Google Releases 'Testing on the Toilet'

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?"

Re:Where's Triumph the Insult Comic Dog

[Benley]

Dude. There's no keyboards in the bathrooms. It's 8.5"x11" posters on the walls where you can read them while you *ahem* use the facilities.

Bad idea

[kindbud]

Sitting on the toilet too long can lead to hemorrhoids. Reading software testing documentation on the toilet can't be any better for your bunghole.

Re:No, In The Women's Too.

[Anonymous Coward]

No, you cannot assume. They are posted in the women's bathroom also, on the back of the door so it's right in front of you. No hands involved.

Re:Another reason not to work for Google.

[Anonymous Coward]

I work at Google

Where did it ever say that "Testing on the Toilet" is required reading? It's an 8.5x11" printout that's taped to the wall, off to the side. Right next to it there's also some monthly humor and announcement thing, and outside the stalls (in some bathrooms) there's a semi-stocked magazine rack. I usually don't even notice the TotT printouts and instead read my own magazine or the occasional newspaper. Occasionally I'll read a TotT, and at least it's an alternative to staring at the same four tiles for 5 minutes.

I think some of you guys are reacting to this too strongly. This isn't the brainchild idea of a dozen executives in suits trying to boost productivity -- the company doesn't really work that way. It's just an engineering group in Google who are thinking of other ways to disseminate information. Different groups and individuals will occasionally hold tech-talks on various topics for people to attend during their spare time. These aren't required either, and are sometimes a welcome escape. Almost nothing about working at Google is mandatory, save the obvious requirement of doing one's job.