http://www.rbcs-us.com/ en-GB (c) 2011 Rex Black http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/rbcspodcast no The RBCS podcast allows you to stay current on important topics in software testing – on your iPod. Subscribe to the RBCS podcast and, about twice a month, you'll learn something new and interesting. Rex will share important lessons learned from RBCS' software test consulting, training, and outsourcing engagements, such as software test management, software testing metrics and results reporting, software test training, system test, unit testing, test automation and other software testing topics. Listen while exercising, going for a walk, shopping, or driving, and become a more informed software tester. The RBCS podcast allows you to stay current on important topics in software testing – on your iPod. Subscribe to the RBCS podcast and, about twice a month, you'll learn something new and interesting. Rex will share important lessons learned from RBCS' software test consulting, training, and outsourcing engagements, such as software test management, software testing metrics and results reporting, software test training, system test, unit testing, test automation and other software testing topics. Listen while exercising, going for a walk, shopping, or driving, and become a more informed software tester. Rex Black info@rbcs-us.com Rex Black RBCS This webinar will give attendees an overview of the significant test strategies in use by testers in various industries and business domains around the world.  We’ll examine: analytical strategies (where testers analyze requirements or risks to identify the test conditions to cover);  model-based strategies (where testers develop a model of the environment in which the system exists, the inputs and conditions to which the system is subjected, and how the system should behave); methodical strategies (where testers use a predetermined set of test conditions, such as a quality standard or set of heuristics); process-compliant strategies (where testers follow a set of processes defined by others, such as Agile testing); reactive strategies (where testers react to the actual system under test rather than trying to pre-plan the testing); and, other strategies in common use.  Rex will explain the pros and cons of each of these strategies, and factors that aid or impede success with them.  You’ll also learn how to blend test strategies to achieve optimal results, far better than any single strategy can deliver. This webinar will give attendees an overview of the significant test strategies in use by testers in various industries and business domains around the world.  We’ll examine: analytical strategies (where testers analyze requirements or risks to identify the test conditions to cover);  model-based strategies (where testers develop a model of the environment in which the system exists, the inputs and conditions to which the system is subjected, and how the system should behave); methodical strategies (where testers use a predetermined set of test conditions, such as a quality standard or set of heuristics); process-compliant strategies (where testers follow a set of processes defined by others, such as Agile testing); reactive strategies (where testers react to the actual system under test rather than trying to pre-plan the testing); and, other strategies in common use.  Rex will explain the pros and cons of each of these strategies, and factors that aid or impede success with them.  You’ll also learn how to blend test strategies to achieve optimal results, far better than any single strategy can deliver. http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Test-Strategies-from-Around-the-World-040312.mp3 Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:20:24 -0400 91:49 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/SD5eHZpT_uU/Test-Strategies-from-Around-the-World-040312.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Test-Strategies-from-Around-the-World-040312.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Test-Strategies-from-Around-the-World-040312.mp3 Rex Black RBCS Every lifecycle affects testing, and Agile is no exception.  A number of elements of the Agile methodologies can create opportunities for testing, when properly implemented.  In this webinar, we'll discuss how nine characteristics of Agile methodologies can turbo-charge your testing, specifically examining: the obvious and not-so-obvious benefits of automated unit testing; how the re-birth of static code analysis makes removing bugs cheap and easy; the use of code coverage metrics to help quantify confidence; the testing benefits of continuous integration; Agile contributions for automated functional testing; how Agile supports high-quality, lightweight requirements; the benefits of stakeholder review of test conditions; reducing the dreaded test crunch with a sustainable workload; and, how Agile methodologies control technical debt and why that matters for testing. In this free webinar, Rex Black discusses the key testing opportunities created by the Agile approach, so that you can recognize and take advantage of them.  Every lifecycle affects testing, and Agile is no exception.  A number of elements of the Agile methodologies can create opportunities for testing, when properly implemented.  