The hottest Testing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Lab Tests

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 219 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Comprehensive lab tests can help identify nutritional deficiencies and energy metabolism issues.
  2. A simple DIY home test for molybdenum deficiency can be done with basic equipment and a supplement.
  3. Interpreting the Genova Methylation Panel requires going beyond the report's interpretive section to uncover patterns.

Best practices and an elephant

Register Spill • 216 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Learn different programming languages and paradigms for a comprehensive understanding.
  2. Experiment with both good and bad practices to gain diverse perspectives and experiences.
  3. Try various approaches in software development to enhance your skills and knowledge.
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Literate Testing

Rethinking Software • 99 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Literate programming is great for keeping your code and documentation together. It helps you write tests in a clear and organized way without needing extra frameworks.
  2. With literate programming, you can easily mock functions and test them directly, even in languages like C that are usually tricky to test. This makes the testing process simpler and more enjoyable.
  3. Placing tests right next to your code helps you keep everything organized and makes writing tests feel less like a chore. You start to see tests as part of your coding process rather than an extra step.

🐿️ Your Software Is Wrong - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 3 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Even careful, human-made reference works often contain hidden errors that get copied forward. Cross-checking helps but won't catch everything.
  2. Modern computing faces the same problem at much larger scale: chips and software can produce subtle wrong answers, and huge datasets often make full verification impossible.
  3. The right response is to design for detection and tolerance by using redundancy, consistency tests, and processes that reduce mistakes. Practices like pair programming and business-facing code review help you "trust but verify" and make systems more resilient.

Testing a book's code: Overall conclusions

Mostly Python • 524 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. When creating a test suite, consider the constraints of your project and think about how to handle testing for non-traditional outputs like images or sound files.
  2. Use pytest to optimize your test suite by utilizing features like parametrization, fixtures, parallel test execution, and custom CLI arguments.
  3. An effective test suite should not only focus on passing tests but also consider failure scenarios, the need for assertions about test setup, and testing across platforms early on.

My 1st Course: Experimentation and testing

Elena's Growth Scoop • 137 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
💼 Business Testing
  1. The course focuses on building a strategic system of experimentation beyond A/B testing.
  2. Participants will learn to identify strategic opportunities, create step-function ideas, and test them with high velocity and precision.
  3. The program draws from successful companies like Slack, Instacart, SurveyMonkey, and MongoDB.

The AI user's guide to evals

Technically • 14 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Evals are software tests for AI that turn fuzzy model outputs into measurable metrics so you can find and fix errors instead of guessing.
  2. Look at your data first — analyze real outputs to spot where the model fails, because you can’t measure or fix problems you don’t identify.
  3. Start with simple keyword checks and assertions before building complex “LLM-as-judge” setups, and iterate: test, fix, measure, repeat; otherwise your system just feels like a slot machine.

An Inventor's Quest for the NHL Pt. 35

An Engineering Self-Study • 778 implied HN points • 21 May 23
🎾 Sports Testing
  1. Replicating industrial processes can be challenging without expertise and specialized equipment.
  2. Precision bending using manual tools can be satisfying and effective for complex designs.
  3. Seeking help and expertise when facing challenges is essential for successful project outcomes.

Technical Debt 101: A Short Quick Guide

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Technical debt is like borrowing time when you write code shortcuts that need to be revised later, similar to financial debt repayment with interest.
  2. Ways technical debt can occur: rushed development, lack of documentation, poor testing, ignoring refactoring, avoiding version upgrades, and lacking developer tools.
  3. Consequences of excessive technical debt include decreased productivity, increased bugs, higher costs, team morale issues, and security risks; managing it involves prioritizing refactoring, writing tests, documenting, reviewing code, and communicating with stakeholders.

So it goes...

The Weasel Speaks • 117 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Change can be slow in software teams when it comes to the need for dedicated testers.
  2. Different organizations have varying approaches to testing, from having no dedicated testers to having very few or many testers.
  3. Consider the context when evaluating statements that you disagree with, as what may not work in one context could work in another.

Saving Time Using Auto1111's API: Automated Workflow for XYZ Grids

followfox.ai’s Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 27 May 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. An automated workflow using Auto1111's API can save time when generating XYZ comparison grids
  2. The process involves creating a CSV file with parameters for each grid and using a script to feed these parameters to Auto1111 through the API
  3. While this automated workflow can save time, it may not allow for immediate review and adjustments after each grid generation

Do You Want to Remove "If" Statements From Your Java Code?

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 11 May 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. To reduce reliance on 'if' statements in Java code, use guard statements at the beginning of methods or blocks to quickly exit when conditions aren't met.
  2. Consider using ternary operators as a concise way to replace 'if-else' statements within methods, but be cautious of overusing them for readability.
  3. Separate logic into reusable policy rules, encapsulating business rules into classes or methods, to promote code organization and maintainability.

The Sequence Opinion #547: Best Practices I am Learning While Coding with AI Agents

TheSequence • 63 implied HN points • 22 May 25
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Software engineering is changing rapidly with the use of AI agents. Teams are now using AI to help speed up their work and take on new roles.
  2. AI agents are moving beyond just helping with code completion. They now can generate entire code bases, run tests, and manage pull requests automatically.
  3. Developers are shifting their focus from hands-on coding to more strategic tasks like code review and creating documentation, as AI handles more of the coding work.

