TribalQonf 2020 - Volunteering and My Experience

This blog post is about my experience of volunteering for TribalQonf 2020, hosted by The Test Tribe community.  It was two days virtual conference on 27th Jun 2020 and 28th Jun 2020 with 600 attendees.  I volunteered for the conference along with other volunteers.

Disclaimer

No one has asked or paid me to write this blog post.  I'm writing it here to document my experience and learning from the TribalQonf 2020.

TribalQonf 2020 and Registration

I read about this conference on the Facebook group page of The Test Tribe.  I looked for submitting my talk.  I could not find a way to do it.  Later I learned, there was no public call for speakers.  The speakers were invited and chosen by the conference organizers.

The conference had a registration fee.  In the current financial situation of me, I could not afford it.  I did not wish to ask for a free pass or a discounted registration to attend this conference.

I had missed a few virtual testing conferences in the year 2020, as I could not afford to register.  I gave time for myself, so I let go of this as well.  But, I had this thought in my mind: "If I volunteer for TribalQonf 2020, probably I may get a free entry pass to this conference."   I wrote, "I'm available and wishing to volunteer."  to one of the organizers.  I received a positive note; I got added to the group of TribalQonf 2020 volunteers.  

Yet, I had a question should I register for attending this conference as there was no mentioning of a free pass to the volunteers.  I asked for one of the organizers should I register for the conference?  I got a volunteer pass.  I thank The Test Tribe community and its team for this kind gesture.

TribalQonf 2020 and Volunteering

The discussion of volunteering tasks had picked its momentum with volunteers and organizers.  The task list and status got updated consistently. 

I could not work on initial tasks in full dedication.  I stopped and did not interact much while I listened to it.  I had the feel what am I doing as a volunteer.  Then came a task to tweet about the talks on Twitter.  I picked it up.

I did well in this task.  Apart from the tweeting, I got another two responsibilities on the day of the conference.  I picked them and tried doing my best by communicating consistently to one of the organizers and conference host.    

I have a feeling of doing justice for the volunteer pass I got from The Test Tribe.

My Experience

I enjoyed the conference and listened to the speakers while I tweeted.  The feel of I did my part honestly being in each talk makes me glad.  Before taking up the tweeting, the tasks I was looking at helped me develop a fresh perspective on pitching and promotion.  I stopped brainstorming and working on the strategic planning of pitching as I could not participate actively in the discussion.  The insights I had while I brainstormed, I did not have it earlier; it is useful learning to me.

I'm glad that live-tweeting helped who were following the hashtag #tribalQonf.  I received thankyou messages in my DM and chat.  I was able to assist The Test Tribe in little possible ways for TribalQonf 2020.

I used an analysis platform to look at how the #TribalQonf is doing during the conference.  Here is the analysis for the first 500 tweets with hashtag #TribalQonf.

Test Leadership Congress 2020 - Vote of Thanks

With the permission of Anna Royzman, I wrote and shared the below Vote of Thanks note for Test Leadership Congress 2020 vote on 09th October 2020.

Hello All,


On behalf of Test Masters Academy, I express my vote of thanks with gratitude to the conference chair, organizers, sponsors, speakers, facilitators, and support. I thank @Anna Royzman and her team for giving us the engaging and educative conferencing hours. 

When I recollect the moments and calendar, it will not be a happy story without thanking the people who registered and eventually became the conference. The 47 days of the virtual conference having 179 hours of live streaming is not an ordinary conference story. 

Maybe none of us would have imagined that we will be attending a virtual conference from home for 179 hours or close to 7.5 days. It is a story to be said and embraced with celebration.  

I thank all the attendees, speakers, facilitators, and support for giving your time and making this conference happen and successful. I will remember this conference for all time! I have motivational, influencing, and happy stories to tell from this conference.

Today the Test Leadership Congress 2020 officially comes to an end, and I convey my regards to you all for being part of it. This conference has accomplished the purpose of it, and I happily share a few journey data with you all.

