Katrina Clokie has a very good section on her blog she calls “pathways”, which are curated link lists and training exercises you can use to get started with certain software testing aspects. Katrina offers these pathways for Security Testing, Mobile Testing and many other topics. You should definitively check them out.
When a colleague asked me to send him an introduction into Exploratory Testing a while ago I created a list of useful blog posts I think are helpful to get started with Exploratory Testing. His answer was something along the lines “oh my, this is a complete pathway”. I think it was not, but it was not that far off from being one.
Therefore I added some more links and thought of some exercises to evolve this into a proper pathway. In the meantime, more people asked me for information about exploratory testing so from now on I can answer with a link and an offer for a joined coffee.
Just as Katrina's pathways, this is a rabbit hole: A lot of the articles below link to other articles, which will forward you to even more sources. I hope this will be a fun ride for you.
The questions often begin with what Exploratory Testing actually is. And perhaps, more importantly, why would you use it in the first place? Sometimes people have some negative bias as if exploratory testing is just toying with the software and can only be an addition to test case based approaches. Sometimes people seemingly have heard great things and now want in on this cool "new" method. Here are a few articles, that describe what Exploratory Testing is and how you can use it in your project:When a colleague asked me to send him an introduction into Exploratory Testing a while ago I created a list of useful blog posts I think are helpful to get started with Exploratory Testing. His answer was something along the lines “oh my, this is a complete pathway”. I think it was not, but it was not that far off from being one.
Therefore I added some more links and thought of some exercises to evolve this into a proper pathway. In the meantime, more people asked me for information about exploratory testing so from now on I can answer with a link and an offer for a joined coffee.
Just as Katrina's pathways, this is a rabbit hole: A lot of the articles below link to other articles, which will forward you to even more sources. I hope this will be a fun ride for you.
STEP 1: What is Exploratory Testing?
- What is Exploratory Testing? by James Bach
- Exploratory Testing 3.0 by James Bach
- Session-Based Test Management by James Bach
- Introducing Thread-Based Test Management by James Bach
- Three Digestible Diagrams to Describe Exploratory Testing by Simon Tomes
Exercise: If you are currently not using exploratory testing techniques, but are testing based on test cases, watch your next test execution very carefully: Are you really performing only the specified steps and checking the specified expected results or are you doing more? Are you looking “left and right”? How do you tell people what you saw when you moved away from the script? How do you remember it yourself? Do you take notes that go beyond the test steps of your test cases? Are your cases/steps answering questions about risks?
STEP 2: How do I manage my Exploratory Testing?
Session-Based Test Management is the most popular method to introduce Exploratory Testing in projects. It helps to make Exploratory Testing manageable and reportable, especially towards people outside of the testing team. Michael Bolton used the metaphor of putting the clouds, that are bursts of performed Exploratory Testing, into boxes so you can count those boxes.
Here are some articles about and experience reports on Session-Based Test Management:
- Session-Based Test Management (PDF) by Jon Bach
- Lessons Learned in Session-Based Exploratory Testing by Paul Carvalho
- An analysis of Session-Based Test Management by Martin Jansson
- What makes up the Session-Based Test Management by Maaret Pyhäjärvi
If for whatever reason you cannot make Session-Based Test Management work James Lyndsay provides a lot of other ways to manage your Exploratory Testing:
- There are Plenty of Ways to Manage Exploratory Testing (blog) by James Lyndsay
- There are Plenty of Ways to Manage Exploratory Testing (Slides) by James Lyndsay
STEP 3: How do I find test charters?
A topic, that troubles a lot of people starting out with Exploratory Testing and Session-Based Test Management is generating test charters in comparison to generating test cases. Most of them are used to derive test cases from any form of specification document, which verifies that the software works “as specified", which is not necessarily “as intended”.
But how to create missions for exploration in addition, or instead of, test cases?