Testing a book's code, part 6: Testing a Django project

Mostly Python • 314 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Testing a Django project in a book involves creating a copy of the project, setting up a separate virtual environment, and ensuring it functions correctly on new Django versions.
  2. When testing a Django project, focus is usually on internal code, but the priority here is verifying functionality on new Django versions due to its frequent updates.
  3. The post discusses developing a single test function for a Django project named Learning Log, emphasizing the importance of testing project functionality as intended.

Testing a book's code, part 3: Testing a game

Mostly Python • 314 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. The post discusses testing a game project, Alien Invasion, which may seem challenging to test at first.
  2. Testing the book's code against different versions of Python is important to identify bugs and incompatibilities.
  3. Using tools like pyenv to switch between Python versions can make testing with different versions easier.

Validating PCAs (1)

Only Wonder Knows • 78 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Validating designed electronics is as important as designing them.
  2. The U-test model involves generating controlled stimulus and checking responses to ensure proper functioning of circuits.
  3. Different types of tests like design, manufacturing, integration, and regression tests play a crucial role in validation processes.

A software-engineer's view on OceanGate

Cybersect • 78 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Modern software engineering focuses more on testing than on writing code.
  2. Software engineers create tests to make the software both succeed and fail.
  3. Testing to failure is crucial to ensure the reliability and safety of software and products.

The SAT is not fairer than grades

Pershmail • 78 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🚌 Education Testing
  1. For poorer students, high school grades are a better indicator of success than SAT scores.
  2. Standardized tests, like the SAT, can be biased towards wealthier students by reflecting their better access to resources and test preparation.
  3. There is a need for multiple pathways to success in education that do not solely rely on grades or standardized tests, providing second chances for students.

Quadratic C.I. Cost Growth

Software at Scale • 119 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. CI/CD can contribute significantly to the cost of software infrastructure.
  2. CI costs can increase at a quadratic rate over time due to various factors like team size and codebase growth.
  3. Strategies to mitigate high CI costs include selective testing, maintaining code quality, and monitoring resources.

Code coverage doesn't matter much

Andrew's Substack • 83 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Code coverage alone doesn't indicate whether tests are good or useful. It's more about the quality of the tests than the quantity.
  2. Not all tests are valuable; some can be complex and fail for reasons that don't matter, which can lead to false confidence in the code.
  3. The aim of testing should be to assure that your code works and to catch errors, instead of just trying to raise a coverage percentage.

Lateral thinking

Logging the World • 79 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
🔬 Science Testing
  1. Lateral flow tests had a much lower false positive rate than many initially assumed, around 0.03%, showing their effectiveness.
  2. Data on PCR retests of positive lateral flow tests revealed a positive predictive value of 82% even at low prevalence, supporting the reliability of lateral flow tests.
  3. A rise in prevalence due to variants like delta and omicron, as well as ease in lockdown restrictions, contributed to the wider acceptance of lateral flow tests for controlling the pandemic.

Bias in Admissions and Hiring

Cremieux Recueil • 175 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Testing
  1. Bias in admissions and hiring is a significant issue, especially in areas like India and Bangladesh.
  2. Using unbiased testing is essential to reduce discrimination in the selection process for students and employees.
  3. Subjective selection methods can be biased and unreliable, making tests a more objective and fair alternative.

How things fail

Only Wonder Knows • 39 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Testing things to failure can reveal weaknesses and help improve reliability.
  2. The HALT test is an effective method to stress test products and discover design flaws.
  3. Each weakness identified in the HALT test presents an opportunity to enhance product reliability.

Forcefully deterministic unit testing

Stateless Machine • 3 HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Unit tests should not interact with anything outside the program. This keeps tests clean and focused just on the code being tested.
  2. To make testing easier, functions should use interfaces to handle outside interactions. This allows for fake implementations during testing.
  3. By controlling how the outside world is accessed in a programming language, tests can be made deterministic. This means results are reliable and consistency is ensured.

5 Tips to Write Effective Code in Enterprise Organizations

Weekend Developer • 39 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Writing code in enterprise organizations is different from startups due to legacy code, lack of tests, and constant changes.
  2. To write effective code in enterprise organizations, understand the system, write more tests, and collaborate with testers.
  3. Refactoring code, troubleshooting issues, and getting a birds-eye view are key to improving code quality and system understanding.

How To Communicate With Software Engineers So That They Understand You

Money in Transit • 39 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Software engineering is not inherently more difficult than other professions like medicine or law.
  2. Effective communication with software engineers can be facilitated by using frameworks like The Spreadsheet Analogy and the Given-When-Then method.
  3. Communication breakdowns between engineers and non-engineers can be bridged by understanding software engineering concepts and speaking a shared language.

A Guide to Switching Platform to Shopify

Cristian’s Substack • 39 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
💼 Business Testing
  1. Shopify offers benefits like fast-loading websites, scalable infrastructure, and a great back office user experience.
  2. Potential drawbacks of Shopify include dependency on apps, development costs, mismanagement risks, and limited content management.
  3. Steps before switching to Shopify include assessing pain points, trying out a test store, evaluating costs, planning migration, and making necessary platform checks before the switch.