testing PC software while taking a dump is easier than trying to control the pointing remote and a man's urine stream at once.
It's all about productivity! (Score:4, Funny)
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Wait, what? Is that where bricks come from? I have to say I'm highly disturbed and hope you're not a contractor.
Stupid questions (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Stupid questions (Score:5, Insightful)
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It gives us a way to read stories which share something in common:
Here are sets of stories that all have something in common. Lame questions. And it's funny how many stories are on all three lists!
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Really not good for your health (Score:4, Interesting)
I seem to recall having read something about how reading on the john is bad for you. The idea is that if you are constipated, you should wait for the movement, and not sit there and get all agitated and stressed. You are not supposed to push them out, as it can damage you and/or make the constipation worse in the long run. The article was written by a MD, IIRC. The one quote that sticks out in my mind is, "you wouldn't take a dump in the library, so don't read in the toilet".
Re:Really not good for your health (Score:5, Insightful)
Isn't that the idea of the reading? To calmly wait?
Also, your phobia of the words 'toilet' and 'shit' is humourous.
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SB
"phobia"? (Score:2)
It's not a "phobia", it's just (a degree of) class.
Life is not made any more enjoyable by everyone using
the earthiest words that they can think of all the time
and in all circumstances.
And it's hardly cool or rebellious anymore - if you want
to be a rebel these days, clean up your speech
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>Also, your phobia of the words 'toilet' and 'shit' is humourous.
It's not a "phobia", it's just (a degree of) class.
Or a degree of feeling that you are above, perhaps somehow cleaner than, people who understand, accept, and openly talk about bodily functions...
Life is not made any more enjoyable by everyone using
the earthiest words that they can think of all the time
and in all circumstances.
Earthiest?! I dare say even the most heavenly and religious attempts by humans are still earthly and entirely human. You may think you are somehow being less "dirty" or "earthy" by calling it a lieu, toilette, rest room, water closet, comfort room, or John, but you're still describing exactly the same thing, and everybody still knows exactly what you're talking
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To clarify, I mean "calmly wait outside the john".
I usually do that only if the stall is occupied... Hmm, come to think of it, there are other circumstances where I might do it to, but for 90% of the population those wouldn't apply ;-)
I go when I *need* to go, not just because the clock is at a certain time,
So you mean, there really are people (in the US, I suppose?) that only go because it's "going time", not because they "need"? Weird stuff!
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I thought it went: "I wouldn't swim in your toilet so don't piss in my pool" ?
I personally like reading in the crapper, it takes my mind off of the business at hand (so to speak) and helps to relax.. but doing work on the crapper would have the opposite effect I would think. Eating on the crapper.. now that's just weird.
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I fully agree, though, that reading in the toilet can be bad for your health.
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This is often a quite healthy pursuit as it allows us to take a break from stressful activities and reflect in quiet meditation. It's also healthy because of all the practic
"Can't we act like adults... (Score:5, Funny)
Cute idea (Score:5, Funny)
Story quality (Score:5, Funny)
Stories selected by mobs.
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(*)I emailed the editors about this and they assured me that no, Slashdot was not headed in the direction of Digg.
Old News (Score:2, Interesting)
On blogspot.com not google.com (Score:2)
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I, for one (Score:1)
Another reason not to work for Google. (Score:1, Troll)
I know someone is going to come back to me with "It's not work.. it's fun!". Just keep drinking that kool-aid buddy. Eventually you're going to figure out that there
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Re:Another reason not to work for Google. (Score:5, Funny)
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Comedy is art. And I am a comic in much the same way that a guy frames a glass of urine is an artists.
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My response: there's a reason they call it a "break".
If this trend isn't stopped, then "Mr. Poopypants" (above) will in the future refer to a new clothing line consisting -- literally! -- of a series of tubes (marketed under a hip label like TSteve, no doubt).
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I was thinking Google Sex, streaming videos and search related items for the words yelled out during coitus mounted as a flat panel on the ceiling, with optional forehead/backside mirrors for wife/hubby/SO.
*note to self, register ohgodyesyes.com ASAP!!!*
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Where did it ever say that "Testing on the Toilet" is required reading?
And where did I say or imply it was required reading? My comments are about this reflecting the Google Culture. The blog also indicated this was something that was all over Google worldwide (over 500 stalls). That's part of the culture at Google, and that's what disturbs the people responding to this story.
This isn't the brainchild idea of a dozen executives in suits trying to boost productivity
Actually I'd be less disturbed if it wer
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This is crazy. I can't believe people are "disturbed" by this. Firstly, it's the most trivial thing ever. You don't have to read it. Secondly, contrary to popular opinion, Google is not the borg and employees can and do criticise the company. I've heard more than one person comment that they aren't a fan of TotT, but it's not because they find it "sinister" ... it's because some people just don't like how strongly some other people push unit testing. And in my experience that's true of many software compani
Re:Another reason not to work for Google. (Score:4, Funny)
You don't have to read it. It's just there.
