Author: kristinjackvony

In last week’s post, I discussed various ways to test your application’s database.  In order to verify that your data has been saved correctly, you’ll need to query the database, and the way to query the database will depend on what type of database you have.  In the past, most databases were relational, but in […]

As software testers we often take for granted the fact that our application has a database behind it.  We tend to focus on the visible, such as the user interface, or the application logic of the API when we are testing.  But it’s important to test the database as well!  Below are six ways to […]

I don’t generally editorialize in my blog- I prefer to focus on what to test rather than theories of testing- but I feel compelled to say that I’m tired of the whole “manual vs. automated testing” discussion.  Some people describe automated testing as the cure for bad code everywhere, and others lament the poor manual […]

There is nothing quite as bone-chilling to a software tester than the realization that a bug has been found in Production!  In this post, I’ll walk through a series of steps testers can take to handle Production bugs and prevent them in the future. Step One: Remain CalmBecause we are the ones who are testing […]

Anyone working with version control software such as Git will eventually come across a merge conflict.  If you are new to working with Git, here is a simple example of a merge conflict: The master branch contains a file with this text:Kristin Jackvony was here on May 22, 2019Prunella and Joe each check out a […]

Last week, I wrote a Gentle Introduction to Git, which was designed to give testers a general overview of how version control software works, from cloning a repository to submitting a pull request.  Even when you understand how Git works, it can still be a bit mysterious, because there is so much happening that you […]

For a software tester who has just started writing test automation, using version control software such as Git can seem daunting and confusing.  But being able to pull down the latest code, update it, and submit a pull request is very important for any team project!  In this week’s post, I’ll provide a gentle introduction […]

Last summer, I read an interesting book called Extreme Ownership.  Written by two Navy SEAL officers, it describes the concept of taking responsibility for every facet of your job, even those things that you feel that you have no control over.  If one of their soldiers made a mistake, the officers would take responsibility, because […]

It’s a perennial problem: there’s so much testing to be done and not enough time in which to do it.  I’ve already written one post about this issue: What to Test When There’s Not Enough Time to Test, which talks about how to prioritize your testing and how to work with your team to avoid […]

Before I discovered the joy of software testing, I had a brief career as a professional organizer.  I organized homes, small businesses, and non-profit organizations.  I’ve always loved getting organized because it helped me to accomplish my goals more quickly.  The same is true with software testing!  Being organized as a tester means that you […]