September 24, 2013

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!


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/.

September 23, 2013

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?



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/.

September 20, 2013

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/


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/.

September 12, 2013

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?


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/.

September 11, 2013

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.


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/.

September 6, 2013

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


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/.