September 1, 2007

How could so many get it wrong?

I come from the part of the globe called Bangladesh, known by many for its floods, poverty and corruption. They all got it wrong, just like many got testing wrong. But this blog is not about me or my country. It is about my experiences in software testing and how it can inspire others.

Michael Bolton said I sound fascinating. James Bach said I write very well. Pradeep Soundararajan said I should start a blog. So here I am. Even though, this does not mean they endorsed me, it did encourage me.

I like to think that I got testing right from the unlikeliest of conditions, because:

  • Fortunately, I was forced into testing since my company was in a crisis and thought I was the best programmer for the job.
  • Fortunately, I could not find anyone in my proximity to answer my queries on software testing.
  • Fortunately, there were very few, yet boring, books on software testing at local book stores.
  • Fortunately, there were no training centers on testing certifications.
  • Fortunately, the seminars I attended were pretty shallow in content.
  • Fortunately, I had to explore my curiosity on my own.
  • Fortunately, I was bored with testing and wondered why others could write about it with so much passion.
  • Fortunately, I was always under deadline pressure and was denied my demand for more testing time.
  • Fortunately, I had the courage to try out my assumptions and was ridiculed for it.
I questioned the applicability of everything I read, heard, saw and experienced. In my quest I came across the writings of Cem Kaner, Bret Pettichord, James Bach, Michael Bolton and few others who made sense of it all. Yet I questioned their reasoning to my context.

My mistakes taught me what to avoid, while the experiences of others intrigued me to investigate further.

No wonder so many still get it wrong.
"Testing is the INFINITE PROCESS of comparing the INVISIBLE to the AMBIGUOUS so as to avoid the UNTHINKABLE happening to the ANONYMOUS!" -- James Bach
I accept the challenge...

14 comments:

  1. I wish you great success with blogging. I was sure you would rapidly catch up with what I said and you did!

    I wish you make your country and the community proud.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Welcome to the blogosphere, Sajjid, I'm listening. Tell us about your experience in testing, and what meaning you've made of them.

    -- James

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm delighted that you're blogging.

    I appreciate this post, Sajjadul, but one of the things that I appreciate the most about it is your willingness to question the things that we (I, James, Pradeep) talk about. Any advice that anyone gives about testing may be relevant--or not--to your context. In his book The Black Swan, Nasim Nicholas Taleb talks about skeptical empiricism; that's what a good tester practices, and I observe that that's what you practice as well.

    Testing is about not being fooled; it's about thinking for yourself; it's about questioning the things that people tell you, whether those people are developers, project managers, or self-professed testing experts. Our business needs more people like you.

    All the best,

    ---Michael B.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pradeep,

    Thank you for your blessings. Will try not to let you down. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. James,

    I am delighted that you are listening. It only motivates me to keep writing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Michael,

    It is truly an honor to have you appreciate my writing. I will cherish your advise.

    You, James and Pradeep have added fuel to my raging passion for testing. Please stay tuned.

    ReplyDelete
  7. There is no doubt that you motivated us to become Tester.
    You showed us the way to become good investigator and thought us 1 simple but important fact and that is “Question”. We try to do that all the time, may be not like you but we are trying to do that. Please pray for us and always be with us like you always do.

    Thank you,
    Shafayet:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shafayet,

    It was a pleasure. Let me know if I could be of any help.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am speechless :)And I am glad to see you started Blogging :D

    ReplyDelete
  10. @Shafeed and Tamid,

    I would be glad if you guys too start blogging and help your testing community grow.

    Thanks,

    -- Pradeep

    ReplyDelete
  11. Good luck in this new experience, I usually read Pradeep, James, and Michael stuff, I try to understand what is behind their thoughts and I love to see someone else outside America questioning the same stuff. (I'm from South America).

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jose,

    Glad to have you on board. I guess this is the reason why we should write about our experiences, where ever we are. You never know who will enjoy reading it and what new perspectives we will encounter.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Sajjad Bhai,
    Glad and very much motivated to read the inception point of your Blogging.

    It is really a pleasure...:)

    Regards,
    Iftekhar

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks Iftekhar. I have been very busy lately and haven't been in touch with the testing world for a while now. But hope to get back to it soon.

    ReplyDelete