candylips:

what i ment was that manualy regression testing your software everytime you want to release your software is error prone because a human is involved.

Custom created Automation scripts themselves are not error free. A human is involved in setting up automation processes too. In the end, manually checking codes before they are unleashed is necessary and will remain indefinitely.
Automation is not God sent end-it-all solution.

Half the tester job adverts on the popular job boards added he word "Manual" in the titles.

Nice bumping into this topic. I have just installed and currently playing with Selenium, QTP and LoadRunner, I find Software Quality Assurance process very interesting.

BTW, why is it that Software Testing is not well known in Nigeria?

denzel2009:

I have just installed and currently playing with Selenium, QTP and LoadRunner

Trial versions or

IBEXY:

Trial versions or 

You don't know me o,I detest trial versions. I have permanent Licences mate on both QTP and LoadRunner.

IBEXY:

Custom created Automation scripts themselves are not error free. A human is involved in setting up automation processes too. In the end, manually checking codes before they are unleashed is necessary and will remain indefinitely.
Automation is not God sent end-it-all solution.

Half the tester job adverts on the popular job boards added he word "Manual" in the titles.

what is being automated is whatever a tester will do manually. I will rather trust a computer to do this for me than a human tester.

ofcourse everything can't be fully automated i agree but any redundant part of the system that has a set of boring steps should be handed to the computer to do. .

freeing testers from these boring stuff to do more exploratory testing which they can do manually is more ideal IMHO

they can also spend more time writing more acceptance test covering more scenerios which can then be turned into more automated test.

candylips:

With more organisations adopting agile methologies like scrum. the role of testers and Business anaylst are becoming irrelevant .

I was just reacting to your initail assertion.

Testers have never been more relevant. Mind you, testers are not just point and click trouble makers like you want to make out.

What of penetration testers? With hacking becoming fashionable among bored teenagers, who would ensure the safety of corporate infor? I think the only testers in danger of extinction are the "point and click" group. Failure to step yr game will backfire.

Much as testers and BAs can be a pain, they are an integral part of the SDLC.

IBEXY:

I was just reacting to your initail assertion.

Testers have never been more relevant. Mind you, testers are not just point and click trouble makers like you want to make out.

What of penetration testers? With hacking becoming fashionable among bored teenagers, who would ensure the safety of corporate infor? I think the only testers in danger of extinction are the "point and click" group. Failure to step yr game will backfire.

Much as testers and BAs can be a pain, they are an integral part of the SDLC.

Seriously, Penetration testing is a whole new ball game. I think that skill is going to be in demand forever.

Exactly. Security will forever remain an issue. Ethical hackers will never lack job.

IBEXY:


Testers have never been more relevant. Mind you, testers are not just point and click trouble makers like you want to make out.

ok you are right . testers are still relevant but someone with a sole role for just testing is probably becoming redundant this is because majority of the testing process can be automated if the software is designed properly.

However we still need are people with a flair for testing but also with secondary skills in coding, business analysis etc so that they can make help out in other areas .

in agile methology for example there isn't a "testing phase" per say. testing is integrated with the SDLC so the moment a developer checks in code an army of automated test regress the software and if something is broken they get notified immediately

candylips:

ok you are right . testers are still relevant but someone with a sole role for just testing is probably becoming redundant this is because majority of the testing process can be automated if the software is designed properly.

That means the person with the sole role of automated testing is becoming highly significant. 

Automated testers are programmers mind you. The developer should be confined to his role of crunching out codes. The tester - be it manual or automated should check the codes for defects.

Even in agile, all the players are present (BA, Tester, devloper etc) and work simultheneously.  However irritating the tester is, every SDLC process worth its tomato must have them present. Testers checkmate lazy developers.

there is a fundamental reason why defects crop up in the first place.

a developer might initialy work on an area of code and then work on it at a latter date probably for a different functionality but inadvently introduce a bug into the old functionality

now typically it is the job of testers is to find this kinds of problems.

what am saying is that if the developer writes an automated test that asserts the functionality of the initial work and then at a latter date introduces a defect because of another work. the moment he runs the automated test he is notified immediately that he has broken old functionality.

IBEXY:

Even in agile, all the players are present (BA, Tester, devloper etc) and work simultheneously.

well some teams are set up in a way whereby everyone is a developer but with different primary skills and secondary skills

so you can have a tester whose primary skill is testing but will be required to help out with BA or coding as required

Hmm, very interesting thread, I have just completed a course in software testing and looking to get a job ASAP, abeg IBEXY and Candylips, is it ok to contact you guys if i get stuck? like interview techniques and stuff? Also, does anyone know where I can get the HP Quality centre Tool? Thanks.

Yaaay, someone just finished ISEB. You need to learn Loadrunner & QTP and probably get Selenium add on Firefox to practice.

@denzel2009, those tools you mentioned are for automated testing, I am sticking with manual testing for now cos i think its easier and as I get more experience, I may think of automation.

omotofine:

@denzel2009, those tools you mentioned are for automated testing, I am sticking with manual testing for now cos i think its easier and as I get more experience, I may think of automation.

