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?"
Stupid questions (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Re:Stupid questions (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
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.
Re:Really not good for your health (Score:3, Insightful)
I fully agree, though, that reading in the toilet can be bad for your health.
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.
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.
Smart is just an ingredient (Score:1, Insightful)
Being smart doesn't mean that your are going to be good at your job. Not at all. There are many other important characteristics like creativity, attention to detail, honestly, passion, etc. And of course, successfully going through a certain type of interviews doesn't mean you are smart either. Just that you are their type of person, which in the case of seems to be a puzzle solver.
Re:The Google cult (or maybe not....) (Score:1, Insightful)