Where's Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (Score:2)
This code is just good enough...for me to poop on!
One other thing, can I assume that this is in the Mens toilets only? Most women won't touch anything that has been in a bathroom (like magazines and newspapers) so I'm guessing keyboards are out, too.
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Re:No, In The Women's Too. (Score:1, Informative)
blog (Score:5, Funny)
Today I was hanging a clock above my toilet, when I fell and hit my head. I ended up having a vision of a new way to make sure code works properly (there also was some idea for a new hardware component -- some sort of capacitor -- but I'm a software engineer and don't know how to deal with those things; hopefully it wasn't very important).
My core dump analysis... (Score:2, Funny)
More bran fibre in the diet. (Score:5, Funny)
Bad idea (Score:4, Informative)
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I dunno about you, buddy. I have it all printed in Braille. Oooh!
They're above the urinals (Score:2)
I'm not sure why everyone is getting so worked up about it. I think it's a clever idea, and I look forward to new issues. Besides, I almost always learn something!
-B
Here I sit all broken hearted (Score:5, Funny)
Then one day I took a chance,
Passed the test and shit my pants!
It's Useful Mass Communication (Score:1)
'Doodling on their PDA', huh? (Score:4, Funny)
I RTFA, but it was one of the comments that amused me:
Ahem. 'Doodling on their PDA'? So is that what you kids call it these days?
Old ATT Humor (Score:1)
-Kernel Boot Rom
This is a shitty idea (Score:5, Funny)
squeezing out well formed ideas. (And something about this one smells a little off.) It might
be because they're just not flushing out the bad ideas, but it also might be an
indication that Google needs to unclog their management and wipe themselves clean
of this "Testing Grouplet". While it is true that great ideas have plopped out of Google, I think
our apparently limitless enthusiasm for anything and everything that spews from Google may have had
the effect of loosening up their releases to the point of being soft and formless.
My two cents.
google makes you work when you are on the Toilet? (Score:2)
Re:google makes you work when you are on the Toile (Score:2)
Testing / Etiquette (Score:3, Insightful)
Speaking of bathroom etiquette, if its a single bathroom, please knock on the door before just jiggling the handle to test if its locked. One day I might forget to lock the door and then we'll both be in for a rude surprise
Regarding automated tests...write them!
Once you get a framework in place, it really does make you feel better about writing new code and modifying old. It also helps with your design by forcing you to write components that are loosely coupled (i.e., they can be tested easily because they have little to no external dependencies)
If you feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start, start by writing tests for new code and worrying about old code until later.
hey... (Score:1)
A show of hands? (Score:2)
I expected the story to involve tablets or kiosk-like computers in the stalls. I was half thinking of inventing a little discrete flip-up table/shelf for laptops for use by nerds in the loo. ThinkGeek, drop me a line, and we'll market this p
Just needs adapated from the existing model (Score:2)
So what do they do when they find a bug? (Score:1)
True Story (Score:1, Offtopic)
At my current (well, my last day is tomorrow) job, we had a testing suite. His name was Bob. He launched IE and clicked things and entered random data and tried to break our web apps. When I suggested that we automate our testing, someone asked "How would we automate testing?"
That's kinda when I decided I should leave.
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Obligatory Admiral Akbar quote. (Score:2, Funny)
Me. I prefer Topology on the Toilet. (Score:2)
Google... (Score:2)
They really seem to be getting their "shit" together.
It's all part of their plan to "bowl" over the competition.
Thanks, I'll be here all week. Please tip your bartenders.
I've seen them. Above urinals. Really. (Score:2)
I've seen those posters. Long, detailed small-type discussions of code coverage analysis mounted above urinals. Last week's poster: Google measures code coverage on a per-statement basis. Really.
Visiting Google HQ bothers me a bit. I'm the guy who did Downside [downside.com], tracking failing dot-coms, and I see too many similarities between Google today and some of the more exuberant dot-coms. Google's business is basically AdWords and a search engine; on the side, they also operate a bunch of unprofitable dot-c
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Also, what about TV networks - they are basically just advertising agency with video production on the side.
You forgot to mention the BIGGEST difference between Google today and those exuberant failing dot-coms - Google has a strong revenue stream, with good growth,
Why all the negativity? (Score:3, Insightful)
Personally, I cannot be bothered to carry reading material to the pot. However, when the natural cycle is slow enough, I rather like the idea of having some interesting reading material conveniently available.
In the past, I can remember seeing special toilet paper that contained jokes, quotes or similar material. The main difference here is that the material is more useful and can be provided at lower cost.
Can you think of a better place... (Score:2)
Some time to relax (Score:2)
Come on. Engineers need some time to relax from the very stressful work they do. What better time to relax for a minute than when in the toilet? :)
(how long until your manager asks you why you didn't solve that bug when you come out of the WC?)
when i was in management... (Score:2)
poetry (Score:2)
broken-hearted -
came to shit
but only farted.
But Google Test
saved us all
by testing best
in the stall.
Be afraid! (Score:2, Funny)