Want to be a part of All Things Quality?

To Do: Connect with Joe at All Things Quality

Here at All Things Quality, I have two places where I list blogs I like.

The People in Testing tab above lists people by name, along with links to their blogs/websites.

I've limited this particular list to blogs that: copyrightjoestrazzere

• Are exclusively, or at least mostly, about QA or Testing, or have significant QA/Testing content
• Have had some activity recently
• Aren't just commercial sites
• Contain articles I find of interest

The What People Are Writing tab above dynamically displays a small excerpt from the most-recent article in blogs related to QA/Testing that I read fairly regularly. And it provides a link to the full article.

This list has a limit on the number of items it supports, so I tend to weed out blogs that haven't had any updates in a while, and I usually don't include a blog until it has a history of good articles.

If you'd like to be on one or both of these lists, and you think your blog would be of interest to others in the Testing/QA field, send me a note and I'll take a look at it.

And if you would like to return the favor, please consider adding a link to All Things Quality on your blog as well!

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This article originally appeared in my blog: All Things Quality

	My name is Joe Strazzere and I'm currently a Director of Quality Assurance. I like to lead, to test, and occasionally to write about leading and testing. Find me at http://AllThingsQuality.com/.

Requirements That Miss The Mark

 

Should we aim for the center of the target? Or something else?

For your reading pleasure today, here is a short rant quiz.

Question: Which of these are a good foundation upon which to craft the Requirements for a new software product/release? copyrightjoestrazzere

1. What will allow us to use the latest and greatest technology?
2. What we can draw a pretty UI for?
3. What will be the most fun?
4. What we already happen to have data for?
5. What we think the customer needs?
6. What the customer thinks he needs?
7. What we can build, as long as we don't ever need to actually complete it?
8. What we can accomplish with the current staff?
9. What we can get accomplish in a short period of time?
10. What the customer/market is actually willing to pay for?

Answer: In almost all cases, the only correct answer is "10. What the customer/market is actually willing to pay for".

In a for-profit company, you need to figure out what can make money. Pretty much everything else is missing the point, don't you think?

Any other "off-target" themes you have seen in Requirements recently?

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This article originally appeared in my blog: All Things Quality

	My name is Joe Strazzere and I'm currently a Director of Quality Assurance. I like to lead, to test, and occasionally to write about leading and testing. Find me at http://AllThingsQuality.com/.

Perhaps They Should Have Tested More - Apple iOS 7

Hmm, was that Down, Down, Left, A, Up, Right? Or Left, Left, Down, B, Right, Up?

A new method for bypassing the passcode on an iOS7 lock screen has been discovered. This allows an unauthorized intruder access to all photos, and the ability to post them to channels such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or even to email them. copyrightjoestrazzere

• The iOS 7 lock screen can be bypassed with a series of gesture techniques
• Up - Hold - Cancel - Doubleclick - Hold
• Affects iPhones, iPod Touch, and iPads
• Grants unintended access to Mail, Photos, Twitter and more
• Found by Canary Islands-based soldier Jose Rodriguez
• Rodriguez also found lock screen flaws in earlier versions of iOS

It's probably not a big deal. After all, I'm sure nobody ever has photos on their i-Devices that they wouldn't want everyone in the world to see, right?

Still, this isn't the first time that someone has found low-tech ways to bypass the lock screen.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times - perhaps they should have tested more.

Also see:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/09/19/ios-7-bug-lets-anyone-bypass-iphones-lockscreen-to-hijack-photos-email-or-twitter/
http://www.zdnet.com/how-to-fix-the-ios-7-lock-screen-bypass-flaw-7000020913/
http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/09/19/apples-control-center-used-to-bypass-ios-7-passcode-lock
http://lifehacker.com/ios-7-bug-allows-thieves-to-bypass-your-lock-screen-1350894097
http://allthingsd.com/20130919/yes-apple-is-working-on-a-fix-for-the-ios-7-lock-screen-hack/
http://techcrunch.com/2013/09/19/ios-7-lock-screen-vulnerability-discovered-gives-access-to-photos-and-social-sharing/
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/19/ios-7-lock-screen-vulnerability-gives-access-to-photos-email/

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This article originally appeared in my blog: All Things Quality

	My name is Joe Strazzere and I'm currently a Director of Quality Assurance. I like to lead, to test, and occasionally to write about leading and testing. Find me at http://AllThingsQuality.com/.