A good idea is to think about the goal you want to achieve with your respective testing mission, Simons examples for different charter types can help you with this. I listed some more models and texts, which can help you in finding test charters:
A good idea is to think about the goal you want to achieve with your respective testing mission, Simons examples for different charter types can help you with this. I listed some more models and texts, which can help you in finding test charters:
- Types of Sessions by Simon P. Schrijver
- Session Based Testing in Agile/DevOps Environments by Lalit Bhamare
- A heuristic approach to test charters by Adam Howard
- Heuristic Test Strategy Model by James Bach
- FEW HICCUPPS by Michael Bolton
- CDMET: a mnemonics for generating exploratory testing charters by Marcel Gehlen
STEP 4: How do I come up with test ideas?
Once you have your testing mission for a session down, the interesting part is having ideas of what to actually test to serve your mission. I have seen testers, who suffered from some form of writer's block when they started their first test sessions. Especially when they were not involved with designing test cases and only executed them in the scripted testing world they knew.
Fortunately, there are a lot of methods and tools out there to help you come up with test ideas. I just listed a few down there, which you will hear or read often when deeper exploring the Exploratory Testing world, or which help me specifically. If you really, really want to go deep into this topic follow the link to Erik Brickarp's text below and be blown away.
Fortunately, there are a lot of methods and tools out there to help you come up with test ideas. I just listed a few down there, which you will hear or read often when deeper exploring the Exploratory Testing world, or which help me specifically. If you really, really want to go deep into this topic follow the link to Erik Brickarp's text below and be blown away.
- Testing Mnemonics by Lynn McKee
- Mindmap Collection by TestInsane
- Testing Tours by Microsoft
- Difference between oracles and heuristics by Katrina Clokie
- Heuristics & Oracles by Rajesh Mathur
- Heuristics: Test Heuristics Cheat Sheet by Elizabeth Hendrickson
- Oracles: FEW HICCUPPS by Michael Bolton
- How to come up with test ideas by Erik Brickarp
- Critical Thinking for Testers by Michael Bolton and MoT-Podcast "Getting Critical" with Michael Bolton and Mark Tomlinson
- TestSphere Card Deck by Beren van Daele
- Rubber Duck Debugging
Exercise: Remember the test charters from the last STEP? Now it is time you perform these test sessions. As a first step, you don’t need to test the whole 90 minutes as described in the linked introduction tests, start with 30 minutes if you like to.
STEP 5: I've got to the end of my session. Now what?
After one or more sessions a Debriefing has to take place. I met several people, who skipped on these and asked: "Do I really need that Debriefing?". Short answer: yes. Long answer: Although a lot of people find it tedious to add yet another meeting to their schedule, the Debriefing is still absolutely crucial. It helps to identify new test charters, spread the testing results across teams, identify holes in documentation and processes, improve the overall testing. Regular Debriefings also help the testers to develop their testing skills. All in all, Debriefings belong to the important meetings you really should attend. Here are some helpful links how you can structure a debriefing:
- Session Debrief Checklist by James Bach
- Debriefing PROOF by Andrew Morton
- Questions to ask during Debriefing by Markus Gärtner
Exercise: A Debriefing is usually a meeting and you should not do it alone and by yourself. I still want to ask you that you take your time and reflect on the test sessions you performed during the last exercise. Write down answers to the following questions:
What happened during testing? What did you find out? Were there things, you wanted to test but couldn’t and why couldn’t you? What is left to test in maybe another session or did you find interesting new session ideas? What were they? And what were you feeling during the session as a tester or potential user of your software? Was something annoying you or were you positively surprised?
What happened during testing? What did you find out? Were there things, you wanted to test but couldn’t and why couldn’t you? What is left to test in maybe another session or did you find interesting new session ideas? What were they? And what were you feeling during the session as a tester or potential user of your software? Was something annoying you or were you positively surprised?
STEP 6: Are there tools, that can help me?
The most obvious tools for an Explorer is that of a classical Explorer: A notebook and a pen to write down what she finds during exploration. Still a lot of people ask about software tools.
