As Vice President Testing Engagements, Rajini Padmanaban leads the engagement and relationship management for some of QA InfoTech's largest and most strategic accounts. She has more than seventeen years of professional experience, primarily in the software quality assurance space. Rajini actively advocates software quality assurance through evangelistic activities including blogging on test trends, technologies and best practices, providing insights on software testing to analyst firms such as Gartner, IDC. She is also an active speaker in the Star conferences run by SQE and QAI STC. Her writings continue to be featured in TechWell, Sticky Minds and Better Software Magazine amongst others. She can be reached at [email protected].
Exploratory testing best practices should be accommodated for and communicated upfront, with early stakeholder buy in in order to ensure you get the most from your efforts.
Test automation is not just a bunch of automated scripts to be written and handed off. The scripting process, though important, is just an inner layer embedded deep within the whole. There are several more layers that are important in showcasing the true value of the automated scripts. You need to understand all layers.
As we all deal with COVID-19 across the globe—medically, economically, and professionally—there are plenty of lessons to discover. There is also a lot to learn when it comes to cybersecurity. More people moving toward working from home means more opportunities for hackers to strike, so we must be smart and vigilant.
Critical thinking is a core trait a software tester needs to succeed, and asking questions is a great skill to help. Questioning brings out the required information, breaks assumptions, and enables everyone on the team to give their perspectives. But there's an art to asking the right question at the right time.
A typical tester mimics end-users, who are constructive when exploring an application’s functionality. But the role of a security tester is different. Their focus is mainly on mimicking hackers, who are intentionally destructive. A solid security strategy should balance both constructive and destructive efforts.
As technology continues to evolve, questions around the role of quality also continue. Is manual testing still required? What should the role of automation be? Where are we heading with quality? Smart testers hoping to develop their careers will have to brush up on their exposure and expertise and embrace automation.
Software testers are frequently perceived as negative. While their goal is constructive—to deliver an exceptional product to end-users—getting there involves a critical mindset, which is often construed as being a devil’s advocate. Here are some ways testers can transform their thinking to a more positive outlook.
