What Influences me in Software Testing? A mind-mapping workshop

1. Test Management Summit 2009 What Influences me inSoftware Testing?A mind-mapping workshop Graham Thomas Independent Software Testing Consultant TMF Summit IOD, London 28th January 2009

2. Abstract This session is a highly interactive mind mapping workshop, looking at the areas in software testing that currently influence the group, with the aim of building as an output a mind map of our collective influences. The areas looked at could include; • latest theories, • practical experience, • schools and approaches, • methods and techniques, • analogies and similarities, • books versus blogs, • the thinkers of our time, • and lots of other things. (No advance preparation is required, other than to bring an open mind.  There is no pre-requisite skill level.  All are welcome, but be prepared to contribute.)

3. P Rules of the Day This is a workshop so: • There are no bad ideas • Be creative • Take risks • No criticism allowed • If there is something that we don’t know how to deal with we will put it in the car park

4. Icebreaker

5. Seminars & Conferences

6. Self Selecting Groups • BCS SIG Standards Working Party • UK Software Testers Retreat • LEWT • Post Sig ‘meetings’ in the Volunteer • Post Conference dinner and drinks

7. Good People – my top 10 • Simon Stillwell - Senior Programmer • Mike Burnup - Senior Consultant • Theo Taylor - Boss (Testing Guru) • Paul Herzlich– W Model;1st Sig presentation • Paul Gerrard - EA “Challenge Everything” • Stuart Reid - Compendium of Testing knowledge • Isabel Evans - Shapes the future • Geoff Thompson - Knows how it all fits together • Les Hatton - Open your mind for 5 minutes • CCB - Encouragement, support, . . . .

8. Methods / Latest Thinking • Agile methods • XP • A vs a • Devil always has the best Technology • Continuous Integration • Pair Programming • Test Driven Development • Attitude • Agile Good / Non-Agile Bad • Active spinning; • Coverage Bingo, Waterfall 2006, • Grand Testing Master Theory • Axioms • See Paul Gerrard’s blog

9. Books or Blogs? • Blogging – extracts from a blog • I'm tired of......Interviewing people that haven't read a single book about testing......Interviewing people that don't have regular websites that they read to keep up to date on what's happening around matters relating to testing......Interviewing people that boast of their ISTQB qualification but can't even tell me how to apply boundary value analysis or basic combinatorial techniques properly...How can you have 3-6 years experience in testing and never have read a book or even have regular websites or blogs that you visit... and then claim that you are passionate about it!!! • A bad book - Object Oriented Software Testing – Siegel pp8 • Are there any good books ? • Book reviews – Personal experience

10. Things that annoy me • Traffic Lights • Puffin (Pedestrian User-Friendly Intelligent crossings) • Ariane 5 – Flight 501 • Shuttle Columbia – Accident Report

11. Analogies • 1st World War Officer Going over the top • Video • Ronin - Driving the wrong way • Galaxy Quest - “Never Give Up . . . “ • Brazil - Dysfunctional process • October Sky - Rocket Science • Thrust SSC - Ideal Tester • Process Improvement

12. Other Stuff • Nintendo Wii • Geo-tagging photos • GPS embedded devices • Netbooks – My Eee • Graphics Tablets • Windows Vista / 7 . . . XP

13. Mind Mapping • Mind Mapping • The Mind Map Book: Radiant Thinking - Major Evolution in Human Though – Tony Buzan • ISBN 978-0563487050 • Research Tools • Google • Wikipedia • F1 - Help

14. Contact Details Graham Thomas Independent Software Testing Consultant graham@badgerscroft.com +44 7973 387 853  www.badgerscroft.com