There are tools, that help with Session-Based Test Management, for example by aggregating the session metadata in the TASK BREAKDOWN section. Since taking notes is a crucial part during a test session I choose a note-taking tool, Evernote, for my projects. This solution works best for me at the moment, especially with the Mac Client App.
There are tools, that help with Session-Based Test Management, for example by aggregating the session metadata in the TASK BREAKDOWN section. Since taking notes is a crucial part during a test session I choose a note-taking tool, Evernote, for my projects. This solution works best for me at the moment, especially with the Mac Client App.
I want to emphasise one tool in particular and that is TestBuddy: TestBuddy is still under development and is being designed specifically for Exploratory Testing and note taking by people, who really love this style of testing. The prototypes I saw look very promising. The link below will bring you to a “waiting list”. Please get in contact with the folks at Qeek, they are eagerly waiting for your feedback and insights.
- An Exploratory Testers Notebook by Michael Bolton
- http://www.satisfice.com/sbtm/sessions.exe by James Bach
- Session Tester by Jonathan Kohl
- TestRail by gurock
- Evernote by Evernote Inc.
- testnote.io by Matt Obee
- Exploratory Testing Chrome Extension by Francisco Moreno Sanz
- Rapid Reporter by Shmuel Gershon
- SBTM Template in Spreadsheet by Altom
- TestBuddy by Qeek (Simon Tomes & Rajit Singh) - in development
STEP 7: How do I document my testing?
In an environment that heavily uses scripted testing and test cases, testers usually document their testing by ticking off the steps of a test case as either "passed" or "failed". A test session in Session-Based Test Management does not work that way instead it reflects much more how a detective, a journalist or scientists take notes during an investigation or experiment. A lot of testers switching to Session-Based Test Management are quite surprised at the amount of writing they have to do during test execution and they struggle in finding the right balance.
My personal belief is that you do not write more documentation than you do when using test cases because those have to be written, too. Test cases tend to be heavily documented, a lot of people just don’t connect this to their test execution since they wrote them weeks before not close to or even during testing as they do with a test session.
Another thing I want to add is that in test case based approaches testers often don’t correctly document their actual testing, for example by ticking all test steps in a test case because they “kind of did this” although they skipped several steps due to routine. They often don’t write down strange things (not bugs!) outside of the current test case scope and things get lost.
It's important to find a healthy balance when it comes to documenting your sessions. Here is a list of ideas or experience reports and don’t worry: Even experienced testers constantly question the way they take note as the last three links prove.
- An Exploratory Testers Notebook by Michael Bolton
- A Key for Test Session Note Taking During Software Testing by Richard Bradshaw
- Note Taking - The Cornell Method by John Stevenson
- using Mind Mapping Software as a visual test management tool by Aaron Hodder
- Mind Mapping 101 by Darren McMillan
- Introducing HISToW by Cassandra H. Leung
- Something of Note by James Thomas
- Taking Note by James Thomas
- 10 Experiments to Improve your Exploratory Testing Note Taking by Alan Richardson
Exercise: Alan's 10 experiments in the last link are a great way to get started. How about giving it a go?
STEP 8: Will Exploratory Testing pass an audit?
I often hear people writing Exploratory Testing off as a just playing with the software, a non-structured testing approach, that does not survive the scrutiny of an audit. This is not true at all. Testers have been using Exploratory Testing techniques in heavily restricted environments. Here are a few links, which can help you to report your Exploratory Testing beyond a single session and to make it audit-prone:
- Story Telling by Huib Schoots
- A low tech testing dashboard by James Bach
- Who says ET is good for Medical Devices? The FDA! by James Bach
- Auditors and testing - a rant justified by experience by James Christie
- The audit survival heuristics of an FDA-regulated exploratory testing team by Griffin Jones
Exercise: Try to come up with a low tech testing dashboard for your application and discuss it with your team members.
