rob sabourin - monty pythons flying test lab - eurostar 2010
DESCRIPTION
EuroSTAR Software Testing Conference 2010 presentation on Monty Pythons Flying Test Lab by Rob Sabourin. See more at: http://conference.eurostarsoftwaretesting.com/past-presentations/TRANSCRIPT
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 1
Monty Python’s
Flying Test Lab
Robert Sabourin
President & Principal consultant
AmiBug.Com, Inc.
Montreal, Canada
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 2
And now for something completely different . . . Monty Python's Flying Circus
revolutionized comedy and brought zany British humor to a world-wide
audience. However, buried deep in the hilarity and camouflaged in its twisted
wit, lie many important testing lessons—tips and techniques you can apply to
real world problems to deal with turbulent projects, changing requirements,
and stubborn project stakeholders. Rob Sabourin examines some of the most
famous Python bits—―The Spanish Inquisition‖ telling us to expect the
unexpected, ―The Dead Parrot‖ asking if we should really deliver this product
to the customer, ―The Argument‖ teaching us about bug advocacy, ―Self
Defense Against Fresh Fruit‖ demonstrating the need to pick the right testing
tool, and a host of other goofy gags, each one with a lesson for testers.
• How to test effectively with persistence
• Make your point with effective communication
• Keys ways to clarify project goals and requirements
Monty Python’s Flying Test Lab!
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 3
• Overview– Learning and metaphors– Ambiguous requirements– Logic and reasoning– Dead software– I always wanted to be a tester– Throw code over the wall– Help desk arguments– Communications– Testing tools– Nobody expects the process
inquisition
Monty Python’s Flying Test Lab!
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 4
Learning and Metaphors
• Teaching
• Learning
• Retaining
• Applying knowledge
• Share experiences
• Don’t get carried away …
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 5
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 6
Monty Python’s Flying Test Lab!
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 7
Monty Python’s Flying Test Lab!
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 8
Ambiguous Requirements
• Is it really perfectly
clear?
• Do not tick off the
stakeholders
• Decision tables?
• Real communications?
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 9
Witch Burning
• False logic
• Incongruent chain
of reasoning
• A witch weighs the
same as a duck!
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 10
Witch Burning
• Indirect
measures
• Calibration
• The sound of
wisdom.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 11
Dead Parrot?
• When I bought
this software you
said it was taking
time to get to
know my
computer.
• ―Norwegian Blue
Screen Saver‖
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 12
Dead Parrot?• What do you
mean it’s
sleeping?
• It’s crashed!
• It has abended
• It will run no more
• It is deceased
• This is a dead
program!!!
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 13
Lumberjack
• I always wanted
to be a tester,
Leaping from
bug to bug …
• “He’s a tester
and he’s OK –
He Sleeps all
night and he
works all day”
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 14
Lumberjack• He crashes
code and eats
his lunch and
lives by the
blue screen
• And when he
hears of Vista
he runs to the
latrine!
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 15
The Taunting
• So what exactly are
the developers
throwing over the
wall?
• A cow or a duck?
• Can we really ―run
away!‖?
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 16
The Argument
• Helpdesk …
• This isn’t an
argument, it is a
series of
contradictions?
• Yes it is!
• No it isn’t.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 17
Trading Languages
• Do you
understand the
customer?
• Do your
customers
understand you?
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 18
Defend against fruit
• Choose the
right tool for the
right job.
• Take heed – do
not take claims
at face value.
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 19
Spanish Inquisition
• Nobody expects the
process inquisition!
• Our three weapons
are Fear, Surprise
and a Fanatical
Devotion to Thick
Binders
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 20
Holy Hand Grenade
• Follow instructions or
just plain act on it.
• Do testers need to
hide behind process?
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 21
SPAM
• SPAM is finally
pervasive!
© Robert Sabourin, 2006 Slide 22
Thank You
Questions?