Hmmmn but these days you have to be multi skilled to have a clear cut chance. Goodluck sha.

Ah abeg, let me learn to crawl first before running o. even getting manual testing roles is proving to be hard work in itself, talk less of automation wey i no even get idea at all. But  dont worry, soon as I get my first contract, will start practising QTP, selenium and loadrunner.

omotofine:

Ah abeg, let me learn to crawl first before running o. even getting manual testing roles is proving to be hard work in itself, talk less of automation wey i no even get idea at all. But  dont worry, soon as I get my first contract, will start practising QTP, selenium and loadrunner.

Lol, don't worry you'll get your lucky break.

Testing code is soooo important!

I've been writing a web app on and off in my spare time for a while now. It is really helpful because you can then make changes in your code base, re-run the tests and then make sure everything still works properly.

Imagine making a change and then having to manually test your app through a browser? So much easier to execute a single command that goes through your entire test suite.

omotofine:

Hmm, very interesting thread, I have just completed a course in software testing and looking to get a job ASAP, abeg IBEXY and Candylips, is it ok to contact you guys if i get stuck? like interview techniques and stuff? Also, does anyone know where I can get the HP Quality centre Tool? Thanks.

Ensure you read up properly before attending an interview. Apart from supplying proof that you got experience, interviewers want to see if you do have a strong theoretical background. I know you have this already from the ISEB foundation exam. You could get quality centre from the HP website but it will only work for one month. If you look harder you might find one that lasts forever 

Its a good idea to start thinking about automation. Learning VBScript in your free times will not be out of place. It will make life easier when you want to learn QTP later. Am seeing a trend where every testing job now has "automation" as part of the "optional" requirements. If you already know programming, then automation tools will be very easy to learn and use.

Nevertheless, there's still loads of work for manual testers but like someone said earlier. Ensure you have diverse skills. Be ready for any direction the boat swings. Learn VBscript or Javascript. Be wise.

IBEXY:

Ensure you read up properly before attending an interview. Apart from supplying proof that you got experience, interviewers want to see if you do have a strong theoretical background. I know you have this already from the ISEB foundation exam. You could get quality centre from the HP website but it will only work for one month. If you look harder you might find one that lasts forever

Trust me there's none that lasts forever out there right now.

denzel2009:

Trust me there's none that lasts forever out there right now.

That was figurative I should have said a lifetime then

IBEXY:

That was figurative I should have said a lifetime then

I haven't seen that either. I have got lifetime for all the others though.

I'll make it simpler. I meant you could find one that does not expire. One you could use until you decide to delete it. Dont ask me where to get it sha.

IBEXY:

I'll make it simpler. I meant you could find one that does not expire. One you could use until you decide to delete it. Dont ask me where to get it sha.

Don't worry. . . I know all these things

I've been having a look at job ads these days. All want the ISEB foundation either as compulsory or optional requirement. I dont see a lot asking for any of the testing certs above the foundation. For example I've never seen any ads asking for the intermediate or advanced ISEB cert. I still think after the foundation cert, one should focus on acquiring more experience, learn new skills and tools. Get the advanced and intermediate certs at your leisure but not as a priority.

IBEXY:

I've been having a look at job ads these days. All want the ISEB foundation either as compulsory or optional requirement. I dont see a lot asking for any of the testing certs above the foundation. For example I've never seen any ads asking for the intermediate or advanced ISEB cert. I still think after the foundation cert, one should focus on acquiring more experience, learn new skills and tools. Get the advanced and intermediate certs at your leisure but not as a priority.

I wonder too oh, all they require is ISEB/ISQTB foundation. Some people are not even aware there are intermediate and advanced certification which are very tough exams.

That was why I was telling omotofine that if she focuses only on manual testing, it might not be easy to land a job. It's the employers market these days, they want to get the ban[i]g[/i] for their buck.

and I bet you that very soon, the requirement will change from foundation to intermediate/advanced. The foundation is not that hard to pass. Very soon everyone will have it. A new elimination level will be needed to weed the cowboys from the professional. You either have massive experience and proof of it or you have the advance or intermediate cert

Yes, they will surely raise the bar soon. Most people I know who are consultants now, started as testers before specialising in either Oracle, SAP or Siebel.

IBEXY:

and[b] I bet you that very soon, the requirement will change from foundation to intermediate/advanced.[/b] The foundation is not that hard to pass. Very soon everyone will have it. A new elimination level will be needed to weed the cowboys from the professional. You either have massive experience and proof of it or you have the advance or intermediate cert

That would only apply to those seeking entry into software testing. I still believe that software testing experience is much more sought after than an ISEB qualification.  You and i know that the ISEB exams is so easy that any one worth a bit of salt should scale through easily.

I think the new hurdle would be automation. Employers ask for it even when they dont really need it. For those testers who have refused to learn some javascript, vbscript, selenium or QTP, you may not be doing yourself a whole lot of good.

Wa o! You guys are too much. Please educate me on how I can Prepare and write the exam. Your quick help is highly appreciated.