In this webinar, we'll discuss how nine characteristics of Agile methodologies can turbo-charge your testing, specifically examining: the obvious and not-so-obvious benefits of automated unit testing; how the re-birth of static code analysis makes removing bugs cheap and easy; the use of code coverage metrics to help quantify confidence; the testing benefits of continuous integration; Agile contributions for automated functional testing; how Agile supports high-quality, lightweight requirements; the benefits of stakeholder review of test conditions; reducing the dreaded test crunch with a sustainable workload; and, how Agile methodologies control technical debt and why that matters for testing. In this free webinar, Rex Black discusses the key testing opportunities created by the Agile approach, so that you can recognize and take advantage of them.  http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Agile-Testing-OpportunitiesN.mp3 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:41:25 -0400 90:50 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/j6yHdMMBiow/Agile-Testing-OpportunitiesN.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Agile-Testing-OpportunitiesN.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Agile-Testing-OpportunitiesN.mp3 Rex Black RBCS In a perfect world, we would have boundless time and resources to deliver systems with plentiful features, each feature having perfect quality. In the real world, we must balance schedule, budget, features, and quality. When schedule, budget, and features get all of the attention, we have a quality quandary. In this webinar, Rex will discuss ways that test professionals can help their project teams resolve that quandary.  First, it’s important to recognize the trade-offs being made, and then test professionals can promote the five elements of making successful trade-offs: shared vision; disciplined management; quality in, and bugs out, throughout; focused testing; and, sending the right message. Rex will illustrate these five elements with a variety of case studies and examples.  In a perfect world, we would have boundless time and resources to deliver systems with plentiful features, each feature having perfect quality. In the real world, we must balance schedule, budget, features, and quality. When schedule, budget, and features get all of the attention, we have a quality quandary. In this webinar, Rex will discuss ways that test professionals can help their project teams resolve that quandary.  First, it’s important to recognize the trade-offs being made, and then test professionals can promote the five elements of making successful trade-offs: shared vision; disciplined management; quality in, and bugs out, throughout; focused testing; and, sending the right message. Rex will illustrate these five elements with a variety of case studies and examples.  http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Managing-Quality-within-Constraints.mp3 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:10:26 -0500 92:42 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/LYicyCeMnfk/Managing-Quality-within-Constraints.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Managing-Quality-within-Constraints.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Managing-Quality-within-Constraints.mp3 Rex Black How can independent test teams guide an organization to success? What organizational options exist for such teams? How does independent testing fit into the software lifecycle? How can we measure success for such team? In this presentation, drawn from three decades of industry experience, Rex will help you find answers to these questions, and to establish—or improve—your independent testing team. Join in the discussion after the initial presentation, and ask Rex about the challenges you face with test estimation. How can independent test teams guide an organization to success? What organizational options exist for such teams? How does independent testing fit into the software lifecycle? How can we measure success for such team? In this presentation, drawn from three decades of industry experience, Rex will help you find answers to these questions, and to establish—or improve—your independent testing team. Join in the discussion after the initial presentation, and ask Rex about the challenges you face with test estimation. http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/The_Sherpas_of_Testing_Success_015012b.mp3 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:30:37 -0500 90:47 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/IFWspaMxvv8/The_Sherpas_of_Testing_Success_015012b.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/The_Sherpas_of_Testing_Success_015012b.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/The_Sherpas_of_Testing_Success_015012b.mp3 Rex Black Five years ago, Rex gave a talk in Tokyo, Wellington, Sydney, and Portland where he talked about five trends which were affecting testing, putting testers’ careers at stake, creating both risks and opportunities. The trends: globalization; test automation; commoditization; compliance, regulation, and tort law; and, education and certification. In this webinar, Rex will revisit each of those five trends now, five years on. He’ll talk about the effects that have occurred, the effects that have not occurred, and the effects that are yet to occur. He’ll give you ideas about how to effectively handle these trends, and also some hints about new trends that are emerging. Five years ago, Rex gave a talk in Tokyo, Wellington, Sydney, and Portland where he talked about five trends which were affecting