Testing and Report: One Hour of Testing; I Failed, Not The Tests

 

This incident crosses my mind often.  Each time it crossed, I have said myself -- "How bad my testing was then! Not Again."  Today, I'm better.

I was the only tester on the floor that evening in Moolya.  It was around 8:10 PM and I was practicing after office hours.  Pradeep Soundararajan walked along with Sunil Kumar T, and asked: "Can you test this website and share a test report in an hour?"  I did collect the details I needed with the context.  I was surprised to see them as I did not hear voices for minutes while I was practicing.

I was supposed to test a website that had one page.  I did not see any dynamic content on the page and it was all static.  In an hour, what can I test for the context shared?  I listed my thoughts and ideas.  I did my tests and emailed the report to the customer and I remember, I copied it to Pradeep and Sunil.

The next day, I asked how's the report and good enough for context.  I was said, "It serves the context and purpose. Good!"

But today, when this work of me cross my mind, I get the feel of:

• How bad my test coverage is in that testing!
• How blind I was in my work that day though I did my thinking in work!
• How shallow I was in the tests!
• I must not repeat it again.
• I failed during that one hour.

This failure of me has added values in me and it continues to add. The one-hour testing and the test report tell me I failed but not the tests. 

If I test the same web page today, I'm not the same tester.  I have progressed in my practice.  Yet, this incident reminds me of what I should not be doing.  Moolya has helped me in this journey.  I thank Sunil and Pradeep for picking me to test that one-page website.  If they had not picked me for this task, I would have missed learning that wakes up a tester in me.

STePIN Summit 2020 - Volunteering and My Experience

This blog post is about my experience report of STePIN Summit 2020.  I was one of the volunteers who did the tweeting of talks.  In a way, we all volunteers reached the essence of each speaker's presentation to people who could not attend the virtual conference.  It was two days virtual online conference organized by STePIN Forum on 03rd Sep 2020 and 04th Sep 2020.

Disclaimer

No one has paid me or asked to write this report.  I'm recording my experience of the conference here.

STePIN Summit 2020 and Registration

STePIN Forum has given me an invitee pass for the past STePIN Summits.  This time it was a virtual conference as we have a pandemic situation from COVID19.   I wrote to one of the organizers asking I'm available as a volunteer.   I got an immediate response acknowledging the request.

I joined a group of other volunteers.  Our volunteering task was to watch the Social Media for hashtag #STePInSummit2020 and tweet about the conference's talks.  Organizers briefed us and were available to contact for any clarifications before, during, and post conference.

I got a free pass this time as a volunteer for STePIN Summit 2020.  I'm glad I could be part of the conference.  If I were to buy the ticket, I could not have afforded it in my present financial situation.

I thank STePIN Forum and STePIN Summit 2020 organizers for the kind gesture.

STePIN Summit 2020 and Volunteering

I made sure that I will be on time with an infant around me.  I had to take care of an infant and do the tweet.  I liked this challenge in front of me; I dived into it.

Listening to each speaker, I made my notes in a format whose length fits to tweet and yet makes sense.  My kid stared at me to see how crazy I was talking to her, making my notes, tweeting, and reading.  While I did this, I was making sure that follow up consecutive tweets matched the context and stayed relevant with what was said by the speaker.

In between, the kid pulled the laptop and said, she will also work along with me.  I had to negotiate with her and continue my work.  I did it well; I was successful.

The platform used in this virtual conference had provision for sponsor booths, reception, and tables for attendees.  I have tried to capture a glimpse of it.

The #virtual handouts and reception in #stepinsummit2020@stepin_forum #testing #automation #conferences pic.twitter.com/6z1Er1zNJ1

— Ravisuriya (@testingGarage) September 4, 2020

The virtual lounge and booths in #stepinsummit2020 and ease of visiting it.@stepin_forum #conferences #testing #virtual pic.twitter.com/lykgQaOdqN

— Ravisuriya (@testingGarage) September 4, 2020

When the multiple session tracks kicked in, I decided to be in one session and cover it in my tweets.  The other volunteers were covering the other session tracks.

In one of the sessions, how Ramit and Vipul engaged the audience for a while is interesting.  When Ramit asked anyone of you want to share, I wanted to talk and share.  It was an opportunity for me.  I did not utilize it.  By the time I was ready, the discussion between Vipul and Ramit by answering the questions from attendees was engaging.  I continued listening to it.

My break time was the tea and lunch break. The volunteering occupied me to that extent. 

My Experience

I did my best to cover the speaker's presentation and thought.  I got direct messages (DM) to my tweet handle thanking from attendees who missed a few sessions and from people who could not attend the conference.  The DM's said they could see the presenter's talk in my tweets.

I feel that I have done good work in the assigned job as a volunteer.  I thank STePIN Forum for the opportunity and kind gesture.  I enjoyed this conference with my kid beside me.

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.