This Wednesday I held a presentation at DevCon 2011 entitled Exploratory Test Design (slides) I like this terminology a lot, because it encompasses the two things I want to see in software testing * looking at a lot more information sources than requirements * vary execution and look for many things It was also a […]
I know of some testers who are pointed out by others to be Bug Magnets; people recognized for their ability to somehow draw bugs to them. Bug Magnets can be found in many workplaces and I bet that you know of someone that falls under this description. I have been appointed a Bug Magnet by […]
quantitative numbers in a world of qualitative feelings I am not against measurements in general, they can surely be useful. I use length when building things, weight for baking, time for appointments etc. I often use numbers for various things in my bug reports. But metrics are something different; metrics are measurement plus value. “Should […]
Story telling is an important part of testing. It is a part where you communicate and tell a compelling story what information you found at. Each story needs a scene in which it plays. Some of you might have attended the weekend or weeknight test sessions, some might have attended classes in testing where they […]
This began as an answer to Rikard’s post http://thetesteye.com/blog/2011/06/a-word-of-caution/ where the discussion on “traditional testing” came up. I often hear comparisons with our “industry” and the Automotive industry. In that context, you could say that “traditional testing” corresponds to the methods and practices that are applied in line production of large car companies. And the […]
If you are a faithful reader of this blog, you have probably read some challenges of established ways of testing. I write stuff like “anyone can do non-functional testing”, “look at the whole picture”, “test coverage is messing things up”, “you can skip all testing techniques”, “requirements are covered elsewhere, so focus on what’s truly […]
I have for a long time felt that something is wrong with the established software testing theories; on test design tutorials I only recognize a small part of the test design I live in. So it felt like a revelation when I read Gerd Gigerenzer’s Adaptive Thinking where he describes his tools-to-theories heuristic, which says […]
Jerry Weinberg made an excellent comment on my previous article Turning the tide of bad testing [1] where he wanted more examples/experience on the tips. It is sometimes a bit too easy just to come up with a tip that lacks context or explains how you used the specific tip in a situation and where it […]
Credit cards are taking over the usage of notes and coins. This has benefits, but it is not possible to toss a coin with credit cards. Bob van de Burgt coined (!) the term flipability at EuroSTAR 2010 Michael Bolton tutorial, coin exercise. It is a lovely word, and can be used more generally to […]
In many cases, it is worthwhile to take a look at how your competitors do similar things. Among competitors I include products you’re trying to beat, in-house solutions (e.g. handmade Excel sheets) and analogue solutions, solving the problem without computer products. Charisma is difficult to test, but competitor comparison is one way to go. You […]