Testing Lessons Learned from Monty Python
-
Upload
techwellpresentations -
Category
Technology
-
view
68 -
download
6
description
Transcript of Testing Lessons Learned from Monty Python
W2
Test Techniques
5/7/2014 11:30:00 AM
Testing Lessons Learned from
Monty Python
Presented by:
Rob Sabourin
AmiBug.com
Brought to you by:
340 Corporate Way, Suite 300, Orange Park, FL 32073
888-268-8770 ∙ 904-278-0524 ∙ [email protected] ∙ www.sqe.com
Rob Sabourin
AmiBug.com Rob Sabourin, P. Eng., has more than thirty years of management experience leading teams of software development professionals. A well-respected member of the software engineering community, Rob has managed, trained, mentored, and coached hundreds of top professionals in the field. He frequently speaks at conferences and writes on software engineering, SQA, testing, management, and internationalization. Rob wrote I am a Bug!, the popular software testing children's book; works as an adjunct professor of software engineering at McGill University; and serves as the principle consultant (and president/janitor) of AmiBug.Com, Inc. Contact Rob at Contact Rob at [email protected].
1
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 1
Monty Python’s
Flying Test Lab
Robert Sabourin
President & Principal consultant
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
Montreal, Canada
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 2
And now for something completely different . . . Monty Python's Flying Circus
revolutionized comedy and brought zany British humor to a world-wide
audience. However, buried deep in the hilarity and camouflaged in its twisted
wit, lie many important testing lessons—tips and techniques you can apply to
real world problems to deal with turbulent projects, changing requirements,
and stubborn project stakeholders. Rob Sabourin examines some of the most
famous Python bits—“The Spanish Inquisition” telling us to expect the
unexpected, “The Dead Parrot” asking if we should really deliver this product
to the customer, “The Argument” teaching us about bug advocacy, “Self
Defense Against Fresh Fruit” demonstrating the need to pick the right testing
tool, and a host of other goofy gags, each one with a lesson for testers.
• How to test effectively with persistence
• Make your point with effective communication
• Keys ways to clarify project goals and requirements
Monty Python’s Flying Test Lab!
2
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 3
• Overview– Learning and metaphors– Ambiguous requirements– Logic and reasoning– Dead software– I always wanted to be a tester– Throw code over the wall– Help desk arguments– Communications– Testing tools– Nobody expects the process
inquisition
Monty Python’s Flying Test Lab!
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 4
Learning and Metaphors
• Teaching
• Learning
• Retaining
• Applying knowledge
• Share experiences
• Don’t get carried away 5
3
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 5
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 6
Monty Python’s Flying Test Lab!
4
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 7
Monty Python’s Flying Test Lab!
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 8
Ambiguous Requirements
• Is it really perfectly
clear?
• Do not tick off the
stakeholders
• Decision tables?
• Real communications?
5
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 9
Witch Burning
• False logic
• Incongruent chain
of reasoning
• A witch weighs the
same as a duck!
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 10
Witch Burning
• Indirect
measures
• Calibration
• The sound of
wisdom.
6
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 11
Dead Parrot?
• When I bought
this software you
said it was taking
time to get to
know my
computer.
• “Norwegian Blue
Screen Saver”
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 12
Dead Parrot?• What do you
mean it’s
sleeping?
• It’s crashed!
• It has abended
• It will run no more
• It is deceased
• This is a dead
program!!!
7
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 13
Lumberjack
• I always wanted
to be a tester,
Leaping from
bug to bug �
• “He’s a tester
and he’s OK –
He Sleeps all
night and he
works all day”
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 14
Lumberjack• He crashes
code and eats
his lunch and
lives by the
blue screen
• And when he
hears of Vista
he runs to the
latrine!
8
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 15
The Taunting
• So what exactly are
the developers
throwing over the
wall?
• A cow or a duck?
• Can we really “run
away!”?
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 16
The Argument
• Helpdesk �
• This isn’t an
argument, it is a
series of
contradictions?
• Yes it is!
• No it isn’t.
9
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 17
Trading Languages
• Do you
understand the
customer?
• Do your
customers
understand you?
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 18
Defend against fruit
• Choose the
right tool for the
right job.
• Take heed – do
not take claims
at face value.
10
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 19
Spanish Inquisition
• Nobody expects the
process inquisition!
• Our three weapons
are Fear, Surprise
and a Fanatical
Devotion to Thick
Binders
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 20
Holy Hand Grenade
• Follow instructions or
just plain act on it.
• Do testers need to
hide behind process?
11
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 21
SPAM
• SPAM is finally
pervasive!
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006April 26, 2014 Slide 22
Thank You
Questions?