Episodios

  • In this episode, Vernon and Richard celebrate their love for the software testing community, discussing the importance of people, tools, teaching, and the thrill of conferences. They reflect on personal growth, the challenges of production issues, and the joy of mentoring others. The conversation emphasizes the connections made within the industry and the shared experiences that enrich their careers.

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    10:28 - SeleniumThe Selenium websiteThe BiDi spec10:44 - Jason & SimonJason's LinkedInSimon's LinkedIn13:17 - James ThomasHere's an example of what I meanAnd another!Aaaaaand another!27:02 - The PEBCAK error27:28 Conferences27:58 - PeersCon 202528:17 - Agile Testing Days 202528:29 - Let's Test SAPlease DM if you can commit to going and/or know of companies that would be willing to sponsor!BONUS - The legendary Chris Kenst maintains Software Testing Conferences, which has a list of allTheConferences29:33 - Martin HynieMartin's newsletterMartin's LinkedIn


    00:00 - Intro
    01:11 - Is it our birthday yet?
    01:52 - The Forced Socio-Economic Day episode
    02:20 - What do we love about our careers?
    03:07 - We love PEOPLE
    04:39 - Different kids of friendship
    06:08 - Making a huge impact on people with tiny interactions
    08:18 - The benefit of being tool aware
    10:10 - We love TOOLS
    10:20 - Rich's favourite tool
    12:03 - Vern's favourite tool
    15:40 - We love the VARIETY
    18:21 - We love TEACHING
    19:58 - What does the balance look like between teaching, mentoring, and coaching in Rich's current role
    22:33 - We love CHALLENGE
    23:51 - Systems thinking and understanding how things work
    27:28 - We love CONFERENCES
    35:35 - Mutual appreciation ❤️
    36:28 - The Friendly Tester is Dead. Long Live Richard Bradshaw!

  • In this conversation, Richard and Vernon delve into the evolving landscape of AI, particularly focusing on the concept of agentic AI. They discuss personal updates, including their health and fitness journeys, before transitioning into a detailed exploration of AI technologies. Richard shares his recent experiences with AI training and projects, emphasizing the differences between traditional generative AI and agentic AI.

    The discussion highlights the importance of goals, tasks, and tool awareness in AI, drawing parallels to software testing and the dynamics of generalists versus specialists in the tech industry. The conversation concludes with reflections on the implications of these technologies for the future. In this conversation, Vernon and Richard explore the evolving landscape of AI, particularly focusing on agentic AI and its implications for testing and quality assurance.

    They discuss the importance of defining clear goals and expected outcomes for AI tasks, the need for quality characteristics in AI outputs, and the critical role of human oversight in AI decision-making. The conversation also touches on iterative learning, exploratory testing, and the future of AI in the testing domain, emphasizing the necessity for testers to adapt and enhance their skills in this rapidly changing environment.

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    02:40 - Ben KellyBen's LinkedInBen's IMDb06:38 - Martin Hynie's video explaining Agentic AIBe sure to check out the resources he shared in the comments too. Goodness gracious 🎯12:19 - CrewAI the tool Rich was experimenting with13:27 - And for funsies we asked ChatGPT the same question17:52 - Jason ArbonJason's websiteJason's LinkedIn23:23 - Persona-based testing24:11 - Context-driven testing01:08:43 - Other folks & materials you can learn fromThe deeplearning.ai websiteTariq KingHere's what Perplexity came up with!His workshop: An Introduction to AI-Driven Test AutomationHis presentation: Integrating GenAI for Testing into the Software LifecycleTariq's LinkedInMelissa EadenMel's newsletterThe issue called is "A Fable about GenAI" is excellentMel's LinkedInMark WinteringhamMark's websiteMark's GenAI bookMark's LinkedInMartin HynieMartin's newsletterThe series "So You Just Got Assigned Your First GenAI Project" is goldenMartin's LinkedInGo to his profile. Find the "Activity" section. Use the "Videos" link/button to filter his posts. Watch the videos. Thank me later.Bill MatthewsBill's LinkedIn

    00:00 - Intro
    01:14 - Welcome
    04:02 - Rich's adventures learning about AI
    05:24 - Rich goes down the Agentic AI rabbit hole
    07:00 - GenAI vs Agentic AI
    12:45 - Understanding Agentic AI vs. Traditional AI
    13:27 - What's the difference between the term "Agent" and "Agentic"?
    15:20 - How would Rich describe or categorise a chatbot?
    16:15 - What makes something agentic then?
    17:52 - Jason helps Rich understand what to expect from his exploration
    18:51 - What's the relationship between goals and tasks?
    20:06 - Rich explains what makes this so interesting for him and got him excited
    26:12 - Empowering Agents with the Right Tools
    27:47 - Understanding Tasks vs. Goals
    28:45 - Breaking Down Tasks for Efficiency
    29:44 - How much agency do agents have?
    31:38 - Task Descriptions and Expected Outcomes
    33:03 - Teams of agents vs teams of people and specialists vs generalists
    35:48 - How does an agent decide what to do next and how does it know it has completed the task?
    36:40 - Defining Quality in Agent Outputs
    38:15 - MOAR testing concepts that have parallels with Rich's exploration
    40:28 - The consequences of not being accurate enough with your backstory, expected output, tasks, etc
    43:34 - What happens when agenticai is asked to achieve the same goal without changing anything about the backstory, expected output, tasks, etc?
    45:40 - Challenges of Iteration and Learning
    46:47 - What are max iterations and what does that remind Rich of?
    47:40 - Vern wonders how important semantics is going to be and how Testers can contribute to this work
    49:42 - Rich riffs on exploratory testing
    51:02 - Exploratory Testing and Agentic Learning. What does the Tester's story look like in the context of an agentic system from the agent's perspective?
    54:15 - Exploring Autonomy in AI Systems
    56:57 - Evaluating AI Outputs and Task Design
    58:21 - What happens if/when the context is left blank in these agentic systems?
    01:00:49 - Soooo where do the humans fit in if agentic systems can doAllTheThings?
    01:02:37 - Wrap up: Take 1 - Designing small targeted tests vs designing small targeted tasks
    01:04:46 - Wrap up: Take 2 - Agents delegating tasks to other agents. Er... WTF?!
    01:06:00 - Wrap up: Take 3 - How is Rich feeling about AI & AI tools?
    01:09:45 - Wrap up: Take 4 - Testers ASSEMBLE! How we're going to contribute in a world of AI

  • ¿Faltan episodios?