Books & Resources
In addition to all these blog posts, pdfs or online articles there some books and a series of videos about Exploratory Testing, which I recommend to you:
- Exploratory Software Testing: Tips, Tricks, Tours, and Techniques to Guide Test Design by James Whitaker
- Explore it! by Elizabeth Hendrickson
- Exploratory Testing by Maaret Pyhäjärvi
- Software Testing Clinic 99 seconds videos by Dan Ashby and Mark Winteringham over at Ministry of Testing Dojo
Der Kommentar wurde von einem Blog-Administrator entfernt.
AntwortenLöschenIEEE Final Year projects Project Centers in India are consistently sought after. Final Year Students Projects take a shot at them to improve their aptitudes, while specialists like the enjoyment in interfering with innovation. For experts, it's an alternate ball game through and through. Smaller than expected IEEE Final Year project centers ground for all fragments of CSE & IT engineers hoping to assemble. Final Year Projects for CSE It gives you tips and rules that is progressively critical to consider while choosing any final year project point.
LöschenJavaScript Online Training in India
JavaScript Training in India
The Angular Training covers a wide range of topics including Components, Angular Directives, Angular Services, Pipes, security fundamentals, Routing, and Angular programmability. The new Angular TRaining will lay the foundation you need to specialise in Single Page Application developer. Angular Training
Der Kommentar wurde von einem Blog-Administrator entfernt.
AntwortenLöschenHi Marcel!
AntwortenLöschenExcellent set of resources. I found that there is wrong link for:
A Key for Test Session Note Taking During Software Testing
video.
Here is correct one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0rFIQe4Chs
Great post! I am actually getting ready to across this information, is very helpful for me. Lunch in Blaine
AntwortenLöschenThank you for the nice article here. Really nice and keep update to explore more gaming tips and ideas.
AntwortenLöschenGame Testing Compaies
Android Game Tester
Game Automated Testing
Gameplay Testing
Nice post.
AntwortenLöschenHi, Great.. Tutorial is just awesome..It is really helpful for a newbie like me.. I am a regular follower of your blog. Really very informative post you shared here. Kindly keep blogging.
Security testing services
Really nice topics you had discussed above. I am much impressed. Thank you for providing this nice information here.
AntwortenLöschenSoftware Testing Company
QA Services
Mobile Game Testing
Gameplay Testing
Switch Game Testing
Needed to compose one simple thing yet thanks for the suggestions that you are contributed here. Would like to read this blog regularly to get more updates regarding Software Testing Company in India and Software Testing Services
AntwortenLöschen
AntwortenLöschenI was very interested in the article , it’s quite inspiring I should admit. I like visiting your site since I always come across interesting articles like this one. Keep sharing! Regards. Read more about
Security Testing Services
Test Automation Services
Great Article. Kindly share more article on testing.
AntwortenLöschenAutomation Testing Service
Good Post. I like your blog. Thanks for Sharing
AntwortenLöschenOracle Training Institute in Noida
Migration of data center could become a serious issue due to its risky nature.
AntwortenLöschenGood Post. I like your blog. Thanks for Sharing
AntwortenLöschenyou can see more
my website: https://thietbidungcubuffet.com/binh-dung-nuoc-trai-cay
Hi, Great.. Tutorial is just awesome..Awaiting for your interesting solutions and ideas from you.Keep up the good work.
AntwortenLöschensoftware testing services
software testing companies usa
Qa Services
Regression testing services
Performance testing Services
Test automation services
Security testing services
هوم کا یک مجموعه ارائه دهنده خدمات سلامت از جمله پرستاری، پزشکی و خدمات توانبخشی در منزل و محل شما است. هوم کا کادر مجرب مراقبت و درمانی خود را بسته به نوع درخواست به شما تخصیص می دهد. تنها با یک تماس و یا با چند کلیک می توانید از مشاوره و خدمات هوم کا استفاده کنید.