Book: Explore It! Reduce Risk and Increase Confidence with Exploratory Testing

Explore It!: Reduce Risk and Increase Confidence with Exploratory Testing

Elisabeth Hendrickson

I've been a fan of Elizabeth Hendrickson for a long time - from her Quality Tree Software days, to her Test Obsessed blog. I've had a copy of her famous "Test Heuristic Cheat Sheet" (included in the book) pretty much forever. And on my bookshelf, I even have a copy of her Bug Hunter's Journal that she sent me many years ago.

So I was thrilled when Elizabeth asked me to review a pre-publication version of her upcoming book on Exploratory Testing titled "Explore It!" I had read other books on the subject, and was less than thrilled with what I had read, so I was eager to see Elizabeth's treatment of the subject.

I wasn't surprised with the results. In her usual informal writing style, Hendrickson has packed the book with real-world, easy to understand examples sprinkled in. I found it both interesting and fun.  copyrightjoestrazzere

The chapter titles will give you an idea of the topics covered in Explore It!:

1. On Testing and Exploration
2. Charter Your Explorations
3. Observe the Details
4. Find Interesting Variations
5. Evaluate Results
6. Vary Sequences and Interactions
7. Explore Entities and Their Relationships
8. Discover States and Transitions
9. Explore the Ecosystem
10. Explore When There Is No User Interface
11. Explore an Existing System
12. Explore Requirements
13. Integrate Exploration Throughout
14. Interviewing for Exploratory Testing Skills
15. Test Heuristics Cheat Sheet

In each chapter, Ms. Hendrickson encourages you to think, to experiment, and to explore the various aspects of your system-under-test. Then, she provides real-world, practical ideas for how to do just that.

Unless you are the kind of unfortunate tester forced to do nothing but follow a pre-written script, you already perform some exploratory testing. 

In "Explore It!", Elisabeth Hendrickson teaches you how to think about Exploratory Testing, and how to make it a regular, planned, and effective part of your testing practice.

This is the kind of book I purchase for everyone on my Test Team. Maybe you should get it for your team, too?

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This article originally appeared in my blog: All Things Quality

	My name is Joe Strazzere and I'm currently a Director of Quality Assurance. I like to lead, to test, and occasionally to write about leading and testing. Find me at http://AllThingsQuality.com/.

Remembering September 11, 2001

Anna Williams Allison

Twelve years later, I remember September 11, 2001.

I remember being in a morning meeting and one of the staff members was late. When he came in, he asked if we had heard the news about a plane crashing into the World Trade Center. We hadn't. We finished our meeting, then went upstairs to the lunch room (with its huge projection television) and saw that the news channels still weren't sure if this was an accident or some sort of attack.

Shortly after that, we watched in horror as another plan crashed into the second tower. Then it was clear that this was no accident.

A very sad, unsettling day.

copyrightjoestrazzere

The next day, I got a phone call from a friend. He told me some more sad news. A former co-worker was on American Airlines flight #11 - the first plane to crash into a tower.

Anna Williams Allison was a colleague at Bachman Information Systems. She and I both worked in the Quality Assurance department.  She was very smart, very energetic, and a terrific QAer.  I learned a lot from her, and I like to think she learned something from me.

When we both left Bachman, we remained friends, and occasionally spoke, emailed, shared ideas about QA and work, and had lunch. She eventually formed her own company - doing QA training and presentations. She was very good for the QA field.

Anna was on flight 11, on her way to a customer engagement.

I miss her, both professionally, and as a friend. Each September 11th, as the country shares remembrances of a sad day in our history, I think of her again. We in the QA community are poorer without her.

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This article originally appeared in my blog: All Things Quality

	My name is Joe Strazzere and I'm currently a Director of Quality Assurance. I like to lead, to test, and occasionally to write about leading and testing. Find me at http://AllThingsQuality.com/.

Estimating the NFL 2013 Season

Are you ready for some football? The spirits say "Yes"!

Predicting the NFL Season outcomes is like estimating a software test project - not enough information, too many variables, too much that could happen to radically change the outcome.

But here are some "estimates" anyway. This is a predication of the 12 teams who will make the playoffs. I've even included my guesstimates, along with those of the professionals. 

We'll circle back after the season and see how everyone did.