A quick briefing on the engaging and connected journey of TLC 2020:

1. 47 days virtual conference (pre-conference days, conference days, and tutorials days)
2. 60+ speakers from all geographical continents
3. 135 hours of pre-conference and conference sessions
4. 44 hours of tutorials
5. 179 hours in total live-streamed
6. Summer Leadership Season -- 20th July 2020 - 21st August 2020
7. Fall tutorials -- 01st September 2020 - 08th October 2020
8. Time Zones covered -- AEDT, IST, BST, EST
9. No downtime of conference streaming
10. Support available throughout the streaming time and offline
11. 10 members support team -- facilitating & tech support
12. Timely broadcast and announcement in Slack
13. Pre-conference and Conference session's live-tweeting
14. Following up with speakers, facilitator & support to make sure the scheduled slots are intact
15. Conference web and SwapCard consistently monitored and updated with details of speakers and topic
16. Backup plans in case of facilitator & support experience trouble during live streaming
17. And not to forget -- the conference design and program planning, communication with speakers, and following up

You all made TLC 2020 -- our conference.

Thank you all. Stay safe!

Ravisuriya

Support Team, TLC 2020

I, Stuttering, Support, Hosting and Test Leadership Congress 2020

 

The gratitude is what I sense in me at present as I write this post.  I thank my friend Ajay Balamurugadas for letting me know about Test Leadership Congress 2020 (TLC 2020) is looking for volunteers. I express my humble gratitude to Anna Royzman and Test Masters Academy.  

I was part of TLC 2020 in the host and support roles.  I received remuneration for it.  I could take care of my family for a couple of months with this remuneration when I did not have a job paying me a salary.

If Ajay had not discussed volunteering TLC 2020 conference, I would not have attempted hosting the virtual online conference so soon in my career.

Test Leadership Congress 2020

TLC 2020 was a virtual online conference.  The COVID19 pandemic has made the technology and software testing conferences to be online.  The good part is, I could attend it sitting from home.  If not, I could not have traveled to the USA for this conference bearing the conference ticket and travel expenses.

TLC 2020 was 47 days of the virtual conference having 179 (or close to 7.5 days) of live streaming, which is not an ordinary conference story.  I did not imagine that I will be attending a virtual conference from home for 179 hours.

Here is the gist of TLC 2020:

1. 47 days virtual conference (pre-conference days, conference days, and tutorial days)
2. 60+ speakers from all geographical continents
3. 135 hours of pre-conference and conference sessions
4. 44 hours of tutorials
5. 179 hours in total live-streamed
6. Summer Leadership Season -- 20th July 2020 - 21st August 2020
7. Fall tutorials -- 01st September 2020 - 08th October 2020
8. Time Zones covered -- AEDT, IST, BST, EST
9. No downtime of conference streaming
10. Support available throughout the streaming time and offline

Hosting and Volunteering the TLC 2020 sessions

I did not speak as a speaker. I hosted, supported, and shared by facilitating the in the below sessions slot:

1. Interactive APAC/South Asia/Europe -- Lean Coffee Session
2. Interactive South Asia/Americas/Europe -- Lean Coffee Session
3. Interactive Americas/Europe -- Lean Coffee Session
4. Interactive Americas/APAC -- Lean Coffee Session
5. Happy Hour
6. Pre-Conference Social: Game + Networking
7. Fireside Chats and Happy Hour APAC/South Asia/Europe
8. Fireside Chats and Happy Hour South Asia/Americas/Europe
9. Fireside Chats and Happy Hour Americas/Europe
10. Fireside Chats and Happy Hour Americas/APAC
11. Testing of New Technologies (and Fun Competitions!)
12. As a host/facilitator I spoke in slots of other speakers for the intro, follow up and closing

It all started on 23rd July 2020, where I saw an opportunity to grab the host role for the session -- Pre-Conference Social: Game + Networking at 1:30 PM IST.  I networked with participants by playing the game -- Questions For Testers (to trigger conversations and build connections). It is an engaging game compiled by James Lyndsay.

I hosted another two talks on the same day at 11:30 PM IST -- "The Art of Situational Leadership by Geosley Andaredes" and "Scale your automated tests using all in one automation tool - TestProject (demo)" by Sumeet Punjabi.