AntwortenLöschenپرستار کودک مبتلا به اوتیسم
وبسایت موسسه ستاره دانش پارسیان (اپلای استار) مرجع اطلاعات در خصوص تحصیل در آلمان، ویزای دانشجویی آلمان و کمک هزینه تحصیلی آلمان آماده خدمت رسانی و مشاوره به شما علاقه مندان به تحصیل در آلمان می باشد.
AntwortenLöschenتحصیل در اروپا
تحصیل کارشناسی در کانادا
Good Post with valuable content. Thanks for Sharing. Looking forward to reading more such articles on your blog. Cheers!
AntwortenLöschenWe provide best-in-class software testing services. Our website is www.stigentech.com
Good Post..
AntwortenLöschenThank you so much for this nice information. Hope so many people will get aware of this and useful as well. And please keep update like this.
AntwortenLöschenGame QA Solutions
PC Game Testing Services
playrep is offer you to play lots of games like - fungame, funrep, playrep etc..
AntwortenLöschenI really appreciate this post and I like this very much. I am waiting for new post here and Please keep it up in future..
AntwortenLöschenSoftware Testing Services
QA Testing Services
Software Testing Services in USA
Software Testing Companies in USA
Software Testing Company
Software Testing and Quality Assurance
QA Testing Companies
Independent Software Testing Companies in USA
Independent Software Testing Services
Software Testing Companies in India
Software Testing Companies in Dubai
Functional Testing Services
QA Software Testing Services
QA Testing Companies in USA
nice post
AntwortenLöschenSoftware Testing Training in Chennai | Certification | Online Courses
Software Testing Training in Chennai | Certification | Online Training Course | Software Testing Training in Bangalore | Certification | Online Training Course | Software Testing Training in Hyderabad | Certification | Online Training Course | Software Testing Training in Coimbatore | Certification | Online Training Course | Software Testing Training in Online | Certification | Online Training Course
I was very interested in the article , it’s quite inspiring I should admit. I like visiting your site since I always come across interesting articles like this one. Keep sharing! Regards. Read more about
AntwortenLöschenSelenium Training in Chennai | Certification | Online Courses
selenium training in chennai
selenium training in chennai
selenium online training in chennai
selenium training in bangalore
selenium training in hyderabad
selenium training in coimbatore
selenium online training
Great!! Thank you for sharing this post on software testing. Software testing outsourcing services are in great demand these days. Good to see such nice articulated post.
AntwortenLöschenAwesome article, it was exceptionally helpful! I simply began in this and I'm becoming more acquainted with it better! Cheers, keep doing awesome!
AntwortenLöschenSoftware Testing Services
Software Testing Services in India
Software Testing Companies in India
Software Testing Services in USA
Software Testing Companies in USA
Software Testing Companies
Software Testing Services Company
Functional and non functional testing
Thank you for sharing such an informative post
AntwortenLöschenI would highly appreciate if you guide me through this.
water tank level indicator in chennai.
simple water level indicator with a buzzer.
water tank level indicator in chennai.
Dry run timer. double motor sequential timer
Advantages of the product | LED indication
best water level controller suppliers in coimbatore..
best water level controller suppliers in madurai..
best water level controller suppliers in trichy and tirunelveli.
Nino Nurmadi, S.Kom
AntwortenLöschenninonurmadi.com
ninonurmadi.com
Nino Nurmadi, S.Kom
Nino Nurmadi, S.Kom
Nino Nurmadi, S.Kom
Nino Nurmadi, S.Kom
Nino Nurmadi, S.Kom
Nino Nurmadi, S.Kom
Awesome, I’m really thankful to you for this amazing blog. Visit Ogen Infosystem for creative website designing and development services in Delhi, India.
AntwortenLöschenBest Website Designing Company in Delhi
software testing company in India
AntwortenLöschenThanks for sharing such a nice post about Pathway Exploratory Testing.
very interesting and informative post.
please keep sharing.
