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?"

Comments

Stupid questions

[Bromskloss]

Is this a step towards Google becoming more open about their development practices?

Why does every Slashdot story have to end with a question? Often an uninteresting one at that? Do you think it sounds more intellectual, encouraging a discussion, or what? Please stop it! (Also, please don't compose headlines consisting of a statement followed by a question mark?)

Re:Stupid questions

[Grey_14]

I would imagine it's because slashdot is pretty centered around discussion of posted articles, the questions are in theory supposed to spark discussion about an article. Sadly most of the questions are stupid and people ignore them and ramble on about other stupid and pointless shit.

Re:Really not good for your health

[jez9999]

The idea is that if you are constipated, you should wait for the movement

Isn't that the idea of the reading? To calmly wait?

Also, your phobia of the words 'toilet' and 'shit' is humourous.

The Google cult (or maybe not....)

[Dogtanian]

Despite the veneer of amiability about this project, I find it faintly disturbing. Why?

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:The Google cult (or maybe not....)

[CosmeticLobotamy]

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?

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.