    Pulsa aquí para actualizar resultados

  • In this episode of the Vernon Richards show, the hosts discuss their goals for the new year, reflecting on the past year and sharing strategies for achieving personal and professional aspirations. They emphasize the importance of journaling, creating structured routines, and building accountability through community support. The conversation also touches on the significance of intentional content consumption and the benefits of sharing progress publicly. Overall, the episode serves as a motivational guide for listeners looking to set and achieve their own goals in 2025.

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    05:35 - The Yearly Review by Dickie Bush & Nicolas ColeThis is an updated version of the one Vernon discussed in the episode. Win!07:52 - Some helpful journalling prompts from Dickie08:18 - The workshop Vernon mentioned is called The Productivity Spark 2025It was a free to attend online workshop BUT... It looks like the link is down 😞. Vernon suspects the free workshop will be run quarterly, so keep your eyes and ears open for the next one. In the meantime, here are some other helpful resources from Ali.Ali's websiteAli's free stuffAli's bookAli's YouTube channelAli's Productivity course/community09:49 - The CountrPT app by Ash Coleman Hynie12:08 - Ilari Henrik AegerterIlari's LinkedIn17:03 - Elizabeth ZagrobaSign-up for the FroGS peer conference that Elizabeth organises (with help from her pals) because it's awesome!Elizabeth's blogElizabeth's LinkedIn26:00 - Ben KellyBen's LinkedIn28:48 - Toby SinclairToby's websiteToby's LinkedIn34:55 - Daniel PriestlyDaniel's YouTube35:14 - John CutlerJohn's SubstackJohn's LinkedIn36:30 - Martin HynieMartin's LinkedIn36:49 - Melissa EadenMel's SubstackMelissa's LinkedIn41:25 - The DOSE EffectThe bookA conversation on the topic between Ali Abdaal & TJ Power the book's author58:05 - Some references for the internal board of directors and invisible council concept from Perplexity01:00:46 - The System Seeing Challenge by Ruth MalanRuth's websiteThe guide book for A Month of System Seeing

    00:00 - Intro: New Year, New Goals

    01:09 - Welcome

    01:33 - Today's theme: Achieving our goals

    03:29 - How are we approaching goal setting and achieving goals?

    05:35 - Vernon describes the Yearly Review process he used

    07:52 - Journalling as a means to remember what happened throughout the year

    09:33 - Where else would journalling be useful?

    11:20 - Rich talks about notebooks and how he uses writing to achieve his goals and remember his wins

    12:58 - Rich's goals for 2025

    15:30 - Timeblocking FTW!

    16:39 - Starting small

    18:23 - Vernon's goals for 2025

    19:26 - Richard's reading goals and his library

    24:15 - How to stay accountable: Building in public & Accountability buddies

    31:34 - How to stay accountable: Bullet journal

    34:21 - Vern shares the concept of "Look at me" vs "Look at this" content

    39:10 - Rich realises why he hasn't done as much signal boosting as he used to

    41:25 - How to stay accountable: Managing dopamine

    44:55 - Managing focus by removing distraction

    47:49 - Intention and finding a balance between resting vs procrastination and striving vs obsession

    54:10 - How to stack the odds of success i

  • 00:00 Introduction

    02:00 Happy to be Employed

    05:00 Vernon Wrote a Book

    08:00 Talking at a Developer Conferences

    16:20 PeersCon

    20:24 Our Podcast

    21:50 Agile Testing Days Experience

    22:20 Our Podcast again

    28:30 Bluesky

    32:30 Vernon’s New Newsletter

    41:00 Generalist Specialist and AI

    51:00 Discipline and Consistency

    54:00 Vernon’s Personal Reflection

    55:40 Richard’s Personal Reflection

    Links to stuff that we mentioned:

    05:00 - Mark’s and Nicola’s Book - The Software Tester’s Journey

    05:01 - Nicola Lindgren Bluesky Profile

    08:00 - Richard’s talk at Oredev

    08:00 - Øredev conference - https://oredev.org/

    11:30 - Abby Bangser - Bluesky Profile

    15:30 - Gitte Klitgaard - Bluesky Profile

    16:20 - PeersCon - https://testingpeerscon.com/

    18:24 - Beth Probert - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethprobert/

    18:48 - Testing Peers Podcast

    21:20 - Our Agile Testing Days Podcast episode

    21:46 - Agile Testing Days conference

    29:00 - Tobias Geyer Bluesky

    32:30 - Jit Gosai Bluesky

    32:30 - JIt Gosai Quality Engineering Newsletter

  • This conversation captures the vibrant atmosphere of Agile Testing Days in Potsdam, highlighting the importance of community, targeted automated testing, and the exploration of tester identity. The hosts discuss their experiences at the conference, including workshops, networking opportunities, and a unique musical performance that showcased the talents of attendees. They delve into the significance of understanding tester identity and the symbols associated with it, emphasizing the need for connection and belonging within the testing community. This conversation at Agile Testing Days explores various themes including the experience of performing in a musical, insights from keynote speakers on technical coaching, the importance of documenting achievements for career advancement, and the evolving identity of professionals in agile environments. The discussion emphasizes the value of networking at conferences and the need for continuous learning and adaptation in one's career. [AI]

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    01:00 - Agile Testing Days 2024 (ATD)ATD's website02:00 - 🤠 Señor Performo aka Leandro Melendez (who Vernon definitely did NOT call Leonardo 😅😇🤥🥷🐢🤦🏾‍♂️)Señor Performo's websiteSeñor Performo's English YouTube channel 🇬🇧Señor Performo's Español YouTube channel 🇪🇸Señor Performo's English podcast channel 🇬🇧Señor Performo's Español podcast channel 🇪🇸Señor Performo's bookSeñor Performo's LinkedInSeñor Performo's X03:00 - Richard's tutorial Targeted Automated Tests04:35 - Mark WinteringhamMark's websiteMark's books (probably why he's so slick with words!)10:07 - Lisa Crispin & João ProençaLisa's website and LinkedIn pagesLisa's BlueskyJoão's LinkedIn pageJoão's Bluesky10:17 - José "Pepe" Díaz & Uwe GelfertJosé's websiteJosé's BlueskyJosé's LinkedInUwe's LinkedIn11:25 - Alex(andra) SchladebeckAlex's websiteAlex's LinkedIn13:05 - The castSamuel "Robot Overlord" NitscheLena "Test Management Saviour" Pejgan NyströmRachel "Pitch Perfect" KiblerVeerle "Light Sabre Extraordinaire" VerhagenTamara "Putting the "Rock Star" in Rock Star Developer" JostenCallum "The stage is my happy place" Akehurst-RyanBastian "Best Bad Boss Ever" KnerrTobias "Chill Samuel I've got this" GeyerDid you order a light sabre duel with your musical? You did? Well here you go!19:32 - Leandro's workshop Ramping up modern performance21:53 - Jenna CharltonThe description of Jenna's ATD keynote Testing, Identity, and SymbolsJenna's LinkedInJenna's BlueskyMartin HynieMartin describing the wider impact of his talk, including a link to the talk itselfMartin's LinkedIn22:57 - Ashley HunsbergerAshley's LinkedIn39:05 - Bart KnaackBart's LinkedIn42:21 - Emily BacheThe description of Emily's ATD keynote Technical coaching development teams using the Samman methodEmily's YouTubeThe Samman Society websiteThe Hartman Proficiency Taxonomy by Marian HartmanBloom's taxonomy for cognitive thinkingPaul Holland another ATD contributor of allTheThings and Rubix Cube legendEmily's LinkedIn47:16 - Ash "Data is dope" HynieAsh's LinkedInCountrPT's websiteCountrPT's LinkedInPatrick Prill (who aside from being a generalist, also gives THE BEST hugs around, trust me on this folks!)Rita AvotaBen DowenJoao Proenca

