Why blog testing?
Submitted by Dave Winget on Thu, 30/09/2004 - 23:57.
general software testing
Blogs went way beyond my initial perception of being for inconsequential stuff when they started appearing in my work related Google searches. They provided useful insights on topics that we discussed at work (and still do). So why didn’t I started blogging myself?
Well, like many people I rely on remembering the important things and forgetting what isn't worth remembering, so the need didn’t take hold immediately.
Also, some of those blogs were by luminaries of the testing world, I'd even read their books and articles! I doubted anyone would be interested in mine and the risk of exposing my inner thoughts for examination, even ridicule, wasn't particularly attractive.
On reflection, this may seem like self doubt but it's not. I openly discuss testing, bounce ideas off others, provide input, play devil's advocate (sometimes). In fact without some good ole professional interaction work can get pretty boring. So I shouldn't feel intimidated.
Indeed, I've gained testing knowledge by interacting with other people and my benefit, from their understanding (or lack of it), is often amplified with a larger audience. So I should have jumped at chance to communicate on a world wide scale...
TestingReflections.com, a testing specific communal blog for people like me had already been set up.
More recently Antony Marcano explained something to me. I chuckled, it was so simple and easy to understand, and complimented him on it. He replied "Well you told me about it Dave... ages ago." That did it.
I started trying to remember all those times people have asked if they can quote my sound bites or comments and use my ideas (hopefully for the right reasons!). I should have a back catalogue of thoughts and ideas stretching back years... never mind what anyone else thinks of them. Unsurprisingly I've forgotten the detail of most of those conversations.
So after reconfiguring my home network, sorting out my email servers and web sites, procrastinated a little bit more, finally I’ve started spending a little time doing something I should have started ages ago.
Well, like many people I rely on remembering the important things and forgetting what isn't worth remembering, so the need didn’t take hold immediately.
Also, some of those blogs were by luminaries of the testing world, I'd even read their books and articles! I doubted anyone would be interested in mine and the risk of exposing my inner thoughts for examination, even ridicule, wasn't particularly attractive.
On reflection, this may seem like self doubt but it's not. I openly discuss testing, bounce ideas off others, provide input, play devil's advocate (sometimes). In fact without some good ole professional interaction work can get pretty boring. So I shouldn't feel intimidated.
Indeed, I've gained testing knowledge by interacting with other people and my benefit, from their understanding (or lack of it), is often amplified with a larger audience. So I should have jumped at chance to communicate on a world wide scale...
TestingReflections.com, a testing specific communal blog for people like me had already been set up.
More recently Antony Marcano explained something to me. I chuckled, it was so simple and easy to understand, and complimented him on it. He replied "Well you told me about it Dave... ages ago." That did it.
I started trying to remember all those times people have asked if they can quote my sound bites or comments and use my ideas (hopefully for the right reasons!). I should have a back catalogue of thoughts and ideas stretching back years... never mind what anyone else thinks of them. Unsurprisingly I've forgotten the detail of most of those conversations.
So after reconfiguring my home network, sorting out my email servers and web sites, procrastinated a little bit more, finally I’ve started spending a little time doing something I should have started ages ago.