Man and Machine - Jonathan Kohl

November 5, 2008 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

When we think of automated testing, we usually think of unattended tests that are executed by computer software. When we think of manual testing, we think of a human being executing tests without the aid of a machine. These activities need not be mutually exclusive—we can use automation tools to help us as we undertake manual testing. Instead of thinking of tests as either automated or manual, Jonathan Kohl explores areas where you can blend the activities. You might ask questions such as: "To what extent will test automation help me in my testing work?" or "What do we lose if we run these tests without human supervision?" Jonathan discusses and demonstrates a different way to think about test automation, as an intersection between automated and manual testing. He highlights techniques of this hybrid testing approach, providing examples from other disciplines and from his own experiences. This session will include demonstrations of using automation tools to support exploratory testing, rapid test data generation, and environment monitoring. We will also explore testing against interfaces other than the user interface. Since there are no testing tools that directly address this automation niche, you may see familiar tools used in new ways. Biography: Jonathan Kohl is the founder and principal software testing consultant with Kohl Concepts Inc., based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. A noted testing thinker, Jonathan is recognized as a leader in the exploratory testing community. He is a popular author and speaker who believes that testing is a challenging intellectual craft. Jonathan’s blog on software development and testing issues is one of the most well-read testing blogs in the industry. Jonathan is a regular contributor to Better Software magazine, as an author and technical editor.