Unit-testers FTW

During the afternoon and evening today, a number of new Second Life last-names have appeared in the public account registration list. The names are of the form UnitTest (the something appears to be a random dictionary word). There appear to be as many as a couple hundred of these last names, in addition to the regular list.

The names are apparently intended for internal use by scripts, though now over a hundred users have signed up with these new last names. It seems to be a mistake, and we think we know how it might have happened.

Linden Lab has a registration API which allows participants to host a Second Life signup system of their own. It is also used as a part of custom surnames, which can be leased from Linden Lab.

These custom last-names and access to the registration interface are tied to an authorizing account. The names available to that account's registration system are any custom last names they have, plus the public list of last names.

What we think has taken place is that the UnitTest____ names have been assigned to a Linden account as the authorizing account, but the public version of the registration API that appears on the Second Life signup pages treats names assigned to Linden owners as public names within the registration system.

We see about 55 names in the people-search that are obviously internal, and automatically generated accounts, probably from test scripts). The rest appear to be users who are intrigued or entertained by the novel names on offer (and in a few cases may have been presented with no alternatives). Unit tests are tests on the smallest (and often most critical) pieces of a larger application or framework, and are often so abundant as to require automation.

We wonder what Linden Lab will do with these new accounts? We are only aware of seven instances in the past where accounts were renamed. Will they be closed?

[Thanks go to Wrestling Hulka for spotting this one]

For those unfamiliar with the acronym 'FTW' it has a wide variety of uses in gaming, RL profanity and among motorcycle enthusiasts. In this case, the intended meaning is 'For The Win', a term (oftentimes applied very sarcastically) indicating that something is a successful plan, strategy or tool.

UPDATE: As noted below (thanks Thaumata, and Wrestling!), Linden Lab has sent an email out to those who registered accounts under those names, and shut them down. As yet there is no public acknowledgment by Linden Lab about the error, what led to it, and what might be being done to prevent it from occurring in future.