The document explores the future of software testing, reflecting on risks, perceptions, and the importance of individuals in shaping industry trends. It emphasizes the need for confidence in testing and advocates for better tools, processes, and communication among testers. The author encourages proactive involvement in creating the desired future rather than passively accepting changes.

1. Exploring How Software Testing Is Going
to Change
Alan Richardson
@EvilTester
EvilTester.com
compendiumdev.co.uk
digitalonlinetactics.com
@EvilTester 1

2. The Future
Wild speculation
What we want to happen
What we think will happen
All have Risk associated with them.
@EvilTester 2

3. What we want to happen
reveals our biases
reveals our experience
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4. What we think will happen
reveals our model of the world
reveals our perception of the industry
@EvilTester 4

5. The Future
Is driven by individual vision
backed by individuals who believe
Is crafted by individuals taking action
Is allowed by individuals taking no action
Individuals are key.
@EvilTester 5

6. Warning: As a tester, risk of perceived
negativity ahead
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7. Machiavelli Says...
"he who would forecast what is about to happen should look to what
has been ; since all human events, whether present or to come, have
their exact counterpart in the past. And this, because these events are
brought about by men, whose passions and dispositions remaining in
all ages the same naturally give rise to the same effects"
Chapter XLIII of "Discourses on the first decade of Titus Livius"
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8. Predict More of the Same
"Predicting the future is much too easy, anyway. You look at the
people around you, the street you stand on, the visible air you
breathe, and predict more of the same..."
Ray Bradbury
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9. What I think ‑ based on the present
We will pursue the 'new', seeking the 'one' true tool
rather than find full potential in the 'old'
Market over‑saturated with 'new' and 'better' tools
no such thing as a bad tool, but hard to differentiate
Technology will be over‑hyped
seeds fear, and disappointment
Lack of confidence from Testing
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10. We Need to Have Confidence in Testing
Lack of confidence from Testing leads to
New Trends will continue to unnerve Testers
Testing will be defined by people who have not studied Testing
Attempting to replace Testers with Tools
AI, Automation
Testers will not be confident about their core
Testers will continue to reframe
@EvilTester 10

11. Individuals, Organisation, Industry
"I don’t try to predict the future. I try to prevent it."
Ray Bradbury
The future is not yet written.
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12. The Future Comes with Risks
@EvilTester 12

13. “A good science fiction story should be able to
predict not the automobile but the traffic jam."
– Frederik Pohl
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14. "he who looks carefully into the matter will find,
that in all human affairs, we cannot rid ourselves of
one inconvenience without running into another."
Niccolo Machiavelli
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15. Q: Who Identifies and pursues Risk?
A: Testers
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16. Q: What process is used to detect the
manifestation of risk?
A: Testing
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17. What I Want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
Spice Girls
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18. "I want better"
"Predicting the future is much too easy, anyway. You look at the
people around you, the street you stand on, the visible air you
breathe, and predict more of the same.
To hell with more. I want better."
Ray Bradbury
@EvilTester 18

19. What I Want ‑ Better Understanding of
Testing
More effective communication and understanding of Testing
People experienced in Testing, describe "Testing"
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20. Go Meta ‑ the core of testing remains
untouched
Six: What do you want?
Two: Information.
Six: Whose side are you on?
Two: That would be telling. We want information...information...
information!!!
Six: You won't get it!
Two: By hook or by crook, we will.
The Prisoner, title sequence
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21. What I Want ‑ Better Team Interaction
Teams constructed based on skill mix and utilisation
rather than role based
Separation between Automating and Testing
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22. What I Want ‑ Better and Flexible Tools
Tools support more Open and Standard APIs
User expandable tools ‑ APIs and Scriptable
Fewer frameworks and more libraries
Less risk in tool adoption
migration paths and open standards
Eco systems of interoperable tools and libraries
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23. What I want ‑ supporting tools
Understanding that 'people' are at the center of testing
Tools which observe more
Tools which help me interrogate faster
Tools which help me manipulate more easily
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24. What I Want ‑ Effective Processes
Algorithmic and Model Based Approaches
so much we haven't built on
More tools suitable for more skill ranges
Easier for people to decide which tool to adopt
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25. What I Want ‑ AI Augmentation
Not AI that replaces algorithms
AI that monitors and flags weak signals
AI that understands its limits
points out 'things'
and brings in people
AI that works in combination with people
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26. What I Want ‑ Gaps in tooling filled
visualising and communicating our work
deterministic algorithmic model coverage
spin off side projects
test data
...
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27. What I want ‑ Optimism
Testers Taking Testing Forward
Bringing in Lessons from other disciplines
Testers Defining Testing
Testers Demonstrating Value
Testers Harnessing Technology
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28. Whichever Future we pick ‑ Model it
Whichever Future we pick: Speculative, Want, Think
What would prevent it happening?
What would prevent us being part of it?
What would be the impact?
How do we get there?
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29. How to Handle the Future Now
Identify end point
Identify how you fit
identify what skills and attitudes you need
Work backwards from there
to create a plan for evolving
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30. Build the Future
Do not just let the future happen to you
Work to be part of the future you want
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31. Work to create the future you want
Alan Richardson ‑ EvilTester.com
@EvilTester 31