Androids

35 Bacon Sundays

omens of autumn float on a newly crisp breeze perfumed with bacon

—Mike Cleron

In late 2009, a year after 1.0 shipped, Android institutionalized extra working hours by starting the tradition of Bacon Sundays. Previously, people would simply be at work all the time. But eventually, people started spending weekend time not working. But Android still had the same do-or-die dynamic as it did before (albeit with more people to handle the load). Release deadlines were critical; they had to hit those dates. So toward the end of a release, management encouraged people to come to the office on Sunday morning with the promise of a big breakfast buffet spread (along with plenty of work). Participation wasn’t required, and not everybody ...