    01:00 - Intro LIVE from Agile Testing Days!
    03:00 - Why are we here?
    10:52 - The importance of networking and conferences
    12:17 - What kind of event is ATD?
    13:05 - The ATD Musical (you read that correctly)
    18:29 - Guest: Señor Performo discussing who he is and performance testing
    21:53 - Guest: Jenna Charlton explaining the relationship between testing, identity, and symbols
    36:15 - Guest: Basti aka Bastian "Best Bad Boss Ever" Knerr talking about being part of the musical
    39:05 - Guest: Baart Knack talking about his escapades at ATD over the years and hi...

  • #contentcreation #softwaretesting
    In this conversation, Richard Bradshaw and Vernon discuss various themes including veganism, personal achievements, the writing process, and the importance of collecting ideas for content creation. They explore the significance of networking within the software testing community and reflect on the dynamics of social media, particularly Twitter and LinkedIn. The conversation also highlights the value of storytelling in professional settings and shares insights from a recent conference experience. In this conversation, Richard Bradshaw shares his experiences from the Husteth Conference, including the challenges and triumphs of being a closing keynote speaker. He discusses the unexpected power cut during his talk, the importance of engaging Q&A sessions, and the value of networking and building connections at conferences. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community, sharing insights, and the overall positive experience of attending events.

    00:00 Introduction and Veganism Discussion
    02:58 Celebrating Achievements and Book Launch
    06:00 Writing Process and Content Creation
    08:54 Collecting Ideas: The Fieldstone Method
    11:55 Building in Public and Sharing Experiences
    15:04 Networking and Community Engagement
    17:58 Reflections on Social Media Dynamics
    21:00 The Importance of Collecting Stories
    23:55 Conference Experience and Innovations
    26:53 Q&A Dynamics at Events
    32:25 Reflections on the Husteth Conference
    34:09 The Power Cut Incident
    39:43 The Importance of Q&A Sessions
    45:21 Closing Keynote Experience
    49:42 Traveling and Networking at Conferences
    52:22 Conversations and Connections at Events
    57:11 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

  • In this episode of the Vernon Richard show, Richard and Vernon engage in an AMA format, discussing various topics including their collaborative projects, future aspirations, the impact of their quality testing mindset on daily life, memorable swag from testing events, experiences in uncomfortable establishments, significant learning moments, and the importance of testing environments. They emphasize the need for continuous content creation and the desire to connect with their audience for future interactions.

    00:00 - Intro

    00:16 - Ben's question: If you could do any co-lab with anyone from the community, who would it be, and what might it look like?

    05:43 - Leigh's question: Where do you and vern see yourselves in 5 years, or want to be in 5 years, doing what kind of role in what kind of company?

    15:46 - Andy's question: When I speak with people, I love hearing how their Quality/Testing mindset spills over into day to day life. One person used to test their childrens' toys by seeing if they could use them one-handed covered in olive oil. Another guy would occasionally test how far away his TV remote would work and see if it changes 😂

    Maybe you've covered this stuff already, but personally I always love hearing about these funny quirks and testing 'life'.

    26:05 - Emily's question: What's the best swag you've ever picked up from a testing event?

    31:29 - Mark's question: Have you ever walked in to a pub that's so bad you want to instantly leave, But because of obligated politeness and fear of that awkward feeling of walking straight out again you go stayed?

    35:08 - Ide's question: Looking back, best learning ever (at that moment perhaps biggest fail ever), with context, and what/when did it change from: Argh! to Ahhh!

    40:53 - Anonymous question: Do you think one of your test environments should match the spec of production?

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    00:16 - Stuff from Ben's questionButch MayhewButch's websiteButch's LinkedInBen DowenBen's LinkedInLisi HockeLisi's blogLisi's LinkedInNicola LindgrenNicola's YouTube channelNicola's blogThe book we're writing called "The Tester's Journey"!Nicola's first book "Starting Your Software Testing Career"!Nicola's LinkedInKaren ToddKaren's YouTube channelKaren's LinkedInDean MoonDean's websiteDean's LinkedInAsh Coleman HynieAsh's new product CountrPT!Ash's LinkedInKelsey HightowerKelsey's X (formerly Twitter) accountManchester Tech FestivalTheir websiteTheir founder Amy NewtonEmily O'ConnorEmily's LinkedInDorothy "Dot" GrahamDorothy's LinkedInJanet GregoryJanet's websiteJanet's LinkedInAbby BangserAbby's LinkedInMelissa EadenMel's blogMel's LinkedInStuff from Leigh's questionLeigh RathboneLeigh's LinkedInAlan PageAlan's newsletterAlan and Brent's podcastAlan's LinkedInThe Black Tech Unplugged Podcast hosted by Deena McKayNB (from Vernon): I got the name of the podcast wrong 🤦🏾‍♂️! I mentioned the Tech Is The New Black podcast, which is awesome but crucially, NOT the one Deena creates. Forgive me Deena 🙏🏾.The Quality Bits podcast hosted by Lina ZubyteNB (from Vernon): I blundered AGAIN 🤦🏾‍♂️! The name of the pod is Quality Bits, BITS! Not Bytes. Good grief. Sorry Lina 🙏🏾Daniel KnottDaniel's YouTube channel (with 107,000 subscribers at the time of writing 🤯)Daniel's blogDaniel's booksHands-On Mobile App Testing on LeanpubSmartwatch App Testing on LeanpubDaniel's LinkedInJoe ColantonioJoe's YouTube (with 387,000 subscribers at the time of writing 🤯)Joe's websiteStuff from Andy's questionAndy JohnsonAndy's LinkedInDel DewarDel's blogDel's PS5 botDel's LinkedInStuff from Emily's questionEmily O'ConnorEmily's LinkedInStuff from Mark's questionMark GillottMark's LinkedInStuff from Ide's questionIde KoopsIde's LinkedInStuff from the Anonymous questionChristian LeggetChristian's LinkedInJonathan MarshallJonathan's LinkedIn

  • The conversation revolves around the challenges faced by testers and the lack of understanding and support they receive from leadership. The hosts discuss the misconception of the value of testers and the need for leaders to create an environment where testers can thrive. They highlight the importance of addressing the frustrations and unhappiness of testers and the need for leaders to take responsibility for creating a supportive and nurturing culture.

