MoT Club: What top tip would you give yourself if you started in Testing today?

A few days ago, Ben Dowen (fullsnacktester) asked this great question in the Ministry of Testing Club and so I started writing my answer, but also just for fun asked ChatGPT for answers. And it somehow is near to what I also wanted to answer, so I am not holding this secret and publishing the content also on my blog 😉

What top tip would you give yourself if you started in Testing today?

Knowing what you know now, what one top tip would you give yourself if you were starting in Software Testing and Quality today?

Would it be something to avoid?
Some key truth about testing?
Some key topic to focus more on learning?

ChatGPT – Prompt

And this is what ChatGPT came back with. Well, I slightly changed the prompt to:

Knowing what you know now with more than 12 years experience, what one top tip would you give yourself if you were starting in Software Testing and Quality today?

Provide answers to those questions:

• Would it be something to avoid?
• Some key truth about testing?
• Some key topic to focus more on learning?

ChatGPT – Response

If I were starting in Software Testing and Quality today, based on my knowledge and experience, here is the top tip I would give myself:

Focus on Test Automation: One key topic to focus more on learning would be test automation. Test automation plays a crucial role in modern software testing, enabling efficient and effective test execution. Invest time in learning popular test automation frameworks and tools, such as Selenium WebDriver, Appium, or Cypress, depending on the type of applications you’ll be testing. Automating repetitive and mundane test cases allows you to save time and resources, while also improving test coverage and reducing the chances of human error. Understanding how to design and implement robust and maintainable automated test suites will greatly enhance your testing capabilities and marketability.

In addition to that, here are some additional insights to consider:

1. Embrace Continuous Testing: Software development practices have evolved to embrace continuous integration, continuous delivery, and DevOps principles. It’s important to understand the value of continuous testing and its integration into the software development lifecycle. This includes writing tests early, automating them, and integrating them seamlessly into the development and deployment processes. By adopting continuous testing, you ensure that quality is continuously assessed throughout the development cycle, reducing the risk of critical issues reaching production.
2. Test the System, Not Just the Code: While testing individual code units (unit testing) is important, it’s crucial to also focus on testing the system as a whole. System testing involves verifying the behavior and functionality of the complete software system, including interactions between various components and subsystems. This helps uncover integration issues, performance bottlenecks, and other critical defects that might arise when different modules interact with each other. Understanding how to design and execute effective system-level tests will give you a broader perspective on the software’s quality and help identify issues that might be missed at the unit level.
3. Emphasize Exploratory Testing: While test automation is valuable, don’t overlook the importance of exploratory testing. Exploratory testing involves simultaneous learning, test design, and test execution, relying on the tester’s knowledge, skills, and creativity. It allows you to uncover unexpected issues, evaluate usability aspects, and gain insights into the system’s behavior. Invest time in developing your exploratory testing skills and techniques, as it complements automated testing and helps uncover issues that are difficult to capture through scripted tests alone.
4. Collaboration and Communication: Quality assurance is a team effort, and effective collaboration and communication are essential. Develop strong interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with developers, product owners, and other stakeholders. Actively participate in meetings, provide valuable feedback, and contribute to the overall quality of the software. Building good relationships with your team members and fostering a collaborative environment will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process.

Remember, testing is not just about finding bugs; it’s about providing valuable information to stakeholders, ensuring the software meets the desired quality standards, and continuously improving the development process. Embrace learning and stay updated with the latest industry trends, tools, and techniques to excel in the field of software testing and quality.

So, what do you think? 🙂