As part of Lean Coffee, Fireside Chats, and Happy Hours, I spoke (along with other participants in these sessions) on varied topics of Software Testing, Automation, Programming, Technology, non-technical, and more.  Importantly, I learned much better by listening to participants in these sessions. I could not have covered such topics in 30 minutes or 60 minutes talk if I had presented in TLC 2020. I shared by learning the context of participants; this helped me tailor what I share, how much I share, and how I shared my content with fellow participants. 

I and Stuttering

I have a speech disorder; I stammer while I talk. I have got control of my stammering today. It is not as bad as I experienced it in my childhood, school, and college days. People at the other end did not wait for me to complete my verbal communication, and some did not listen at all. Hardly I have one friend who listens to me patiently and waits for me to complete my part of converse in the discussion or chat.

Conversing was not a pleasing experience for me in childhood, school, and college days. When I had to buy a ticket on a public bus, I use to get verbally abused by conductors. I had written my destination on a piece of paper and show it to the conductor for having my ticket.

In 2009, I attended a walk-in drive for a Software Testing position. Those days 1000+ people would attend a walk-in drive in Bengaluru if announced publicly. I cleared the first round. It was a spacious hall where 300+ people were seated for the face-to-face interview. The interviewer asked, "What's the difference between verification and validation?" In 10 seconds, the interviewer said, "you may leave now." I explained to interviewers by writing that "I stammer, please listen to me." I remember the expression and tone of the interviewer when saying no. That day, I was disappointed!  When returning home, I said myself when I take an interview, I will listen to the candidate and I will converse.

When I had been to give my test for driving license, the person who was asking questions and reviewing my application forms threw it on the floor and said to get out of the hall. The girl behind me said to him he has difficulty speaking. I had to wait for others to finish their test. The other person came and took my test. I got my driving license. I think of this girl for the empathy she had when saying it. 

Inside my family, it was not easy for me. Except for my father, all others have spoken about how bad I'm when I talk. It made me not to open my mouth for conversing with anyone. I'm much better today; I stammer but not that bad as I did.

Now, when I had an opportunity to host a virtual conference, I said to myself. "it is an opportunity; I have to grab it." I have been waiting to spot such an opportunity for me; it came to me. I made use of the opportunity and worked honestly on it.

I have this thought in me. People have empathy for physically challenged people. But people make fun of people who have a challenge in speaking. Why? The movies I have watched make fun of people who stammer by showing it as a comedy scene or frame. Why? Though it is not a physical challenge, it is a challenge for a person who stutters. Stuttering is not my identity; it is part of me.

Above said are a few incidents from my experience with people while I'm stuttering.  It has impacted me and has its influence on me.  Today, I have control over it, and I'm trying to master it consistently.

I tried my best in TLC 2020 when I hosted and supported. I was aware there will be people from different geographical locations and who might not know my speaking challenges. I remained affirmative and confident while hosting; I believe I did it. I thank Test Masters Academy, speakers, support team, and conference attendees. You all made me better and helped me to see my strength!

In TLC 2020, I hosted/facilitated and volunteered as support for:

• 31 pre-conference and conference sessions as host/facilitator
• 36 pre-conference and conference sessions as support
• 20 tutorials session as host/facilitator and support

Closing Note

I feel the same sense of gratitude while I'm ending the writing of this post. 

I thank Test Masters Academy, Anna Royzman, and Ajay Balamurugadas for the opportunity.  I have used my time in a valuable way by being part of the Test Leadership Congress 2020.  Thanks to the Software Testing Community.

I can host.  I can engage.  I can speak.  I feel a sense of accomplishment!

Workshop Experience: Effective Problem Solving for Leaders and Managers

 

This writing is about my experience attending the workshop Problem Solving for Leaders and Managers by Ajay Balamurugadas, which was organized by Manu Mantra in HSR Layout, Bengaluru. I thank Ajay for the help and coordination he gave me to attend the workshop.

Disclaimer

I'm not asked and paid by anyone to write the experience report for this workshop. I'm writing it to document -- my learning, reflection, and refraction I have in me on attending the workshop.

