Microsoft readying test systems for Windows 8 development

After they hit a roadblock with the Windows 7 engineers though, they returned to what plenty of have found to be a nice source for scraps on future Microsoft products before they are announced, confirmed, or even in early development: Microsoft Careers. They did a simple search and found that, since our last post, three job postings related to Windows 8 have been made on the site.

Four more job postings were posted this month that mention Windows 8. From them, they can glean a few tiny tidibits about Windows 7's successor.
Although Microsoft gave us some great numbers regarding the Windows 7 beta, the company (unsurprisingly) refused to give us any details about what changes the planning and development team was going to make for Windows 8. Earlier this month they rounded up every minor detail that bloggers had posted on the operating technique.

 The Web Information Services (IIS) team is redefining how the net technology stack is delivered to the customers. They are simplifying how developers, IT pros, and hosters consume our technology by managing the end-to-end experience from development to deployment. They build both technologies and solutions—whatever it takes to do the right thing for customers and Win The Web. Customer empathy is a deep core value at IIS. They are also an agile team that frequently ships projects out-of-band to change to ever changing Web environment.

The first job posting (we'll be going in chronological order) is from October 8, 2009 and is looking for a Senior Program Manager. Its mention of Windows 8 is not hugely exciting, but IIS users should be happy to know that Redmond is still thinking about them, both in terms of the next Windows client and server releases:

The second job posting, for a Principal Lead Program Manager, should be interesting to all the Windows Live fanatics out there. It looks like Microsoft is going to be tying Windows Live Mail much closer to Windows 7 and Windows 8. The posting is from October 9, 2009, and here's the part that matters:

 IIS team is looking for an experienced PM to join our core platform team. Your role will span across driving key features in to Windows 8 as well as owning several out-of-band modules, including web analytics that will bring business intelligence for the customers that host applications and contents on IIS. Your work will help differentiate IIS and Smooth Streaming from Apache and Flash. You ought to also be ready to work in a fast-paced environment and have a strong desire for quality, security, and performance. Your feature will be used by millions of customers.

 The Windows Live Mail team is looking for a seasoned Lead Program Manager to drive our next generation Mail client, and manage two stellar PMs. Our client has over 40M users world-wide, and serves as a key component of our Windows Live "light up Windows" strategy. Our current release is centered on hot new consumer features & better synergies with Hotmail & Windows 7, and our future releases will likely be tightly designed to work best with new Windows 8 platform technologies. They will also work closely with the Outlook team on ways to bring Windows Live to Outlook. Mail is part of the WL Desktop Communications team, which also includes Messenger. Our team values user-centered design, technical and engineering excellence, and attention to detail. The successful candidate should have several years [of] experience as PM lead. In addition to being deeply technical, you will need to enjoy being part of a fast moving, energetic team.

Microsoft said in January 2009 that there were 500 million Windows Live users on Hotmail and Messenger, but they cannot recall a time when they disclosed any numbers for Windows Live beyond that. Forty million Windows Live Mail users is not bad for a new application, and we'd expect that number to grow rapidly over the next few months given that Windows 7 has arrived, and it doesn't include an e-mail client.

The third and fourth job postings were made on October 18, 2009 and October 19, 2009, respectively. The first is for a Program Engineering: Check and the second is also for a Program Engineering: Check, but they are for different teams. As we have already said, Microsoft won't give any official word on where they are with Windows 8, but it is clear the company is still planning and brainstorming. They are also getting the testing systems ready for Windows 7's successor, according to the third job posting:

 The TAG team provides the foundation services and infrastructure to support a unified check and dev workflow. This team's charter includes—developing and jogging a unified check submission and execution technique for Windows 8, Automating Check pass scheduling & execution, results analysis & automated triage, Windows code coverage services, Developing and jogging the eBVT quality gate, supporting WinSE's Windows 7 sustained engineering check needs.

 You'll lead a team of highly gifted SDETs and partner closely with members of both the development and program management teams to design and check new features, create tools & automation, and enhance the overall check infrastructure. Your team will be responsible for writing check designs & check cases, performing ad hoc, manual, and automated testing, filing bug reports, and interacting with internal partners.

 This is an exciting time to join the Check Automation and Gates team and lead the next wave of foundation services and infrastructure to ensure delivery of a high quality product. With openings across the team, there is sure to be the perfect opportunity suited to your specific passion and enthusiasm.

 The Application Experience Bug Inquiry Team, AEBit, is looking for passionate SDETs that need to make an impact on Windows 8. On the AEBit team you will get the matchless opportunity to challenge and grow your debugging skills on issues that span the entire OS. You will have the opportunity to engage with program vendors, OEMs, as well as internal component teams. You will also be applying and enhancing your knowledge of technique internals. As part of the AEBit team you will be responsible for driving and ensuring compatibility in Windows by engaging with component teams, root causing application bugs, and authoring mitigations. If you are a strong SDET looking for a challenge they would like to listen to from you.

This unified check submission and execution technique for Windows 8 will of work only be used internally at Microsoft, but don't worry, you'll see the benefit of it in the development builds you get your hands. The fourth job posting talks more specifically about bug hunting:

If you see anything else Windows 8-related over the coming months, feel free to drop us a line.