Google Easter eggs are the things of legend.
There’s absolutely not doubt about that, but did you know that there are also some more little hidden gems in the interface? They aren’t quite Google Easter eggs but they can be quite interesting, very informative, and a worthy little time waster nearly any day!
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Join us for this episode of the podcast, while we dissect a nifty set of features that you may not know about the main Google search page. It’s not just the daily Doodle, but so many other things that appear to be random but are likely not random at all.
Whether you are looking to find out about Art & Culture – after all, who among us actually remembers that Google started an Art & Culture section several years ago? Google is notorious for starting a project and then abandoning it along the way, and they often leave relics of those projects lying around in hidden corners of the internet. And there’s an entire Wikipedia devoted to Google easter eggs, located here.
What kind of hidden treasures did we find on Google?
And how can you find your own trove? It’s pretty simple, and Kim details exactly what she did, what she found, and even though she had planned it as a big surprise for Hazel, it wasn’t all that since Hazel did a bit of research on her own and found a few more bits and bobs to discuss.
There are simple games, quizzes, hordes of information about various subjects that most people would never even think about, much less research; some of this information is presented in a playful manner, and the rest is offered up as candy for your brain.
Join us as we talk about the Google Easter eggs (ok, not quite that spectacular) that we found and how we might use them for more than just entertainment value. Oh, we’re also talking about a new project that we’ve started developing, and a few other little tidbits of info that you might find worth listening to on this episode.
The Playful Secrets of Programmers: A Look at Software Easter Eggs
Software development is a serious business, but programmers are human too, and sometimes they like to inject a little fun into their work. These hidden gems, known as Easter eggs, are like secret messages or features intentionally embedded within code, waiting to be discovered by curious users or fellow developers.
Easter eggs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are simple text messages displayed when a specific key combination is pressed. Think of the Konami Code, a sequence of up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, famously triggering a secret level in classic video games. Others might be hidden images, animations, or even mini-games accessible through obscure menus or code manipulations.
The motivations behind Easter eggs vary.
Sometimes, they’re a way for programmers to express their creativity or leave their mark on a project. An inside joke among developers might become a hidden message for others to find. Easter eggs can also be a playful homage to pop culture references, movies, or video games.
Beyond pure amusement, Easter eggs can serve other purposes. They can be a way for developers to test features that haven’t been fully implemented yet, or a hidden diagnostic tool for troubleshooting. Uncovering an Easter egg can be a badge of honor for a user, a sign that they’ve taken the time to delve deeper into the software.
However, Easter eggs also have potential drawbacks. If not implemented carefully, they can add unnecessary complexity to the code or introduce bugs. Some Easter eggs might be cryptic or obscure, frustrating users who stumble upon them unintentionally. In some cases, companies might have policies against developers adding them, preferring to maintain a professional image.
Despite these considerations, Easter eggs remain a delightful tradition in the world of software development.
They add a human touch to technology, reminding us that the people who create the programs we use are not just lines of code, but individuals with a sense of humor and a desire to surprise and delight. So, the next time you’re using a program, keep your eyes peeled – you never know what hidden treasures you might discover.