programming

Tester paired with a developer, photo by Alvaro Reyes Elevate Code Quality by Integrating Testing and Development

Pair programming generally involves two programmers working on a single change from start to finish. You can augment this pattern by adding a test specialist, so you can test-drive feature changes first and the tester can ask questions and guide test and code design. What you get is quality built in from the start.

Justin Rohrman's picture
Justin Rohrman
code Do Testers Really Need to Learn How to Code?

Because automation, AI, and agile have changed how we test software, the thought is that testers need to understand a certain amount of coding so that they can make themselves more well-rounded and better able to adapt within a software project. But there are other things testers can focus on before learning to code.

Josiah Renaudin's picture
Josiah Renaudin
Tricycle Testing in a Pair Programming Environment

If a development team does pair programming, where does testing fit in? You don't have to wait until the programming is done—testers can be part of the whole process, from code design to reviewing changes to production. Pair programming plus a good automation strategy mean quality is built in throughout development.

Justin Rohrman's picture
Justin Rohrman
Programmer coding A Tester’s Guide to Choosing a Programming Language

Many testers want to learn a programming language, but how should they decide which one? Justin Rohrman suggests finding an authentic problem to solve and moving from there to determine which language would be best. You can also ask developer coworkers for suggestions and help—take advantage of available resources.

Justin Rohrman's picture
Justin Rohrman
Computer with a "Retired!" sign Think through System Changes to Anticipate Quality Issues

When you replace or significantly modify components of a larger system, too frequently we focus on whether the code we are building functions correctly. This is important, but it’s also short-sighted. It’s easy to introduce errors because we are changing interactions. Coding bugs are only one quality problem.

Payson Hall's picture
Payson Hall
Agile development code Integrating Code in Agile Software Development: Start with the Goal in Mind

Agile software development works because of continuous feedback at various levels, and the most important form of feedback is working software. One way to achieve rapid feedback is to integrate and deploy code frequently. Rather than starting with the process, first decide what "frequently" should mean for your team.

Steve Berczuk's picture
Steve Berczuk
Computer showing software bugs Becoming a Modern Software Tester

Testers today need to look more like developers than users. Automation is becoming essential, so understanding at least basic programming is a must. As companies adopt agile and deliver more frequently, modern testers should learn to code, understand continuous integration, and use tools to eliminate constraints.

Adam Auerbach's picture
Adam Auerbach
Screen showing successful automated test Using Systems Thinking to Extend Your Test Automation Power

When automated tests work perfectly one day but fail for no discernible reason the next, it's easy to get frustrated with automation. But you don't have to stay in the dark. Many of the tools we use today allow us to extend their reach with some custom code. Just use some systems thinking and a little imagination.

Mike Duskis's picture
Mike Duskis