		East	North	South	West	Wildcard	Wildcard
All Things Quality
Joe Strazzere		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Colts
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Boston Herald
http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/09/herald_staff_predictions
Jeff Howe		Patriots	Bengals	Colts	Broncos	Ravens	Texans
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Karen Guregian		Patriots	Ravens	Colts	Broncos	Bengals	Texans
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Ron Borges		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Colts
		Redskins	Packers	Saints	49ers	Seahawks	Falcons
Steve Buckley		Patriots	Bengals	Colts	Broncos	Ravens	Texans
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Mark Daniels		Patriots	Bengals	Colts	Broncos	Steelers	Texans
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/nfl/preview13/story/_/id/9605608/experts-nfl-predictions-2013
Bill Barnwell		Patriots	Steelers	Texans	Chiefs	Broncos	Bengals
		Giants	Packers	Bucs	Seahawks	49ers	Lions
Jeff Chadiha		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Chiefs
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Bears
John Clayton		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Chiefs
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
David Fleming		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Colts	Chiefs
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Eagles
Ashley Fox		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Colts	Chiefs
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
KC Joyner		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Dolphins
		Cowboys	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Redskins
Rick Reilly		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Colts
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Redskins
Mike Sando		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Steelers	Bengals
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Bears
Adam Shefter		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Colts	Steelers
		Cowboys	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Kevin Seifert		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Colts
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Saints
Seth Wickersham		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Colts
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Saints
Matt Williamson		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Steelers
		Redskins	Packers	Saints	Seahawks	49ers	Bears
Sports Illustrated
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130904/nfl-season-predictions-2013-super-bowl-xlviii/?sct=nfl_t1t_a4
Don Banks		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Chiefs
		Cowboys	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Chris Burke		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Steelers	Bengals
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Cowboys
Ben Eagle		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Chiefs
		Cowboys	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Bears
Doug Farrar		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Colts
		Redskins	Packers	Saints	Seahawks	49ers	Falcons
Tom Mantzouranis		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Chiefs
		Cowboys	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Austin Murphy		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Steelers	Chiefs
		Cowboys	Bears	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Jim Trotter		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Steelers	Colts
		Redskins	Packers	Bucs	Seahawks	49ers	Falcons
MMQB
http://mmqb.si.com/2013/09/03/the-mmqbs-2013-predictions-and-preview-spectacular/
Peter King		Patriots	Bengals	Colts	Broncos	Ravens	Texans
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Saints
Greg Bedard		Patriots	Steelers	Texans	Chiefs	Broncos	Ravens
		Giants	Packers	Bucs	Seahawks	49ers	Falcons
Jenny Vrentas		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Chiefs	Steelers
		Giants	Packers	Saints	49ers	Seahawks	Falcons
Robert Klemko		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Colts
		Giants	Lions	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Redskins
Pro Football Talk
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/04/pfts-2013-season-predictions/
Josh Alper		Patriots	Ravens	Colts	Broncos	Bengals	Chiefs
		Cowboys	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Curtis Crabtree		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Brocos	Ravens	Chiefs
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Rams
Darin Gantt		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Colts
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Redskins
Mike Wilkening		Patriots	Ravens	Colts	Broncos	Texans	Steelers
		Eagles	Packers	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Saints
Michael David Smith		Patriots	Steelers	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Ravens
		Giants	Packers	Saints	49ers	Seahawks	Falcons
Mike Florio		Patriots	Ravens	Colts	Broncos	Texans	Bengals
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Lions
Yahoo
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-preview-week-shutdown-corner-2013-nfl-predictions-131141669--nfl.html
Frank Schwab		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Chiefs
		Giants	Bears	Panthers	Seahawks	49ers	Packers
Jay Busbee		Patriots	Bengals	Colts	Broncos	Texans	Steelers
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Giants
Eric Edholm		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Steelers	Colts
		Cowboys	Packers	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Lions
Anwar Richardson		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Chiefs
		Cowboys	Packers	Saints	49ers	Seahawks	Falcons
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/09/04/2013-staff-picks-season-predictions/2768317/
Jarrett Bell		Patriots	Ravens	Colts	Broncos	Texans	Steelers
		Cowboys	Lions	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Saints
Jim Corbett		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Ravens	Colts
		Redskins	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Nate Davis		Patriots	Bengals	Texans	Broncos	Steelers	Chiefs
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Saints
Lindsay H. Jones		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Chiefs
		Giants	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Redskins
Pete O'Brien		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Dolphins	Chiefs
		Cowboys	Packers	Bucs	49ers	Seahawks	Falcons
Tom Pelissero		Patriots	Bengals	Colts	Broncos	Texans	Chiefs
		Cowboys	Packers	Falcons	49ers	Seahawks	Rams
CSNNE
http://www.csnne.com/blog/standing-room-only/levines-nfl-preview-part-1
Rich Levine		Patriots	Ravens	Texans	Broncos	Bengals	Steelers
		Cowboys	Packers	Falcons	Seahawks	49ers	Bears

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This article originally appeared in my blog: All Things Quality

	My name is Joe Strazzere and I'm currently a Director of Quality Assurance. I like to lead, to test, and occasionally to write about leading and testing. Find me at http://AllThingsQuality.com/.