BUY IBOGA ROOT BARKS ONLINE
AntwortenLöschenBUY IBOGAINE ONLINE
BUY ACTAVIS PROMETHAZINE ONLINE
BUY XANAX ONLINE
BUY LSD ONLINE
BUY LEMON HAZE ONLINE
BUY GODFATHER OG ONLINE
BUY DANK VAPE ONLINE
BUY ACTAVIS PROMETHAZINE ONLINE
buy Pain Pills online and Research chemicals
AntwortenLöschenbuy Roxicodone online
buy Roxicodone 30mg online
buy Xanax online
buy maltese and Pomeranian puppies online
buy Medical Marijuana online
buy Weed online
BUY LSD BLOTTERS online
buy OXYCODONE online
buy Norco online
thanks for sharing this blog buy marijuana online and pills, Buy clonazepam powder online
AntwortenLöschenBuy clonazepam powder online
Buy 2-nmc online
Buy adderall online
Buy actavis-promethazine-codeine online
Buy marijuana online online
Buy Wiz Khalifa OG online
Buy Green Crack online
Buy Girl Scout Cookies online
Buy AK-47 online
Buy Moon Rocks online
I use to read the blogs on daily bases, but today i found your blog quite interesting and unique, providing the great information and helpful to all. Keep it up and waiting for your latest updates thanks. We offers multiple services in digital marketing, some of our services are:
AntwortenLöschenDigital marketing Company
SMM Services
PPC Services in Delhi
Website Design & Development Packages
Web Development Packages
Web Development Package
Social Media Management Packages
Social Media Management Services
Thanks for sharing this amazing blog.
AntwortenLöschenBis Consultant in delhi
software testing company in India
AntwortenLöschensoftware testing company in Hyderabad
Nice and amazing blog.
Thanks for sharing such an amazing blog with us.
please keep sharing.
Thanks for sharing this post and the efforts you have made in writing this. If you have more info about Software testing companies, please share. Good to see such nice articulated post.
AntwortenLöschensoftware testing company in India
AntwortenLöschensoftware testing company in Hyderabad
Excellent information.
Thanks for sharing such a nice blog with us.
keep sharing.
There are different methods to keep the web applications safe from being harmed. But before implementing the web application penetration testing services, here are some points which every web application penetration testing company in dubai considers
AntwortenLöschenMua vé liên hệ đại lý Aivivu, tham khảo
AntwortenLöschenvé máy bay đi Mỹ giá rẻ 2021
vé máy bay từ los angeles về việt nam
Giá vé máy bay Hàn Việt Vietjet
lịch bay từ canada về việt nam
khi nào có máy bay từ nhật về việt nam
It was wonderfull reading your article. Great writing style # BOOST Your GOOGLE RANKING.It’s Your Time To Be On #1st Page Our Motive is not just to create links but to get them indexed as will Increase Domain Authority (DA).We’re on a mission to increase DA PA of your domain High Quality Backlink Building Service 1000 Backlink at cheapest 50 High Quality Backlinks for just 50 INR 2000 Backlink at cheapest 5000 Backlink at cheapest
AntwortenLöschenI think this is the best article today. Thanks for taking your own time to discuss this topic, I feel happy about that curiosity has increased to learn more about this topic. Keep sharing your information regularly for my future reference.Excellent blog admin. This is what I have looked. Check out the following links for QA services
AntwortenLöschenTest automation software
Best automated testing software
Mobile app testing services
I think this is the best article today. Thanks for taking your own time to discuss this topic, I feel happy about that curiosity has increased to learn more about this topic. Keep sharing your information regularly for my future reference.Excellent blog admin. This is what I have looked. Check out the following links for QA services
AntwortenLöschenTest automation software
Best automated testing software
Mobile app testing services
Thank you for sharing superb information. I am hoping the same best effort from you in the future as well. This is really a nice and informative, containing all information and also has a great impact on the new technology. Excellent blog admin. This is what I have looked. Check out the following links for Software Testing
AntwortenLöschen