In this era of browser apps and mobile devices, here’s some news that cuts against the grain. A new Facebook development team, based in the company’s fledgling Seattle engineering office, will be making desktop software for the social networking giant.
Desktop, as in machines that sit on your desk. Software, as in bits of code installed on the hard drives of said machines. Ring any bells? No, didn’t think so.
At any rate, this being Facebook, it’s safe to assume that even the company’s desktop software will be appropriately webified. Here’s how Facebook describes the initiative in the job posting that spilled the beans on the new team.
“The desktop software team is a new team at Facebook based out of Seattle, WA. We will be working on new products that we expect to deliver to millions of users’ computers to help make their entire computing experience more social. Facebook is seeking experienced Software Engineers in Seattle to join this team.”
First to spot the listing was MG Siegler at TechCrunch, who laments that Facebook hasn’t first developed an iPad app.
Particularly interesting is the part of the listing about making the entire computing experience more social. It’s also notable that the team is based in the backyard of Microsoft, that traditional bastion of desktop software.
Ari Steinberg, the Facebook engineer who heads up the Seattle office, didn’t offer any more specifics on the team but noted via email that it’s one of a number of projects being developed at Facebook Seattle, in areas including mobile, ads, chat infrastructure and the Facebook Platform. In general, he said, Facebook teams are small — teams in Seattle average three to four local teammates — and this one will be no different.
The job listing says the software engineering position will include creating desktop applications “for Mac and/or Windows.” (Interesting phrasing there.) As expected, the requirements include experience building software that integrates with the web.
Disclosure: Facebook Seattle is a GeekWire sponsor.
