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
Critique
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
Willful Ignorance on Parade
Michael Bolton is accused of hand-waving in this thread on LinkedIn. (See the comment by Peter). Michael and I talk a lot about cognition and exploration. We speak in tropes that come from philosophy … [Read more...] about Willful Ignorance on Parade
What Exploratory Testing is Not
Michael Bolton has gone off like a volcano in Iceland, writing a series about what exploratory testing … [Read more...] about What Exploratory Testing is Not
Exploratory Testing is not “Experienced-Based” Testing
Prabhat Nayak is yet another thinking tester recently hired by the rising Indian testing powerhouse, Moolya. Speaking of the ISTQB syllabus, he writes: One such disagreement of mine is they have put … [Read more...] about Exploratory Testing is not “Experienced-Based” Testing
Avoiding My Curse on Tool Vendors
Adam Goucher noticed that I recently laid a curse upon commercial test tool vendors (with the exception of Hexawise, Blueberry Consultants, and Atlassian). He wondered to me how a tool vendor might … [Read more...] about Avoiding My Curse on Tool Vendors
The Euthyphro Dilemma in New Zealand
I recently had the opportunity to converse about tester certification with Carol Cornelius, who's on the board of the New Zealand version of the ISTQB. The discussion went well in one respect: she did … [Read more...] about The Euthyphro Dilemma in New Zealand