    The conversation also touches on the changing expectations of developers compared to testers and the need for leaders to have a better understanding of the role and value of testers. The conversation explores the disconnect between the expectations and perspectives of testing and quality engineers. It highlights the need for leaders to take responsibility for creating a supportive environment and culture. The role of tools and marketing in shaping these expectations is also discussed.

    The conversation concludes with the importance of clear communication, understanding the needs of the team, and nurturing the growth of testers and quality engineers.

    #podcast #softwaretesting #software #softwaredevelopment

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    11:38 - Challenge Networks. Listen to Adam Grant explain the concept of a Challenge Network on the DOAC podcast.26:30 - Jerry Weinberg's 2nd Law of Consulting from his book The Secrets of Consulting"No matter how it looks at first, it's always a people problem."Find more of Jerry's quotes on this page28:40 - Vern talking about his talk in episode 6 "How No-Code Test Tools, Technical Leadership & Glue Work Impact Software Quality"Tanya's Glue Work presentation which you can read or watch"What Is Quiet Quitting?" a BBC News article describing the phenomenonVernon's Agile Yorkshire presentation where he describes the link between those concepts29:19 - Martin HynieMartin describing the wider impact of his talkMartin's LinkedIn30:59 - Maaret Pyhäjärvi & Anna BaikAnna's quote that Maaret shared on LinkedInAnna's LinkedInMaaret's LinkedIn34:35 - Prompt EngineerWhat's a Prompt Engineer?35:30 - Adelina ChalmersAdelina's AMA session that I joined (please follow her and join her sessions, she's AWESOME!)Adelina's LinkedIn

    00:00 Introduction and Technical Discussion
    01:27 - What's going on with Rich's fingers?!
    01:36 Challenges and Misunderstandings Faced by Testers and Quality Engineers
    01:54 - Everything the Testers in your team want to tell you but are too afraid
    02:50 - Vern's theory
    07:40 - Why do other roles get "the nutrients" they need?
    08:09 The Value of Testers and the Need for Supportive Leadership
    10:26 - What do leaders misunderstand about the value of Testers and QEs?
    11:38 - Support networks Vs Challenger networks
    12:09 - The bugs we report that people REALLY don't like!
    12:43 - System problems disguised as testing problems
    14:37 Shifting Expectations for Developers and the Evolving Understanding of Testing
    14:53 - Groundhog day!
    16:10 - Rich wonders if our expectations are reasonable
    19:29 - How does the world perceive Developers, Designers, and Testers?
    21:04 - How expectations have changed for Developers
    23:07 Creating a Supportive and Nurturing Environment for Testers
    24:08 - How a lack of curiosity impacts the wellbeing of your team
    26:21 - Expectation vs Reality
    26:59 Bridging the Gap: Expectations and Perspectives
    27:27 - How to collaborate on expectations with the Tester in your life!
    28:37 - Martin's crazy experiments, Glue Work, Technical Leadership, and Quality Engineering
    30:13 - What does this tell us about the culture of the organisation?
    30:58 Creating a Supportive Environment for Testers and Quality Engineers
    31:52 - Rich asks if this is only a problem for people like us?
    32:41 The Role of Tooling in Shaping Expectations
    35:30 - What can we learn from the CEO/CTO relationship?
    38:12 - What can we learn from relationships, period?
    40:19 - ⚽️ Footy
    42:16 - The impact of language and narrative on testing in the test tool market
    45:50 - The link between testing, manual labour, and knowledge work
    46:20 Advocating for Testers and Quality Engineers
    47:10 - Hiring to solve problems or to put bums in seats
    48:00 - Rich takes us back to the chicken and egg
    50:08 - A potential new focus and name for the show!
    51:22 - Outro

  • In this episode, Richard and Vernon discuss the topic of hiring and share their thoughts on the annoying things that companies and hiring managers do. They emphasize the importance of seeking clarification and understanding the context behind red flags on a candidate's CV.

    They also discuss the power dynamic in the hiring process and provide advice for job seekers on how to mitigate potential problems. They highlight the value of storytelling and narrative in CVs and suggest cherry-picking relevant experiences to showcase in job applications.

    In this conversation, Richard and Vernon discuss job hunting strategies and offer advice for those looking for new roles. They emphasize the importance of networking, building a personal brand, and being intentional about what you share on platforms like LinkedIn.

    They also discuss the distinction between skills and tools in job specifications and CVs, encouraging a focus on transferable skills rather than specific tools. The conversation concludes with a call for feedback and suggestions from listeners.

    #softwaretesting #software #hiring #hiringtips


    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    01:43 - Vernon's LinkedIn post about how NOT to handle "red flags" spotted on CVs!09:41 - Wayne Bennett, FRSA, CertRPWayne's comment on my postWayne's recruitment firm Made4Tech GlobalWayne's LinkedIn17:47 - Recruiters we think are awesome!Wayne Bennet's LinkedIn (particularly for Manchester and NW England roles)Kelli Jackson's LinkedIn (for North American roles and runs a community for midlifers changing careers)Gabbi Trotter's LinkedIn (UK wide but particularly the North West and Midlands roles)Samir Mehta's LinkedIn (although he's internal now & works with Rich the poor guy)Jamie Doyle's LinkedIn (UK wide and a legend)Kristina Javůrková's LinkedIn (for Benelux roles)Matt Drinkwater's LinkedIn (UK wide and hosts QE Babble)James Duke's LinkedIn (UK wide and lover of fast cars)18:07 - Book: Never Split The Difference by Chris VossAn explanation of LabellingAn explanation of an Accusation AuditChris's websiteGrab the book from Amazon23:53 - Huib SchootsHuib's websiteAnd Huib is one of the folks I've heard talk about storytelling! You can find that presentation here.Huib's LinkedIn32:28 - Alan RichardsonAlan's websiteAlan's Patreon communityAlan's LinkedIn43:01 - The Quality Talks PodcastThe Quality Talks podcast hosted by Stu and ChrisStu's LinkedInChris's Linkedin48:01 - Elizabeth ZagrobaElizabeth's article Doubt Builds TrustWhich contains an example of a Trustworthy CVElizabeth's websiteElizabeth's LinkedIn53:18 - The Never Search Alone movement

