This document lays out, in many dimensions, how RST methodology differs from and contradicts the type of testing advocated by the ISTQB, TMAP, and similar systems. In my opinion, which is informed by … [Read more...] about How RST is Different From “Factory-Style” Testing
Methodology
How To Talk About Testing
It's not easy to talk about testing. This is a guide to avoiding the big pitfalls and having some of those difficult conversations. … [Read more...] about How To Talk About Testing
How Albina Wrecked My Tester Evaluation Method
How meeting an "empathic" tester proved that testing skill is mainly tacit, and is not reliably detected in an ordinary interview. … [Read more...] about How Albina Wrecked My Tester Evaluation Method
What Should I Do Now? Self-Management on a Technical Project
I don't wait to be told what to do. Nor do I allow myself to be told what to do. Nor do I allow some mechanical procedure or ritual to dominate me. This is because I am a fully functional adult … [Read more...] about What Should I Do Now? Self-Management on a Technical Project
How Do I Know I am Context-Driven?
I am one of the founders of the Context-Driven school of software testing thought. This is a paradigm that stands apart from the Agile or the "Factory" ways of seeing the world. The Factory paradigm … [Read more...] about How Do I Know I am Context-Driven?
How to Fake a Test Project
This is seriously how I would fake testing if I had to pretend to test and make it look convincing. Notice how much this ends of looking like "following best practices." … [Read more...] about How to Fake a Test Project
Investigating Bugs: A Testing Skills Study
Back in the year 2000, a company hired me to help them develop a professional testing culture. As part of that process, I found a team of highly regarded testers and studied their approach to bug … [Read more...] about Investigating Bugs: A Testing Skills Study
What Software Reality is Really About
Bach, J. (1999). What software reality is really about. Computer, 32(12), 148–149. https://doi.org/10.1109/2.809258 My final article for my Software Realities column in IEEE Computer magazine … [Read more...] about What Software Reality is Really About
Test Automation Snake Oil
This is probably the most popular article I ever wrote. It's about the nonsense and otherwise false claims that test tool companies make when they try to sell you their expensive tool. Originally … [Read more...] about Test Automation Snake Oil
Risk and Requirements-Based Testing
Bach, J. (1999). Risk and Requirements-Based Testing. Computer, 32, 113–114. https://doi.org/10.1109/MC.1999.10066 This is about why it's not enough to know the requirements. To test … [Read more...] about Risk and Requirements-Based Testing