Eating your own dog food

The "Dogfooding" pattern, also known as "eating your own dog food," is a practice that has its roots in the tech industry. It refers to the process of using a company's own products or services internally before releasing them to the public. This approach has become an essential part of product development and has been adopted by many technology companies over the years.

The origin of term "dogfooding" is said to have come from Microsoft in the late 1970s. The term is a metaphor for a company using its own products, and it reflects the idea that a company should be confident enough in its offerings to use them internally. Microsoft was one of the first companies to adopt this approach, and the practice soon became popular among other tech firms.

The benefits of dogfooding are numerous. By using their own products internally, companies can gain a deeper understanding of how they will be used in the real world and make any necessary changes to improve their functionality and reliability. This can help to identify any potential issues or areas for improvement and ensure that the product meets the company's own needs and standards. Additionally, dogfooding can also help to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the company.

It’s been said that engineers at both Microsoft and Apple aggressively used the dogfooding approach early on to improve the experience of their products.A great example is a company-wide memo from Apple Computer President Mike Scott on 2/1/1980 that read like the artist rendering above. Mike Scott wanted their employees to use the product they were making because it meant there were more testing and quicker turnaround on feedback.

Another of the most notable examples of dogfooding in the tech industry is Google. The company is known for using its own products and services internally, including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Maps. Using these products, Google's employees can gain a firsthand understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and provide feedback to the development team. This has helped to make Google's products some of the most popular and widely used in the world.

In conclusion, the dogfooding pattern has become an essential part of product development in the tech industry. By using their own products internally, companies can gain a deeper understanding of how they will be used in the real world and make any necessary changes to improve their functionality and reliability. The practice has been adopted by many tech firms and has helped to drive innovation and continuous improvement in the industry.