natural born testers are you one? if not, then become one! graham thomas independent software...
TRANSCRIPT
Natural Born TestersAre You one?
If not, then become one!
Graham ThomasIndependent
Software Testing Consultant
October 31, 2013 Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
Abstract
Some people seem to be natural born testers; Spend your life returning faulty products Avoid version n.0 but is a ‘fool for the promise of the new’ Are challenged by an unused feature Invest your time seemingly out of all proportion Are often disappointed but sometimes pleasantly surprised
How to increase your skills by complimentary (non-test) activitiesBearsGames to play
Lemmings RailRoad Tycoon Angry Birds
Agenda
What is a Natural Born Tester?
Attributes of a NTB
See if you are one?
Bears
Games to Play
Conclusion, Summary & Questions?
1. What is a Natural Born Tester?
Video Player
Shoes
Manual
Version n.0 versus n.1
So how do you show something not happening?Video Player
Stereo light that did not come on How do you show someone that not
happening?
Corporate Video Wanted to make a video to show a
screen that didn’t appear any more. “We can show them a video of it not
happening”
“Look, it hasn’t happened”“ There, it isn’t happening again!!!”
A Natural Born Tester
Someone who tests by default. Whatever. Not destuctivly, or malicisuosly, just out of habit, or compulsion.A ‘What if’ or ‘Why not’ attitude.
As an example - Last week
Three days to get to a blank screen Out of the Box it was Good Enough But as a NTB
o It might have been better . . . . . o I couldn’t stop until I had tried . . . . . Or in this case until I had broken it !o I have now gone back to Out of the Box and Good Enougho You don’t know until you try
o Not everything people post on the internet is helpful
3. So who is a Natural Born Tester?
1. If you buy something that doesn’t work do you just throw it away (0) or take it back(3)?
2. Do you find, after evaluating all of the evidence, you have ended up in the wrong queue, yet again? (3)
3. Have you deliberately avoided a n.0 product, i.e. Windows 8.0? (3)
4. Do you; buy new items – e.g. untested (3), or only buy used items – those known to work (0)?
5. Do you feel challenged by an unused feature? (3)
6. Have you tested a feature you won’t ever use? (3)
7. Is this glass half empty (3)or half full(0)?
4. Bears
5. Games to Play
Lemmings
RailRoad Tycoon
Angry Birds
Lemmings - Explained
Lemmings
Why Lemmings?
Required Skills Multi-tasking Parallel processing Problem solving Time Management Goal Oriented
Fun
Still play today - online
RailRoad Tycoon
Why RailRoad Tycoon?
All about PlanningAll about ManagementDifferent views by contextMonitoring, Measuring, PredictingControllingAdapting to changeReacting to change
Fun
Can still play today on a Windows PC
Angry Birds
Why Angry Birds?
Teaches you to explore your contextSimple solution is not always optimalDifferent techniques - BirdsCombine techniquesPlanThink in the abstract
Fun
Play; anytime, anyplace, anywhere
Just imaging if?
Angry‘Test’Birds
EQ
BVA
=
=
Bears (2)
Scientific AmericanNov 2013, pp 64
You can Learn through play
Penguins PuzzleRaspberry Pi
$35Teach children to learn to programFully functional Linux computer
My RasPi Projects
Python
TimeLapse Video
USB Robotic Arm
NQC (Not Quite C) Lego MindStorms
Cable Car
Skills form Game Playing
• Multi-tasking• Parallel processing• Problem solving• Time Management• Goal Oriented• Planning• Management• context• Monitoring, Measuring,
Predicting
• Control• Adapting to change• Reacting to change• Context Exploration• Optimal Solution• Use different techniques• Combine techniques• Think in the abstract
• Fun, Fun, Fun!
Thank you for Participating
Any Questions?
Please evaluate my presentation and use for this the AgileTD Mobile App which you can find at www.touchmyconference.com/ATD2013. I would appreciate your feedbacks. Thank you very much!
Contact Details
Graham Thomas
Independent SoftwareTesting Consultant
+44 7973 387 853
www.badgerscroft.com
25