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Testing Lessons Learned from Monty Python
- 1. 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 ∙ sqeinfo@sqe.com ∙ www.sqe.com
- 2. 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 rsabourin@amibug.com.
- 3. 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 rsabourin@amibug.com 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!
- 4. 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!
- 6. 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?
- 7. 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.
- 8. 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!!!
- 9. 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!
- 10. 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.
- 11. 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.
- 12. 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?
- 13. 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?