Why do Web 2.0 companies over look the importance of a solid suite of automated tests?

From an end user’s perspective it looks like they use their first thousand users as their manual testers.

I’ll give you an example, today LinkedIn launched a new set of Applications like SlideShare, Amazon, WordPress, TripIt, etc. When I try to use any application by installing it, I keep getting random errors.

There was a problem installing My Travel.
Fix this by reinstalling the application.

Sorry, unable to fetch your blog. Please try again later!

The server did not respond. Please try again.

Its the Web 2.0 companies or the Microsoft’s of the world who can get away with this attitude. If this was a high-end competitive market, such broken applications would result in significant loss of reputation and business.  The Web is certainly changing this. Not sure for the good or bad. On one hand, I like the fact that I can quickly release features and improve it over time. But on the other hand, I don’t like the fact that in the urgency to release new features, we compromise on quality and release dysfunctional stuff.

All I can think is, companies still struggle trying to strike the right balance. They are caugh up in tyring to have the cake and eating it too.

This is the end
International Travel, the end
This is the end
Flying International Airlines, the end

Policies and Invitation letters, the end
Long Visa application queues, the end
Customs and immigrations, the end
I’ll never live out of a suitcase…again

Forex and conversion fees, the end
Jet-lags and sleep-walking, the end
Bland food with Tabasco, the end
I’ll never lose days traveling…again

Lousy long flights, the end
Living at your mercy, the end
Delays and surprises, the end
I’ll never live through this…again

Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Never in need of some stranger’s hand
In a…strange land

It hurts to set you free
But you’ll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to fly

After a very rough year with international travel, I’m glad to say, no more international travel for me. (not at least for work or conferences).

* Altered lyrics from “The End” by The Doors. Long live Jim Morrison.

Yesterday I got a call from the airline saying my flight to US on Tue morning is cancelled. (While I’m pissed with the airline, I’m glad that I booked my flights with an Indian airline. At least they had the courtesy to call me up 2 days in advance. American Airlines don’t have this concept.)

Yet another cancelled flight and change in my travel schedule. What crap? Is it a problem with the airlines or with me. Somehow this year has been really really bad. Pretty much every international travel this year has had some change in schedule. Either the flights are delayed by few hours/days or are completely cancelled.

I’m so glad, I don’t have any more international travel planned.