Today we welcome back nFocus’ Jane Kelly with a blog on software testing and puppies!

Rather an odd combination isn’t it? The idea came about as my young daughter asked me what a blog was, and then what I was writing about. She suggested that someone should write a blog about testing and puppies, as she has been puppy crazy since a toddler.

So here goes, an alternative look at the synergies with puppies and software testing!

Today, I’d like to blog about mobile testing. Like many of you out there, I am a frequent mobile user and I would feel considerably inconvenienced were I to be without it for even just a few hours! 

The market is flooded with mobile hand-held devices, and we rely so heavily on them for so many reasons- communication, diary bookings, notes, reminders, security and protection, emergencies, socialising, learning, entertainment, sleep, relaxation and so on.

It would be extremely time consuming to test each function on every make, model and operating system combination. As a result, regression testing can become a blocker to putting new releases live. Many companies limit their testing of new products, fixes, and changes to a defined list of the most popular supported device makes and models. Some companies work with Testing Services Providers to support a robust testing process, often using test automation, with advice on choosing, introduction, implementation, maintenance, monitoring and management of tools that are tailored to suite the organisational needs of budget, timescales and strategic targets.  

Today’s blog is about pet computer experience hates, ’Better out than in!’ so, they say. Let's refer to it as my ‘Testing Room 101’ target list. 

The reality is these are experienced by people across the board and not just software testers of course! Perhaps the line of work of a software tester makes them more noticeable, or perhaps they subconsciously look for them.
There’s nothing like a good rant to get things off your chest when things are annoying, so here goes! How many of these are on your pet hate list?

Today we welcome back Jane Kelly, who writes about her experience as a QA Tester.

The role of a QA Tester is to review and analyse new or changed software applications, products, mobile devices, and more, and to look for defects, or issues so that these can be resolved before a software change delivery is released for operational use.

Today we welcome back Jane Kelly who dives into the fascinating world of Track & Trace.

Track & Trace has been heavily reported on in the news, and it has made me think about some of the synergies with Software Testing. Tracking can be thought of in terms of the emerging path of what is being analysed, where its current state is, and where it is likely to end up. Like testing, tracking requires many different measures to provide value.

That’s not technically true… I’d love to spend time with family, eat chocolates and open a small selection of functional, relevant and meaningful gifts along with a stack of Christmas Pudding and brandy butter and maybe user acceptance test a glass or two of Baileys! 

Test management tools are resources used to help manage software testing activities and make them easier and faster to perform. They help to save time and money so that people/applications and other resources involved in actively testing can use their time more effectively.

The software testing process involves activities categorised into key stages during the evaluation of software quality.

A test plan is used in the software testing process and sets out intentions regarding software testing activity targeting a software release implementation. Releases typically provide system changes and fixes to be implemented to enhance the business operations experience. We use test plans to help demonstrate that a system or product is developed as per the requirements and specifications.

As we rapidly approach the new spring season with vigour, there's never a better time to revisit areas in our work/home lives and look at applying a fresh approach to make improvements.

The same can be said for software testing and exploring fresh ways of being innovative in the use of processes, tools and methodologies applied. The new financial year can bring new opportunities to invest in improvement initiatives and the fresh new spring season can often give rise to renewed energy, open mindsets, renewed commitment to try and apply new strategies and look to reduce none value-add activities.