    00:00 - Intro
    00:49 - Let's talk about hiring
    01:00 - Hiring managers annoying habits
    01:43 - Vern's rant about "red flags" on CVs
    03:59 - Rich explains why he thinks option C is reasonable (in the circumstances!)
    05:30 - Hiring is like software development!
    05:37 - Red flags == Bugs in production
    06:42 - Red flags == Feature flags / AB tests
    09:41 - A recruiter's perspective on the issue
    12:15 - How Rich approached his recent job search
    14:11 - Don't be passive during the interview: Asking questions, clarifications, and storytelling
    15:30 - How to handle objections during an interview
    16:36 - The importance of weaving the hidden gems of your experience into you interview
    18:07 - How Labelling and Accusation Audits can help you in interviews
    How to combine labelling and an accusation audits to your advantage in interviews
    19:31 - Leverage your risk analysis skills to prep for your interview
    20:30 - How to sell yourself short in an interview
    23:20 - The meta skill of storytelling
    24:49 - Storytelling with your CV
    28:04 - Excellent advice about leveraging LinkedIn that Vern isn't following!
    29:49 - Rich's advice about what information to include and Vern's mysterious friends' experience trying to take that advice
    31:26 - Contradictory job hunting advice and how to swerve it
    32:05 - The ultimate hack(s) for job hunting
    36:10 - How do you decide or calculate what kind of material to include in your "personal brand"?
    41:09 - The balance of serious vs fun content
    43:01 - Rich questions who Vern chooses to hang out with
    43:39 - How to share other people's ideas and yours at the same time
    45:47 - Shout out to PastRich!
    46:06 - Rich wants to talk about how we talk about skills
    48:01 - Elizabeth Zagroba's interesting take on writing CVs
    51:21 - Vern has an idea for the next episode
    52:51 - What advice did we miss? Help!

  • In this conversation, Richard and Vernon discuss their use of AI in their lives and then explore the topic of working at their dream companies. Richard expresses his fascination with SpaceX and the incredible engineering and technology involved in space exploration. Vernon shares his love for video games and the art and science behind their creation.

    They also touch on the emotions involved in software testing and how they can be clues to underlying problems. The conversation explores various emotions experienced during software testing, including frustration, joy, fear, suspicion, and familiarity. Frustration often arises when encountering bugs or issues, while joy can be felt when using a well-designed and user-friendly app. Fear is associated with the potential for irreversible actions or data loss. Suspicion arises when recognizing patterns or past experiences that may indicate potential problems. Familiarity helps in identifying missing features or inconsistencies.

    The conversation also touches on the concept of behavior-driven development (BDD) and the importance of having conversations and automating them rather than just documenting them.

    #exploratorytesting #softwaretesting #testing #software #softwaredevelopment #emotions

    00:00 - Intro attempt no. 1
    00:50 - Intro attempt no. 2
    01:16 - ⚽️ Footy
    01:46 - ⚽️ Footy related preamble to the question
    03:01 - Dream job question
    03:36 - Space! The final frontier!
    03:54 Dream Job: Working at SpaceX and Developing Software for Rockets
    08:30 - Dream job: Nintendo, adventure games, and storytelling
    11:54 The Fascination with Rockets and Space
    17:04 - Emotions in software testing
    19:41 Beyond Functionality: The Importance of User Experience and Emotions
    20:10 The Role of Emotions in Software Testing
    20:35 Using Frustration and Anger as Indicators of Improvement Areas
    21:29 Learning and Coding: Frustration and Joy
    22:36 BDD and Sweary Outbursts
    23:56 The Importance of Clear User Scenarios
    25:34 The Value of Conversations in BDD
    26:50 - Joyful testing
    28:57 Fear and Suspicion in Testing
    31:14 The Anxiety of Sending Money
    33:27 - Suspicion and that feeling of de ja vu
    36:09 Applying Past Experiences and Patterns
    37:25 The Evolution of Suspicion and Familiarity
    39:27 The Role of Heuristics in Testing
    41:24 The Absence of Joy in Testing
    42:46 Emotions as a Guide for Testing Strategies and Approaches


    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    00:09 - KrispKrisp.ai - Noise cancelling software (not an affiliate link!)00:56 - Tristan LombardTristan's LinkedInTristan's TwitterVincent Kompany03:36 - SpaceX07:02 - Virgin GalacticTheir websiteHistoric mission which included the first women astronauts from the CaribbeanAntogua08:34 - Nintendo09:50 - Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's TrapWonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap wiki page10:44 - The Zelda gamesThe Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past wiki page12:49 - Daniel KnottDaniel's YouTube channelDaniel's blogDaniel's booksHands-On Mobile App Testing on LeanpubSmartwatch App Testing on LeanpubDaniel's LinkedIn22:45 - Behaviour Driven DevelopmentWhat is BDD? Doc page on cucumber.ioAnd again on the wiki page24:59 - Mark WinteringhamMark's website and blogMark's LinkedIn25:43 - Liz Keogh"Having the conversation > Documenting the conversation > Automating the conversation" Check out Slide 14 of Liz's excellent course Behaviour Driven Development38:40 - Beren van DaeleBeren's Testsphere cards (including links where you can buy your own deck - RECOMMEND!)The RiskStorming process based on the Testsphere deck for discovering risks (including using emotions!)Beren's websiteBeren's LinkedIn
  • The conversation discusses the CrowdStrike outage caused by a kernel bug in a Windows update. The impact of the outage was widespread, affecting airports, medical professionals, banking, and even news channels.

    The hosts emphasize the need to understand the complexity of software testing and not jump to conclusions or blame testers. They highlight the importance of continuous improvement, learning from mistakes, and taking ownership of problems.

    The conversation also touches on the debate around releasing software on Fridays and the need for context-specific decision-making. The conversation explores the impact of software bugs and the importance of quality in software development. It discusses the ability to turn off software in critical situations, the challenges of working on low-level or embedded software, and the need for risk mitigation.

