I've taken some heat for discussing the whole "is test dead" concept due to a feeling that I was validating the concept of testing being unnecessary. Allow me to clarify my position. I do not believe, for one heartbeat, that testing as an activity is in any way unnecessary. I do believe that there are things related to the current state of and common beliefs about testing that should die. With that said...
Scott Barber's Top 10 Things About Testing That Should Die:
10. Egocentricity
Face reality testers, neither the product nor the business revolve around you. Think about it. No business, no product, no developers => no need for testers. In fact, if developers wrote perfect code, there'd be no need for you. You are a service provider and your primary clients are the managers, developers, and/or executives. Your secondary clients are product users and investors. So stop whining and stomping your feet when your clients don't make decisions you like with the information you provide. It's not your call. If you want it to be your call, get on track to become a project manager, product manager, or executive, otherwise, get right with the fact that you provide a service (hopefully a valuable one) and get back to providing it.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
On the Alleged Death of Testing
Out of respect for your time, I'll give you the bottom line up front as a simulated interview that I privately hoped for, but never came. After the mock interview is a supporting narrative for those of you more interested in my thinking on the matter.
Q: There's been a lot of talk recently about testing being dead, so my first question is testing dead?
A: No.
Q: Some of those talking about the alleged death of testing are saying that it's not that testing as a whole is dead, but that testing as it is commonly understood today dead. Is it?
A: No.
Q: Ok, so is testing as it is commonly understood today dying?
A: Not that I can see.
Q: Then why all the talk about testing "as we know it" being dead?
A: IMHO? Wishful thinking.
Q: There's been a lot of talk recently about testing being dead, so my first question is testing dead?
A: No.
Q: Some of those talking about the alleged death of testing are saying that it's not that testing as a whole is dead, but that testing as it is commonly understood today dead. Is it?
A: No.
Q: Ok, so is testing as it is commonly understood today dying?
A: Not that I can see.
Q: Then why all the talk about testing "as we know it" being dead?
A: IMHO? Wishful thinking.
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