testing, putting testers’ careers at stake, creating both risks and opportunities. The trends: globalization; test automation; commoditization; compliance, regulation, and tort law; and, education and certification. In this webinar, Rex will revisit each of those five trends now, five years on. He’ll talk about the effects that have occurred, the effects that have not occurred, and the effects that are yet to occur. He’ll give you ideas about how to effectively handle these trends, and also some hints about new trends that are emerging. http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Five_Trends_Affecting_Testing_Five_Years_Later.mp3 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:04:14 -0500 88:35 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/6nM8V-pBUlU/Five_Trends_Affecting_Testing_Five_Years_Later.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Five_Trends_Affecting_Testing_Five_Years_Later.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Five_Trends_Affecting_Testing_Five_Years_Later.mp3 Rex Black As Yogi Berra famously said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.” Or listening for that matter. In testing, we can listen to our defects. Defects can tell us a lot about what’s going on with our projects, a lot about the current quality of our products, and a lot about our software engineering process and its capabilities. For example, how many defects can you expect users to find after you release the product? In some cases, defects can tell us interesting things about what’s not going on, too. For example, when testers have previous hands-on user experience, do they really write better defect reports? In this webinar, Rex will discuss important things test professionals can learn by listening to defects. He’ll illustrate these insights with a variety of case studies and examples. You’ll walk away ready to listen to your defects, and to understand what they’re telling you. As Yogi Berra famously said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.” Or listening for that matter. In testing, we can listen to our defects. Defects can tell us a lot about what’s going on with our projects, a lot about the current quality of our products, and a lot about our software engineering process and its capabilities. For example, how many defects can you expect users to find after you release the product? In some cases, defects can tell us interesting things about what’s not going on, too. For example, when testers have previous hands-on user experience, do they really write better defect reports? In this webinar, Rex will discuss important things test professionals can learn by listening to defects. He’ll illustrate these insights with a variety of case studies and examples. You’ll walk away ready to listen to your defects, and to understand what they’re telling you. http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Listen_to_Your_Defects.mp3 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:48:44 -0500 84:12 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/RLmAUo9N3kA/Listen_to_Your_Defects.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Listen_to_Your_Defects.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Listen_to_Your_Defects.mp3 Rex Black This is the eighth webinar in a series on advanced software testing. This one is excerpted from Rex Black’s and Jamie Mitchell’s book, Advanced Software Testing: Volume 3, a book for technical test analysts, programmers, and test engineers. In this webinar, Rex will discuss techniques for integration testing. Integration testing is one of the least-understood and oft-forgotten test levels, but proper integration testing is essential to ensuring that later levels of testing such as system testing and acceptance testing go smoothly. Join this webinar, illustrated with examples throughout, to learn a ways to ensure that integration testing is effective and efficient in your organization. This is the eighth webinar in a series on advanced software testing. This one is excerpted from Rex Black’s and Jamie Mitchell’s book, Advanced Software Testing: Volume 3, a book for technical test analysts, programmers, and test engineers. In this webinar, Rex will discuss techniques for integration testing. Integration testing is one of the least-understood and oft-forgotten test levels, but proper integration testing is essential to ensuring that later levels of testing such as system testing and acceptance testing go smoothly. Join this webinar, illustrated with examples throughout, to learn a ways to ensure that integration testing is effective and efficient in your organization. http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Advanced_Software_Testing_Integration_Testing.mp3 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:00:00 -0400 80:12 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/SlIBrOy752s/Advanced_Software_Testing_Integration_Testing.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Advanced_Software_Testing_Integration_Testing.