    The conversation also touches on the response of CrowdStrike to the recent software bug and the potential human impact of such incidents. The concept of quality in software is examined, and the conversation concludes with a discussion on the increasing prevalence of software in various industries.

    Links & Mentions

    01:01 - CrowdstrikeWho are they?This is their wikipedia pageThis is their About us page01:17 - What is a kernel?01:56 - What happened?BBC article - Crowdstrike release causes "Mass IT outage affects airlines, hospitals, media and banks"Preliminary Post Incident Review from Crowdstrike05:32 - Dave's garage explanation of what happened 😙🤌🏾 (Ex-Microsoft Dev)12:46 - Rich's LinkedIn posted about jumping to conclusions in the wake of the Crowdstrike issue15:38 - Mark WinteringhamMark's website and blogMark's excellent blog post about "Quality Engineering, Digital Employees and Job Security"Mark's LinkedIn28:00 - Article: Crowdstrike CEO called to congress37:59 - Crowdstrike updatesTheir blogTheir Remediation and Guidance Hub: Falcon Content Update for Windows HostsTheir Preliminary Post Incident Review (PIR): Content Configuration Update Impacting the Falcon Sensor and the Windows Operating System (BSOD)44:47 - Dame Anita FrewWho is Dame Anita Frew?


    00:00 Introduction and Appreciation for Listeners
    00:33 - Did anything interesting happen in the last week?
    01:01 - Crowdstrike (what else?!)
    01:56 - Vernon & Richard describe what happened with the Crowdstrike shenanigans
    04:23 Realizing the Global Impact of the Outage
    06:16 Explaining the Kernel Bug and its Effects
    07:44 The Process of Getting a Kernel-Based Application
    08:40 The Kernel's Response to Errors and Risks
    09:29 The Significance of the Kernel in Software
    10:35 Updates and News from CrowdStrike
    11:11 The Importance of Software Testing and Quality
    12:12 The Fallacy of Blaming Testers and Testing
    12:46 - Vern reads out Rich's LinkedIn post in the immediate wake of the issue
    14:29 Recognizing Process Shortcomings and Risks
    15:38 - The danger of "hot takes"
    16:24 Taking Ownership and Learning from Mistakes
    19:15 - Common Crowdstrike Hot Takes: Thou shalt not release of Friday!
    19:46 Alternative Explanations and Hot Takes
    21:16 The Danger of Treating Hot Takes as Facts
    22:20 The Debate Around Releasing on Fridays
    23:17 Mitigating Risks and Context-Specific Decision-Making
    24:42 The Need for Continuous Improvement and Learning
    26:18 - Common Crowdstrike Hot Takes: Clearly this hasn't been tested!
    26:37 - Common Crowdstrike Hot Takes: Obvious risk mitigation steps the should have taken
    28:00 - Crowdstrike CEO called to congress
    28:45 The Impact of Software Bugs and the Importance of Quality
    30:54 - What might have happened if Crowdstrike didn't release a critical update?
    36:22 Mitigating Risks and Turning Off Software in Critical Situations
    37:59 - Updates directly from Crowdstrike
    38:39 - Rich's Columbo question
    43:48 - The miracle of ubiquitous software
    45:42 The Response of CrowdStrike and the Potential Human Impact
    46:22 - One Final Hot Take from Rich

  • In this conversation, Richard and Vernon discuss the need for manual test cases and manual testing in the future, particularly in the context of the rise of no code automation and AI.

    They explore the underlying skills and activities involved in testing, such as critical thinking, analysis, communication, and understanding oracles and heuristics. They also touch on the importance of context and problem-solving in determining the appropriate testing approach. The conversation highlights the value of automation as a means to offload effort and gather information, rather than as an end in itself. In this conversation, Richard and Vernon discuss the importance of automation in testing and how it helps confirm the tester's knowledge of the system.

    They also explore the concepts of glue work, quiet quitting, and quality engineering. Vernon shares his upcoming talk on setting quality engineers up for success and the challenges they face in organisations. They discuss the positioning of testers and the need for a cultural shift towards quality engineering. They invite listeners to share their thoughts and feedback on the topics discussed.

    00:00 - ⚽️ Footy (1 min)
    00:39 - Intro
    01:54 - How will low-code and no-code automation tools impact the need for manual testers and manual test cases?
    07:50 - How does Generative AI and/or Large Language Models (LLMs) change the answer?
    20:39 - Issac Asmimov tangent!
    21:18 - SPOILER ALERT! PLEASE SKIP IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE ISAAC ASIMOV STORY "PROFESSION" (I HOPE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO READ IT YOURSELF!)
    24:27 - SPOILER END!!!
    33:07 - Vernon's talk: How We're Setting Up QEs To Fail


    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    07:50 - AI, Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)Useful material:Microsoft course AI for Beginners07:50 - Dr Tariq KingTariq's LinkedIn07:50 - Melissa EadenMelissa's LinkedIn09:52 - The book AI-Assisted Testing by Mark WinteringhamGrab the book hereMark's websiteMark's LinkedIn10:53 - Knowledge workOur previous discussion on Knowledge Work in Episode 1A definition of knowledge work from Wikipedia13:59 - Vernon's Scripting Vs Exploring workshop he delivered at the European Testing Conference (ETC)14:03 - ETC (organised by Maaret Pyhäjärvi) is now sadly on hiatus27:26 - Doug Hoffman and High Volume Automated Testing (HiVAT)An explanation of HiVAT by Cem KanerDoug's LinkedIn33:25 - The Agile Yorkshire meetup organised by Royd BrayshayThe Agile Yorkshire websiteRoyd's LinkedIn33:59 - Cassandra H. LeungCassandra's blogCassandra's LinkedIn34:22 - Tanya ReillyTanya's websiteTanya's Glue Work presentation which you can read or watchTanya's LinkedIn37:22 - "What Is Quiet Quitting?" a BBC News article describing the phenomenon38:23 - Jenna CharltonJenna's LinkedInThe presentation I referred to is called: "Imperfect Agile: Lessons Learned From Embracing The Journey And Ditching The Rules". It was great and I'll see if Jenna is willing and able to share a link to it as soon as I can🙂39:17 - Stuart DayStu's Quality Talks podcast that he co-hosts with Chris HendersonStu's LinkedInChris's Linkedin43:30 - Anna BaikAnna's LinkedInAnna's quote that Maaret shared on LinkedIn
  • In this episode, Vernon and Richard answer questions from their audience. They discuss what they would do if they weren't in software testing, the primary mission of a tester, advice for their younger selves, their stance on pineapple on pizza, and their preferences as trainers, mentors, consultants, and coaches. In this conversation, Vernon and Richard discuss various topics related to testing and quality.

