I was working with a client today who complained that there were hidden errors buried in a log file produced by the product he was testing. So, I wrote him a tool that continuously monitors any text file, such as a server log (as long as it is accessible through the file system, as in [...]

One of the experiences I share with a lot of people in this modern world is that I forget phone numbers. I never used to. The problem is that my mobile phone remembers them for me. So, phone numbers no longer stick in my own head. If I want to call a colleague, I first [...]

I just posted an agile automation presentation on my site that expresses an agile approach to the classic problem of test automation. This approach can be used for test automation for any kind of project, whether or not that project is itself “agile.”
(Note: Agile test automation is a term sometimes used to mean whatever Extreme [...]

Two months ago, I had a $732 charge on my Sprint phone bill for “telephone equipment.” I had not purchased any telephone equipment, so I called customer service to dispute the bill.
The service agent told me “we haven’t sold phone equipment for months, so this can’t be right. I’ll remove the charge.” (Notice how the [...]

I recently used the United Airlines “self check-in” kiosk. It’s a touchscreen system at the airport that allows passengers to get a boarding pass for a flight without having to see a live ticket agent. United is keen for people to use them. The more popular the automation is, the less staff United needs for [...]