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Advanced_Software_Testing_Integration_Testing.mp3 Rex Black How many testers do we need? How many test cases do we need? How many bugs will testing find? How long will testing take? Those are good questions, but those questions are often hard to answer. In this webinar, drawn from three decades of industry experience and materials in his best-selling book Managing the Testing Process, 3rd edition, Rex will discuss fundamental techniques for test estimation. Join in the discussion after the initial presentation, and ask Rex about the challenges you face with test estimation. How many testers do we need? How many test cases do we need? How many bugs will testing find? How long will testing take? Those are good questions, but those questions are often hard to answer. In this webinar, drawn from three decades of industry experience and materials in his best-selling book Managing the Testing Process, 3rd edition, Rex will discuss fundamental techniques for test estimation. Join in the discussion after the initial presentation, and ask Rex about the challenges you face with test estimation. http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Test_Estimation.mp3 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 05:00:00 -0400 93:33 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/1v_6IM4iOIg/Test_Estimation.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Test_Estimation.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Test_Estimation.mp3 Rex Black This is the seventh webinar in a series on advanced software testing. This one is excerpted from Rex Black’s and Jamie Mitchell’s book, Advanced Software Testing: Volume 3, a book for technical test analysts, programmers, and test engineers. In this webinar, Rex will discuss the use of sophisticated code coverage techniques. Code coverage allows us to understand how much of the code has—and hasn’t—been tested, and to identify new and useful test cases to fill the coverage holes. Join this webinar, illustrated with examples throughout, to learn a technique that you can apply to your work right away. This is the seventh webinar in a series on advanced software testing. This one is excerpted from Rex Black’s and Jamie Mitchell’s book, Advanced Software Testing: Volume 3, a book for technical test analysts, programmers, and test engineers. In this webinar, Rex will discuss the use of sophisticated code coverage techniques. Code coverage allows us to understand how much of the code has—and hasn’t—been tested, and to identify new and useful test cases to fill the coverage holes. Join this webinar, illustrated with examples throughout, to learn a technique that you can apply to your work right away. http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Code_Coverage.mp3 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:10:34 -0400 94:18 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/p4VAS_7j8ww/Code_Coverage.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Code_Coverage.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/Code_Coverage.mp3 Rex Black While much of testing and test management involves rational decision-making, measuring quality and providing testing services to the team, there are realms of the test manager’s job where psychology meets politics to form psychopolitics.   In this webinar, drawn from three decades of industry experience and materials in his best-selling book Managing the Testing Process, 3rd edition, Rex will discuss how psychology and politics can collide to make the test manager’s job…interesting. Join in the discussion after the initial presentation with your own questions and stories about testing psychology, testing politics, and plain ol’ psycho-politics! The International Software Testing Qualification Board has already effected profound change in the software testing profession, and the rate of that change continues to accelerate. Not only have 150,000 people have achieved Foundation certification, but increasing numbers of testers are taking Advanced exams, including the extremely challenging Advanced Technical Test Analyst exam. In this webinar, Rex will explain why it’s so tough—and why technically-oriented testers who have achieved Foundation certification should step up to the challenge. While much of testing and test management involves rational decision-making, measuring quality and providing testing services to the team, there are realms of the test manager’s job where psychology meets politics to form psychopolitics.   In this webinar, drawn from three decades of industry experience and materials in his best-selling book Managing the Testing Process, 3rd edition, Rex will discuss how psychology and politics can collide to make the test manager’s job…interesting. Join in the discussion after the initial presentation with your own questions and stories about testing psychology, testing politics, and plain ol’ psycho-politics! The International Software Testing Qualification Board has already effected profound change in the software testing profession, and the rate of that change continues to accelerate. Not only have 150,000 people have achieved Foundation certification, but increasing numbers of testers are taking Advanced exams, including the extremely challenging Advanced Technical Test Analyst exam. In this webinar, Rex will explain why it’s so tough—and why technically-oriented testers who have achieved Foundation certification should step up to the challenge. http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/The_Psychopolitics_of_Test_Management.mp3 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 05:00:00 -0400 94:31 http://feeds.rbcs-us.com/~r/rbcspodcast/~3/3U8II2cjIkQ/The_Psychopolitics_of_Test_Management.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/The_Psychopolitics_of_Test_Management.mp3http://www.rbcs-us.com/media/podcasts/The_Psychopolitics_of_Test_Management.mp3