The hottest Software Testing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics
Bite code! 2568 implied HN points 04 Feb 24
  1. TDD can make your code more flexible, reliable, and less error-prone by focusing on testing upfront.
  2. TDD may not work well for everyone, as it requires experience, ability to hold complex models in mind, and sustained focus.
  3. Not all projects are suited for TDD, and it's important to assess the cost and benefit of testing based on project needs and constraints.
awesomekling 522 HN points 16 Mar 24
  1. Using tools like Domato from Google Project Zero can stress test software and reveal potential security issues.
  2. Implementations in software can be prone to issues like null pointer dereferences, especially when assumptions about the DOM structure are not validated.
  3. Finding and fixing bugs, whether real bugs or spec bugs, is essential to improving software stability and ensuring it can handle unexpected inputs.
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QUALITY BOSS 39 implied HN points 05 Feb 24
  1. A Bug Retrospective is a team meeting to review and learn from bugs that occurred during a project. The focus is not on blaming anyone but on understanding why the bugs happened and how to prevent them in the future.
  2. These retrospectives help improve the quality of the product by fostering a culture where everyone takes responsibility for quality. Each bug can be seen as a lesson that can strengthen the team’s processes and test strategies.
  3. To start a Bug Retrospective, gather the team, discuss selected bugs, analyze their root causes, and create an action plan for prevention. Sharing insights and encouraging collaboration can lead to better practices and overall product quality.
Widget Tricks 58 implied HN points 08 Mar 23
  1. It is recommended not to test private methods, as they are for internal use only.
  2. You may need to test a private method when working with legacy code, fixing bugs, or dealing with widget dependencies.
  3. To test a private method inside a widget, create a forwarder method, use the @visibleForTesting annotation, and follow specific steps based on widget type.
QUALITY BOSS 39 implied HN points 30 Oct 23
  1. Great quality engineers need a quality mindset. This means they care about making sure the product is useful and works well for customers, not just ticking off boxes.
  2. Some key traits of top QEs are curiosity, adaptability, and persistence. These qualities help them understand the product better and keep pushing until they get to the bottom of any issues.
  3. Effective communication and problem-solving skills are also important. This ensures they can share findings clearly and work well with other teams to improve the product.
QUALITY BOSS 19 implied HN points 12 Feb 24
  1. Debugging is like being a detective; you need to find clues to solve the problem in the software. Understanding how or when a bug happens can help get it fixed faster.
  2. A good bug report includes details like when the bug occurs and what steps to reproduce it. The more information you provide, the easier it is for developers to understand and fix the issue.
  3. Trying different methods and tools can help uncover more about the bug. For example, using different browsers or versions of software can help pinpoint what's causing the problem.
Technology Made Simple 19 implied HN points 18 Jan 23
  1. Automated testing with varied inputs like erratic actions helps ensure software systems function correctly under diverse conditions.
  2. Utilizing click farms for testing can provide insights into user behavior and help identify areas in a system that may need improvement.
  3. Breaking components intentionally to see how the system responds reveals weaknesses and helps in improving robustness.
Eventually Consistent 1 HN point 02 Jul 24
  1. Systems engineering is more than programming - it's about understanding complex systems and critical thinking. Engineers with systems thinking skills are becoming increasingly valuable in the industry.
  2. Developing new software abstractions can enhance developer experience and lead to concrete technological innovations. It's important to focus on improving software design patterns and solving problems on the right layers of the stack.
  3. Ensuring safe and correct software remains a significant challenge in building distributed systems. Innovative approaches to testing, such as deterministic hypervisors and model checking techniques, are crucial for uncovering hidden bugs and enhancing productivity.
monoRails - a Ruby on Rails newsletter 0 implied HN points 11 Feb 24
  1. Rails 8 is planning new features like a background worker, cache backend, framework for mobile notifications, and more development tools.
  2. The article discusses the internal workings and design decisions of Sidekiq, a popular background processing tool for Ruby.
  3. Understanding the Rails router is important for developers to grasp the concepts of routing, named routes, and different types of routes in a Ruby on Rails application.
QUALITY BOSS 0 implied HN points 11 Mar 24
  1. Deciding which tests to automate or run manually is important. You should look at the risk level and necessary effort for each test.
  2. Using a scoring system can help prioritize tests. This involves scoring impact, likelihood, frequency, and the effort required for manual or automated testing.
  3. Starting small with your scoring approach is a good idea. You can adjust the numbers until you find what works best for your testing needs.
QUALITY BOSS 0 implied HN points 26 Feb 24
  1. Exploratory testing is a flexible approach that doesn't need detailed preparation. It lets testers use their skills and creativity to find bugs efficiently.
  2. Using test charters can help focus exploratory testing. You can define what to explore, how to explore it, and what you want to learn.
  3. To improve your testing, think about worst-case scenarios for your product. Coming up with nightmare headlines can help guide your exploratory testing efforts.
QUALITY BOSS 0 implied HN points 19 Feb 24
  1. There are two main types of testing: functional and non-functional. Functional testing checks if the software meets its intended requirements, while non-functional testing looks at things like performance and security.
  2. Testing can also be categorized by the level, such as unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing. Each level focuses on different parts of the software and helps ensure everything works together smoothly.
  3. Finally, there are different ways to test, including manual and automated testing. Manual testing involves humans checking software directly, while automated testing uses tools to run tests automatically. Both are important for delivering a quality product.
Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc 0 implied HN points 26 Jul 08
  1. False negative results can be a risk if one DNS cache is patched but another is not, impacting the safety of clients.
  2. A NAT device can unintentionally protect vulnerabilities in DNS caches by causing randomization issues, affecting security tool results.
  3. Simple command line tools may offer more accurate DNS analysis results compared to potentially misleading specialized software, benefiting both regular users and sysadmins.
Once a Maintainer 0 implied HN points 01 Jun 23
  1. Marit van Dijk studied a mix of social science and computer science, ultimately finding a passion for coding and open source projects.
  2. Getting into open source like the Cucumber project brought Marit great learning opportunities and a supportive community.
  3. Marit emphasizes the importance of diversity in open source, welcoming people from different backgrounds and languages to contribute and collaborate.
QUALITY BOSS 0 implied HN points 19 Dec 23
  1. A good bug report should have a clear title that describes the issue. This helps others understand the problem quickly without needing to read everything.
  2. Including steps to reproduce the bug is essential. This allows developers to see the issue themselves and figure out how to fix it.
  3. Adding relevant details like environment information, expected vs. actual results, and visual aids like screenshots makes the report more useful and helps prioritize the fix.
QUALITY BOSS 0 implied HN points 08 Dec 23
  1. Start with exploratory testing to learn the basics of software quality. You can practice this by using any application you regularly use.
  2. Once you find bugs, learn how to document and report them properly. This practice is key to getting recognized in the quality engineering field.
  3. Familiarize yourself with essential tools like APIs and Chrome DevTools, especially if you want to move into automation. Free online courses can help you build your skills.
Bismuth 0 implied HN points 14 Jun 24
  1. Establishing and maintaining consistent patterns in a software project is crucial for long-term maintainability and success.
  2. Thorough testing, especially of core business logic and high-risk features, is essential to prevent bugs and ensure code maintainability over time.
  3. High-quality documentation is vital for attracting users, helping new contributors, and ensuring the long-term success and growth of a software project.