About the workshop

I know Gerald M. Weinberg and his team did the Problem Solving Leadership (PSL) workshop. I came to know about this workshop from fellow testers in the community and posts of Gerald M. Weinberg. Ajay had been to the USA for the PSL workshop.

I could not attend the first batch of Ajay's workshop. I requested Ajay to update me for the next workshop; he did update me. He helped me further to be part of the workshop.  

Attending the workshop, I learn, Ajay has got it to his style and context, and it is unique.  It was one day workshop

Ajay posted details of the workshop. Now, I had an opportunity to learn what it has and what I can make out of it.  

Why did I attend this workshop?

Here is why I wanted to attend this workshop:

1. Learn from one who is applying what he has learned from the PSL workshop
2. Learn the approaches he has in solving the problems
3. Learn how one arrives at decision making
4. How the trainer uses skill and benefits from it as a manager/leader?

What I made out of this workshop?

I wanted to listen and avoid talking unnecessarily. I was attentive in the workshop and observed what the trainer and fellow trainees shared. The workshop started with a problem in the training room. The whiteboard was not usable; using the projector was not going to serve, and the trainer had to come up with a way to start the workshop.

Ajay solved it! As a result, what the trainer wrote or shared was available as notes. My wife follows a similar approach when there is no whiteboard. The workshop started with a question -- "What is a problem?"

I share a few of my learning here:

1. Problem Identification - CLOSE mnemonic
2. Solutions to a problem
3. Problem perspective, solving, and traps
4. Team, situations, understanding people
5. Models and tools to assist

My experience and learning

I like the way how Ajay handles himself in recent days. The how and why of it is evident to me now after attending his workshop. This workshop helped me to restructure my problem-solving models and approaches wherever needed.

There were new aspects that I did not know. I could pick and learn them from this workshop. I got what I was looking for from this workshop.

If you have never come across any session or mentor to assist in solving the problems, this workshop can be the first step.

Question on Quora: Debugging of "Login button not working"

 

I read a question in the Quora which said -- "We are manual testers and we are testing a login page, but the login button is not working. How can we debug that thing?". I found the phrase "not working" and that me attentive about it. The words as this make me curious and lead me to debug and learn. 

Also, I see this thought of me can help someone who is wanting to test in such cases. The phrase -- "... but the login button is not working." open up multiple possibilities of seeing what the person is saying, like:

• The login functionality looks functional; but, the login button looks to be not functional?
• How did one know about the broken login button?
• More questions like this can cross the mind of a Test Engineer!

I have tried to put my thoughts in the below mindmap. I hope it will help someone who is looking for a start in similar context lines.

Workshop Experience: Web Application Security Testing

 

This writing is my experience report of the workshop Web Application Security Testing conducted by Verity Software with Rahul Verma as a trainer. I had attended this workshop in November 2011. I registered for it again and was part of the workshop for the second time in September 2020. I thank Vinay Baid and Anil Nahata of Verity Software for coordinating and helping me to attend this workshop.

I and Web Testing for Security

I started testing for web applications in 2008 by learning what the browser is, its internals, and by understanding the web technologies. While doing this, I was working on projects which built web systems for -- SalesForce, Healthcare - Insurance, Reporting, and BI Reporting systems.  

One of the projects was supporting only for IE (IE6 & 7). The other projects web was supposed to support desktop Firefox, Chrome, and Safari. In the project, my task was to test for functionality.

In parallel, I picked testing for the security of these web applications. I referred to OWASP and its contents. I was building my mindset for security testing; I tested for web application security. I found the security bugs!

Disclaimer

I'm not paid by anyone to write this post and no one asked me to write one. I'm writing it has my workshop experience and learning I made out of it. I'm writing it to document my experience from this workshop.

About the workshop

I saw the post in 2011 from Rahul Verma about his workshop -- Web Application Security Testing, two days workshop. I registered for it in 2011; it helped me. In 2020 September, I did attend the same two days workshop from Rahul Verma and conducted by Verity Software this time. The detail of this hands-on workshop is available in the Verity Software's website.

