Originally published in 1994, this article pre-dates "Agile" as a named thing. It was written out of a culture that was critiquing authoritarian and factory-oriented approaches to software … [Read more...] about The Immaturity of CMM
Critique
What Could Kill Testing?
(I wrote this several years ago with Michael Bolton, but never got around to publishing it... UPDATE: Oh! I did publish this as an editorial in Tea Time for Testers. Well, anyway this is an … [Read more...] about What Could Kill Testing?
Round Earth Test Strategy
The "test automation pyramid" (for examples, see here, here, and here) is a popular idea, but I see serious problems with it. I suggest in this article an alternative way of thinking that preserves … [Read more...] about Round Earth Test Strategy
The Next Step In “Test Automation” is Pure Bullshitting
I defy any responsible, sober technical professional to visit this website and discover what the "MABL" tool is and does without reaching out to the company to beg for actual details. It has an … [Read more...] about The Next Step In “Test Automation” is Pure Bullshitting
Rethinking Equivalence Class Partitioning, Part 1
Wikipedia's article on equivalence class partitioning (ECP) is a great example of the poor thinking and teaching and writing that often passes for wisdom in the testing field. It's narrow and … [Read more...] about Rethinking Equivalence Class Partitioning, Part 1
Accountability for What You Say is Dangerous and That’s Okay
[Note: I offered Maaret Pyhäjärvi the right to review this post and suggest edits to it before I published it. She declined.] A few days ago I was keynoting at the New Testing Conference, in New York … [Read more...] about Accountability for What You Say is Dangerous and That’s Okay
We. Use. Tools.
Context-Driven testers use tools to help ourselves test better. But, there is no such thing as test automation. Want details? Here's the 10,000 word explanation that Michael Bolton and I have been … [Read more...] about We. Use. Tools.
How Not to Standardize Testing (ISO 29119)
Many years ago I took a management class. One of the exercises we did was on achieving consensus. My group did not reach an agreement because I wouldn't lower my standards. I wanted to discuss the … [Read more...] about How Not to Standardize Testing (ISO 29119)
Benjamin Mitchell and the Trap of False Hypocrisy
One of the puzzles of intellectual life is how to criticize something you admire without sounding like you don't admire it. Benjamin Mitchell has given an insightful talk about social dynamics in … [Read more...] about Benjamin Mitchell and the Trap of False Hypocrisy
Context-Driven Testing at a Crossroads
Cem Kaner, who controls www.context-driven-testing.com, has announced an interesting change in his view of the Context-Driven School. He says he prefers to think of it in terms of the Context-Driven … [Read more...] about Context-Driven Testing at a Crossroads