    They explore the meaning of quality and how it can vary depending on the context and individual perspectives. They also discuss the importance of testing and whether there are situations where testing may not be necessary. Additionally, they delve into the concept of a testing mindset and whether it is something that individuals are born with or can be developed. Finally, they reflect on what advice they would give to their younger selves, focusing on the themes of confidence, self-kindness, and self-care.

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    01:42 - Joëlle BurkhardtJoëlle's LinkedIn06:41 - James ThomasJames' one liner on his blogJames' LinkedIn09:15 - AJ WilsonAj's LinkedIn14:32 - Kelsey's story about relating the impact of software problems to real humans15:10 - Mark GillottMark's LinkedIn15:34 - Template letter for banning pineapple on pizza17:10 - Olivier BanalOlivier's LinkedIn18:25 - Leigh RathboneLeigh's LinkedIn22:30 - Deb SherwoodDeb's LinkedIn22:42 - Jerry WeinbergJerry's Wikipedia page (his books are highly recommended)23:46 - Joep SchuurkesJoep's blogJoep's LinkedIn28:36 - Mark TomlinsonMark's websiteMark's podcastMark's LinkedIn32:45 - Anna RoyzmanAnna's LinkedIn38:42 - Melissa FisherMelissa's LinkedIn38:42 - In case you need to know what the TARDIS is, please read this!40:59 - David Goggins (definitely watch/listen to his stuff with headphones on or with no kids around because 🤬)David's cookie jar philosophyDavid's website43:47 - End of year reflection resourcesDickie Bush & Nicolas Cole's Yearly Review Process


    00:00 - Intro
    01:42 - Joëlle Burkhardt: What would you do if you weren't in software testing?
    06:41 - James Thomas: You have to summarise what a tester's primary mission for a team is in a snappy one-liner that applies across contexts. What's your one-liner?
    09:15 - Aj Wilson: What advice would you give the version of yourself, that was 2 years into software testing if you could, what would older wiser Richard advise new blood Richard?
    15:10 - Mark Gillott: Why is pineapple on pizza still not illegal?
    18:25 - Leigh Rathbone: What do you prefer, being a trainer (providing instruction and direction), a mentor, a consultant, or a coach?
    22:30 - Deb Sherwood: What does quality mean for you?
    28:36 - Mark Tomlinson: To test, or not to test.
    32:45 - Anna Royzman: Testing mindset - are you born with it?
    38:42 - Melissa Fisher: If you could jump in a tardis and go back in time, what would you tell your younger self?

  • In this episode of the Vernon Richard Show, Vernon and Richard discuss alternative names for the show and reflect on their recent activities. They talk about the Leeds Testing Atelier conference and highlight some of the workshops and talks they attended. They discuss the importance of play in the workplace and the impact of bugs in software development. They also mention the Post Office Horizon scandal and the need to consider the human impact of software failures.

    The conversation covered various topics including testing chatbots, the importance of accessibility and user flow mapping. The speakers discussed their experiences with chatbots, highlighting both positive and negative interactions. They also talked about the significance of screen readers and the need for proper web app design to improve accessibility. User flow mapping was mentioned as a useful technique for building a joint team understanding of work tasks. The conversation also touched on the challenges of communication with anxiety and the benefits of being open about mental health in the workplace.

    Various other topics were also discussed including reducing anxiety in the workplace, the concept of spoon theory, and the balance between speed and quality in software development. The speakers discussed the importance of building relationships and understanding how to communicate effectively to reduce anxiety. They also explored the idea of spoon theory, which relates to managing energy levels and prioritizing tasks. Lastly, they delved into the challenge of achieving both speed and quality in software development, emphasizing the need for a learning mindset and continuous improvement.

    Description Generated by AI

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    00:00 - James ThomasJames' blogJames LinkedIn02:42 - The Testing Atelier ConferenceTheir websiteTheir YouTube channel05:10 - Jit Gosai Jit's Leeds Testing Atelier postJit's Leeds Testing Atelier talkJit's blog Jit's Quality Engineering Newsletter Jit's LinkedIn05:43 - Elly GausdenElly's LinkedIn08:03 - The Battleships board game09:00 - The Colt Express board game11:02 - Clare NormanClare's LinkedIn11:44 - Lego Serious Play Training11:56 - Rich's Lego Automation workshop13:33 - Elliot ThurlandElliot's talkElliot's LinkedIn13:38 - The Post Office Horizon scandalThe public enquiry websiteArticle on Wikipedia13:53 - James ChristieJames' blogJames' body of work regarding the Post Office scandal16:30 - BBC Radio 4 series about the Post Office Scandal16:35 - 4 part television drama for ITV17:48 - The Nightmare Headline game is described in Elisabeth Hendrickson's excellent book Explore It!18:43 - Bug AdvocacyThe Association for Software Testing (AST) flavour of the courseThe Black Box Software Testing training programs in collaboration with Altom and Cem Kaner19:20 - Kelsey HightowerKelsey's Twitter/XKelsey's GitHub21:08 - Leah King & Tracy ArchibaldTheir talkLeah's LinkedInTracy's LinkedIn23:44 - Emily O'ConnorEmily's LinkedIn28:20 - Steven MilneSteven's talkSteven's LinkedinSteven's Twitter/X34:54 - Paul ColesPaul's LinkedIn34:54 - Rita AvotaRita's LinkedIn35:20 - How assistive technology is REALLY usedAccessibility Testing with People with Disabilities - Samuel ProulxWe've linked to the specific part of the video that shows the demo but we'd recommend watching the whole presentation!38:47 - Colin WrenColin's talkColin's LinkedIn45:24 - Melissa RocksMelissa's talkMelissa's LinkedInMelissa's Twitter/X51:14 - Spoon Theory56:03 - Ian ThomasIan's LinkedIn56:29 - Rich's "allergic reaction" presentation: "Pyramids Are Ancient - Test Automation Strategy"59:45 - The Adobo & Avocados show01:01:52 - Kiel GoodmanKiel's LinkedIn01:04:45 - The Gartner Hype Cycle01:04:59 - Troy MagennisTroy's website

    Troy's LinkedIn

    00:00 - Banter (new name suggestions from James Thomas)

    01:09 - The actual intro 😅

    01:55 - Footy content warning 🚨

    02:42 - What we intend to cover during this episode

    04:42 - ⚽️ Footy (1 min)

    05:10 - Jit's post about Leeds Testing Atelier

  • In this conversation, Richard and Vernon discuss the experience of being rejected for conference talks and the importance of actionable feedback. They emphasize the need for clear and compelling abstracts, as well as the value of networking and building relationships within the industry. They encourage individuals to continue sharing their stories and knowledge through alternative platforms such as YouTube, blogs, and meetups.