  

I did not feel it is a repetition. In these eight years, my thought process has changed. I see that I have progressed in my learning in these eight years. Yet, I did not experience it as a repetition. 

The only differences that I could see are:

• In 2011, it was in a hotel at Kormangala; 2020's workshop was online as an effect of the COVID19 pandemic.
• In the physical workshop, the trainer moved around each table and looked into the trainee's practicing; in an online format, he helped by asking how we are doing the hands-on exercises.
• In the physical workshop then, the trainer had given a laptop if needed with software that needs to be used and installed; in an online format, we trainees had our laptop and seated at home, and accessed the practice system hosted on a cloud via remote desktop.
• In the physical workshop, he could see us, our eyes and our face, and understand what's happening with us; in an online format, he had turned on his camera, and trainees had turned off their camera.
• In the physical workshop, there was networking between the trainees; in an online format, no networking, and sharing between the trainees.
• In the physical workshop, he wrote on whiteboard and in a projected text editor and explained; in an online format, he used the Sublime editor to write and explained his thoughts on the shared screen.
• In the physical workshop, there was silence, we trainees listened to him; in an online format, at times we had trainees microphone turned on and could hear the background sound (I don't call it as noise!).
• In the physical, we did not see any break or lag in the trainer's voice; in an online format, we could see the lag in the trainer's and trainee's video and voice (latency, bandwidth, streaming & internet!).

Otherwise, I made my notes as I listened to him then and today. It was the first online workshop for the trainer Rahul Verma.

Why did I attend this workshop?

Here are my reasons why I attended this workshop:

• To check on my fundamentals, thought process, and mindset in Web Application Security Testing.
• To see the difference in me and my practice after I attended the previous workshop.
• To learn certain concepts better from a practitioner who practices web application security testing.
• To listen to Rahul Verma:
• He doesn't do sugar coat.
• Says what he knows and what he practices.
• His way of explanations and the way he looks at the fundamentals before security.
• His experiences and what kind of security information he finds and how.
• I did not connect to it well in 2011 as I connected to it today.  I was grasping slowly and thinking about what I do as Rahul Verma spoke.  I did not repeat this mistake in the 2020's workshop.
• Today, I received it better as I'm practicing it, and I could relate my work when he discussed subjects and topics in the workshop.

What I made out of this workshop?

I said to myself to unlearn and not to think with what I know as I listened to the trainer. I went with an open and listening mind to this workshop. I did make sure to keep myself attentive in the workshop. I share a few of my learning here:

• My fundamentals got revisited; registered it better in my thought and mind.
• Understanding and the way I see what I see is with more clarity and observations.
• The topics which look buzzy and complicated have become much simpler now to understand and work on it.
• My mindset is realigning with the unlearning I had in the workshop.
• I wanted to re-arrange my thinking here if I had to, and I did it listening to Rahul Verma for the second time.
• Before learning security testing, the fundamentals of the web were taken seriously and discussed it.
• I cannot write in detail about it here. Probably if I do that, it may impact the trainer and organization conducting the workshop.
• The fundamentals he discusses here are needed -- stepping stones.
• As we know, tools assist in testing better, but it does not test on behalf of a tester. Yet using the tool in security testing is helpful in context up to a limit, and later it is human who has to test for security. 
• I did not see anything I listened to as a repeat for me.

I got what I wanted from this workshop. It is on me now how I practice and lead myself ahead.

My experience and learning

What the trainer spoke is available in books and on the web. What's not available is the thought process and how to approach it by understanding. The demonstration of a practitioner has to be experienced in person if possible; it brings a different and unique value in the trainee. My peace is paced well and tuned. 

The value added by the security testing of a Test Engineer/SDET and Security Testing specialist is unique and needed. My idea of encouraging and assisting the Test Engineer/SDET to practice Security Testing is much strong and clear now. I will continue to practice Security Testing as a Test Engineer/SDET, and sure I will add my unique values early in the work I do.

I have got the confidence now that if I attend it another time, I won't experience it as repeated to me.  It will be new and unique.

If you can afford and attend this workshop from Rahul Verma, do attend.  It will help to build the fundamentals and mindset needed for the Security Testing and Web Application Security Testing.