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Someone must have thought: "gee, how can we build something even more depressing than cubicles?" This is what they came up with. Is this a joke? I'm serious. A

Someone must have thought: "gee, how can we build something even more depressing than cubicles?" This is what they came up with. Is this a joke? I'm serious. Are they joking? Or is this being proposed as a good idea?

spamizbad 17y ago
Actually Pixar uses something similar for its employees and it seems to work great. Pixar's are, of course, better decorated and look less like Dickensian outhouses.
- bootload 17y ago
  "... Actually Pixar uses something similar for its employees and it seems to work great. Pixar's are, of course, better decorated ..." Don't like the idea of being locked up inside ~ http://images.google.com/images?q=pixar+cubicles http://images.google.com/images?q=pixar+cubicles Put one in a tree? Now that's more like it ~ http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/28/buy-a-modern-treehou.html http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/28/buy-a-modern-treehou.ht...
- blasdel 17y ago
  Pixar spends at least 10 times as much money on materials alone, and has architects and ergonomics experts on staff to assist. A lot of their people have two full computer setups: a Mac with a Wacom Cintiq monitor for using standard Adobe shit, and a beefy Linux workstation for their whole custom toolchain. Most of them have at least two workspaces: standard desks, standing desks, couches, etc.
- daydream 17y ago
  This is a good idea, but poor execution in that it's horribly ugly... very aesthetically unappealing. As you mention Pixar does it way better, and there must be a middle ground where you have something cost effective yet attractive to work in.
  - tptacek 17y ago
    It may not be fair to critique aesthetics, since they're blogging the first one they ever built, and they're purposely leaving some of the aesthetics up to the occupants. Remember, "if you're not embarassed by v1, you shipped too late".
  - mecloran 17y ago
    Agreed that it is ugly. We never finished the first one because we felt that the nine new ones we are building are much better - they have trim, will be painted decently, use less whiteboard on the interiors (and exterior), have bigger windows, fit through our dock door for moving in a few months, etc. And, yeah, our office space sucks for these right now, but is really, really cheap. We decided to do it where we are right now to get started with a 1.0 version of Developer Town, but we're moving in 6-9 months to the desired space (a high-ceilinged warehouse space that will contribute far more to a Truman Show "town" feel.)
yesimahuman 17y ago
I thought the same thing: depressing. I wouldn't want to work in that.
mecloran 17y ago
Every developer that's worked in a cubicle and sees the house in person says "I want one." We've had about 1 out of 40 who really didn't want one.

spamizbad 17y ago

Actually Pixar uses something similar for its employees and it seems to work great. Pixar's are, of course, better decorated and look less like Dickensian outhouses.

bootload 17y ago
"... Actually Pixar uses something similar for its employees and it seems to work great. Pixar's are, of course, better decorated ..." Don't like the idea of being locked up inside ~ http://images.google.com/images?q=pixar+cubicles http://images.google.com/images?q=pixar+cubicles Put one in a tree? Now that's more like it ~ http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/28/buy-a-modern-treehou.html http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/28/buy-a-modern-treehou.ht...
blasdel 17y ago
Pixar spends at least 10 times as much money on materials alone, and has architects and ergonomics experts on staff to assist. A lot of their people have two full computer setups: a Mac with a Wacom Cintiq monitor for using standard Adobe shit, and a beefy Linux workstation for their whole custom toolchain. Most of them have at least two workspaces: standard desks, standing desks, couches, etc.
daydream 17y ago
This is a good idea, but poor execution in that it's horribly ugly... very aesthetically unappealing. As you mention Pixar does it way better, and there must be a middle ground where you have something cost effective yet attractive to work in.
- tptacek 17y ago
  It may not be fair to critique aesthetics, since they're blogging the first one they ever built, and they're purposely leaving some of the aesthetics up to the occupants. Remember, "if you're not embarassed by v1, you shipped too late".
- mecloran 17y ago
  Agreed that it is ugly. We never finished the first one because we felt that the nine new ones we are building are much better - they have trim, will be painted decently, use less whiteboard on the interiors (and exterior), have bigger windows, fit through our dock door for moving in a few months, etc. And, yeah, our office space sucks for these right now, but is really, really cheap. We decided to do it where we are right now to get started with a 1.0 version of Developer Town, but we're moving in 6-9 months to the desired space (a high-ceilinged warehouse space that will contribute far more to a Truman Show "town" feel.)

yesimahuman 17y ago

I thought the same thing: depressing. I wouldn't want to work in that.

mecloran 17y ago

Every developer that's worked in a cubicle and sees the house in person says "I want one." We've had about 1 out of 40 who really didn't want one.