    The conversation also touches on the power of diversity in conference lineups and the importance of providing opportunities for underrepresented voices. In this conversation, Richard and Vernon discuss the importance of networking and building relationships in the software testing industry. They emphasize the value of nurturing connections and being present in the network, rather than only reaching out when you need something.

    They also discuss the challenges of onboarding onto a new team and share their experiences and strategies for effective onboarding. They highlight the importance of asking for help, sharing knowledge, and finding the right balance between asking for help and helping yourself. Overall, the conversation emphasises the power of relationships and continuous learning in the testing profession.

    00:00 Introduction and Positive Feedback

    09:01 Creating Clear and Compelling Abstracts

    16:21 The Importance of Actionable Feedback

    33:10 The Power of Networking

    45:33 Finding the Balance: Asking for Help vs. Helping Yourself

    53:06 The Importance of Continuous Learning

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    08:00 - Richard's legendary advice about how to structure your conference proposal
    10:07 - Sarah Deery on LinkedIn
    13:00 - Clear not clever explained by Nicolas Cole
    17:09 - Posts from Lena, Emna, and Jenna
    20:00 - The Mash Program
    20:20 - I couldn't find anything about Speak Easy but you can find the founder Anne-Marie Charrett
    25:21 - Lisa Crispin's website and LinkedIn page
    27:00 - Abby Bangser on LinkedIn
    27:30 - Ash Coleman Hynie on LinkedIn
    31:30 - Vernon Scott II on LinkedIn
    34:00 - Marie Cruz and Lewis Prescott's book
    45:47 - Lisi Hocke's website & Ben Dowen website
    46:08 - My old pal
    49:55 - The First 90 Days book on Amazon
    56:37 - What's AWS?
    58:50 - What about Google Cloud?
    58:51 - What's Heroku?

  • The second episode of the Vernon Richard show discusses the PeersCon conference and highlights some of the key talks. Topics covered include the concept of minimal shippable risk, the importance of psychological safety in creating a productive work environment, the challenges and learnings of stepping into a leadership role, and the role of DevOps in organisations.

    We express our appreciation for the speakers and their valuable insights. The conversation covered various themes, including the importance of embracing DevOps and the role of testers in the process. The concept of glue work, which involves technical leadership and ensuring collaboration and success, was discussed. The negative impact of debates on LinkedIn and the need for respectful and curious engagement were highlighted. The importance of framing conversations and choosing the right medium for discussions was emphasized. The idea of thinking like a scientist and valuing getting right over being right was also explored.

    * Generated by AI.

    00:00 - Introduction
    00:47 - Our overall thoughts about the inaugural PeersCon event
    03:00 - Heather Reid's presentation "Wait! That's not tested"
    12:05 - Jit Gosai's presentation "Psychological safety – The link between speaking up, complexity and high performing teams"
    16:48 - Al Goodall's presentation "Things I Learned being a new(ish) Quality Manager"
    20:43 - Beth Clarke's presentation "Being the Glue: The Role DevOps in Testing"
    26:38 - Leigh Rathbone's presentation "The history of testing and why its important as it feeds our future"
    27:44 - Debates on LinkedIn
    32:05 - Choosing the right medium for sharing ideas and managing your energy
    35:04 - The challenges of online debate
    39:44 - Preachers, Prosectors, Politicians and thinking like a Scientist

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    00:32 - The PeersCon website02:28 - The Testing Peers podcast 03:00 - Heather Reid Heather's blog Heather's LinkedIn07:55 - Vernon's Quality Coaching Kickstart Guide 12:05 - Jit Gosai Jit's blog Jit's Quality Engineering Newsletter Jit's LinkedIn16:48 - Al Goodall Al's blog Al's LinkedIn20:43 - Beth Clarke Beth's blog Beth's LinkedIn22:33 - "First time?" meme from Maaike Brinkhof 23:39 - Tanya Reilly Glue Work26:38 - Leigh Rathbone Leigh's LinkedIn29:50 - Testing vs Checking30:02 - Context Driven Testing30:18 - Caleb CrandallCaleb's great post about mindset Caleb's LinkedIn 33:05 - James Bach James' blog 39:06 - Vernon explaining Coaching and being 2% right on Deena McKay's Black Tech Unplugged podcast39:24 - Adam Grant explaining Preachers, Prosectors, Politicians and thinking like a Scientist on the Diary of a CEO podcast
  • In this episode, Vernon and Richard introduce their new podcast and discuss the concept of smoke testing and knowledge work. They explain that smoke testing is a quick test to determine if something is alive or valid, often used when deploying new builds or testing in production. They also discuss the challenges of testing in production and the importance of health checks. In regards to knowledge work, they define it as cognitive work that involves manipulating and processing information based on expertise. They reflect on the recent arguments and discussions on LinkedIn and emphasize the need for nuance and understanding in these conversations.

    The conversation explores the challenges and misconceptions surrounding knowledge work in the context of software testing and automation. The speakers discuss how the intellectual effort and expertise involved in testing are often overlooked or undervalued. They highlight the importance of specialised knowledge, innovation, problem-solving, and continuous learning in testing. The conversation also touches on the perception of automated tests and the need to strike a balance between explicit test cases and exploratory testing.

    Yes, we are trying to keep this lean, and the above was generated by AI.

    00:00 Introducing the Vernon Richard Show
    04:47 Exploring the Concept of Smoke Testing
    14:32 Understanding Knowledge Work
    16:33 Introduction to Knowledge Work
    17:11 Defining Knowledge Work
    18:03 Characteristics of Knowledge Work
    19:22 Perception of Testing as Knowledge Work
    24:29 Perception of Programming as Knowledge Work
    27:48 Challenges in Communicating Testing Work
    31:05 Automated Tests as Test Case 2.0
    34:46 Balancing Test Cases and Exploration
    35:56 Conclusion and Call for Feedback

    Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:

    16:17 - Same as Ever by Morgan Housel: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Same-Ever-Timeless-Lessons-Opportunity/dp/B0CMQRQS33/16:29 - Morgan Housel on DOAC: https://youtu.be/vOvLFT4v4LQ?si=GU2pW-d9thmmFV4E27:21 - Huib Schoots: Telling The Testing Story: https://www.huibschoots.nl/storytelling/