SPA Conference session: Testing Katas – Try Before you Buy | |||
| One-line description: | Join in an interactive testing kata to learn more about testing and a different method of learning. | ||
| Session format: | 75 min Workshop [read about the different session types] | ||
| Abstract: | The testing community say the ultimate goal of a test engineer is not just to do your job, but to teach your team how to do your job, which empowers and enables them to achieve the same level of quality in your absence. To build up testing skills amongst testers and non-testers alike we’ve established monthly testing ‘katas’ at Red Gate. A kata is a practice whereby you repeat an exercise so that it becomes a natural action. The goal in these testing katas is to help us develop the conceptual tools and techniques of testing, as well as to appreciate the benefits of working closely with other people in our team. The ultimate aim is that the thought processes of how to test will be so natural that they can be executed and adapted to suit nearly any situation. In this session we will be running a test kata for you to come and participate in. We will have pairs test an application rotating every 5 minutes whilst verbalising their approach and reasoning. The aim of the kata is to uncover issues in the application, covering all areas, from UI and functionality to fit for purpose. We will then discuss the approach and findings as a group afterwards. The next pair should then be able to learn from what they have seen and build on the approach. Through observing others you gain great insight into how others approach testing. This perspective allows you to identify practices that you can takeaway and apply, to enhance your own testing. As a side you’ll also see how effective katas can be in building relationships and sharing knowledge. We will share the findings from the testing kata on the conference wiki or similar. | ||
| Audience background: | The session is aimed at anyone interested in testing, from beginners through to experienced. It will introduce the concept of katas as well as highlighting different test techniques through the exercise. | ||
| Benefits of participating: | -Learn manual test techniques and how to apply them -Observe how other people approach testing and learn from their experience -Learn a way to share a vision through an interactive approach | ||
| Materials provided: | We will provide the exercise to be used for the kata itself as well as the laptop required. | ||
| Process: | The session will be presented by two test engineers with differing background but each with over ten years experience in testing. Having co presenters will aid the discussion and allow participants to benefit from multiple perspectives. There will be a short introduction to testing katas and the way we run them at Red Gate. we will also identify other formats that they can take. We will then introduce the application under test. participants will be split into pairs and each pair will come up and test the application for 5 minutes. At the end of this time we will discuss their findings as a group, it will then be the turn of the next pair. | ||
| Detailed timetable: | 00:00-00:10 - Introduction to Testing katas 00:10:15 - Answer any initial questions about the session and identify any key aims of the participants 00:15-00:20 - Introduce the application 00:20-00:65 - Pairs come to test the application and we discuss their findings (5 mins testing per pair and then discussion time as necessary, time for between 5 and 8 pairs) 00:75 - Wrap up and Confirm that the key aims have been met. | ||
| Outputs: | Write up of the session on the conference media for both participants and other conference attendees. | ||
| History: | Presented at Umbraco 2013 and presenting at South Florida code camp and Code PaLousa. | ||
| Presenters | |||
| 1. Emma Armstrong Red Gate |
2. | 3. | |