Comments on: Question: How do you stay sharp as a tester? http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/64 The Consulting Software Tester Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:44:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Norfolk and Chance http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/64#comment-5951 Norfolk and Chance Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:20:06 +0000 http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/64#comment-5951 I'm on down-time between projects, though luckily being employed by a large company so the money and security is there... My routine as follows: Read emails Read blogs and geek websites Polish up on Rational Watch day time TV, (try not to commit suicide) Exercise Think about picking up weighty testing practioneer book (think day time TV is probably less dull) Read some more emails Look at jobsites Wait for next project Become very bored Read article about offshore testing market expanding Pick up that book :) I’m on down-time between projects, though luckily being employed by a large company so the money and security is there…

My routine as follows:
Read emails
Read blogs and geek websites
Polish up on Rational
Watch day time TV, (try not to commit suicide)
Exercise
Think about picking up weighty testing practioneer book (think day time TV is probably less dull)
Read some more emails
Look at jobsites
Wait for next project
Become very bored
Read article about offshore testing market expanding
Pick up that book :)

]]> By: AlexanderIII http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/64#comment-3552 AlexanderIII Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:16:43 +0000 http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/64#comment-3552 hi, James, thanks for telling me the way to sharp my testing abilities. Before I read this article, my mind was limited in "SW Testing" domain. hi, James, thanks for telling me the way to sharp my testing abilities.
Before I read this article, my mind was limited in “SW Testing” domain.

]]> By: Alan http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/64#comment-3437 Alan Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:11:27 +0000 http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/64#comment-3437 Sounds like a fun week - I'm jealous. I like the balance of the above list (reading, thinking and doing), and think it's a good model to follow. I know you mentioned that when you are working for a customer that you concentrate on solving their problems, but I'm curious as to how much of the other things you still try to fit in. I have a full time job and have two kids under the age of three. As you expect, I have much less time to stay sharp - but still think exercising the brain is extremely important and I'm curious what you do to stay sharp *while* you're consulting. I, of course, realize that it's not an entirely apples to apples comparison as your clients may have different expectations from you while you're working than a full time employer does. As an example, last week (in addition to my day job), I did these things to stay sharp: - solved 2 problems from project euler (www.mathschallenge.net) - reviewed 2 chapters in the Schaum's discrete mathematics outline - read "The Wisdom of Crowds" - Re-read various Richard Feynman essays I also read a handful of testing articles and chapters from testing books, wrote some sample code for a course I'm teaching, and did some research on Customer Focus Design, but fortunately, I consider that part of my job and did most of it while "on the clock". Sounds like a fun week - I’m jealous. I like the balance of the above list (reading, thinking and doing), and think it’s a good model to follow.

I know you mentioned that when you are working for a customer that you concentrate on solving their problems, but I’m curious as to how much of the other things you still try to fit in. I have a full time job and have two kids under the age of three. As you expect, I have much less time to stay sharp - but still think exercising the brain is extremely important and I’m curious what you do to stay sharp *while* you’re consulting. I, of course, realize that it’s not an entirely apples to apples comparison as your clients may have different expectations from you while you’re working than a full time employer does.

As an example, last week (in addition to my day job), I did these things to stay sharp:
- solved 2 problems from project euler (www.mathschallenge.net)
- reviewed 2 chapters in the Schaum’s discrete mathematics outline
- read “The Wisdom of Crowds”
- Re-read various Richard Feynman essays

I also read a handful of testing articles and chapters from testing books, wrote some sample code for a course I’m teaching, and did some research on Customer Focus Design, but fortunately, I consider that part of my job and did most of it while “on the clock”.

]]> By: Joni Piter http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/64#comment-3430 Joni Piter Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:22:03 +0000 http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/64#comment-3430 I work as a tester at a big company, but besides my daily work (what my leader tells me to do) I do the following: -In the recent months I found great interest on reading articles from you experts (Bach, Kaner, Pettichord... ) Everytime I switch to a different task I read something, and Mind-map it for future mind-refresh. I find this a way to keep focus on important stuff, and don't let age and experience banalize testing activity -Find, implement and later evaluate new testing strategies. For example, new ways of keeping relevant information, like twikis, or new test documentation tools, like TestLink. Efficiency in the testing effort is a never ending field for research and improvements. Often I find myself thinking: if I had done this in a different way I would have saved a lot of time... -I do some "bricolage" and with it I learn that the more you think about something, the better is the solution. Simple things like gardening, protecting garden stuff from winter season, home work are often interesting challenges. I work as a tester at a big company, but besides my daily work (what my leader tells me to do) I do the following:
-In the recent months I found great interest on reading articles from you experts (Bach, Kaner, Pettichord… ) Everytime I switch to a different task I read something, and Mind-map it for future mind-refresh. I find this a way to keep focus on important stuff, and don’t let age and experience banalize testing activity
-Find, implement and later evaluate new testing strategies. For example, new ways of keeping relevant information, like twikis, or new test documentation tools, like TestLink. Efficiency in the testing effort is a never ending field for research and improvements. Often I find myself thinking: if I had done this in a different way I would have saved a lot of time…
-I do some “bricolage” and with it I learn that the more you think about something, the better is the solution. Simple things like gardening, protecting garden stuff from winter season, home work are often interesting challenges.

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